GIANT puffball! - shall I eat it?

[meltedmarsbars]

Well, about three and a half pounds of puffball.

What shall I do with it?

We found one once, we stuck a fork & knife in it and left it on my friends doorstep for a laugh.

Sorry, that doesnt help you

My mum made a cream of mushroom soup with one once.

lol at the image of the puffball on the doorstep!

Was the soup edible? Things made "once" tend not to be!

D'you think I could dry it and use it bit by bit in casseroles? I'm not sure how....

We found one a few weeks ago. It was about the size of my head. We cooked a bit of it but tbh puffballs aren't very pleasant tasting and often need disguising in something else.

Is it still completely white? Not started to turn brown at all?

Isn't that a skirt?

This one is nearly big enough to be a skirt!

Yes, completely white and beautiful. Actually. I've got 2. Might take one to the primary school.

They don't taste nice. I was expecting some lovely gourmet mushroom when I treated it to garlic and extra virgin.

tasted a bit like musty cats piss if I'm honest

How lovely. If you cut it into big thick steaks and fry it in a little garlic butter, it should be lovely. Does need to be white though, and firm. I really like them. Good with some bacon and a poached egg too..

Musty cats piss is about right.

120, yours is the first positive response!

I would use a strongish flavouring with it, but by no means bad imho. You can also egg and breadcrumb them.

Ooh shroom ! I'd have a go, as 120 describes, though even hugh f-w say's they are a bit spongey and not that flavoresom. I think he stuffed one, but can't recall what with.

Woodlice probably.

Serin, keep seeing your reply on the threads I'm on and it's still making me laugh.

by the way, has anyone read Puffball by Fay Weldon?

at the woodlice.

Ds has taken it to school telling everyone that is is Frankenstien's monster's brains!!!

Come to think of it, they do look a bit like papie mache brains!

They are minging when they're so big. My dad cooked a corker once in big slices with garlic butter and tbh it was so foul that I can still taste it sometimes.

Its big but completely white and firm.

OOh no

I don't like them at all.

Mind you i am not keen on mushrooms anyway so probably not the best person to judge. But horrible texture and you have to add shedloads of other flavours to take the taste away.

Oh I loved our puffball mushroom the other day. Fried in olive oil for quite a long time til the water was driven off and it had taken on some colour, added garlic, cream and black pepper, cook til the cream has reduced. Was lovely.

If you're going to eat it, do it quick, I wouldn't be surprised if it's gone off already.

I found a load of giant puffballs once and remember it being delicious - we did what 120 recommended and cut into slices and fried in butter - yummy and lucky you :-)

Yes, 120, Puffball is one of my favourite books!
Never eaten one though.

I've read Fay Weldons Puffball several times. Its one of those books I can go back to again and again. I almost know it word for word. Such a fantastic writer, Fay Weldon.

It's a good one. I've only read it once, but it still comes back to me fairly often. Have met Ms Weldon - she is very lively. In fact probably a good one to have on here for a web chat!

Yes, I have had some professional dealings with Ms Weldon's agent long time ago and she would indeed be great for a webchat but from experience the phone never stops ringing for her to appear on this or that. "Lively" is a great way of putting it.

They are lovely if young, White firm flesh but go yellowy and maggotty quite quickly

hope you enjoyed it; frying in olive oil with breakfast is a good choice