Archive for November, 2009

How to Preserve Morel Mushrooms

Morel mushrooms look like dried sponges

Morel mushrooms look like dried sponges

The morel mushroom is found in the United States and Europe during the spring and has a tendency to sprout up after a rainfall. The morel is more closely related to truffles, not mushrooms, as noted by their distinctive nutty or smoky flavor. Ranging in size from very tiny to the size of a soda can, morels can be found in the woods, cow pastures and even along the roadside. These mushrooms stop growing once they sprout from the ground and can range in color from light tan to dark grey. Morels are used in soups, stews and gravies and can be preserved easily for future use.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy
Instructions

Things You’ll Need:

  • Morel mushrooms
  • Sharp knife
  • Flour
  • 1 sandwich baggie
  • Freezer storage bags
  1. Step 1

    Cut the dirt ball from the stem

    Cut the dirt ball from the stem

    Wash the morels really well to remove sand, dirt and any bugs. Cut the end (dirt ball) off the mushroom stem.

  2. Step 2

    Cut the morels lengthwise

    Cut the morels lengthwise

    Cut the mushrooms in half, slicing from top to bottom. Wash again in very cold water.

  3. Step 3

    Place 1/2 cup of flour into a sandwich baggie. Add several morels, depending on size, and shake gently, coating them thoroughly. Lay the coated morels on a paper towel. Repeat the process until all morels are coated with flour, adding more flour as necessary.

  4. Step 4

    Gently place all flour coated morels into a large freezer baggie with a zipper-style closure. Store in freezer on top of other food items to preserve to prevent flattening.

Published in: Post | on November 25th, 2009 | No Comments »

How to Dry Morel Mushrooms on a String

Difficulty: Easy
Instructions

Things You’ll Need:

  • Morel Mushrooms
  • String
  1. Step 1

    Find Morel Mushrooms Find your morel mushrooms, a North America fungi delicacy. (if your not familiar with morel hunting, see link in the resource section)

    Find Morel Mushrooms

     

  2. Step 2

    Cut Morels in HalfCut your morel mushrooms in half lengthwise and place into a dish of salted water for a couple hours to remove dirt and bugs. Be careful as they are fragile.

    Cut Morels in Half

     

  3. Step 3

    Drain water and place morels onto paper towels to dry a bit, hive side down. You don’t want water sitting in the little holes of the morel.

  4. Step 4

    Thread a needle with white thread or fishing line and thread through your morel mushrooms. Try to keep them from touching to promote faster drying.

  5. Step 5

    Allow your morel mushrooms to dry. This usually takes 2-3 days. You should be able to tell if all the moisture has been removed from your morels or not. After they are completely dry, store them in a paper bag and close it up tight. They will store nicely for up to a year.

  6. Step 6

    Drying morel mushrooms will preserve these yummy fungi for up to a year!Reconstitute your dried morel mushrooms by letting them soak a short time in a dish of water or simply add to your chosen recipe as-is.

    Drying morel mushrooms will preserve these yummy fungi for up to a year!

     

Published in: Post | on November 25th, 2009 | 1 Comment »

How T0 Clean Morels With Vinegar And Water

Morel mushrooms are a culinary delicacy. They grow wild during a very limited season. They contain an earthy, almost meaty flavor that is delicious alone, or as an accompaniment to other dishes. Because of the porous nature of morels, they can become tainted with dirt and insects. Therefore, thorough cleaning measures should be taken to prepare them for cooking.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy
Instructions

Things You’ll Need:

  • Knife
  • Colander
  • Bowl
  • Water
  • White vinegar
  • Paper towels
  • Clean cloth
  1. Step 1

    Cut each morel mushroom in half, lengthwise.

  2. Step 2

    Place mushrooms in a colander.

  3. Step 3

    Set the mushroom-filled colander in a bowl of cold water to which 3 tbs of white vinegar have been added.

  4. Step 4

    Gently submerge the mushrooms with your hands to loosen dirt and bugs. Shake the colander to dislodge tough grit.

  5. Step 5

    Remove the mushrooms from the colander and lay them on a sheet of paper towels. Carefully pat each mushroom dry with a clean cloth.

Published in: Post | on November 20th, 2009 | No Comments »

How to Find Morels – Even As Others Are Coming Back Empty Handed

For such a slim volume, How to Find Morels is exceptionally useful, providing wonderfully valuable information about mushroom hunting and hunting for morels in particular. Milan Pelouch covers nearly every aspect (finding, preserving, and eating) in an easy-going and approachable way for both practiced hunters and novices alike.

While the tone of the text is very conversational, it can be somewhat meandering at times–repeating itself and with occasional organizational problems. However, as the book is rather brief (and easily read in one sitting), this fault isn’t as problematic as it could be. Regardless, Pelouch provides fantastic information, tips, and recommendations, arming readers with great skills to pursue the wily morel. Subjects addressed encompass everything from supplies and tools needed for a pleasant hunt, where to search, and what to look for to preserving and eating the find. Basic information is also given about the mushrooms themselves, when they’re in season, and even the possibility of cultivation.

Also included are a number of recipes using or featuring morels which were contributed by the author’s wife, Lila. Unless I brought back a particularly large crop that I was willing to experiment with, I personally would skip these and stick to what I know and love: fry ‘em up in butter and flour with a bit of salt for seasoning added. Pelouch briefly mentions this preparation, but does not appreciate it as much as I and my family do–he would most likely attribute this to the fact that we hail from Ohio.

Probably one of my favorite things about this book is the photography. Not only is Pelouch an avid mushroom hunter, he is an avid (and quite skilled) mushroom photographer as well. The pictures are gorgeous in addition to being informative.

I grew up hunting mushrooms with my family and morels were always prized above all others. Now I feel even more prepared, and excited, for my next hunt. It is true that mushroom hunters often will keep their secrets to themselves (even people in my family have been known to keep information from each other) which makes this book even more beneficial. I might even share it. Maybe.

Published in: Post | on November 17th, 2009 | No Comments »

For The Love Of Morel Mushrooms

These veal scaloppini with morel mushrooms and morel risotto recipes will surely delight your family and guests. You just can’t get enough of these tasty little mushrooms. Yes, I am a morel mushroom junkie. Spending my rent money just to get my weekly fix would not be unusual. OK, not really, but I like them a whole lot.

Spring is almost here and this is the best time for morel mushroom hunting.
Unfortunately it hasn’t started for me here in Chicago. Unlike thousands of people each year who actually go into the woods searching for these mushrooms, I hunt for my mushrooms at Amazon or on Ebay. Which I enjoy very much. Ebay and Amazon are my best friends.

All through the winter there are people waiting in anticipation for spring to hunt down these delectable little morsels. Not often do you find entire web sites devoted to fungi. You can actually visit the Morel Mushroom Hunting Club at http://www.morelmushroomhunting.com or http://www.thegreatmorel.com for more information regarding the adventures of morel hunting. If you live the areas where morel mushroom hunting is common, these sites will be most helpful.

And let’s not forget the National Morel Mushroom Festival in Boyne City, Michigan or the festival in Muscota, Wisconsin, the self acclaimed capital of morel mushrooms. Here you will find great entries being made, songs being sung and recipes being exchanged.

If you’re not lucky enough to be able to go on a hunt like me, just shop online like I do. You can get fresh morels shipped to you overnight when in season or you can purchase them dried and use them throughout the year, if you are willing to pay the price. Don’t be surprised to pay ten dollars an ounce for these delicacies. Once you try them you’ll be hooked.

So here’s my veal scaloppini and morel risotto recipes for you to enjoy.

INGREDIENTS

Veal Scaloppini

  • 6 slices of veal cutlets, about 1 pound
  • 1/2 cup of flour
  • 1/2 of a cup of chopped green onions
  • 2 cloves of garlic chopped
  • 1/2 cup of chopped parsley
  • 3/4 of a cup of small dried morel mushrooms reconstituted
  • 1/2 cup of Marsala wine
  • 1/2 cup of chicken broth
  • 3/4 cup of heavy whipping cream
  • 2 Tbls of butter
  • 2 Tbls of extra virgin olive oil
  • 1/4 tsp of salt
  • 1/4 tsp of fresh ground black pepperPREPARATION
  • Place the veal between two sheets of wax paper and pound thin with a mallet.
  • Season veal with salt and pepper.
  • Dredge veal in flour.
  • Place 1 Tbls of butter and 1 Tbls of oil in a large skillet and sauté veal 2 minutes on each side.
  • Remove veal and set aside.
  • Add the other tablespoon of oil and butter to the skillet and sauté garlic and onions for I minute.
  • Add mushrooms and sauté another minute.
  • Add wine and chicken broth and bring to boil and reduce liquid to about half.
  • Stir in whipping cream.To serve, plate veal and top with the creamy morel mushroom sauce.NOTE: To reconstitute mushrooms soak in warm water for about thirty minutes. Drain liquid and dry the mushrooms thoroughly.

    Morel Risotto

    INGREDIENTS

  • 1 cup of small dried morel mushrooms reconstituted and cut in quarters
  • 1 medium sized yellow onion chopped
  • 2 cloves of garlic chopped
  • 4 Tbls of butter
  • 6 cups of chicken stock
  • 1/2 cup of Marsala wine
  • 2 and 1/2 cups of arborio rice
  • 1/2 cups of freshly grated parmesan cheese
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1/4 tsp of freshly ground black pepperPREPARATION
  • Pour broth in a medium size saucepan and heat to a simmer.
  • In a slightly larger saucepan add the butter and sauté the garlic and onions for about 1 minute.
  • Add rice and mix well coating the rice with the butter.
  • Stir in the wine until it has evaporated.
  • Stir in mushrooms.
  • Add broth 2 cup at a time and stir until broth has been absorbed.
  • Repeat until all the broth is used.
  • When rice is tender mix in parmesan cheese.Serve the risotto on the side with the scaloppini.
    Simply delicious. Mangia!
    Veal and risotto will serve 4 to six people.

    • Phil has been cooking and creating Italian dishes ever since the age of ten. His passion and love for Italian food is never ending. Visit him at http://www.great-chicago-italian-recipes.com for more family favorites.

    Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Phillip_Speciale

    Published in: Post | on November 17th, 2009 | 1 Comment »

    Morel Season

    Morel season is over for now. But we can do some things in the off season to prepare for the upcoming spring season. If you like to walk or you are a hunter go out and find your areas by looking for elms and popular tees. If you have a GPS device use it. If you don’t, then write down signs of the areas thatyou found. This will help in the upcoming season. Happy Hunting.   www.morelsworld.com

    Published in: Post | on November 16th, 2009 | No Comments »

    White Morel

    more about “White Morel“, posted with vodpod

     

    Published in: Post | on November 15th, 2009 | No Comments »

    Morels pop up quick

    more about “Morels pop up quick“, posted with vodpod

     

    Published in: Post | on November 15th, 2009 | No Comments »

    Keep Morels Fresh

    Just a quick tip on keeping your morels fresh. First do not rinse off your morels. Put them in a brown paper bag and then straight into the frig. Should keep 10 days with out much problem. Hint…Keep bag closed so the little critters don’t run around in the frig. Happy Hunting. http://www.morelsworld.com

    Published in: Post | on November 14th, 2009 | No Comments »

    Finding Morels

    When hunting morels one of the first things you want to to is educate yourself on tree types. These include the elm.ash,maple.beech,popular,etc. Look them up in wiki. Next post will be about equipment that will be needed while hunting morels. http://www.morelsworld.com

    Published in: Post | on November 14th, 2009 | No Comments »
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