Chanterelles or False Chanterelles???

[cybershot]

Originally Posted by ninjagibbon

Good to hear from some fellow 'shroomers in these parts!








May it keep on raining, looks set to be a bumper season

'Shrooms! the local ABFG foraying group starts it's autumn programme at Tweseldown on Saturday if you are interested.

David

[Stewy]

Originally Posted by cybershot

Drying works with almost any mushroom and enhances the flavour the best. Slice thinly 2 -4mm thick and rack them over a warm spot like a radiator or warm windowsill (sorry forgot this is UK ) with the air circulating them for five to six hours between 45-55 degrees. Store in clean dry sealable jars for up to a year.

David

Not going to put the heating on yet David!!!

I will keep them whole and place in the airing cupboard until done and then store in kilner jars.

I tried doing some ceps in a low oven with the door ajar a few years ago and they were terrible, don't do it folks!

[NickCantle]

I did it last week Stew and my god, they went so slimy and began to cook!

How do you dry them without a heat source?

[flaxton]

Originally Posted by NickCantle

I did it last week Stew and my god, they went so slimy and began to cook!

How do you dry them without a heat source?

You don't Nick
Surely you have hot water in the house it's usually stored in a big tubular thingy in a very little room. The ladies often put towels and things in there to air off (whatever that means). Just put your sliced specimens on a cake rack (again check with the lady of the house) and after a couple of days of the house smelling like .... a CEPery you will have perfectly dried fungi to last you through the winter

Mal

[NickCantle]

Well there's the problem When I'm at my Dad's, his missus is scared of mushrooms so I can certainly discount that option when I'm there.

As for being at my Mother's, the boiler room is next to the oil supply thus having an oily aroma. I fear that this will become obvious in the taste of the Ceps!!! Mabe not, i'll try it

[flaxton]

Originally Posted by NickCantle

Well there's the problem When I'm at my Dad's, his missus is scared of mushrooms so I can certainly discount that option when I'm there.

As for being at my Mother's, the boiler room is next to the oil supply thus having an oily aroma. I fear that this will become obvious in the taste of the Ceps!!! Mabe not, i'll try it

Just add this to your Christmas prezzy list

mushroom products online by Mycologue, mushroom knives and mushroom picking weekends they work without resorting to upsetting anyone

Mal

Ps I hope the external link is OK

[NickCantle]

Interesting link Mal- I remember that website from a few years ago when I was looking at Fungi things. Cheers for posting it again- I've just purchased 4 x Mushrooms bags

[prog99]

We bought a food dehydrator a few years ago. Has more than paid for itself and can dry a big haul in hours.

I've also preserved ceps in oil (very moreish, recipe in Larousse) and have tried chanterelles this year (unsure, a lot of water came out of them).

In my bumper cep year 2 years ago I also made a big bottle of cep oil which unfortunately started fermenting.

And finally theres always the freezer, ceps freeze really well and I've tried chanterelles this year.

I've got one of those mushrooms brushes that are for sale in the linked page and its not bad at all.

[prog99]

Originally Posted by NickCantle

I did it last week Stew and my god, they went so slimy and began to cook!

How do you dry them without a heat source?

Hmm, this should work. When I did it though it was with a fan oven which may make a difference.

[fairplay]

I might buy one of those dehydrators, as I've only noticed today that my voucher specimen of Panus conchatus has tiny black live beetles trapped in the bag and have turned half the samples into dust.

I immediately put the bag in the freezer to kill them but the damage was done.
Shame, as I was preparing to send this and other samples off to Kew in a box, and this particular specimen was the first find in Norfolk for over 80 years.

Does anybody know if these dehydrating devises kill off the bugs ?
The temperature should be a bit more than that in my airing cupboard (I only turn on the hot water heater from 5 - 7am each day)

If I do purchase a dehydrator, I can show off my new toy at the BMS 5 day foray when they come to Leiston Abbey, 5 mins up the road next year - they always bring a dryer which tends to become over-full, so I might earn some brownie points.

Neil.