General Chat

Farmer Maggots mushrooms on toast

http://www.feastofstarlight.com/the-lord-of-the-rings-farmer-maggots-mushroom-toast/

mmmm

There are dozens of varieties of tasty fungus.
Autumn is a good time for picking but take somebody knowledgeable with you or purchase from shops.

Gwyn it was not until I was 16/17 that I even tasted a mushroom, that would have been too exotic for my Mum's cooking abilities (which were great but basic). Even though living near fields and farms I don't remember seeing mushrooms growing. My first taste of them was when my boyfriend (now OH) took me to a cafe called Corbetts cafe in Fareham for steak, egg and chips with mushrooms. the only things I had eaten before on that plate were the egg and chips but I loved both steak and mushrooms and always remember that meal.

That's really interesting, Ann.

Amazing that one can increase vitamin D content simply by leaving the mushrooms exposed like that.
I have always more or less thought of them as a tasty extra, but haven't given much thought to nutritional value.

As a teenager, I remember finding a field of wild mushrooms growing on Portsdown Hill. I was used to finding them growing in grassland on a relative's farm, but the later find was amongst harvested corn stubble.
My brother picked pounds of them that season and a local shopkeeper was happy to take as many as he could supply.

In a new study, conducted by Nutrition Research Australia, researchers found the most commonly consumed mushrooms contain a range of bioactive compounds, found not only in vegetables but also some meats, whole grains and nuts.
Here, the experts listed the health benefits of eating everyday mushrooms:
VITAMIN D
Eating mushrooms that have been exposed to sunlight increases vitamin D levels - and can be as effective as taking a vitamin D supplement, research has shown.
'To reap the vitamin D rewards, leave your mushrooms to tan in the sun with the gills facing up for 15 minutes - it's an easy trick that multiplies the vitamin D content of mushrooms by up to 10 times,' Ms O'Hanlon said.
You should also use every part of the mushroom in your meals - caps and stems. Many people don't realise but there is so much goodness found in mushroom stems, so don't waste them.'
FULLER FOR LONGER
Eating mushrooms has been linked to increased feelings of fullness, reduced hunger, and a lower food intake during the rest of the day, making mushrooms ideal for a healthy diet and those watching their weight.
GUT HEALTH
Want to keep your gut health in check? Mushrooms contain special prebiotics that feed your good gut bacteria, and can reduce bad breath.
IMMUNITY SUPPORT
Mushrooms are abundant in antioxidants, which help fight free radicals and support immune function.
LOWER CANCER RISK
Regularly consuming mushrooms has been associated with a reduction in the risk of ovarian cancer and the progression of prostate cancer.
BETA BENEFITS
The cell wall of mushrooms contain beta-glucans, a soluble fibre commonly found in oats that has cholesterol lowering properties and may boost heart health.