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| Magic of mushrooms |
The other day I looked out into the garden to find
it had been transformed into a fairy grotto over night. Rings of mushrooms had
grown covering the lawn and there was a trail in the woods near the house.
It still amazes me that they just appear and then
disappear so mysteriously. When I first saw them last year I got very excited
hoping they would be edible and that I could make risotto and omelettes with
them, however after some research I didn’t feel so confident. The conclusions
weren’t clear, there were warnings of possible stomach upsets, and worse so I
just admired them from afar and bought some safe ones.
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| Mushrooms in the wood |
Historically mushrooms have always been seen as
having healing powers, being credited with boosting the immune system.
More recent research by Douglas Schar, DipPhyt, MCPP, MNIMH, director of the Institute of Herbal
Medicine in Washington, DC.
http://www.prevention.com/food/food-remedies/9-power-foods-boost-immunity/9-mushrooms#ixzz2Cm8yHnn5
has proved that mushrooms increase the production
and activity of white blood cells, which is great when you have an infection.
Something that is close to my heart at the moment as Teen V is still suffering
from Glandular Fever and totally lacking in energy.
On a recent trip to Paris I couldn’t help noticing
the wide range of different mushrooms on display in the market. While we have a
few varieties of the same thing they have a real diverse range of mushrooms
readily available.
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| Mushrooms in a French Market. |
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| Cepe's in French market |
Not only do the shops have a broader range of
varieties available but the local pharmacies have charts with all the varieties
in the region and can tell you if they are edible or not. Something we could
learn from.
This summer I heard a terrible story of a family
gathering and eating mushrooms that they weren’t sure about, each person
assuming that one of the others in the group was the expert and they were all
critically ill as a result.
It’s fine if
you know that they’re safe but if there is a glimmer of doubt, leave them
alone.
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| Mushrooms |
The best immune boosters seem to be shiitake, maitake
and reishi mushrooms.
With that in mind I have been adding them discreetly
to everything; the pasta sauce, the pizzas and the nut roast at the weekend.
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| Mushrooms in English market |
So whatever you are cooking, if you want to beat the
winter bugs, add a ¼ of an ounce of mushrooms and keep healthy.
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| Large Field mushrooms |
Let’s hope they work their magic.
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