With the heavy rains in July, we have had lots of wild mushrooms popping up on the farm. The Stinkhorn otherwise known as bamboo pith or bamboo fungus (Phallus indusiatus) has been a common one for us. These are edible and we are perfectly happy to eat them. I say this because I have seen strange looks from Non-Asian people who look too frightened to try this epicurean delight.
These mushrooms start off as an egg-shaped structure, commonly known as “Witches’ Eggs.”
You can pick them at this stage to eat; once cooked, they have a gooey texture. They are alright (not great) if you are feeling adventurous…best pan-fried with onions and garlic.
Asian people eat the mushrooms at this stage when they become erect and rather phallic looking. In the Asian Market, they are cultivated and sold dehydrated.
You can stir-fry them and put them in stews and soups. Go on then…do something different today and find some of these lovely specimens in Toledo and cook them up for dinner!! They are supposed to be an aphrodisiac!
With all the rains from the last two weeks or so, everything is bushy again!! The grass is growing…needs another mow…oh no, more work!
Ooooooh…look at these…
The Flood Flies finally came last night and we were ready with Protocol Flood Flies still in place. Lock down started at 4pm and everyone (including the animals) were fed and watered by 5pm. Last minute shower and into the bedroom quick smart. Lights out! This morning, there was still some evidence of flood flies with their wings but not as much as previous years. Switching the lights off to reduce numbers really works and this year, I am actually not suffering from Post Traumatic Flood Flies Syndrome. Usually with the after-math of winged chaos, I am reduced to a depressed, quivering wreck armed with a vacuum cleaner in one hand and a snotty tissue in the other.
