Well, mushrooms are a type of fungus. If I see them in my yard I take that as a good sign that there is organic matter present in enough quantitly to support fungus. Healthy soil needs to be able to support beneficial fungi and bacteria. I find mushrooms mostly with our heavy spring rains and late summer oppressive humidity. I've never seen any obvious bad effects. I've had dog vomit fungus and that one does gross me out, though. My neighbor always has bird's nest fungus. But what do I know? Karen

Mushrooms as you described are good. They are the flowering portions of fungus living in your soil, feeding off the organic material there. They are a sign of a healthy soil. If you find them unsightly, just kick them down with your foot or cut them down when you mow. I mulch a lot of leaves into my lawn in the fall and always see a few mushrooms when conditions favor their growth, they dont last long. I think they're cute.

Jambalaya (Fine Cooking) What a fun combination of flavors and colors! This whole concoction boasts an amazing array of ingredients--garlic, peppers (sweet and hot), tomatoes, herbs, spices, and Cajun-seasoned chicken, shrimp, and sausage. 1 cup quick-cooking brown or white rice 2 tsp. olive oil 1/2 cup chopped onion 1 large green bell pepper, seeded and chopped 2 cloves garlic, minced 1/4 cup diced pickled jalapenos 1/2 lb. boneless, skinless chicken breasts or tenders, cut into 1-inch chunks 1 tsp. Cajun or Creole seasoning 1 tsp. dried oregano 1/2 lb. andouille sausage, chorizo sausage, or kielbasa, cut into 1-inch-thick rounds 1/2 lb. medium shrimp, peeled and deveined One 28-oz. can diced tomatoes 2 bay leaves 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley Table salt and freshly ground black pepper Cook the rice according to the package directions. Heat the oil in a large saucepan or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the onion, bell pepper, garlic, and jalapenos and cook, stirring, until softened, about 3 minutes. Add the chicken and cook until browned on all sides, about 5 minutes. Add the Cajun seasoning and oregano and stir to coat the chicken and vegetables. Add the sausage and shrimp and cook, stirring, for 2 minutes. Add the tomatoes and bay leaves, bring to a simmer, and let simmer until the chicken and shrimp are cooked through (the shrimp will be bright pink), about 3 minutes. Remove the bay leaves and stir in the cooked rice and parsley. Season to taste with salt and pepper and serve.

Great idea. I tend to "hoard", like buy too many things, then I don't have enough storage room. Buy two of something, not four (or a dozen). Keep track and keep current. Thanks for a great tip!