Since Kim talked about using garlic to help deal with a cold or flu I thought I’d talk about one of the things we do around here to boost our immune systems not only so we don’t get colds but also to help protect us against cancer and other baddies. Along with a healthy diet and lots of exercise, eating mushrooms regularly can help you fight off the cold and flu and help you fight all sorts of things like cancer, obesity, high cholesterol, diabetes, etc. Here’s an interesting article about mushrooms and immunity. When it comes to mushrooms, usually the tastier the better for you, although even white button mushrooms help boost your immune system.
You’ll want to look for the more obscure mushrooms like: shiitake, hen of the woods, oyster, morel, etc. I’m lucky that we have a local mushrooms grower that specializes in these types of mushrooms. Each week at the farmers market I buy whatever mushrooms they have for sale. Last week I found Hen of the Woods mushrooms for the first time. I also really like baby portabella mushrooms, which I buy at my local health food store.
We also forage for mushrooms in the spring, so far we’ve only found and eaten a few varieties of morels. I really want to learn more about growing mushrooms myself so I can grow them in the garden. I’m thinking of talking to the people I buy them from at the market to see if I can buy spawn from them since I know the ones they grow do well in my climate.
I’m quite lucky because I LOVE mushrooms of all shapes, colors and sizes. Some of the more exotic ones take some getting used to, but after a few times you’ll find them quite delicious. Mr Chiots used to refuse to eat mushrooms when we first got married, he’s come around though and now happily asks for seconds when we’re eating sauteed mushrooms.
Are you a mushrooms lover? Have you ever considered adding more mushrooms to you diet for health reasons?
I can also be found at Chiot’s Run where I blog daily about gardening, cooking, local eating, beekeeping, and all kinds of stuff. You can also find me at Simple, Green, Frugal, Co-op, and you can follow me on Twitter.
Not Dabbling In Normal 
LOVE mushrooms. Have you tried the big puffballs? Slab them, dunk them in milk and flour, fry them in butter. Yumm! But I haven’t seen any really big ones for a long time. I also love morels when I can get them. Never got to try hen of the woods yet. My mom is my mushroom expert – she verifies what I have for safety.
Yes! I love mushrooms. They are also high in protein and vitamin D. I wish I knew more about foraging for them.
Fungi Perfecti ( http://www.fungi.com ) is a good source for both spawn and books about collecting wild.
We love mushrooms – now we have even more reason to eat them. They are also so pretty and your photos are lovely.
My brother, David Goforth, is an extension agent in Cabarrus Co., NC. He has grown shiitake mushrooms. He gave me some a few weeks ago that he had just picked that morning. I had never had mushrooms that fresh before.
He has a video that shows the process of innoculating oak logs with the shiitake mycelium.
Thanks so much Bonnie, I can’t wait to grow my own mushrooms. I’ll be spending my winter researching & reading and finding sources for spores.
My daughter recently went vegetarian, so we had to find new ways to cater to her – we grill a LOT of meat, so i came up with a “burger” that suited her needs… take a large portobello cap and brush it with olive oil, season it, grill it up and dress it like a regular burger! They were so tasty that we’ve all been eating them! And i’ve now learned that “meaty” mushrooms make a good substitute for beef dishes of all kinds! i never thought much about their benefits, but now i am glad to have incorporated them in to a variety of dishes… mushrooms au gratin seems to be the family favorite, we use a mix of swiss and havarti cheeses… so good!