puffball!

**BleeckerSt_Girl** · 10-07-2007, 10:08 AM

Oooh.....DH and I spotted a nice big soccer ball sized puffball on the side of the road this morning on our bike ride! It was just perfect and white and fresh. Smells like fresh mushrooms.
We couldn't take it because there was no way to carry it on our bikes and not damage it. I worried that it would be gone if I came back later, but DH said "If it is meant to be, it will be." (he's very wise.)
After our ride a couple hours later, I went back in my car and it was still there!

We were invited to a friends house for dinner tonight and other friends are coming too, so I'm bringing it and will slice it, bread it and fry it up for all of us at dinner! Woo-HOOO!!!! Sort of what you do with sliced eggplant...

**Wahine** · 10-07-2007, 10:11 AM

Cooooool!!

I've never had breaded and suateed puffball. How interesting. Do you have a photo of it?

**BleeckerSt_Girl** · 10-07-2007, 10:30 AM

Originally Posted by Wahine

Cooooool!!

I've never had breaded and suateed puffball. How interesting. Do you have a photo of it?

Yes, i just now took a photo!

Here it is.....

Click image for larger version.

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**mimitabby** · 10-07-2007, 10:34 AM

Lisa, what happened to your velo orange bag??

it is beautiful. i didn't know they got that big!

**Wahine** · 10-07-2007, 10:37 AM

Wow! That is one big puffball.

I love the photo too, nice textures with the patina of use on the wood, the steel of the knife blade and the other produce int the background.

**BleeckerSt_Girl** · 10-07-2007, 10:46 AM

Originally Posted by mimitabby

Lisa, what happened to your velo orange bag??

it is beautiful. i didn't know they got that big!

Whaddya mean?- nothing happened to my VO bag!

I once got a bunch of puffballs that were more than twice that big- bigger than basketballs...you had to carry each one in a paper shopping bag! I gave some to friends that time.

Wahine, thanks for the photo compliment.

Those are our tomatoes, and some of the 200 or so organic apples we picked on Monday.

A farmer gave us the 3 sweet little Indian corns from his truck.

I also got some home made pickles and tomatoes from a woman in exchange for a banjo lesson.

Lots of harvest stuff going on around here right now!

**LBTC** · 10-07-2007, 10:49 AM

Yup, it's a gorgeous photo. I didn't know you could eat puffballs, though. Of course I've never seen one bigger than a golf ball!

H&B
~T~

**kelownagirl** · 10-07-2007, 10:50 AM

Wow, that's huge! I've never tasted "puffball" but it sounds interesting. It's like a mushroom right? Does it taste like mushrooms?

**BleeckerSt_Girl** · 10-07-2007, 10:53 AM

Yes, it tastes like a VERY mild mushroom. It's all white in the middle, solid, with the fluffy mushroom texture.
I have to go make some apple/grape/date/walnut/yogurt salad now, to bring to the potluck dinner soon.....later, you guys!

**Pax** · 10-07-2007, 01:00 PM

That is so cool! I've never seen or even heard of a puffball before...now I want to try one.

**Eden** · 10-07-2007, 01:06 PM

I don't think I've ever seen one around here, but I grew up in Pennsylvania and they were all over the place - but much smaller! I understand that they are pretty safe to pick and eat since there aren't any poisonous varieties that look anything like them. I've never eaten one though.... I always noticed them in the late fall after they'd gone to spore and were much more fun to step on than to eat. (they are like little smoke bombs!)

**DirtDiva** · 10-07-2007, 01:48 PM

Originally Posted by LBTC

I didn't know you could eat puffballs, though. Of course I've never seen one bigger than a golf ball!

Ditto.

Originally Posted by Eden

I've never eaten one though.... I always noticed them in the late fall after they'd gone to spore and were much more fun to step on than to eat. (they are like little smoke bombs!)

Ditto.

**7rider** · 10-07-2007, 05:29 PM

I'm in NY this weekend, and my BIL was talking about puffballs - which I had never heard of or seen. He called the "above ground cousins of truffles," have no poisonous twins, and are safe to eat. He loves 'em and will harvest them whenever he can find them.
That is quite a 'shroom there, Lisa. Bon appetit!

**BleeckerSt_Girl** · 10-07-2007, 08:30 PM

Ok, the puffball caused quite a stir at the potluck!

It was duly revered, then sliced into 3/4" slices, then dipped in egg batter, then seaoned bread crumbs, then sauteed the slices until golden and slightly crisp on the outside in olive oil in a pan. A bit of salt and pepper. Yummy!
They were great! DH, who is leery of weird foods, said he loved it!

Regina is correct, and the big ones are quite safe to eat- there is nothing else that resembles it. It's kind of a fun novelty to collect from the wild and eat.

I still have a couple of slices left to make for DH again tomorrow.

**BleeckerSt_Girl** · 10-07-2007, 08:42 PM

Ok, the puffball caused quite a stir at the potluck!

It was duly revered, then sliced into 3/4" slices, then dipped in egg batter, then seaoned bread crumbs, then sauteed the slices until golden and slightly crisp on the outside in olive oil in a pan. A bit of salt and pepper. Yummy!
They were great! DH, who is leery of weird foods, said he loved it!

Regina is correct, and the big ones are quite safe to eat- there is nothing else that resembles it. It's kind of a fun novelty to collect from the wild and eat.

I still have a couple of slices left to make for DH again tomorrow.

Here's an interesting news story of a giant puffball found in Scotland:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/3839363.stm
Huge puffballs are not uncommon here in New York state, and I've harvested and eaten a couple puffballs here that were almost as big as that Scottish one in the news photo.

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