I Didn't Die

I thought I was being the original foraging, frugal gourmet, when someone I trusted identified my find as Almond Portobellos, or Agaricus subrufescens. He thought he detected the signature almond scent. I didn't but thought it must just be very faint. Oh goodie! Reassured with a quick glance at a reference book, I immediately sauteed them up with herbs, a few leftover veggies, and butter, topped some pasta with it, and voila, lunch. They were quite good, though no almond taste either, I thought, while reading further in my Mushrooms of Hawaii book. Funny, they also didn't meet a few other criteria. No annulus near the apex, no yellow bruising on lower half of the stalk when touched. Oh Boy. Dum de dum dum...

No, I didn't die. Or get sick, force myself to throw them up, or even have indigestion later.

Further reading in the mushroom identification guide leads me to believe what I ate was Agrocybe procera. They seem to have all the qualifications. I'm presently doing a spore print, which should help. Thing is, the book says, Edibility: unknown. Maybe I'm contributing to mycology here. Using myself as a guinea pig. I don't recommend this technique.


If anyone else wants to contribute their professional or amateur gourmet opinion, feel free. Another quote from the book which sort of worries me: "Although we are unable to identify this species with certainty, it is very similar to Agrocybe procera, described from Chile."


They were growing in wood chips compost, by the way.


Also, the gills turn brown with more maturity. I wonder, should I eat the ones I picked this morning?

Monday afternoon update: I visited the charming Dr. Don Hemmes, Mycologist and co-author of the above referenced mushroom identification guide, at the University this morning, with my spore print and some sample mushrooms. He confirmed their tentative species as the Agrocybe procera, and had a good story of the only (aside from me) other eating experience he'd heard of. He was called to the emergency room at Hilo Hospital to examine some mushrooms the parents of a 5 yr. old child brought in with the the little girl, who had apparently ingested a large quantity of them. When they were asked about why she did this, her two older brothers were observed to be sheepishly studying the floor. They had given her some story as to why she should eat those magic mushrooms. Well, she didn't turn into a fairy, or get sick either. I didn't even have the excuse of thinking they were magical. Just edible.

When You've Got Bananas

Whooee ... two recipe posts in a row!


Father's Day Breakfast Special
When we have time for a more leisurely breakfast, one of my all time favorites is fruit-filled crepes. I usually dribble a bit of marmalade down, add either fresh sliced mangoes or, as today, bananas sauteed in butter, a little creamy, thick yogurt or sour cream, roll it up and top with syrup or, as I do, with a dusting of powdered sugar. They're unbelievable!

Almost any fresh fruit is good, but bananas are even better when they're lightly sauteed in butter, just til softened. So, you see, I DO use bananas for something besides wine. There's cream pie, banana muffins, banana waffles, banana pancakes and, of course, banana bread too.

The easy crepe recipe is:

• 1 - 1 & 1/2 cups milk (batter should coat spoon well)
  
• 3-4 eggs (depending on the size)
  
• 1 cup flour
• 1/4 cup melted butter

Beat flour in gradually with whisk, then add the butter. Swirl a small amount in hot crepe or small saute pan. Flip after a minute and voila!

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I was thinking about how Jesus told people many times that their faith had healed them - Luke 18:43 for example. Besides actually healing people he used parables, and the healing was also a form of illustration. You come to Jesus Messiah, and ask him to lift you above your circumstances - to save you. That is faith - that he not only can, but will. And, he does, by his mercy and grace. Because he loves us.

Serving Someone?

This morning I was reading in my journal from ten years ago. I was at approximately the same place in the Bible, and made a note of Proverbs 13:18 - "He who ignores discipline comes to poverty and shame, but whoever heeds correction is honored." I wrote: This poverty can be in areas of our lives other than just financial; wherever we are undisciplined, whether health (diet, exercise); spiritual; friendships/relationships (Prov. 13:20 - "He who walks with the wise grows wise."); even cleaning! Lord, help me to be disciplined in every area of my life.

I still need more discipline in the area of house cleaning. Not a favorite thing to do. I'd rather whip up a batch of guava jam or even make a Chocolate Stout Cake (what I'm in the middle of at the moment - the icing is cooling).

I'm enjoying looking at my old journals. Here's something from 5 years ago: If life doesn't gain you eternity and knowing your Creator, then you've wasted it. There is no other worthwhile "success" as a human being. "Destruction is certain for those who quarrel with their Creator." Isaiah 45:9
All the things that fascinate, occupy our attention, give us our meaning in life, that are other than God, that draw us away, rather than toward him, will fail us. They'll prove utterly useless.

Do you dislike hearing about God that "He is a jealous God"? - Joshua 24:19 It tells me just how much he loves me. This verse is cross-referenced to Matthew 6:24 - "No one can serve two masters..." And to Joshua, who tells the people, "choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve..." ( Joshua 24:15) I'll bet the majority of people don't think they're serving anyone or anything. But, like the old Bob Dylan song, "You Gotta Serve Somebody."