This is what we had growing on our property. My great aunt and uncle
(he's the one on the photo) would drive in twice a year from New Mexico
to harvest these. This photo is from the early 80's ....

http://i44.tinypic.com/23tiih4.jpg

Mom still lives on the same wooded acreage, but she hasn't stumbled upon
mushrooms in this number. We speculate that the hauls were good before
because of the Limousin cattle mom and dad bred that wandered along the
creek and "fertilized" things as they grazed.

I'm sort of curious as to what those would fetch dollar-wise in today's
market.

They sure went well with the fried okra and the Striper Bass (or
catfish!) at our fish fries.

--Lin

In article >,
Lin > wrote:

> This is what we had growing on our property. My great aunt and uncle
> (he's the one on the photo) would drive in twice a year from New Mexico
> to harvest these. This photo is from the early 80's ....
>
> http://i44.tinypic.com/23tiih4.jpg
>
> Mom still lives on the same wooded acreage, but she hasn't stumbled upon
> mushrooms in this number. We speculate that the hauls were good before
> because of the Limousin cattle mom and dad bred that wandered along the
> creek and "fertilized" things as they grazed.
>
> I'm sort of curious as to what those would fetch dollar-wise in today's
> market.
>
> They sure went well with the fried okra and the Striper Bass (or
> catfish!) at our fish fries.
>
> --Lin

Well, ainchu speshul! LOL!! Wow! Nice. Twice a year? Around here
morels are a spring thing and good locations are guarded like the crown
jewels. I don't know what the freight is for fresh morels, Lin. Sorry.
--
-Barb, Mother Superior, HOSSSPoJ
http://web.me.com/barbschaller
"What you say about someone else says more
about you than it does about the other person."

Melba's Jammin' wrote:

> Well, ainchu speshul! LOL!! Wow! Nice. Twice a year? Around here
> morels are a spring thing and good locations are guarded like the crown
> jewels. I don't know what the freight is for fresh morels, Lin. Sorry.

Yeah. We didn't even KNOW about them till Mona and Kenny did a walk
through the property on one of their visits. They said the same thing
about "guarded secrets." They came out twice a year after that! LOL!

--Lin (morels battered and fried .... yummmmm)

"Lin" > wrote in message
.. .
> This is what we had growing on our property. My great aunt and uncle (he's
> the one on the photo) would drive in twice a year from New Mexico to
> harvest these. This photo is from the early 80's ....
>
> http://i44.tinypic.com/23tiih4.jpg
>
> Mom still lives on the same wooded acreage, but she hasn't stumbled upon
> mushrooms in this number. We speculate that the hauls were good before
> because of the Limousin cattle mom and dad bred that wandered along the
> creek and "fertilized" things as they grazed.
>
> I'm sort of curious as to what those would fetch dollar-wise in today's
> market.
>
> They sure went well with the fried okra and the Striper Bass (or catfish!)
> at our fish fries.
>
> --Lin

Fresh morels are available now and then in the SF Bay Area and when they are
the
price is about $25/lb. Dried morels are about $100/lb.

Ed

Theron wrote:

> Fresh morels are available now and then in the SF Bay Area and when they are
> the
> price is about $25/lb. Dried morels are about $100/lb.

Thanks, Ed! I remember those mushrooms being very heavy, weighted with
moisture. Well, you saw how big those were. I venture to guess that it
wouldn't take too many to make a pound.

--Lin

On Wed, 11 Mar 2009 19:51:33 -0700, Lin >
wrote:

>This is what we had growing on our property. My great aunt and uncle
>(he's the one on the photo) would drive in twice a year from New Mexico
>to harvest these. This photo is from the early 80's ....
>
>http://i44.tinypic.com/23tiih4.jpg
>
>Mom still lives on the same wooded acreage, but she hasn't stumbled upon
>mushrooms in this number. We speculate that the hauls were good before
>because of the Limousin cattle mom and dad bred that wandered along the
>creek and "fertilized" things as they grazed.
>
>I'm sort of curious as to what those would fetch dollar-wise in today's
>market.
>
Can I say "A lot"? They are HUGE! I'd say check what fresh goes for
at Whole Paycheck... wait, make that Whole Foods or call a place like
Berkeley Bowl to find out what they are asking for their itty bitty
ones and double it.

>They sure went well with the fried okra and the Striper Bass (or
>catfish!) at our fish fries.
>
Seems like a waste of good mushrooms, but I've never been able to pick
them for free.



--
I never worry about diets. The only carrots that
interest me are the number of carats in a diamond.

Mae West

"Lin" > wrote in message
.. .
> Theron wrote:
>
>> Fresh morels are available now and then in the SF Bay Area and when they
>> are the
>> price is about $25/lb. Dried morels are about $100/lb.
>
> Thanks, Ed! I remember those mushrooms being very heavy, weighted with
> moisture. Well, you saw how big those were. I venture to guess that it
> wouldn't take too many to make a pound.
>
> --Lin

When I can afford them, the fresh morel has a delicacy that you rarely
taste. Dried morels dehydrate very well; it's well worth drying some if you
have enough.

Ed

Lin wrote:
> This is what we had growing on our property. My great aunt and uncle
> (he's the one on the photo) would drive in twice a year from New
> Mexico to harvest these. This photo is from the early 80's ....
>
> http://i44.tinypic.com/23tiih4.jpg
>
> Mom still lives on the same wooded acreage, but she hasn't stumbled
> upon mushrooms in this number. We speculate that the hauls were good
> before because of the Limousin cattle mom and dad bred that wandered
> along the creek and "fertilized" things as they grazed.
>
> I'm sort of curious as to what those would fetch dollar-wise in
> today's market.
>
> They sure went well with the fried okra and the Striper Bass (or
> catfish!) at our fish fries.
>
> --Lin

You can read up on morel mushroom picking on the 'net. If you don't have as
many on the property as before, it may be that someone is picking them
already. It's a business, where people travel across the country to pick
each year and sell their harvest.

http://www.freshplaza.com/news_detail.asp?id=24600

http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/...oom-usat_x.htm

Janet

"Lin" > wrote in message
.. .
> This is what we had growing on our property. My great aunt and uncle (he's
> the one on the photo) would drive in twice a year from New Mexico to
> harvest these. This photo is from the early 80's ....
>
> http://i44.tinypic.com/23tiih4.jpg
>
>
Nice haul!

I sure wish the pic was taken with a better camera, the resolution sucks big
time.... and what's with that sepia tone? I would have liked to have seen
pics of them growing... seing the poor things all heaped in a pile on old
newpaper like so many fish entrils is culinarilly sacriligious. Did you eat
them?

On Mar 11, 9:03*pm, Melba's Jammin' >
wrote:
> In article >,
>
>
>
> *Lin > wrote:
> > This is what we had growing on our property. My great aunt and uncle
> > (he's the one on the photo) would drive in twice a year from New Mexico
> > to harvest these. This photo is from the early 80's ....
>
> >http://i44.tinypic.com/23tiih4.jpg
>
> > Mom still lives on the same wooded acreage, but she hasn't stumbled upon
> > mushrooms in this number. We speculate that the hauls were good before
> > because of the Limousin cattle mom and dad bred that wandered along the
> > creek and "fertilized" things as they grazed.
>
> > I'm sort of curious as to what those would fetch dollar-wise in today's
> > market.
>
> > They sure went well with the fried okra and the Striper Bass (or
> > catfish!) at our fish fries.
>
> > --Lin
>
> Well, ainchu speshul! *LOL!! * Wow! *Nice. *Twice a year? *Around here
> morels are a spring thing and good locations are guarded like the crown
> jewels. *I don't know what the freight is for fresh morels, Lin. *Sorry.
> --
> -Barb, Mother Superior, HOSSSPoJhttp://web.me.com/barbschaller
> "What you say about someone else says more
> about you than it does about the other person."

One tiny package of fewer than 5 dried morels (a small handful) was
$17 at my supermarket yesterday.
Lynn in Fargo
Wants to taste morels and truffles before I die.

Lin wrote:

> http://i44.tinypic.com/23tiih4.jpg

Oh! Window-mount A/C Unit for 96.99!

-sw

Sheldon wrote:

> Nice haul!

Those were the days.

> I sure wish the pic was taken with a better camera, the resolution sucks big
> time.... and what's with that sepia tone?

It was an old Polaroid Instant picture (you remember those -- you
"shook" them as they developed). Mom scanned that on her little home
scanner and sent it to me last night. I've asked if she wouldn't mind
bringing it with her when I see her in a couple of weeks so Ican get a
better scan. Whether the sepia tone is just the age of the Polaroid or
mom using a little "artistic license" I don't know.

> I would have liked to have seen
> pics of them growing... seing the poor things all heaped in a pile on old
> newpaper like so many fish entrils is culinarilly sacriligious. Did you eat
> them?

No -- we didn't eat them all. We'd have a pretty big gatherings and they
were part of the feast, but when Mona and Kenny came in they would take
quite a few home with them. My little sisters weren't crazy about them
(adult tastes and all) and I would be the one that sautéed them in a
little butter and a splash of wine. The folks preferred them batter
dipped and fried.

It would have never occurred to my folks to sell them. They enjoyed
sharing those types of things with family and friends.

--Lin

Janet Bostwick wrote:

> You can read up on morel mushroom picking on the 'net. If you don't have as
> many on the property as before, it may be that someone is picking them
> already. It's a business, where people travel across the country to pick
> each year and sell their harvest.

Probably not where my mom and her neighbors are. Some of them would
shoot at strangers traipsing around uninvited on their land.
Fortunately, most people around there have the good sense to go to the
door and ask permission before trespassing.

She walks her property along the creek quite often with her dogs and the
mushrooms just aren't there like they were. She really does think it's
because there aren't cattle grazing there anymore and I'm inclined to
agree.

> http://www.freshplaza.com/news_detail.asp?id=24600
>
> http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/...oom-usat_x.htm

I especially liked the second story! I'm wondering if we have some
mushrooms close by because off all the wildfires we had here last year.
Hmmmmm.

--Lin

Lin wrote on Thu, 12 Mar 2009 10:45:40 -0700:

> It was an old Polaroid Instant picture (you remember those --
> you "shook" them as they developed). Mom scanned that on her
> little home scanner and sent it to me last night. I've asked
> if she wouldn't mind bringing it with her when I see her in a couple
> of weeks so Ican get a better scan. Whether the sepia
> tone is just the age of the Polaroid or mom using a little
> "artistic license" I don't know.

A rather OT interjection! I've recently scanned some color family
photographs (50 or so years old) for my kids. The color balance is often
much changed by selective fading and there is browning and general
fading but I've been quite successful in doing restoration with a
program as simple as Photoshop Elements.

--

James Silverton
Potomac, Maryland

Email, with obvious alterations: not.jim.silverton.at.verizon.not

Lin wrote:
> Janet Bostwick wrote:
>
>> You can read up on morel mushroom picking on the 'net. If you don't
>> have as many on the property as before, it may be that someone is
>> picking them already. It's a business, where people travel across
>> the country to pick each year and sell their harvest.
>
> Probably not where my mom and her neighbors are. Some of them would
> shoot at strangers traipsing around uninvited on their land.
> Fortunately, most people around there have the good sense to go to the
> door and ask permission before trespassing.
>
> She walks her property along the creek quite often with her dogs and
> the mushrooms just aren't there like they were. She really does think
> it's because there aren't cattle grazing there anymore and I'm
> inclined to agree.
>
>> http://www.freshplaza.com/news_detail.asp?id=24600
>>
>> http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/...oom-usat_x.htm
>
> I especially liked the second story! I'm wondering if we have some
> mushrooms close by because off all the wildfires we had here last
> year. Hmmmmm.
>
> --Lin

Well, go for it!!! Good hunting!
Janet

"Lin" > wrote in message
.. .
> Sheldon wrote:
>
>> Nice haul!
>
> Those were the days.
>
>> I sure wish the pic was taken with a better camera, the resolution sucks
>> big time.... and what's with that sepia tone?
>
> It was an old Polaroid Instant picture (you remember those -- you "shook"
> them as they developed). Mom scanned that on her little home scanner and
> sent it to me last night. I've asked if she wouldn't mind bringing it with
> her when I see her in a couple of weeks so Ican get a better scan. Whether
> the sepia tone is just the age of the Polaroid or mom using a little
> "artistic license" I don't know.

Sure I remember, nearly everyone had a Polaroid (that grainy pic must've
been taken with a Bi-Polaroid). She had to have fiddled with it to get that
sepia tone. The problem with using a better quality scanner is it will
accetuate the grainyness, there's really nothing that can improve Polaroid
prints.


>> I would have liked to have seen pics of them growing... seing the poor
>> things all heaped in a pile on old newpaper like so many fish entrils is
>> culinarilly sacriligious. Did you eat them?
>
> No -- we didn't eat them all. We'd have a pretty big gatherings and they
> were part of the feast, but when Mona and Kenny came in they would take
> quite a few home with them. My little sisters weren't crazy about them
> (adult tastes and all) and I would be the one that sautéed them in a
> little butter and a splash of wine. The folks preferred them batter dipped
> and fried.
>
> It would have never occurred to my folks to sell them. They enjoyed
> sharing those types of things with family and friends.
>
>
I wouldn't have sold them either. I would have shared some but I also would
have cooked a good amount into a stew/soup and froze it for later. Morels
would go well in a quiche, or in my wild rice soup:
http://i39.tinypic.com/2vxn590.jpg

James Silverton wrote:

> A rather OT interjection! I've recently scanned some color family
> photographs (50 or so years old) for my kids. The color balance is often
> much changed by selective fading and there is browning and general
> fading but I've been quite successful in doing restoration with a
> program as simple as Photoshop Elements.

Keeping it a bit more OT: I have the full Adobe Creative Suite and as a
designer live, eat and breathe Photoshop. Polaroids are always a bit
problematic, even on a decent scanner, so color correction in an
industry standard app is a must.

When I was working, I always made sure to have the best scanner at my
finger tips. I did save transparencies, slides and negatives for the
pre-press folks even though I did have the transparency adapter for the
scanner. The last high-end scanner was an Epson that I REALLY liked. So,
fast forward to my little home studio and I put a $59 (on sale at
Target) Epson All-in-One Printer on the desk next to me. Imagine my
delight when I launched the scanning software and it was identical to
what I had used before -- and it scans at the same high resolutions! The
only problem is I'm limited to a letter size scan and the software
didn't come with the Photoshop TWAIN plug-in. Might be one out there, I
just haven't checked. So many of the photos I manipulate these days are
digital so I don't use the the scanner all that much.

Now, back to mushrooms. Has anyone seen this?

Mushrooms, Russia and History
http://www.newalexandria.org/archive/

I've downloaded the PDFs ... the color illustrations are beautiful.

--Lin

Living in SW Washington state we have mushrooms galore but I've never
gotten over the fear of picking them. I've tried some king boletes but
that's all. Wish I could learn how to recognize and have the nerve to
try. :-(

Lynn from Fargo Ografmorffig wrote:
> On Mar 11, 9:03 pm, Melba's Jammin' >
> wrote:
>> In article >,
>>
>>
>>
>> Lin > wrote:
>>> This is what we had growing on our property. My great aunt and uncle
>>> (he's the one on the photo) would drive in twice a year from New Mexico
>>> to harvest these. This photo is from the early 80's ....
>>> http://i44.tinypic.com/23tiih4.jpg
>>> Mom still lives on the same wooded acreage, but she hasn't stumbled upon
>>> mushrooms in this number. We speculate that the hauls were good before
>>> because of the Limousin cattle mom and dad bred that wandered along the
>>> creek and "fertilized" things as they grazed.
>>> I'm sort of curious as to what those would fetch dollar-wise in today's
>>> market.
>>> They sure went well with the fried okra and the Striper Bass (or
>>> catfish!) at our fish fries.
>>> --Lin
>> Well, ainchu speshul! LOL!! Wow! Nice. Twice a year? Around here
>> morels are a spring thing and good locations are guarded like the crown
>> jewels. I don't know what the freight is for fresh morels, Lin. Sorry.
>> --
>> -Barb, Mother Superior, HOSSSPoJhttp://web.me.com/barbschaller
>> "What you say about someone else says more
>> about you than it does about the other person."
>
> One tiny package of fewer than 5 dried morels (a small handful) was
> $17 at my supermarket yesterday.
> Lynn in Fargo
> Wants to taste morels and truffles before I die.

Michael "Dog3" wrote:

> Lin > news:38c97$49b878c0$453e8ce6$23164
> @EVERESTKC.NET: in rec.food.cooking
>
> > This is what we had growing on our property. My great aunt and uncle
> > (he's the one on the photo) would drive in twice a year from New Mexico
> > to harvest these. This photo is from the early 80's ....
> >
> > http://i44.tinypic.com/23tiih4.jpg
> >
> > Mom still lives on the same wooded acreage, but she hasn't stumbled
> upon
> > mushrooms in this number. We speculate that the hauls were good before
> > because of the Limousin cattle mom and dad bred that wandered along the
> > creek and "fertilized" things as they grazed.
> >
> > I'm sort of curious as to what those would fetch dollar-wise in today's
> > market.
> >
> > They sure went well with the fried okra and the Striper Bass (or
> > catfish!) at our fish fries.
>
> Ohhh... how lucky you are. Last I heard morels were running about
> $100/lb. Might be more now. That price was a couple of years back and
> IIRC there were shipping charges involved. On the local level I'm not
> sure. I *think* maybe $50-$75 a pound?! Like I said, that was a couple
> of years ago. I'd never sell 'em. I'd eat them all :-)


Where I grew up in rural downstate Illannoy morels could be so plentiful
that they were considered "free" food - same thing with blackberries growing
along the road in ditches or in old forgotten cemeteries. No one would
think to sell them, excess was to be given away with the rest of one's
garden stuff. It seemed some of the bigger hauls were taken by poorer
people, and so some of the more well - off peeps somewhat disdained them,
considering them "poor food". Same thing with catfish...

Back 50 or so years ago some of the poorer folk around were hillbillies who
had moved up from the hills of Kentucky and Tennessee, they knew all about
how to find edible plants and other food for free, they had no choice at
times...they had a "nose" for finding morels, certainly. They'd get huge
burlap bags of 'em...

Wish I could get morels, huge juicy blackberries, and great catfish (and
sturgeon and carp) for "free" now...

I remember 40 - odd years ago when button mushrooms were considered the
extreme height of sophistication, being able to buy them in our rural area
was something new. One time one of the foofier members (they drove a
Chrysler Imperial and were the first to get a dishwasher) of my parents'
card club served stuffed button mushrooms, crepes suzettes, and Grasshoppers
for their card club repast, peeps talked about that for months, lol...this
was c. 1968 or so.


--
Best
Greg

Lin wrote:
> This is what we had growing on our property. My great aunt and uncle
> (he's the one on the photo) would drive in twice a year from New Mexico
> to harvest these. This photo is from the early 80's ....
>
> http://i44.tinypic.com/23tiih4.jpg
>
> Mom still lives on the same wooded acreage, but she hasn't stumbled upon
> mushrooms in this number. We speculate that the hauls were good before
> because of the Limousin cattle mom and dad bred that wandered along the
> creek and "fertilized" things as they grazed.
>
> I'm sort of curious as to what those would fetch dollar-wise in today's
> market.
>
> They sure went well with the fried okra and the Striper Bass (or
> catfish!) at our fish fries.
>
> --Lin

Oh my! There were morels growing at dad's place. I miss them!
They really cost a bundle here, so I might get a few once a year
as a special springtime treat.

--
Jean B.

In article >,
Lin > wrote:

> I'm sort of curious as to what those would fetch dollar-wise in today's
> market.

Last morels I saw in a market were $30/lb. in the Minneapolis
area. You don't see them often. I was happy when I found
five of them in a park once.

Mike Beede