I have been into mushrooms for my whole life. Picking them in the cow pasture when I was very young. A few years back I tried to cultivate some in my house as I have a room that I thought was good, but it gets too dry. I have inoculated logs and managed some very minimal output. Dry spells tend to last too long where I live.
A few days before now, I was out walking the dogs in a big open dog park. It is very big and there are lots of places where there are no trails and are rather wild. I met a lady and they did not have a dog with them, and seemed to be hanging out in the trees. She was actually standing by the biggest Oak tree I have ever seen, with a trunk size of over 8 feet in diameter. I approached and asked what they were doing. They replied that they were hunting for mushrooms, particularly the rare Lions Mane. I was stunned as I did not think they grew wild in my area. She warmed me of ground wasps and not to venture too far off worn trails as she had been swarmed a couple months earlier.
Last night there was a nice heavy rain. This morning was 95% humidity so, no better time for mushrooms. I decided to take the dogs to the dog park for a run. This time I did not take my regular path and took some more "in the woods" paths. Of course I was looking for mushrooms, and now that I know there are many in the area, I start to notice all the fungi growing just off the main trails. When I am walking it is more like a high speed march, as I need the workout as well. I am looking side to side along the trail and walk by but go back to see some "white blobs" I noticed. It took a moment to register.
There just a few meters off the trail were two large white blobs of fuzz, or that is what they look like from a little ways away. I go up to them and sure enough, the one rare mushroom I did not think I would ever see, let alone pick, a couple of Bears' Head. Looking them over and not being prepared, I took one of them. I think it was the smallest one, which fit nicely in my hand. Walking the dogs uses up your hands very quickly if you have more than one dog. Now I have one very nice mushroom in one hand and two dog leashes in the other. Around the parking lot area, the dogs have to be on a leash. This means two 45 lb dogs on leashes with one hand and a fragile dust and dirt magnet in the other. I managed, and got home with my prize.
Now to look up how to cook it best and enjoy the new taste experience.
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This was one of the best mushrooms I have eaten. The flavor is mild and slightly different than a white cap. More like a shiitake, but still not quite.
I did a simple, covered, low temperature frying in butter. Having a cover keeps the moisture in and helps to cook when on low temps. I read that over cooking can cause a rubbery texture, which is fine with me but, went for the moist tender slow fry.
The output was way more than I could eat, or shall I say, I like to savor good things and have managed 8 mushroom omelet breakfasts.
After I slow fry mushrooms, I separate in plastic lunch ziplock, enough for a couple omelets. I flatten them out so they are easy to break up when frozen and put them in the freezer.
If you find one of these fungi, it is worth the effort to get it back where you can eat it!!
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