Honey What's Under Your Cap?

Honey Mushrooms - These are my very favorite mushrooms and the only ones I pick.
You know they are good because other insects like to have a go at them.
I like to pick them when they just sprout, very young around 5 am. They grow in bunches so it is important to cut the stem so the roots stay in place and so they can regrow.Otherwise you lose a very good, replenishing crop of fungus.

Ours are usually found around birch trees but the ones in this picture are said to be found around oak trees.

Mushrooms are good for you as they contain selenium- (esp portabello) They also have cancer fighting agents in them especially prostate cancer.
They contain
three essential B-vitamins: riboflavin, niacin, pantothenic acid and potassium.

They help regulate blood pressure, and keep balance between water in the fat and muscle tissues.


My Mom pickled them in vinegar, pickling spices and oil and we just couldn't get enough of them.

I never knew what they were called in English but thanks to a Ukrainian stamp I found,on the net, they had an English translation.

After a morning of collecting, we had to rush home and put them into salty water so as to make all the little insects and worms come out of them. Then they were sorted, thoroughly washed, parboiled and pickled.

The whole winter we feasted and feasted well as they go with any dish and can also be fried with onions garlic and garnished with sour creme. MMMMM!


It is dangerous to pick mushrooms you don't know. We never risked it even if people said other mushrooms like the puff ones, were good.
If you don't know it, don't pick it.
I always think if other creatures eat it then its ok. It's hard to come by a good mushroom if you go late because the insects get them first. lol

Some how the ones from the store are not that good. They have no taste.

2/3 c. white wine vinegar
1/2 c. water
2 large cloves garlic, minced
1 1/2 tsp. salt
5 peppercorns
1/2 bay leaf
2 whole cloves
1 lb. medium mushrooms
1 to 2 tbsp. olive oil

Place vinegar, water, garlic, peppercorns, bay leaf and cloves in medium saucepan. Heat to boiling over high heat. Stir in cleaned mushrooms. Reduce heat and simmer uncovered 10 minutes. Remove form heat and cool to room temperature. Spoon into glass jars. Spoon oil on top. Cover tightly. Refrigerate at least 5 days before serving. Yield: 3 cups.

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Not fun being old.......

OLD people have problems that you haven't even considered yet!

An 85-year-old man was requested by his Doctor for a sperm count as part of his physical exam.

The doctor gave the man a jar and said, 'Take this jar home and bring back a semen sample tomorrow.'

The next day the 85-year-old man reappeared at the doctor's office and gave him the jar, which was as clean and empty as on the previous day..

The doctor asked what happened and the man explained, 'Well, doc, it's like this--first I tried with my right hand, but nothing. Then I tried with my left hand, but still nothing...

'Then I asked my wife for help. She tried with her right hand, then with her left, still nothing. She tried with her mouth, first with the teeth in, then with her teeth out, still nothing.

'We even called up Arleen, the lady next door and she tried too, first with both hands, then an armpit, and she even tried squeezin' it between her knees, but still nothing.'

The doctor was shocked! 'You asked your neighbor?'

The old man replied, 'Yep, none of us could get the jar open.'