The German Corner - There's a Fungus Amungus (among us) he he heee

Picasso, thank you for saying that. It puts things in perspective. I'm sorry you don't like mushrooms. You can at least chat with us still. We do more of that anyway. And a lot of these dishes you can make without the mushrooms or substitute something else for it and still enjoy it! You'll have to let us know if you do that and tell us what you did.

The students are watching Hamlet today. It should be quiet. It's the version with Mel Gibson and Glenn Close. Right now, this class is being great!

Well, gotta run!

shannon

hello ladies

shannon yes we do have special mushrooms in europe - i only know the edible ones and the most poisonous kinds that we learned in school. We have chanterelle, morel, oyster mushroom, porcini and of course the common mushroom... I am not a big fan of morels but i really really love porcini (steinpilz) and chanterelle. In germany we eat mushrooms in many dishes or as a thick sauce over dumplings.

jet are you any better i hope the babysitting doesn't wear you out too much!!

shannon - again this isn't asked for, but here is my two cents! I am sure your mom will be extremly glad to have you - if MIL is talking like this behind your back and the situations hasn't changed why don't you stay with your mom till you move into your own house?

I am sure she could need your help and would enjoy the company if she is sick! We have told you before it isn't healthy to live with MIL - she needs her space and so do you - afterall it is her house - the two of you need their privacy. I do not care if scotts wants this - he is gone most of the time and besides this is about you and his mom not him. He can visit you or spend money on a nice appartment till your house is finished and cut back on the weddding expenses to make it happen faster and make you happy - i wouldn't let a men take over like this.

Don't make yourself too dependend on what he expects, says or tells you  - you need to build up more self confidence, be honest to yourself and respect yourself to stand your own women - then you will be respected. I do not think scott will love you any less, if he is such a sweet guy as you keep telling us, just because you don't live in his parents house - i think this is a lot to ask from his parents and you.

ok sorry - now this is out and i keep my mouth shut ....  twinkle

Twinkle, don't ever worry about sharing your two cents worth to me. I welcome it. I'm never too bold to think that I am always right. I'll talk to my mom this weekend and see what she thinks. She's already got one daughter still living at home...but she's getting ready to move out. So we'll see. I'm not stressing about this. I was stressed last night but Scott did well in assuring me that he doesn't care what she says. But, yes, it would be good to get out of there. Thank you for sharing your thoughts. I really don't mind. And sometimes I have to be told things several times before I "get it" if you know what I mean.

That's interesting about the mushrooms. I know I had a lot in England because it was in their meat pies and pasties. I read a little bit about poisonous mushrooms and it was downright frightening. The side effects (including death) were horrible. Makes you wonder how many people got sick or died in order for them to figure out which ones were poisonous!

Is there a big difference in the tastes of different mushrooms? I know portabellas have a meaty taste and buttons are just kind of earthy and plain. Is there a distinct taste among the other varieties? Are some more woody, meaty, sweat, bitter? Hmmm OK TTYL

Shannon

Hello Picasso, Shannon and Twinkle! :)

Shannon I think that the mushrooms that I hunt are more of a sweet taste???? after I fry them then I sprinkle with salt to inhance the flavor........there are some varietys that taste more 'earthy' IMO.......the morels are deffinitly the top pick though......

Well its almost time for Shalyn to be picked up.....

TTYL Jet

Jet, did you order this rain? Whew! It's torrential here! I know my dog has turned inside out.

I found this tidbit of info on another thread and thought I would post it here too. I can't remember the name of the person who gave the tip or else I'd give her credit. Alas, the tip is not my own...but here it is...

When I do not use all of the mushrooms in a container or have not used mushrooms within two days this is a method I came up with.  Take the plastic off the container, place a paper towel on top of the container and secure using a rubberband.  I use two paper towels if the cheaper ones.  Store in the fridge upside down and your mushrooms will stay fresh longer and will not get mushy from too much moisture. 

Shannon

Aaahh! Catwoman gave the tip! Thanks Catwoman if you happen to be reading this!

Shannon

Shannon I thought that the clouds would be rained out by the time it got to you! LOL!

We had about 2 inches here last night.....sigh.....it has been so wet this year! The farmers say that we really need it though, since last year was so dry.....they will be a little late putting out there crops though.

I made it to work, so just a few more hours to go till the weekend! Yeah!!

Jet

Well we've had about an inch of rain in the last 24 hours.  Something we really did not need!  Now the snow is only about 1 foot deep instead of 3. (the only good thing!).  I sure hope we don't flood again this year. 

Have to run - DS needs a ride back to school.

We have had tornado watches and thunderstorm warnings all evening here.  I seem to be in the safe zone because I haven't even had any rain, just some distant thunder.

Shannon, I tried several times to cook with dried mushrooms, but never liked it. I buy all different types of fresh mushrooms and cook with them.

 Twinkel, I never knew what Steinpilz (porcini) is called in English. Well, I learned a new word and like we say: you never stop learning new things.

 I baked tonight after  along time, Cornish Hens. Just stuffed them with a sprig of rosemary and a slice lemon and they tasted very good, I guess I have to make them more often.

 I had such a busy day today. As everyone knows, I am trying to loose some weight and I been walking now up to 5 miles a day. I also go swimming and do water arobics. The water is 82 degrees and we also had one of the nicest spring day today.

I cut up a bunch of Kumquats to get them ready to make jam on Sunday. (ran out of time today)

Tomorrow we will take the train to go to Tecate in Mexico for one day. It is a recomended train ride from Huel Howser, who host a show TV - PBS,  called Californias Gold Country.

Jet, I am glad you feel better and your cough will go away eventuell.

Berny, pretty soon you will be able to plant your garden. I hope you still do it, even with your visit to Germany. I have my zucchini coming up and my lettuce is doing pretty good too. Sunday I will hopefully get my string and yellow beans into the ground.

 Waving to all of you

Bis spaeter

Erna 

hello ladies

sunshine and blue sky today - so i am off to a new adventure i am going to drive to the lorely today at the rhine river and visit a castle that has a special brid day today - itis about eagles, hawks and other birds of prey - DS son wants to see the air show. I baked an pinapple upside down cake and that we will have later today and tomorrow i plan to make a meatloaf and the sides i am still thinking.... will get inspired at the market -lol

I will send lots of sun way up to canada and into the usa where it is still raining!!! picasso stay safe!! erna one day you have to send us a pic of your garden!!! the hens sound great

speak later - have a lovely day -twinkle 

Yes the sun is shining!  Thanks Twinkle!

Erna I do plan to plant some things - I can't let it all go to weeds!  I will plant my tomatoes, and probably mostly potatoes and other root crops.  I have to stay away from anything that will be ready in July.

I am busy getting a package ready to send to DD in Korea.  If you can believe it I am sending her mostly tea!  She doesn't like their green tea because she said they mix it with rice?? and it is yucky.  Also the berry herb teas are crystals  or powder and she doesn't like that either!  She really likes most of the food although some of it makes me gag (like pig intestine stuffed with pig blood!)

This is the week end for our trade fair and the air cadets are doing their Spudnut fundraiser again.  For those of you who don't know, spudnuts are donuts that have potatoes in the dough.  They are really good and have hardly any calories in them at all!  LOL Some people come to the trade fair just to buy those.  This year we have four pans going and three dough makers and they are going steady!

oh hi berny have fun at the show and with the spudnuts - i hope the work won't be too hard on your back!! glad the sun made it over that quickly!

We had a fun day - went to see the birds at the castle the eagles and hawks were amazing - what we didn't know we had to walk a very steep hill up for 30 min but that was good excercise. Then after that we ate at a very nice bikers snack bar - there were tons of harley davidson and other motorbikes and DS was in heaven  - you sit outside directly at the rhine river bank  - get classic rock music, wonderful food and a great view to 3 castles. The owner gave DS an ice cream for free and me some coffee which was sweet and we had a nice chat. This might not be my usual place to go - but i love it from time to time - reminds me when i was at rock festivals.

Then we went to another castle and it had the most beautiful tiny garden you can imagine in a castle  - so perfectly tended. Then on the inside you see it had been restored and people lived there till WWII. In the end it was more of a hunting chalet then the robber-knight castle of the medieval times. Then we had a glance at the garden festival that will be held from april till oct close to were i live - very nice - So i guess i have my places where i want to take berny - no worries we will skip the bikers -rofl...

ok better get going - have a lovely weekend -twinkle

Chicken Pot Pies

from Cooking Light December 2007 & October 2003

1/2 (15-ounce) package refrigerated pie dough
Cooking spray
1/8 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon dried rubbed sage
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
8 ounces chicken breast tenders, cut into bite-sized pieces
1 1/4 cups water
1 1/2 cups frozen mixed vegetables
1 cup mushrooms, quartered
1 (10 1/2-ounce) can condensed reduced-fat, reduced-sodium cream of chicken soup

Sliced Mushrooms with Melted Mozzarella and Thyme

From Jamie's Italy - Jamie Oliver

A couple big handfuls of very thinly sliced Mushrooms
2 5-oz balls of mozzarella, torn into small pieces
A sprig of fresh thyme, leaves picked
Sea salt and freshly ground pepper
Extra Virgin Olive Oil

On an ovenproof platter, spread the mushrooms in a one layer. Scatter the cheese over the top, followed by the thyme leaves. Season with salt and pepper, drizzle with olive oil, and place under the broiler.

Broil for a few minutes, checking frequently. It is ready when the cheese is melted and bubbly.