Thursday, February 16, 2012

Shiitake. It's What's For Dinner.

Mr. Hawthorne got a mushroom kit for Christmas. He's carefully tended his little mushroom patch, spraying with non-chlorinated and non-distilled water, often rain water, several times a day.
And we've happily been watching these little fungi grow.
Today, we're harvesting our first batch of Lentinula edodes.
10 ounces!

9 comments:

Marilyn said...

Lovely!

Rosie Hawthorne said...

We're very excited, Mar!
Ate them tonight.
Posthaste forthwith.

Lea said...

What is that thing the mushrooms are growing on? Looks like a cross between a toasted marshmallow and burnt toast. And not a pretty cross at that.

Marilyn said...

Curious minds want to know: exactly how did you eat those delightful shrooms?

Rosie Hawthorne said...

That's the mushroom patch, Lea. When it first came it looked like white popcorn or styrofoam. It's composed of a blend of sterilized, enriched sawdust and wood chips, fully colonized with shiitake spores. Over time, the shiitake mushrooms will break down the woody material, using it as a food source.

Rosie Hawthorne said...

See here: http://www.fungi.com/kits/index.html

Lea said...

Interesting. Thanks!

Rosie Hawthorne said...

If you're a mushroom lover, you should try this.

Lea said...

I'm not really. I mean, I don't mind them, but they aren't a favorite. By far.