Category: MISC

BOSTON CREAM PIE

When I was a little girl Boston Cream Pie was my FAVORITE Sunday dinner dessert and my grandma made it for me regularly until I was about 10 years old and then Sunday dinners as we knew them stopped on a regular basis. Since then I have craved Boston Cream Pie on a regular basis and finally have resurrected her recipe.

According to about.com, Boston Cream Pie is “Not a pie, but not your average cake, Boston Cream Pie is one of the city’s signature recipes. A descendant of pudding-cake pie, the Boston cream pie is considered to be the creation of French chef Sanzian of the Parker House Hotel (now the Omni Parker House). In 1996 the Boston Cream Pie was named the official dessert of Massachusetts.”

CAKE
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 5 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • 1 JUMBO egg
  • 1 1/4 cup cake flour
  • 1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 3/4 cup whole milk

CUSTARD***

  • 1/3 cup sugar
  • scant 3 tablespoons cornstarch
  • 1 1/2 cup whole milk
  • 3 JUMBO egg yolks
  • 1/2 cup heavy cream
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
  • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter

GLAZE

  • 2 ounces semi-sweet chocolate
  • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 1 cup powdered sugar
  • 3/4 teaspoon vanilla
  • 2 tablespoons hot water

CAKE

  • Preheat oven to 350°F. Butter and flour a 9 1/2-inch springform baking pan. I use a square one to make pieces easier to cut.
  • Combine the butter, sugar, and vanilla in a bowl. Cream together using an electric mixer until the mixture is light and fluffy. Add the eggs one at a time, beating thoroughly after each one.
  • In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, cream of tartar and salt. Combine with the creamed mixture and add the milk.
  • Pour batter into the prepared pan*. Bake in the middle of the oven for 50 to 60 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean. Remove from oven and let the cake cool in the pan on a wire rack.
CUSTARD
  • Combine the cornstarch, sugar, milk, eggs, cream, vanilla extract, and salt in a saucepan. Whisk until smooth.
  • Bring the custard to a boil over moderate heat, whisking constantly. Continuing to whisk, let the custard boil for two minutes.
  • Remove from heat, and whisk in the butter. Set custard aside to cool, continuing to whisk occasionally.
GLAZE
  • In a double boiler, melt together the chocolate and butter until smooth. remove from heat and stir in powdered sugar and vanilla. Stir in hot water 1 teaspoon at a time until desired consistency.
BUILDING THE PERFECT PIE
  • Remove the cake from the pan and cut it in half horizontally with a long serrated knife.
  • Place one half of the cake on a plate with the cut side facing up. Top with custard.
  • Place the other half of the cake on top, with the cut side down.
  • Coat the top of the cake with glaze allowing it to drip down the sides.
  • *I like to use my square spring form pan for a couple of reasons; it make cutting pieces a lot easier since the slices when it is cut as a pie tend to try and fall over and my serving plate is rectangular in shape.
  • ***The traditional custard substitutes in this recipe for a pineapple custard which is what we like to do.

HAPPY HOMEMAKER MONDAY & MENU PLAN MONDAY

www.familycorner.blogspot.com

Good Morning! I had a no so great  weekend and am ready for a great new week.  It’s Monday morning and I’m really getting back into a regular routine here at my blog. I join in with Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom .  Be sure and stop by to see what it’s all about!

  • A big cup of coffee and then a homemade fruit smoothie (banana, pineapple, strawberry and cherries) before I go to the gym. 
  • Pool in time and then the gym to avoid the warmer water from the humidity of the recent storms.
  • Laundry

Whatever strikes our fancy off the DVR.  I try not to plan this in advance and just go with the flow at least until the NEW Fall schedule starts.

Hot as usual! It’s only supposed to be 100 today but it’s now officially monsoon season so the humidity is really unpredictable.

 Menu Plan Monday hosted by Laura at I’m an Organizing Junkie


 DATE BREAKFAST LUNCH DINNER
MONDAY 8/4 YOGURT C.O.R.D. Orange Honey Chicken 
TUESDAY 8/5 BAGEL & CREAM CHEESE C.O.R.D. Bohemian Pork Chops aka Pork Chops in Beer Gravy
WEDNESDAY 8/6 YOGURT C.O.R.D. Champagne Salad
THURSDAY 8/7 FRUIT C.O.R.D. Chicken Empanadas
FRIDAY 8/8 CEREAL C.O.R.D. Slow Cooked Pork Tenderloin with Sauerkraut
SATURDAY 8/9 C.O.R.D. C.O.R.D. Baked White Fish
SUNDAY 8/10 Shirred Eggs C.O.R.D. Chicken Chile Corn Custards

Do a little quilting and finish a few older projects though I have yet to have a few minutes to myself LOL like that’s going to happen.

I have a list of tons of recipes I want to try, but I’m trying to go with the most unusual first.  So this week it is MOINK balls.  Stay posted for the results.

As I combine all my old blogs into this new one I’m also keeping a list of those recipes that I cannot in good conscience bring over until I remake them and take some decent pictures LOL.

We were forced to start the work on the garden this week when we dug the grave for our cat.  Hubs sterilized the ground and we’re giving it a week or so before we begin reconstructing.

It’s never easy, even when you know it’s inevitable, but when a pet dies you lose a a piece of the family.  We will miss her, but are glad she went with very little pain. She died in my arms, so sad, but she was surrounded by love. She lived a very long life (97 in cat years)  and was always so sweet. I purchased a couple garden stones that were unimpressive as they were, but have painted them a nice hammered copper to mark her spot.

Whiskey’s birthday was a bit overshadowed by the death of our cat on the same day so I forgot to wish her a happy birthday.  She is honestly the best fur child I have ever had – she was born speaking English, loving, compassionate and just sooooooo sweet.

Berries are delicious, but they’re also kind of delicate. Raspberries in particular seem like they can mold before you even get them home from the market.  There’s nothing more tragic than paying $4 for a pint of local raspberries, only to look in the fridge the next day and find that fuzzy mold growing on their insides.

Well, with fresh berries just starting to hit farmers markets, we can tell you that how to keep them fresh!  Here’s a tip I’m sharing on how to prevent them from getting there in the first place:  Wash them with vinegar.

When you get your berries home, prepare a mixture of one part vinegar (white or apple cider probably work best) and ten parts water. Dump the berries into the mixture and swirl around. Drain, rinse if you want (though the mixture is so diluted you can’t taste the vinegar,) and pop in the fridge.  The vinegar kills any mold spores and other bacteria that might be on the surface of the fruit, and voila!  Raspberries will last a week or more, and strawberries go almost two weeks without getting moldy and soft.  So go forth and stock up on those pricey little gems, knowing they’ll stay fresh as long as it takes you to eat them.

Nibble Me This – Chris is my go to blog for BBQ advice

Terra Photographica – I’m a little biased here, but my brother is an amazing photographer – go check out his galleries.

Just seriously wondering when so much of the world lost its common sense and kindness? The world has changed and is in a constant state of change, but let’s all agree it isn’t always for the better. Case in point, read this post. I’ve been thinking about reviving this meme for quite some time now, but reading this solidified my decision. I have moved over the posts I had previously done and you can find them on my sidebar under COMMON COURTESY.  I’ll do new ones as the issues arise.

STILL PRAYING FOR Guidance and patience with the woman handling the house sale – she has no follow through, common sense or common courtesy and I pray that she receives help in ALL of those areas. And believing that if it doesn’t work out the way we want it’s because we were meant to be elsewhere.  Hence my Inspirational quote for today.

SWEDISH PANCAKES with LINGONBERRY BUTTER and LINGONBERRIES

I don’t eat out much, especially for breakfast, but I do have a soft spot for IHOP’s Swedish Pancakes with Lingonberries and Lingonberry butter. It took me awhile, but I have finally created a recipe so similar most people would not be able to tell the difference. These are thin pancakes. I make them about 8 inches round and then fold over once or twice.

SWEDISH PANCAKES with LINGONBERRY BUTTER and LINGONBERRIES

1/2 cup sifted flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
4 JUMBO eggs
1/2 cup milk
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 teaspoon maple extract
1 cup 4% small curd cottage cheese

  • Preheat griddle* or crepe pan
  • Sift flour and salt together. Set aside.
  • Beat the eggs, milk, vanilla and maple extracts together.
  • Add the oil and beat again until sooth.
  • Add cottage cheese and beat until completely smooth.**
  • Gradually add the flour until a smooth consistency.
  • Pour 1/4-1/3 cup of batter onto griddle or crepe pan.
  • Cook a minute or two on each side.
  • Top with Lingonberry butter and Lingonberries.

NOTE:
*I used a third cup measure and my large griddle. This made 5 at a time.
**I used my mini food chopper to grind the cottage cheese and it worked great and much faster.

LINGONBERRY BUTTER
1/2 cup butter, softened
1/4 cup lingonberries

  • Beat butter until creamy.
  • Add berries and beat again until well blended.
  • Chill.

    • CAJUN SHRIMP COCKTAIL

    CAJUN SHRIMP COCKTAIL
    1 1/2 cups ketchup
    1/2 cup chili sauce
    3 cloves garlic, minced
    2 tablespoons finely minced onion
    2 tablespoons prepared horseradish
    Juice of 1 lemon (save your rind to make the cute serving dish)
    2 1/2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
    1/4 teaspoon Frank’s red pepper hot sauce
    1/4 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
    salt to taste
    plenty of fresh medium-large shrimp, cleaned and chilled
    • I use my mini food processor to mix it all in until well blended.
    • Chill for a day or so before needed to allow flavors to meld together.

    CHEESY BLT BITES

    CHEESY BLT BITES
    1/2 cup mayonnaise
    2 cloves garlic, minced
    juice of 1 lemon
    20 slices cocktail bread, flavor of choice
    8 slices bacon, browned and crumbled
    2 leaves roamine, washed and chopped small
    1 pint grape tomatoes, halved
    4 ounces sliced white cheddar cheese

    • Heat broiler. 
    • Combine mayonnaise, garlic and lemon juice. 
    • Arrange bread slices in a single layer on a cookie sheet. 
    • Place under broiler for 1 minute to toast bread slices. 
    • Turn bread slices over and spread with mayonnaise mixture. 
    • Top with cheese. 
    • Broil 1 minute until cheese begins to melt. 
    • Top with torn romaine, crumbled bacon and tomato pieces.

    TEX MEX MEATBALL SOUP

    TEX MEX MEATBALL SOUP
    MEATBALLS
    1 1/2 pounds lean ground beef
    1/2 pound ground pork
    4 cloves of garlic, minced
    1 teaspoon cumin
    1 teaspoon sea salt
    1/2 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
    1 tablespoon minced onion
    1 Jumbo Egg
    1 cup cooked rice
    1 tablespoon bread crumbs
    SOUP
    2 pounds Roma tomatoes, diced
    2 cloves garlic, minced
    2 small sprigs of cilantro, minced fine
    1/2 small Vidalia onion, diced
    1 tablespoon safflower oil
    1 teaspoon sea salt
    3 cups chicken stock
    1 avocado
    white cheese or sour cream for garnish

    MEATBALLS

    • In a small food processor grind together the garlic, cumin, salt, pepper and onion until well blended.
    • In a large mixing bowl combine the beef, pork, egg, breadcrumbs, rice and seasoning mixture until well blended.
    • Roll into 1 – 1 1/2 inch balls and set aside.

    SOUP

    • In a sauce pan heat the oil ad add the onions and garlic. Saute’ until fragrant.
    • Add the tomatoes, cooking for 5 minutes until soft and tender.
    • With a slotted spoon remove the tomatoes to a blender and puree with chicken stock.
    • Return the tomato and chicken stock to the sauce pan and bring to a boil.
    • Reduce to a slow simmer and add the meatballs, cooking for 30 minutes until meatballs are cooked through.
    • To serve, place a few meatballs in each bowl and cover with ladles of soup.
    • Garnish with a sprinkle of white cheese or sour cream.

    PAN SEARED CHICKEN TENDERS & TRI-COLOR COUSCOUS with COCONUT LOBSTER SAUCE ~ MARX FOOD CHALLENGE

    I ran across a MARX foods Recipe challenge – what fun!  I signed up and they sent me a box full of yumminess.  My box included tri-color couscous, coconut sugar, dehydrated lobster mushrooms, DeArbol chilies and Pasilla Negro Chilies.

    The rules are that I had to use at least two ingredients from my box to create a new recipe.  I really wanted to try and use all five ingredients, but was only able to work in four of them.

    Now for full disclosure. hubby hates mushrooms, especially cooked mushrooms.  He goes out of his way to avoid mushrooms.  He declared he would hate this recipe before its inception.  Seeing a pattern here?  I HAD to use the mushrooms just to prove him wrong, plus I LOVE mushrooms even more than he hates them.  This recipe is proof that you can mount your dislikes and change them with the right combination of ingredients.

    PAN SEARED CHICKEN TENDERS & TRI-COLOR COUSCOUS with COCONUT LOBSTER SAUCE

    2 pound chicken tenders
    3/4 cup chardonnay
    1/2 cup chicken broth
    2 tablespoons MARX coconut sugar
    1 dried MARX Pasilla Negro Chilie, chopped
    safflower oil
    salt and pepper to taste
    4 tablespoons butter
    3 tablespoons flour
    5-7 tablespoons heavy cream

    • Whisk together the chardonnay and chicken broth until well blended.
    • In a medium bowl combine mushroom pieces and chile pieces.  Pour the chardonnay mixture over the mushroom mixture.  Allow to set for 2-3 hours to rehydrate the mushrooms and chilies.  Stir them around every now and then so all surfaces are able to absorb the liquid.
    • When ready, drain mushrooms and chiles through a sieve, reserving the liquid.
    • Whisk coconut sugar into reserved liquid.  Set aside.
    • In a small food processor pulse mushroom and chile pieces into a fine grind.
    • In a medium sauce pan, melt butter.
    • Add flour 1 tablespoon at a time until roux is a golden brown.
    • Gradually add the reserved liquid until well blended.
    • Add in the mushroom and chile pieces, stirring until well distributed.
    • Add cream 1 tablespoon at a time until desired consistency.
    • Simmer gently while preparing couscous and chicken.
    • Coat a large skillet with safflower oil.
    • While oil is heating, wash and pat dry chicken pieces.
    • Pan sear chicken pieces, salt and peppering as needed until golden outside and cooked through.
    • Pour 1 cup of couscous in a large bowl.  Pour 1 ¼ cups boiling water over top.  Cover the bowl and let it sit for five minutes, then fluff with a fork to separate the granules. 
    • Plate couscous in the in the center of serving platter.
    • Arrange chicken pieces around the couscous.
    • Spoon sauce over couscous and chicken.
    • Serve immediately.

    By the way, hubby who was so dead sure this recipe would suck gave it 2 thumbs up and then proceeded to eat it 2 nights in a row.

    ESSENTIAL KITCHEN INGREDIENTS

    ~ Tools, Condiments and Seasonings ~
    I’ve been thinking about this category for several days and no matter how you look at it, it is subjective. I mean if I cooked a lot of oriental food I’m sure I’d find a WOK an essential tool, but I don’t so we’ll approach this the same as we did the pantry, we’ll try to apply logic and I’ll list ‘my’ essentials and then you can interpret any way necessary for your household and the meals you prepare.
    As for essential tools I have many that I consider truly essential! But, in reality we can truly get by with very few.
    I consider a good set of cutting boards, a set of great sharp knives, my cast iron skillet, quality stainless steel pans, spoons, spatulas and tongs a necessity. I try to stay away from most plastics as they do wear quicker and tend to harbor bacteria. I’m still using the same stainless steel tools and cookie sheets I spent a small fortune on 20 years ago, so that expenditure has paid off. The cast iron skillet has been passed down through my hubby’s parents and grandparents and it too is still going strong. I did purchase new heavy gauge stainless steel pots and pans about 10 years ago and they look brand new as stainless cleans so well. I also stay away from all non-stick surfaces as they do wear eventually and I just don’t want that in our food. I do change my cutting boards and rubber spatulas every couple of years just to be on the safe side despite always running them through the dishwasher.
    As much as I like all my pampered chef toys, they could all be eliminated by using just what I have listed above. Personally I cannot live without my essential Kitchen Aid stand mixer & hand mixer and my Cuisinart mini food chopper. I have a blender, but only use it to make my home made Creamy Tomato Basil soup. I don’t even own an electric can opener. I do love my slow cooker too and my Magnalite stock pots and roaster, but they too could be substituted with other pots and pans.
    Now for seasonings, this too is subjective based on the foods you prepare, but honestly if that recipe you cut out of a magazine calls for Herbs de Provence don’t run out and buy it for a one time recipe. It is a combination of herbs you probably already have on hand. It usually contains rosemary, marjoram, basil, bay leaf and thyme. So you can adjust what you have with your own likes. What I consider essential in the spice cabinet around here is kosher salt, sea salt, white & black pepper, celery salt, garlic salt/powder, basil, thyme, oregano, marjoram, parsley, paprika, cinnamon, apple pie spice, pumpkin pie spice, PURE vanilla, maple sugar, orange rind, bourbon extract, rum extract and vanilla powder.
    In the pantry I have flour, bread and cake flour, self rising flour, sugar, brown sugar, powdered sugar, coconut, golden raisins, cornstarch, baking soda and baking powder, rice, barley, split peas, tapioca, white rice, brown rice and various pastas.
    In the way of liquid essentials I have Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce, honey, apple cider vinegar, red wine vinegar, champagne vinegar, olive oil, canola oil, balsamic vinegar and several flavored rice wine vinegars.
    In the refrigerator I have mayonnaise, ketchup (both homemade when I have the time), mustard (despite my severe life or death allergy everyone else LOVES it), sun dried tomato pesto, Better than Bouillon chicken and beef bases, fresh lemons & limes and chili sauce on a regular basis.

    The real key here is to have what YOU need on hand at all times without a lot of effort.

    CHOCOLATE OATMEAL PEANUT BUTTER BLUEBERRY BARS

    CHOCOLATE OATMEAL PEANUT BUTTER BLUEBERRY BARS
    2 sticks unsalted butter, softened
    1 1/4 cup flour
    1 teaspoon baking flour
    1 teaspoon salt + pinch salt
    1 teaspoon cinnamon
    2 cups packed dark brown sugar
    2 JUMBO eggs
    3 cups old fashion oats
    1 1/2 + 3/4 teaspoon vanilla
    2/3 + 1/2 cup honey roasted peanuts
    1 /2 cup golden raisins
    1/2 cup raisins
    1 cup dried blueberries
    1 can sweetened condensed milk
    2 tablespoons peanut butter
    12 ounces semi-sweet chocolate chips

    • Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
    • Sift together the flour, soda, teaspoon of salt and cinnamon.
    • In a large mixing bowl, cream the butter.
    • Add the brown sugar and blend well.
    • Add eggs, one at a time, blending well after each one.
    • Add vanilla and blend until light & fluffy.
    • Add flour mixture and blend until smooth.
    • Gently mix in oatmeal and 2/3 cup peanuts.
    • Set aside 2 cups of mixture.
    • Press the remaining mixture into the bottom of a 9×13 well greased baking dish.
    • Scatter the blueberries randomly over the top of the oatmeal mixture.
    • In a double boiler mix together the sweetened condensed milk, peanut butter and chocolate chips until melted and well blended.
    • Stir in vanilla, raisins and remaining peanuts.
    • Spread over the oatmeal layer.
    • Working in small amounts flatten oat oatmeal dough and top chocolate mixture.
    • With well greased fingers press gently on the top oatmeal dough to spread it out evenly over the chocolate layer.
    • Bake 30 minutes.
    • Cool completely before cutting.

    On a personal note I would like to point out SnoWhite from Finding Joy in My Kitchen. She has 32 different and yummy oatmeal recipes for you to choose from. Head on over and check out her impressive list of oatmeal recipes. I made the oatmeal waffles this morning myself and was very surprised by them. They were really yummy!






    CARAMEL PRETZEL CRISPS ~ MOCK TURTLES

    These are sooooooooooooooooooo simple and sooooooooooooooooooo good too!
    CARAMEL PRETZEL CRISPS ~ MOCK TURTLES
    1 bag pretzel crackers (regular pretzels work too)
    3 rolls ROLOS
    1 bag pecan halfs

    • Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
    • Line a cookie sheet with pretzel crackers.
    • Set 2 ROLOs side by side on the crackers.
    • Bake 2-3 minutes, just long enough to soften ROLOs.
    • Press down pecan halves into each ROLO.
    • Cool.
    • Enjoy.

    MUSHROOMS

    Mushrooms and Immunity
    In cold and flu season, it is important to eat a balanced diet, including foods that can naturally maintain the immune system. While the science on mushrooms and immunity continues to evolve, we already know mushrooms offer a variety of nutrients associated with immunity. Popular mushroom varieties are a rich source of selenium, a mineral that works as an antioxidant critical for the immune system; and also have ergothioneine, an antioxidant that may help protect the body’s cells.
    Mushrooms are low in calories, have no cholesterol and are virtually free of fat and sodium. Mushrooms also contain other essential minerals like Selenium, which works with Vitamin E to produce antioxidants that neutralize “free radicals” which can cause cell damage. Studies have suggested that selenium may reduce the risk of cancer, cardiovascular disease, may slow the progress of HIV disease and may aid in symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis, pancreatitis and asthma. Studies show men who eat selenium rich foods may lower their risk of prostate cancer. 

    Potassium (good for the heart) is also found in mushrooms. It has been suggested a diet with potassium may help to reduce the risk of high blood pressure and stroke. Copper is another essential mineral found in mushrooms. Copper aids iron (also found in mushrooms) in making red blood cells and delivers oxygen to the body. Mushrooms also contain three B-complex vitamins; riboflavin for healthy skin and vision, niacin aids the digestive and nervous systems, and pantothenic acid helps with the nervous system and hormone production. These vitamins are found in every cell and help to release energy from fat, protein and carbohydrates in food. Vegetarians should know that mushrooms are one of the best sources of niacin. The vitamin content of mushrooms is actually similar to the vitamin content found in meat.

    Early Greeks and Romans are thought to be among the first cultivators of mushrooms, using them in a wide array of dishes. Today there are literally thousands of varieties of this fleshy fungus. Sizes and shapes vary tremendously and colors can range from white to black with a full gamut of colors in between.

    The cap’s texture can be smooth, pitted, honeycombed or ruffled and flavors range from bland to rich, nutty and earthy. The cultivated mushroom is what’s commonly found in most U.S. Supermarkets today. However, those that more readily excite the palate are the more exotic wild mushrooms such as cepe, chanterelle, enoki, morel, puffball, shiitake and wood ear.
    Because so many wild mushrooms are poisonous, it’s vitally important to know which species are edible and which are not. Extreme caution should be taken when picking them yourself.
    Fresh mushrooms should be stored with cool air circulating around them. Therefore, they should be placed on a tray in a single layer, covered with a damp paper towel and refrigerated for up to 3 days. Before use, they should be wiped with a damp paper towel or, if necessary, rinsed with cold water and dried thoroughly.
    Alternatively, store mushrooms unwashed and covered with a damp paper towel, then place inside a brown paper bag.
    Mushrooms should never be soaked because they absorb water and will become mushy. Trim the stem ends and prepare according to directions.
    Canned mushrooms are available in several forms including whole, chopped, sliced and caps only. Frozen or freeze-dried mushrooms are also available. Dried mushrooms are available either whole or in slices, bits or pieces. They should be stored in a cool, dry place for up to 6 months. Mushrooms are one of nature’s most versatile foods and can be used in hundreds of ways and cooked in almost any way imaginable.
    Mushrooms are available all year round. They are best November through March. Caps should be closed around the stems. Avoid black or brown gills as this is a sign of old age. The tops are more tender than the stems. Refrigerate after purchase and use as soon as possible.
    Never immerse mushrooms in a pan of cold water when cleaning, since they will absorb too much water. This will also make it more difficult to cook them, without losing flavor.
    Mushrooms contain the same flavor enhancing substance found in MSG, glutamic acid.
    Mushrooms are 90 percent water and do contain some natural toxins. It is best not to eat too many raw ones; cooking tends to kill the toxins.
    There are 38,000 varieties of mushrooms, some edible, some very poisonous.
    Truffles grow underground, are an oak or hazel tree fungus and are found by pig or dog sniffing truffellors. There are two types, black and white. They have a distinctive taste and are prized by many chefs in France and Italy. They are very expensive.
    A chemical compound extracted from shiitake mushrooms has been approved as an anticancer drug in Japan after it was proven to repress cancer cells in laboratory studies.
    To keep mushrooms white and firm when sauteing them, add a teaspoon of lemon juice to each quarter pound of butter.
    If you are not sure of the safety of a mushroom, do not eat it regardless of the following test. However, the experts use the method of sprinkling salt on the spongy part, or the gills. If they turn yellow, they are poisonous, if they turn black they are safe.

    Fact: The first mushrooms were thought to be cultivated in Southeast Asia, but it is not known why for sure. It is possible that someone discovered that mushrooms grew by accident or perhaps there was a demand and someone sought out a growing method.*

    Fact: Whether mushrooms are wild or cultivated they continue to grow after they are picked. People sometimes mistake a thin white material called mycelium for mold, but rest assured it probably is the mycelium growing!

    Fact: French farmers grew garden beds in the 1700’s which ended up being too small and too expensive. They later moved their crops to caves created when the stone for building Paris was quarried – this is where the name champignon de Paris originated. American farmers followed the same method.*

    Fact: While mushrooms are canned, pickled and frozen, drying mushrooms is the oldest and most commonly used way to preserve mushrooms.

    Fact: Mushroom compost can range from being manure or wood based (sawdust, wood chips) to utilizing materials like cocoa bean or cotton seed hulls, brewers grains , even exotic items like banana leaves as substrate.

    Fact: One Portabella mushroom generally has more potassium than a banana.

    Fact: Mushrooms continue to gain popularity, especially the specialty mushrooms such as Portabella, wild Morels, Oysters and Shiitake. Mushrooms, particularly the Portbella are often used in place of meat in many dishes.

    Fact: Commercial mushroom farming began in the early 20th century. Pennsylvania and California are the largest mushroom producers.

    Fact: Mushroom “farms” are climate controlled buildings; airflow, temperature and light are all constantly monitored.

    Fact: Wild mushrooms can range in price for reasons such as taste, historical significance and availability. European truffles can sell for over $1,600 per pound!

    Fact: Wild mushrooms can be found in many wooded areas. If you do choose to harvest wild mushrooms, make certain you have a professional identify your pick. Many mushrooms may resemble safe mushrooms (they are called false mushrooms) and can be poisonous.

    *Facts from The Edible Mushroom A Gourmet Cook’s Guide by Margaret Leibenstein