Puffball season

[smitty55]

I guess the cool nights and rain have been enough to set off the puffball season. My daughter showed up with a puffball she found while walking the unmaintained road, unfortunately it was past it's due date and getting soft. Undaunted I popped by a neighbour's place that I know usually has the odd one and sure enough there were two of them on his lawn that had just popped up this past week. One was a bit misshapen and will need some trimming but still in decent shape and the other was nice and round. So after checking with him I grabbed the odd shaped one and I'm sure looking forward to having that with a nice steak tonight. I use the schnitzel method to cook them, a nice thick slice dipped in spiced flour, then in egg wash and finally in my own smoked bread crumbs and fried over medium heat in a mix of oil and butter. It's the best way I've ever had them. So this one was 8 1/2" across and just over two pounds. When I tap it with finger tips it makes a nice boomp boomp sound so I know it will be great and pure white inside. So if you're a fan it could be worth a little drive around checking out ditches, fields and fence lines, they grow very fast and quickly get over ripe. They can also be cut in chunks, dehydrated and then powdered to use in thickening stews and gravies. Cheers

[smitty55]

So I figured I better do a little trip on some local country roads I've seen puffballs on before. Near the end of my tour I see this white spot in a pasture I had got some in before.  Grass was a bit long so I couldn't get an good idea of size but it looked wide and I didn't think it was a rock. So I hop the fence as it was much closer than using the gate up the road. With all the grass I didn't spot it until I was fairly close and it was OMG that's massive. So I do the bongo drum test with the flat of my fingers and it sounds good so I pick it. Damn thing must be around ten pounds I figure. Lots of fun I tell you trying to climb and cross a page wire fence with one arm  but I finally make it without wiping out or dropping it. So I make the rounds of some neighbours to see who wants some if it turns out good. Being a long weekend 3 of them aren't home yet, 2 aren't interested, 2 say sure they'll try it and another buddy can't make it today. So it's in the basement fridge till tomorrow when I'll slice it and know for sure if it's good but I figure it will be nice and white. Pretty sure it's the biggest I've ever picked, 16" across, 13" tall and 9 lbs. Just amazing.

[lew]

Haven't had one in years but back in the day we used to just slice them up and fry in butter but your recipe sounds really good. Maybe I'll take a hike thru the woods tomorrow, LOL

[CrowMan]

Geezus...that's definitely the biggest one I've ever seen.

I like them simply grilled. I cut them into thick slices (approx 1"), then just brush with olive oil that has some minced garlic mixed in, salt and pepper. Just grill them right alongside the steaks on the BBQ.

I've also done a meatless "parmagiana" with them. Same flour, egg wash and bread crumb schnitzel as you do...but then top with marinara/tomato sauce and then a mix of parmesan and mozzarella cheese. 20 minutes in the oven until the cheese is bubbly.

We've also had a good crop of Boletes (sometimes called Porcini or Cepes) the last week or so. The ones we don't eat fresh, we dry for use in the winter. They make an awesome risotto.

[Big Cliff]

I prefer them about 8-10" in diameter, sliced about 1/2" thick and fried in butter. I also dehydrat any excess I have and use it in spaghetti sauce and things like that. 

[BITEME]

I have a buddy I used to duck hunt with up in Milton and he was like a truffle pig all of a sudden he would veer off the path and he was in rooting around in leaves and come out with these gigantic puff balls it was very freaky to see he never missed anyway they were always good eating with ducks whatever way you did them kind of an at one with nature meal

Very nice puff balls ....sliced inch thick butter salt and pepper mmmmmmm

[BITEME]

The area in question for those wondering where we hunted in Milton,  Turkey, ducks, geese, rabbits, deer and puff balls. At the end of St Helena Rd or at the end of Nassagweya-esquesing townline. there was once upon a time an old resort up there and up until i left the province in 2017 we were still hunting there i would imagine now it would be frowned upon and the expansion of the quarry cut into the best part of it

[smitty55]

Most of my life I have always fried them in tons of butter and some spices. The one thing though was that they soak up so much of it that at times the inside would almost get a bit mushy with all the extra moisture. Last night I did them again with the schnitzel method and fried with a butter and bacon fat mix and I will never do them any other way again. The outside dark brown coating was nice and crunchy while the inside was light and almost fluffy without any excess moisture. The smoked bread crumbs add a great touch of flavour. Definitely recommend that method, panko bread crumbs would work well I'm sure and could be spiced up as well. I'm a bit surprised how many neighbours aren't mushrooms fans, the one guy that always will take one is up at his cottage for another week. Looks like the dehydrator will be getting a good workout.