Are you shitake-ing me?

While I can't speak on the grow-your-own-morels kit, I can tell you that the shitake logs are sweet. I had one about four years ago. It's basically just a section of hardwood that has been inoculated with shitake spawn. Mmm! Sounds appetizing, doesn't it? OK, not really. But I'm a science buff as well as a foodie so I loved it. I took care of and I had a batch of yummy shitakes every two months or so. I gave the log to a friend and last I heard (about six-eight months ago), it was still fruiting... You can buy them from tons of places via the web, and they'll cost you as little as $20 and as much as $50 or more, depending on the size of the wood, where you get it, etc...

What's not to love about a shitake log? The 'shrooms are tasty, and having a log covered in fungi sitting on your kitchen island is a GREAT conversation piece. Add a few bottles of wine to the mix and you really ratchet up the awe factor your visitors will experience as they try to figure out what the he** it is...

Whether you want to grow fungi in your house or you prefer to just grab some from the grocer, here are some great recipes to try the next time you get your hands on some...