News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1921-07-13
MANY ACCEPTED METHODS
of Distinguishing Mushrooms

| prepared by the United States Depart
ment Of Agriculture.)
Mushrooms and some other fungous
growths are highly priced as articles
| OF food by many people. The nu-
tritive value of mushrooms Is low, but
| they may be prepared in various ways
which render them delicious. More
! people doubtless would seek wild
mushrooms and other fungi If they
were sufficiently informed to distin-
guish between the edible and the
deadly poisonous growths. Some very
erratic and dangerous ideas concern
ing ways Of telling the edible from
the poisonous growths are altogether
too commonly believed. Mushrooms
are frequently thought of as edible
and toadstools as poisonous. AS a
matter of fact, the United States De-
partment of Agriculture states, the
words mushroom" and "toadstoor' are
used indiscriminately and do not in
dictate whether the plants are edible
or poisonous.
Silver Coin Test Is ValueIess.
"A test for poisonous mushrooms
often recommended is based on the
belief that if silver coin placed in
the utensl in which mushrooms are
cooked furnishes, the mushrooms are
poisonous. Absolutely no reliance can
be placed on this test, as both poison
GUS and edible kinds may turn silver
dark. Equally baseess is the belief
that mushroom is shown to be edi-
bic If the skin can be peeled from
the cap readily, because peeling is
possible with many poisonous species.
The notion that soaking or boiling
poisonous mushrooms in salt water
will render them harmless has no
foundation, in fact. Some people
have thought that the presence of in
Sects on mushrooms is a proof of their
edibility. This is a dangerous suppo-
sition, because insects infest the most
poisonous as well as the best edible
species of fungi.
The collector of mushrooms cannot
depend upon any simple test. If he
intends to use them for food, he must
know what he is gathering. 1t is a
comparatively simple matter to learn
to recognize a few kinds of deadly
mushrooms and certain edible ones.
II he will gather only the kinds that
are well known to him, careful col
lector need not be afraid to gather
wild fungi for food. He should not
be misled by attractive, colors or pleas
ant odors. In Farmers Bulletin 1856 |
Some Common and Poisonous Mush- |
rooms, directions for identifying the |
poisonous and edible kinds are given. |
Recipes for Cooking Mushrooms.
According to the views of many per-
sons, mushrooms are best cooked SIM |
ply, with no seasoning bat butter, pep |
per, and salt. The addition of vari- |
Gus other seasonings impairs the deli
icate mushroom flavor However,
tastes differ, and the opportunity of |
choice or experiment is afforded by |
the recipes which follow:
The caps should be carefully |
washed, gill side down, but peeling
is not always necessary and involves
a considerable waste of time and loss
of flavor Unless the stems are ex-
tremely tough they can be used after
being cut into small bits and stewed,
or, even if tough. after long boiling
they can be run through a sieve and
made into a soup or sauce.
Wild mushrooms should be cooked
soon after collecting, as they are then
preserved much better than if kept
nncooked, even in refrigerator.
Fried Mushrooms.
Beat the yolk of an egg with a table
spoonful of water and season with
Pepper and salt. Dip each cap in this
md then dip into fine cracker crumbs
'il very hot in frying pan. Fry slow
y on each side for five minutes. A
auce can be made by thickening with
lour and adding milk or cream. If
lesired, serve on toast A smooth
omato sauce is also excellent.
Mushrooms Baked With Tomatoes.
In baking dish arrange small round
Ices of buttered toast; upon each
ece place a rather thin slice of peeled
omato, sailed and peppered; upon
a0h slice of tomato place a fine, thick
Mushroom, gill side up; in the center
f each mushroom put a generous
iece of butter; season with pepSer
nd salt. Cover the dish and bake in
hot oven for fen minuteS then nm
over and bake for an additional to
0 minutes, as the mushrooms appear
D require.
Dreamed Mushrooms. i
-. |