FANTASTIC FUNGI September 30 2017
I love the onset of autumn, as it signifies the start of the mushroom hunting season. With cooler, wetter weather settling in, as if by magic, edible wild mushrooms begin to appear in woodlands, fields & hedgerows. Stepping out for a misty, morning walk with a wicker basket (& my dog) can be hard to beat. My all-time favourite ‘foraging finds’ include humble field mushrooms & creamy white puffballs, delicious in simple stir-fries & warming soups - perfect after a chilly, autumn walk!
Mushroom hunting is a wonderful way to get outdoors & enjoy the countryside, so if you’re out & about in the coming weeks, keep your eyes peeled for these edible treasures. All you need is a wicker basket or cotton bag, plus a small knife & brush. Just remember to make sure you carefully identify mushrooms before cooking and eating them. For good basic tips visit:
http://www.wildfooduk.com/articles/wild-mushrooms-for-beginners/
Also remember to avoid picking too many mushrooms. For guidelines on sustainable foraging visit:
https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/visiting-woods/things-to-do/foraging/foraging-guidelines/
If you’re looking for a gift for a mycologist friend or mushroom-lover, my original gouache painting of Wild Mushrooms - a new addition to my ‘Vintage Kitchen Collection’, is available to buy online as signed art prints & greeting cards from:
https://www.kellyhalldesigns.com/collections/vintage-kitchen-wild-mushrooms
Also, on another topic, I’m excited to say that I’ll be opening a Christmas pop-up gallery & gift shop in Lewes, East Sussex on 7th, 8th & 9th December 2017. I’ll be sharing further details in my blog next month so watch this space.
That’s all for now, thank you for reading & happy mushroom hunting!