Mushroom hunting finally paid off!!

[VenusRising]

:woohoo::bounce::woohoo::bounce:

We've been looking for a couple of years. This is the first year that we've found some. These are 5 of the 6 Morels we found today. I would have put the 6th one in, but Mr.VR stepped on it before he realized it was there, so it's kind of broken. But that's okay! We still found some!

[sasquatch]

1. Are those the edible, the poisonous or the fun kind?

[VenusRising]

2. They are edible.

Not the fun kind.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morel

[CaliforniaPeggy]

3. My dear VenusRising!

Good for you guys!

Um...what do they taste like? They do look rather alien...

I'm glad you can tell the good ones from the poisonous ones! :scared:


:hi:

[VenusRising]

6. I've been told by my dad they have a nice nutty flavor.

I'll be sure to update and let you know after we cook them up.

[Beam Me Up]

4. Nice. My dad used to take me mushroom hunting when I was a kid

growing up in southern Indiana. Learning how to "see" them and competing to see who could find the most was a great game. My mom soaked them in salt water (to get rid of the 'bugs', allegedly), and then she would dip them in egg batter, coat them with cracker crumbs and fry them in a skillet. We ate them with ketchup like french fries. Oh... the joys of down-home cooking!

[VenusRising]

7. We each found three, so it was a tie.

If we're going by who found them first.....I WIN!! :P

With ketchup? Interesting. Maybe I'll try one bite like that.

:hi:

[UndertheOcean]

5. How can you be sure they are not poisonous ?

[VenusRising]

9. These mushrooms don't really look like any other mushroom.

There is something called a "false morel" but they look different enough. Edible morels are hollow on the inside.

[HopeHoops]

21. Actually, there are several that look similar

The False Morels don't look exactly like them, but can be close enough to cause a mistake: http://www.morelmushroom.info/Danger_of_False_Morels.html

I love morels and I'm glad you found some. They are one of the greatest treats on earth, but as far as I know, every edible variety has a look-alike that is either poisonous, tastes terrible, or gives you the farts.

My greatest find was coming upon a Destroying Angel in the woods. It was illuminated by a ray of sunlight breaking the canopy and glowing white. At that moment, I truly understood the name. Licking that thing is enough to cause multiple organ failure! Another great find was a small, 3/4" diameter LBM near the base of a tree with one tiny bite taken out of it. It must not have tasted very good.

[VenusRising]

23. Actually, I don't think any of those look similar to morels at all .

But then again, I'm married to a scientist and do my research before going out and just eating any old mushroom I find growing.

[HopeHoops]

24. Yeah, the pictures weren't that great.

But I assumed you knew how to do positive identification. Sometimes a spore print is the only way to tell (and they are SO beautiful). I love mushrooms and have studied them for about 30 years, but I'm still afraid to gather on my own. One mistake and you're dead.

[VenusRising]

26. If morels grow in your area, then you should try hunting.

You really can't mistake them when you get them home and cut them in half (hollow all the way through).

We ate them last night and aren't dead yet. ;)

[Callalily]

8. Growing up we used to

go morel picking all the time. They were in abundance, but unfortunately, and I don't know why, not so much anymore.

I simply adore fresh picked morels. Please take time to savor them.

[VenusRising]

10. Oh, we will!

It's been scarce the past few years, but last year and this year are said to be booming. My dad found 50 by himself and 90 when he was out with my uncle. We've never found any before, and this time we found some within 5 minutes.

Maybe give it a try this year. There are people finding them in Wisconsin, but they say the soil is a little cold in some areas.

http://www.morels.com/wisconsin/guestbook.html

[MajorChode]

11. The 2nd one from the left looks like the Virgin Mary on a bad hair day

You should sell it on ebay for big bucks.

[VenusRising]

12. I could be rich!

:woohoo:

[eppur_se_muova]

13. Mmmmm ... morelly. nt

[Orrex]

14. I applaud your strong morel values

[VenusRising]

15. And I applaud your new kitty cat!

:P

[Orrex]

16. Thanks, but it's not yet a done deal

He's really uncomfortable in our house, and he spends a lot of time looking out the windows. It's not as though we've trapped him; he can leave whenever he wants. But he just doesn't seem happy here (yet?)

[VenusRising]

19. Aww, poor kitty.

I'm sure it's hard making a transition from total freedom to being in a house.

[DeepBlueC]

27. he keeps coming back, doesn't he?

[Inchworm]

17. I heard a cool story on NPR last month

Those are morels? I kinda read a bit trying to learn about them.

They don't come up every year but the mycelium is always there in wait. They can cover acers!

Is this the largest organism in the world? This 2,400-acre (9.7 km2) site in eastern Oregon had a contiguous growth of mycelium before logging roads cut through it. Estimated at 1,665 football fields in size and 2,200 years old, this one fungus has killed the forest above it several times over, and in so doing has built deeper soil layers that allow the growth of ever-larger stands of trees. Mushroom-forming forest fungi are unique in that their mycelial mats can achieve such massive proportions.

Awesome!

I'll hunt a link to NPR story and post in a sec.

Grats!

:hi:

EDIT: NPR Story Link
http://www.npr.org/templates/player/mediaPlayer.html?action=1&t=1&islist=false&id=102920035&m=102929251

[VenusRising]

18. Neat link!

Thanks.

And yes, it can cover acres. My dad found 50 in one patch and 90 on another when he was out with my uncle.

:hi:

[Orrex]

28. So there's a humongous fungus among us?

[underseasurveyor]

20. OOOH Morels

YUM It's been a long long time since I've had some but I remember very well how delicious they are.

Nice find.. enjoy:-)

[PeaceNikki]

22. No offense... but

:puke:

[mike_c]

25. nice blonde ones, too-- my favorite!

Yum! Lucky you!

[Zoigal]

29. You are so lucky..morels are absolutely the best.

Used to find lots of both the white and brown ones in Missouri in the spring;
only the brown type in Oregon in the fall. Sauteed in butter...mouth watering just thinking of them.