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05/07/2003 Archived Entry: "THOSE MOREL SLEUTHS"

THOSE MOREL SLEUTHS

Ah...morel sleuths are coming out of the walls and identifying themselves to me. I'll keep their identities hidden and wouldn't think of divulging their most secret hunting places to others.

Here's one of the letters I received from one of my readers:

My spouse and I are avid mushroom hunters but we have been very disappointed in the 12 years we have lived here because we just have not found the right spots. We have found a single or maybe two in spots that should have had many.

Once we were coming back to old 40 from the river --having had no luck, and lo and behold there was a single morel growing out of the railroad rocks right next to the tracks. Not a likely place!

When we lived east of here, we found morels by the grocery sack full and also oyster mushrooms. We go back there to our favorite spots when we get to craving the tasty morsels. We will continue to search every creek, riverbank, wooded area in Ellsworth County until we do find a good bonanza. We quit going this week because the sting weed is about 3 feet tall and the poison ivy about a foot tall. I've had my experiences with poison ivy and I don't take chances anymore.

Half the fun is getting out to go looking and enjoying the trek and it's a bonus to find a mushroom or two. I found the one and only for this year just last week when the poison ivy was only about 5-6 inches tall. It was big enough that I sliced it lengthwise and we each had a good taste. Yummy!

Do you like puffballs? They are delicious! But you have to be sure that they are perfectly white like a marshmallow in order to eat them. When they start turning tan or yellow on the inside, it's too late. When I find one, I slice it from top to bottom and if there is a core or anything but pure white, I toss it.
We slice them about 3/4" thick, dip in egg, than cracker crumbs or flour and fry. Lord, I'm slobbering now. Ha. Oysters and puffballs can be found almost anytime of the year when conditions are right. We've found oysters in winter time growing off a dead ash limb covered with snow.

Well, keep tramping in the woods but watch out for the ivy and ticks.