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Monday, September 29, 2008

pretty colors



Fall brings with it some of the most splendiferous colors of the year. Spring is nice and all with the blooms and new grass but nothing beats all the golds and yellows and reds and oranges of the fiery fall.






I was out enjoying some of these colors today at the farmers market, thinking about all the rich and hearty stews and ratatouilles in store for the coming months when I thought "too bad you have to buy this stuff," I would love to just wheel my way through filling up a big basket just for fun, that way I could pick things I was unfamilar with and not feel bad when I mess it up.



Two days off from school for the guy coming up, Jewish Holiday, and I think we are going for a hike in the woods, we shall see, but talking about 'the guy' he had a fantastic shortbread, bananas foster concotion last night. Tearin' it up.


Little did I know that this afternoon my mushroom buddy was going to bestow upon me a gift.

http://lh5.ggpht.com/__lDmovorSk0/R5Pj6wu-f5I/AAAAAAAABJA/bYvwhkWWaZg/IMG_1071.JPG

More than 5 pounds of Shaggy Mane mushrooms. Its like I died and went to fungal heaven and for me thats a place I frequent.



I cleaned these bad boys and began sauteeing them pronto since they continue to breakdown. They are relatively hearty once they get in the pan and the flavor, I guess like all wild mushrooms, is indescribable, they have an asparagus texture and a mild and unique flavor.



I cooked these for a few minutes in olive oil and butter with shaved garlic, salt and pepper. They will later get chopped and added to a cream of mushroom soup. I had to partially process them so they would not disappear into a gob of ink.



See how white and fresh they look. These are abundant right now!

14 comments:

Anonymous said...

beautiful.

Angel said...

you are a mushroom freak!

Marjie said...

I know you love the fungus, but I'll just have some of that Bananas Foster!

Christo Gonzales said...

starrlife: its such a nice time of year, I bet its colorful up your way

beth: how could you tell?

marjie: I think I would choose bananas foster over mushrooms too...

buffalodick said...

Great photos of the bounty at harvest time!

tavolini said...

I am so impressed with your mushroom finding abilities!! I'm too terrified to ever just take some mushrooms home from the wild.

Pictures look great--I, too, am looking forward to the squashes and fantastic root vegetables of fall.

The Blonde Duck said...

Those vegetables look so pretty! It reminds me of Thanksgiving!

Christo Gonzales said...

buffalodick: we were born during a beautiful season my friend...

tavolini: I dreamed that jackson and I (banana came along later, she was working) met up with you two and, sit down, your 4 year old son, in europe, we had a blast...anyway I found more mushrooms today and I am making soup

the blonde duck: I love the cornucopia look....

Anette said...

I'm so impressed with those multicolored corn! I've never seen that before! Please tell me they would make multi colored popcorn! Please! (OK, lie)

Christo Gonzales said...

anette: they make the most spectacular multi colored popcorn you could imagine (lying - even if they did pop the inside corn would still be white - these are for decoration)

Mandi said...

Wow, you clearly know your mushrooms!!! So are there wild mushrooms that you cant eat, or can you eat all of them????

Joy said...

Beautiful colors for sure! You are a mushroom hunting fool! Carry on!

tavolini said...

That's neat--and it could happen. We've been applying for jobs overseas like madmen. Hopefully one of them will come through! Then you will definitely have to come out and cook soup for everyone :)

Magpie said...

that almost makes me wish i liked mushrooms.

we belong to a CSA - the great thing is that you have no choice in what you get, so curiously, i find my cooking more adventurous - apropos of your comment that "I could pick things I was unfamilar with and not feel bad when I mess it up."

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