I don’t live in an idyllic state park like fellow Justseeder Meredith, but I keep my eyes peeled all the same. Last night I discovered that a stump at the end of the alley behind my house in Pittsburgh had flushed an amazing amount of edible oyster mushrooms! This happened last year in the summer, a few months after the tree was cut down. I’d been watching ever since for more fungus, but nothing until now…

In the words of the great humanist and philosopher Davy Crockett: “Be sure you’re right, then go ahead.” Likewise, don’t just eat any old fungus that looks like a picture in a book you saw. Know your edible mushrooms AND their look-alikes! I recommend the Gary Lincoff’s Audubon field guide as an easy starter, which has color plates divided by general shape and solid info.
I ate some of these with breakfast this morning after positive ID which involved an overnight spore print (because I am careful and a nerd). Tonight I serve them with pasta at a friend’s birthday potluck – the true test of whether or not my peers trust me (not a recommended method of measuring trust).