RustyHinge wrote:
On 04/06/13 00:45, Tom Gardner wrote:

I also had a particularly delicious "chicken of the woods"
Laetiporus sulphureus, caught between the lion and tiger
enclosures at Longleat. No I didn't get out; a nearby warden
obliged!

I've never found one in decent enough condition to try,unfortunately, and I've been a mad mushroom maniac since around 1951...

Only one I've had too All the others have been too woody.


Jew's ear (sorry forget the modern PC name) Auricularia auricula-judae
is great in soups/stews, for the texture.

Yes. I was just listing some off the top of me 'ed. I dry that (when I find it growing on me 'ed - after all, I am an elder innit). It rehydrates as effectively as Merasmius oreades and when dry, it
can be granulated in a coffee grinder or powdered in a liquidiser.

If you do the latter, keep one specially for this purpose as it is less than kind to the blades.

I wouldn't grind it, because I think the texture is what
makes it worthwhile. The dried stuff from chinese supermarkets
is also acceptable from that PoV.