x000111 Posted August 26, 2012 Report Share Posted August 26, 2012 While mowing the lawn this hen of the woods caught my eye. Anyone know when it's best to eat them? I just put some water on an around it to keep it in good shape... It's growing beneath a black oak tree just waiting for me to eat it. The large white object is a milk jug to give you an idea of how big the mushroom is. A friend of mine gave me some wine caps that were amazing! My mother-in-law loved to cook them, I'm going to see if I can talk her into cooking this little hen. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave W Posted August 27, 2012 Report Share Posted August 27, 2012 This Hen looks good to eat right now! But if you wait a few days, it'll get larger. You don't want to wait too long, though. After they reach maturity, the edible qualities begin to go downhill. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dualsetters Posted August 27, 2012 Report Share Posted August 27, 2012 Wow! You're lucky to have that growing in your yard. I am excited to find some hen of the woods, they are my last mushroom to find to finish off my first year. I really wanted some kings, but think I give up on boletes for this year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
x000111 Posted August 27, 2012 Author Report Share Posted August 27, 2012 Yeah, I was so excited when I saw that... I just kept thinking... "don't hit it with the mower... do NOT hit it with the mower!" I watered it again today and now, with your input, will be taking it inside, tomorrow. This will be my first hen! If anyone has some suggestions, let them fly for cooking, cleaning, whatever. I'm going to start doing some reading on it now but it always helps to have some experienced input. Also, I've been looking for boletes lately and am giving up too. The only other time I knowingly found boletes was for my first hunt. I kept finding them all over. I just thought a mushroom that looked like that couldn't be edible. So I passed them by. I'm pretty sure the ones I found were edible. Now I check on my smart phone to see if it's worth brining a mushroom home for a spore print... I really need a field guide book. :-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ladyflyfsh Posted August 28, 2012 Report Share Posted August 28, 2012 Check the forum here called in the library. There are lots of suggestions of good field guides. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
x000111 Posted August 28, 2012 Author Report Share Posted August 28, 2012 Thanks ladyflyfsh, I intend on doing that... I though I could get by with my smart phone but it's such a hassle! Nothing beats having a book in your hand. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ladyflyfsh Posted August 29, 2012 Report Share Posted August 29, 2012 Did you eat your hen yet? Did you like it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
x000111 Posted September 5, 2012 Author Report Share Posted September 5, 2012 I talked my mother-in-law into cooking it up. When she was done she handed the whole bowl to me and said she just wanted a few bites. We both loved it. She put salt, pepper, and a few other spices I forget the name of. Not entirely common spices and not many of them. So I could actually taste the mushroom. It was so good. Probably one of my favorites now. I'm keeping my eyes pealed when I pass by oaks. I shared some with a friend who loves mushrooms and shares his finds. Looking forward to some more fall mushrooms in the pan. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ladyflyfsh Posted September 5, 2012 Report Share Posted September 5, 2012 I think hens are one of my favorite mushrooms if not THE favorite. AND they are really good for you too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shroomersue Posted September 6, 2012 Report Share Posted September 6, 2012 I hope my spot from last year will yield another huge hen for Thanksgiving (October in Canada)! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sunny_0ne Posted September 6, 2012 Report Share Posted September 6, 2012 Does buying dried hens from Amazon count? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
x000111 Posted September 11, 2012 Author Report Share Posted September 11, 2012 Does buying dried hens from Amazon count? If you got a good deal, I'd call that a find! I hope my spot from last year will yield another huge hen for Thanksgiving (October in Canada)! Awesome! Thanks for sharing the pic. Do you recal how much it weighed? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shroomersue Posted September 12, 2012 Report Share Posted September 12, 2012 Yes it was 5 pounds! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Feral Boy Posted September 19, 2012 Report Share Posted September 19, 2012 Shouldn't be long now ... I found a nice giant puffball last night, and a chicken the day before. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4rum Posted September 20, 2012 Report Share Posted September 20, 2012 I've had extraordinary beginner's luck with Chicken of the Woods since late August. I really want to find a hen now. I've been researching them extensively and I'm pretty sure that I can make a positive ID if I find one. Glad you got to enjoy yours. 'rum Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave W Posted September 23, 2012 Report Share Posted September 23, 2012 This young Hen weighed between 2 and 3 pounds. To see what I did with it... http://www.wildmushr...n-of-the-woods/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveDan Posted September 26, 2012 Report Share Posted September 26, 2012 I'm so depressed! My chicken of the woods has been eaten and I want more, just can't find any. ( Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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