146 What Was Early 19th Century America's Problem with Mushrooms?

Check out the NCPTT... while it's still there, and maybe find an unexpectedly cool place to live.  Or maybe a cool woodworking job.
https://www.nps.gov/subjects/ncptt/index.htm

Hey - so were early Americans eating mushrooms?

Yeah.  But not all that much.  Just enough for a mushroom industry to spring up in the end of the century - but only in one place, and only for one kind.

But in the meantime - mushroom powder is DELICIOUS... and not that hard to make.

Recipe for 1 quart/4 cups/1 litre of Mushrooms

Clean your favortie way.  Cut or break up.
Combine with:
1/2 tsp mace (or slightly less nutmeg)
5 cloves
2 bay leaves
1/4 tsp pepper (or more depending on your tastes)
1 Tbs salt
1 small onion quartered (or half a large one)
1 Tbs fat (butter or your favorite oil)
1 Tbs vinegar (white/rice/apple cider all good choices)

Heat over medium-low heat to sweat the mushrooms.  When mushrooms have withered - take off heat.  Squeeze out all the liquid using lint free tea-towel.

Save liquid, reduce by 1/2 - Mushroom Ketchup!
Remove large spices and larger onion pieces.  Spread out on drying tray.
Dehydrate to crispy. (Dehydrator - or 200F/100C for a few hours)
Crush to powder in favorite appliance.


Music Credit: Fingerlympics by Doctor Turtle
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