What Kind of Mushroom is this?

[Kirk_Allen]

Came across this mushroom today in the woods and was wondering what kind it might be.

[Jeff]

Was it growing on the gorund, or on a stump or tree or other woody debri?

[Kirk_Allen]

It was growing about 1 foot away from the stump of a VERY LARGE DEAD tree that was either a Hackberry or Honey Locus  It was on the ground, which in that area is very moist

[Kirk_Allen]

It was about 1 foot acroos and about 8-10 inches off the ground at its highest point.

[Furby]

What does it taste like?

[Kirk_Allen]

Furby your too funny  :D :D :D

The days of eating mushrooms have long past for this cat. 

What was realy strange today was the number of Puff Ball mushrooms I saw.  the woods was FILLED with them.  I bet there was at least a couple hundred and some of them as big as two basketballs.  NEVER have I seen so many and so big.

[Max sawdust]

Hi,
Looks like you have a chicken of the woods mushroom.  It looks a little old so it may not taste that good any more.  When they first come up they are very good fried in butter.  Tastes like chicken.

Get a mushroom book like Mushrooms of North America or better yet Audubon's mushroom field guide.  Start out by learning which ones kill you.  I do not mess with mushrooms with gills.  There are very few deadly mushrooms with out gills.  So mushrooms like the chicken of the woods are a good way to get started mushroom hunting.
max

[Max sawdust]

The days of eating mushrooms have long past for this cat. 

Why?
If you like mushrooms nothing is better than wild ones.   Those young puff balls make the best mushroom soup.
max

[crtreedude]

Max,

Correct, if you avoid the gilled (there is a field mushroom I will eat) the identification gets lots easier. The easiest group is the Boletus family. Large, with no gills. There is a purple one that is really bitter though...

A good book and you are in mushroom heaven, just go very slow at first. The best thing is find yourself an experienced fungiophile and tag around.

[Kirk_Allen]

Why?

I prefer a safe state of mind ;D 

[Jeff]

http://botit.botany.wisc.edu/toms_fungi/jul2001.html

[Ed]

Ok, Max....

How you make mushroom soup from a puffball?   ??? ??? ???

I always slice, soak, batter & fry.

Ed

[maple flats]

wouldn't it have to be puff ball soup, but tasts like mushroom? 8) ;D

[Max sawdust]

Ed,
Yes pan fried is great too.  Soup is a good way to use alot of mushrooms. 

Maple Flats,
I see where you are going with this :D  So this soup recipe is not really hungarian unless you use hungarian paprika.  I will argue it is mushroom soup though cause puffballs are mushrooms  ;D

Ok, I dug through my wife's recipes and could not find it but here it goes from memory :

Hungarian Mushroom Soup
4 cups young white puffball diced to 1 inch cubes
2 cups onion chopped
½ stick butter
2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons flour
6 cups chicken broth
1-2 tablespoons Hungarian Paprika
1-2 tablespoons Dill
¼ cup sour cream

In a large sauté pan melt the ½ stick butter add the chopped mushrooms and cook on medium heat until soft (10min or so) Add the chopped onions and continue cooking until onions are soft also.

In a stock pot melt the 2 tablespoons of butter add the flour to make a paste.  Slowly add the chicken broth to the flour/butter mix.  Add Mushroom/Onion mix to the stock pot.  Add the Paprika and simmer covered on low heat for an hour or so.  Add the Dill and stir in the sour cream just before serving. 

I like to have this with those flaky biscuits you buy in the can and bake in the oven.

[Ed]

Thanks Max,
There are still a few puffballs coming up, I hope to try it this year.  ;D ;D

Ed