Memories of Dad: Mushroom Foraging
By Lena Kovadlo
@lovebuglena (52198)
Staten Island, New York
May 29, 2022 2:58pm CST
My dad loved foraging for mushrooms. Even when it seemed like there were no mushrooms in sight my dad always managed to find them. It was something he always enjoyed doing, rain or shine. Even when he had no room in the fridge or freezer for any more mushrooms he still kept foraging for them and then giving them to other people.
I was one of the lucky ones who always got these wild mushrooms. I still have some in the freezer to enjoy. I should defrost a pack and then make fried potatoes with fried mushrooms. It is one of my favorite dishes. And it was Dad's as well.
I remember once when I was little we went on vacation somewhere in Latvia I believe. I went mushroom foraging with my parents and brother. We had gotten a lot of mushrooms and then took them to a restaurant and they fried them up for us for dinner. They were so good.
I went mushroom foraging with my parents a lot when I was a kid back in Belarus. And I went here in the US as well. But that was a while back. I hope I get the chance to do it this year. In honor of my dad.
9 people like this
9 responses
@kaylachan (84823)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
29 May 22
Maybe you can make it happen. I am sure he'd be happy to see you still doing it.
2 people like this
@lovebuglena (52198)
• Staten Island, New York
29 May 22
Since I don't drive I'd have to get hubby to wanna do it. He's done it a few times before.
@JudyEv (382259)
• Rockingham, Australia
31 May 22
@lovebuglena They were like the button mushrooms that we buy in the shops. Australia might have a range of mushrooms but very few would know which ones are safe and which aren't. Hardly anyone forages for them now although some go looking the hallucinogenic ones that grow in certain areas.
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@lovebuglena (52198)
• Staten Island, New York
30 May 22
What mushrooms were they?
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@lovebuglena (52198)
• Staten Island, New York
31 May 22
@JudyEv If people can't tell the difference between edible mushrooms and the inedible ones better not to risk it unless they go with someone who is an expert.
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@snowy22315 (209009)
• United States
29 May 22
Hold on to those precious memories and enjoy your wonderful mushrooms in honor of your dad.
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@lovebuglena (52198)
• Staten Island, New York
29 May 22
Thank you! I'd need to buy some potatoes first and then I can defrost those mushrooms and make the dish.
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@RebeccasFarm (91297)
• United States
30 May 22
I am so glad you have such sweet memories of him RIP
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@RebeccasFarm (91297)
• United States
30 May 22
@lovebuglena Do I would love to read them
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@lovebuglena (52198)
• Staten Island, New York
30 May 22
Thanks. Thinking of writing more of these "memories of Dad" posts.
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@lovebuglena (52198)
• Staten Island, New York
30 May 22
@RebeccasFarm I already have twelve books. Plus two poetry anthologies I published. But eventually I may get back into it.
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@LadyDuck (502573)
• Italy
31 May 22
@lovebuglena Here in Switzerland, as well as the north of Italy, there are porcini, morels and chanterelles
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@lovebuglena (52198)
• Staten Island, New York
31 May 22
@LadyDuck Sometimes chanterelles don't seem that flavorful for some reason.
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@lovebuglena (52198)
• Staten Island, New York
30 May 22
What mushrooms grew there?
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@lovebuglena (52198)
• Staten Island, New York
30 May 22
I am sure there are mushrooms that look edible but aren't.
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@lovebuglena (52198)
• Staten Island, New York
30 May 22
Do you know what mushrooms she foraged for?
@LindaOHio (222527)
• United States
30 May 22
What great memories. I'm sure your dad will be watching as you look for mushrooms in the future.
@lovebuglena (52198)
• Staten Island, New York
30 May 22
I want to visit his grave already. I think we can't until 30 days pass since we buried him.
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@lovebuglena (52198)
• Staten Island, New York
1 Jun 22
@LindaOHio Yeah. You can visit grave on the 7th day after burial and then after 30 days have passed. Why exactly I have no idea.
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@LindaOHio (222527)
• United States
31 May 22
@lovebuglena Why the 30 days? Is it a religious thing?
@Nakitakona (59987)
• Philippines
30 May 22
Mushrooms usually come out when there's a thunder according to our ancestors and they're right.
Foraging a wild mushrooms seems to be fun but these mushrooms- are they not poisonous?
In our place, we culture mushrooms. They're grown by local farmers.
@lovebuglena (52198)
• Staten Island, New York
30 May 22
You have to know what you are picking up. We usually boil mushrooms with an onion and if the onion turns color (either blue or purple, I forget which) then mushrooms are not good.
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@Nakitakona (59987)
• Philippines
31 May 22
@lovebuglena That's good idea. When we cook mushrooms, we usually saute them.
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