Marvelous mushrooms
Wild mushroom varieties are available at gourmet markets or at farmers’ markets, where foragers often sell their wares. But for an added thrill, why not head into the woods and gather your own? Before hunting wild mushrooms, though, it’s important to know which ones are edible and which are poisonous. Your best resource is a mycological society, and lots of them exist in the West. Contact the North American Mycological Association for more information.
A cooking tip: To clean mushrooms, wipe them with a dry brush and a damp paper towel. Particularly dirty specimens should be swished around in a bowl of cold water for a minute, then dried on paper towels.
Soups and Stews