What is a mushroom sandwich?

Posted Tuesday, May 5, 2009, at 10:07 AM

To put it simply, I don't get it.

I have lived in Indiana my entire life.

I have tried all kinds of different food.

But the one thing I have never tried is a mushroom sandwich.

In fact, until recently, the thought of eating a mushroom sandwich had never crossed my mind.

When I was younger, my mom used to tell me of her escapades with her brothers and parents as they slithered through the woods looking for morel mushrooms.

My grandparents would talk about getting a huge batch and saving them for later as they would make for great lunches.

I have been in the newspaper business for several years and I have taken several photographs of people who have found unbelievably large mushrooms.

Recently, I overheard my fiancé talking to her brother about eating a mushroom sandwich.

The first thought that crossed my mind was, "What?"

They talked about it like it was an everyday occurrence.

And they were amazed that I had never eaten a mushroom sandwich.

I'm still not sure that is something I would want to digest.

But it does sound intriguing.

Go ahead, laugh all you want. I'm sure it sounds strange. A native Hoosier who has never gone mushroom hunting.

I admit it. I've never taken to the woods looking for mushrooms.

It just never sounded like a whole lot of fun.

I can remember a great uncle of mine who would come to my grandparents' home after an entire day of hunting for mushrooms and ginseng.

He'd have a full basket of the stuff.

He'd talk about how he planned to cook the mushrooms. And all the while, I couldn't help but think, "no thanks. I think I'll pass."

You tell me: What am I missing?

Comments
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You're missing those little bugs that live inside the mushrooms and crawl out when you rinse them in salted water. YUK. I was given some mushrooms by a native Hoosier who found I had never tried them. Once I got past the thought of the possibility of this person making a mistake and confusing a morel with a poisonous false morel [someone in the state seems to do this each year and require a new liver] and put them in the water as directed and then the wildlife appeared...Totally made up my mind that I could live without trying them. While I never suffered when the occasional gnat flew down my throat, I certainly never set out to eat bugs.

While some may be upset that these local "delights" aren't appreciated by all, I would think the opposite. If some of us can't stomach them, there are less people in the woods getting poison ivy and startled by snakes looking for them [lol]. Mushroom hunters, have fun. To each his own.

-- Posted by Jenny Moore on Thu, May 7, 2009, at 6:39 AM

Hunting mushrooms is omething i have done my whole life. Yes bugs live in them but you soak them in salt water and it kills them and then after soaking overnite then i rinse them very very good tomake sure there are no tiny bugs left then you flour and fry them. I have thrown batches out so because after rinsing there was still bugs. Not everyone is bunch of hillbillies who soak them in water for a few minutes then cook them bugs and all but i did know a kid who was friends with my brother and as gross as it was he found them cut them and cooked them bugs and all no soaking and when ask about it he said extra protein lol so yeah to each his own.

-- Posted by mom of3 on Thu, May 7, 2009, at 10:27 AM

Mushroom hunting has more benefits than just the wonderful taste of a "mushroom sandwich." Mushroom hunting is great exercise! Walking up and down hills or through meadows is certainly a workout, to me it is also peaceful! Sunshine is like a vitamin! After winter time when most people have been stuck indoors, mushrooms are the perfect excuse to get out and get needed exercise and sunshine. Not to mention after soaking and getting rid of the bugs the great taste of a mushroom dipped in flour and fried crisp!

The chance of stumbling upon poison ivy or a snake is part of being in the woods (for me it is certain I will get poison, but worth every itch, besides epsom salt will heal it)As they say to each his own. But to those who have never tried a fried mushroom, you should. You might be surprised.

I am a camper and love to be outdoors! I camp in the dead of winter as well as the heat of summer.

-- Posted by goldylocks on Tue, May 12, 2009, at 9:35 AM

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Jason Moon

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