skip to main content

The Kitchen Table

if you were serving wild mushroom chowder...

15 years ago

what meat would you make for your main course?

I am having company on Sunday and really want to make the soup for a first course...can't decide on a complimentary entree.

Please help!

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (14)

carla35
15 years ago
I think beef tenderloin would go well.

If that's not within your budget, I'd probably do a different beef course.
Terri_PacNW
15 years ago
Beef is the first thing that comes to mind...but I had a wonderful pork loin at a restaurant with wild mushrooms and it was quite tasty together..
Related Discussions
Wild mushrooms growing in my eggplant container - Is this OK?
Q
Comments (8)
natydoll, I can't remember if it was a New Guinea impatien or the hybrid Sunpatien that did ok(not great) in the spa. I may have also had dragon wing begonias in one of those pots that did well. Do not use the moisture retentive potting mix you linked. It uses the polymer crystals that will make it even worse. Again there may be some circumstances where one might use that type of mix and be semi-successful. One is a hanging basket with a coconut coir liner that breathes and evaporates lots of water from the sides of the basket in the summer sun. I have baskets like that in the full sun but my choice was to continue using the 5-1-1 mix and place a plastic liner with slits for drainage. One other thought is that you could amend the media that you have with "soil conditioner" or "pine bark mulch" to add more aeration. In our region soil conditioner is made from pine bark as well. I live in the southeast and both can be found at all the big box stores and nurseries in the atlanta area. Some of the pine bark mulch is not good however. Right now the Timberline brand of mulch is good but the Evergreen brand is bad. Just yesterday I noticed the Evergreen pine bark mulch at Lowes had large bark chunks with lots of sapwood. There is considerable variation in consistency and quality depending on where you live. I have even seen considerable differences in batches at the same store a month later. Both brands can be found at some of the Lowes and the Timberline brand at Home Depot. Soil conditioner($2.60 for 2 cu.ft.) is more composted than mulch so it might be a little better than pine bark mulch. You could mix between 2 to 5 parts of conditioner/mulch to one part of your existing potting mix. It's also recommended to throw in a little dolomitic lime to offset the possibility that the conditioner/mulch has a low ph(maybe a 1/2 tablespoon per gallon). Usually it's the addition of peat moss when making 5-1-1 that requires lime(1 tablespoon per gallon). Soil conditioner/mulch is partially composted and has had time for the ph to adjust upward. You may not even need lime when mixing in with your existing media. Best of success! Tony
...See More
ok to add wild mushrooms to compost??
Q
Comments (19)
Carolyn, We have the same birthday ! Dec. 5th. Yaa..it's almost here. :) Thanks for the idea about checking the extension service. Unasmith, Excellent page ! I've found their list of links and it looks great. Jon, Agreed. I often pick though the mushroom book at Powells, but I'm afraid they only confuse me more. Everyone, I hadn't really thought about it, but the caution to not be eating stuff was a perfect warning. As a native, and an older one at that, I'm more than familiar with our yearly media stories of who got sick, died or got lost in the woods mushroom picking. It was nice to see they found that first lost woman this year.Not always the case. My purpose is to identify the mushrooms growing in my yard because I like knowing such things by name. Plus learning how they fit into the big picture.. how they work as part of the eco system. It seems to me each tree has certain mushrooms that live with it. My neighbor has property up in the Columbia Gorge where he clears trees every fall / winter and cuts pieces into fire burning sizes. Then brings that into town giving a truck load at a time to low income people that heat with wood. And there's often a piece for me.. a pretty one that will look good in my garden. I love these things as edges and pot lifters. but the best part is the different mushrooms that grow from each one every fall. Different than what I'm used to seeing here in Portland. I also received a load of wood chips from him a couple years ago and that was placed here and there for paths. yes.. more alien life forms there. In checking neighbors yards on my walks I'm seeing more varieties and those odd ones do have logs from someplace being used. So it seems I'm becoming a collector. Now that I see the ones in my yard have not only stayed from year to year, but are increasing, it time to understand more. But boy, oh boy, it's another new language to even try to start the process. And no eating mushrooms for me. Cooked they taste like slugs to me, and it's only recently I've been able to deal with fresh ones well meaning friends put is salads. uck ! But I think they are beautiful. Oh.. I have managed one ID so far of one pretty I have on one old tree trunk piece. They are tiny. I think the photo is slightly magnified. Here is a link that might be useful: Gymnopus acervatus photo
...See More
Gathering wild mushrooms?
Q
Comments (9)
early bird, I wouldn't eat any mushrooms unless I absolutely positively sure of what I am eating because you could get really sick or die from it. I ate some Elephant ear stems(I know, i know it's a strange thing to eat) which looked 99% identical to the ones are edible and remembering from what I saw when I was growing up. Anyhow, I only took a tiny bite and boy my throat and my mouth started to burn, made me nauseated. Barbcoleus came over to my house for the first time to view my garden and a visit, she must thought I was a crazy one because I told her what I ate. Luckily I didn't have to go to the hospital or died but I have learn my listen never never to eat anything like that unless I know for sure. So please don't eat the mushrooms unless you know for sure it is edible. I am speaking from my bad expireience, as I am writing this I can almost feel that burning sensation in my mouth and throat. YaK!!!! It's kind of embarassing story too but I thought it was time to tell the story. I've often wondered how many people died from trying to figure out what was edible and what was not over the years before they knew it was edible so we can enjoy now. My DH said you better not do that any more because I want you around for awhile. I don't really know you but I feel like I know you and I don't want anything bad happens to you. Jan
...See More
WizardNancy....Soup question re chowder/cheeseburger soups
Q
Comments (3)
I gave the less-than-one portion to one of our guests who is just 21. He lives on his own, and could use a quick meal. I didn't eat any of it...I don't care for chowder (the potatoes you know...) very much. I thought the potatoes would get softer also but hey, it was a chowder! That's not knife and fork food. Thanks for the confirmation my friends.
...See More
FlamingO in AR
15 years ago
Define "wild" mushrooms for me, please. Are these picked by you out in the woods/fields, or store bought from a reputable dealer? I'm too leary of wild mushrooms to eat them, there are so many poisonous varieties. Woody is fairly knowledgable about mushrooms but even so, I don't want to risk my liver over something that has no nutritional value! lol
alisande
15 years ago
I thought the same thing, Flamey. My late cousin's doctors suspected wild (hand-picked) mushrooms in her liver failure.
lydia1959
15 years ago
Whenever I hear 'wild mushrooms' I think of the movie where Clint Eastwoood is poisoned by the group of girls who feed him a big bowl of wild mushrooms. :-)
jannie
15 years ago
Beef, but I have the same qualms about "wild" mushrooms. My husband once got very ill after pulling up a wild carrot and eating it. He vomited for hours afterward.
Jeane Gallo
15 years ago
I think either a beef or pork tenderloin with wild rice would be good with it. And for everyone who is afraid of mushrooms, I grew up eating morel mushrooms that my Dad would gather in the woods. Mom would lightly coat them with flour and fry them. They were better than steak. I don't think they grow down here where I live now. I grew up in southern IL.
alisande
15 years ago
Morels are fairly unmistakable. The deadly Amanita, on the other hand, looks very much like some harmless mushrooms. Some of these wild fungi could be considered a variation on Russian roulette.
Terri_PacNW
15 years ago
So many "wild" mushrooms are now cultivated..that I'm "sure" that's what's being talked about.
Marilyn Sue
15 years ago
I love morels, only fry mine please.

Sue
Sally Brownlee
Original Author
15 years ago
I wouldn't even consider picking my own mushrooms...I am going to buy them at the market.
I probably don't even have a good understanding of what is considered "wild" when you buy them, but I was going to use shiitake and porcini.
Thanks for the concern about picking wild ones. I am not that brave, but education and reminders are never a bad thing!
I am leaning towards beef...maybe beef burgandy?
FlamingO in AR
15 years ago
We find morels here, and they are very unique, although there is a false morel that can be found occasionally, they can be huge and the mushroom hunters get really excited about them until they look them up and find out that they aren't all that edible! I don't eat the morels, either, because all those little crevices in them harbor bazillions of tiny bugs. We rinse them in a saline solution and they just keep coming out. Woody doesn't care and he loves them, so he gets to eat all of them.

Salgal- I think beef sounds perfect and maybe a wild rice side with it. What's for dessert? :)
Sally Brownlee
Original Author
15 years ago
I was thinking rice too, or risotto.. and steamed broccoli or asparagus.

Dessert is tough. I have 2 elderly ladies coming that I know do not have big appetites and both are diabetic.
I am leaning towards just a small cup of fresh fruit...I am not a fan of sugar substitutes and they can both monitor the amount of fruit they eat. ( or take some home with them if they like)
ruthieg__tx
15 years ago
Tenderloin for use........What a wonderful meal......Invite me please.

Related Stories

FUN HOUZZ 31 True Tales of Remodeling Gone Wild

By Mitchell Parker

Drugs, sex, excess — the home design industry is rife with stories that will blow your mind, or at least leave you scratching your head

GARDENING GUIDES New Ways to Think About All That Mulch in the Garden

By Benjamin Vogt / Monarch Gardens

Before you go making a mountain out of a mulch hill, learn the facts about what your plants and soil really want

MOST POPULAR Thanksgiving Tales: When the Turkey Tanks

By Mary Jo Bowling

Houzz readers prove adept at snatching victory from the jaws of entertaining defeat

ENTERTAINING 8 Stress-Busting Tips for Hosting Small Gatherings

By Laura Gaskill

Make entertaining easy with these ideas for casual get-togethers

HOLIDAYS Spend Less Without Being a Grinch: 8 Holiday Ideas

By Laura Gaskill

Give meaningful gifts and use nature's decor to work holiday magic without blowing your budget

PETS 15 Outdoor Pet Projects You'll Lap Up

By Becky Harris

These bubbling fountains, shelters and other creations by Houzzers are treats for pets and inspiration for other owners

MOST POPULAR Dare to Decorate With ‘The World’s Ugliest Color’

By Jennifer Ott Design

See how this hue can actually look quite handsome inside your home

FARMHOUSES World of Design: See How 9 Families Live and Farm on Their Land

Join us as we visit the homes and farms of passionate food producers and hear about rural life around the globe

COLOR Cooking With Color: When to Use Gray in the Kitchen

By Jennifer Ott Design

Try out Trout or shake up some Martini Shaker gray for a neutral-based kitchen that whispers of sophistication

DECORATING GUIDES How to Create a Cohesive Color Flow Throughout Your Home

By Erin Carlyle

Designers share eight techniques for avoiding a choppy feeling in your spaces

Sponsored

More Discussions

A mom tried to fly without her baby. What happened to her at the airpo

30

Weekend Music - 5 Senses

36

It's getting to be cold weather food season again!

12

Do you remember your GPA (high school or university?)

12

Gardeners Outlet -- anyone know anything about them? HELP PLEASE

3