Not one but two lovely Ceps!

And a real Mr Piggy face right at the end of the video…

Don’t miss it but, don’t laugh too much!

And a wonderfully exciting video of The Girlie walking up the lane….

It’s not all mushrooms and fun…

Although a nice walk up the lane can be fun, especially if there’s some mushrooms to be found!

All the best

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Another two ceps for the Cep King of Brittany from our foray on Saturday…

You can’t see the cheesy grin this time but I assure you, it’s there!

And in this video (also take from our foray on Saturday 16th October), you can see the Cep king of Brittany with a real whopper in his hands!

It’s almost two hands full!

And, once again, he’s keeping that cheesy grin off camera!

All the best

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We took a few videos during our mushrooming foray on Saturday…

This one shows me picking the largest Cep I’ve ever found…

It also shows the cheesiest grin you’ve ever seen!!

This video shows the Girlie finding three Ceps all together.

It’s nice when that happens….

And doesn’t the Girlie look happy?

All the best

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Saturday morning and we decided to go out mushrooming again…

We took the same route; just up the lane and then straight into the forest.

We decided to walk along the road, as before, as we’re not sure enough about what part of the interior of the forest to explore. That’ll come later, in the spring, when we can better see the lay of the land.

Although the start wasn’t quite as profitable as last week, we quickly found some decent Ceps.

It’s funny how we’re ignoring all but the really good ones and leaving the other boletes behind…

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The Girlie made a point of ensuring that the mushrooms were spotlessly clean before putting them int he basket (more of which in a later post)…

And soon the basket started to fill up.

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La Chasse (the local hunt) wasn’t around this week so we dived into the forest a few times…

Unfortunately, we didn’t find much.

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Still, just walking along the side of the road…

Was allowing us to find enough nice Ceps…

To make the basket nicely heavy!

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And this is what we brought home!

I’ll be posting some videos showing us actually catching the pesky mushrooms!

I’ll also write a little article about how we cooked and stored them.

Watch this space!

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A lovely walk in the countryside…

And a basket full of Ceps (2.5 kilos!)…

What could be better?

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All the best

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I have been contacted, out of the blue, by someone who was interested in going mushrooming with me….

“No problem with that”, I thought to myself.  “As long as he leaves some mushrooms for me!”

So, on Tuesday, Martin and Carolyn came over and we headed off towards the forest…

As you can see, Carolyn got off to a good start with a Perfect Cep!

I found a nice Cep as well but…

That was about all I found!

My basket is the slightly lighter of the two!

The next time anyone comes mushrooming with me…

I’m going to pop out the night before and hide some where only I’ll be able to find them!

I’ve got to think of my reputation, you know!

Seriously, I know that Martin and Carolyn had a good time and they’re both welcome back whenever they want.

And if you’re ever in the area and fancy a mushrooming foray, give me some notice and I’m sure we’ll (work permitting) be able to sort something out.

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Just bear in mind that I’ll have been out the night before and hidden a few Ceps in places that no one else will find them!

I’ve got my reputation to think of, you see!

All the best

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I’ve treated myself to a new camera and when the Girlie found a rather nice Cep I though that it would be time to try out the video function…

I am quite aware that my future may not be as a film director but, I think that if I practise enough, I may get the hang of it one day?

Anyway, the Girlie seems happy enough with her massive Cep…

Just one of the many Ceps that she found on Saturday!

All the best

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The Girlie and I were having friends round for dinner and I was rather keen to try out a Cep salad.

Thus, there was no choice but to go out mushrooming!

It’s a hard job but someone has got to do it!

Even though La Chasse (the local hunt) were out, we left early and headed up the road into the forest.

We hadn’t gone far before the Girlie started spotting Ceps!

Big ones, as well!

Even the hunters that we met along the way seemed impressed!

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We kept on picking for as long as we could…

The girlie complained that the basket was getting heavy!

Now, that’s the sort of mushrooming basket I like!

One that is so full of mushrooms it’s almost too heavy to carry!

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All the best

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Six years ago I bought myself a mushrooming basket. It wasn’t specifically a Mushrooming Basket but just one that I found, at a price I could afford, that I felt would do the job. I paid 15 euros for it and it was fine until last year when it started to fall apart.

Time to treat myself to a new one then…

There is a basket shop in Rochefort en Terre with all sorts of baskets at reasonable prices. The next nice day we have I may go there and have a good look round.

Luckily, at a Vide-Grenier (a French Garage Sale/Car Boot Sale) I managed to pick up a basket for 5 euros. It had been made by the father of the woman selling it.

Any of the baskets shown below would be fine for mushrooming.

Buff Willow Wicker Basket This Strong Buff Willow basket might just be ideal for mushrooming. Plenty of space to hold a decent “catch” but not too deep. Size Approx 15″ x 11 x 7.5″ Size Approx 37cm x 29cm x 19cm All sizes are external (excluding handle) and, as the baskets are handmade, the sizes may vary slightly. More information	Country Basket This Full Buff Willow measures 16″x12″x9.5″ (with handle 16″) Slightly larger than the first basket and the rectangular shape may allow it to sit better in the boot of a car. More information	Willow Basket This basket is slightly shallower that the first two and might be perfect for the more delicate mushrooms. It would hold a massive amount of Girolles! Size 4.Approx Length Between 15″ to 16″ Width Between 11″ to 12″ Depth Between 7.5″to 8″ Size 4.Approx Length Between 38cm to 41cm Width Between 28cm to 30cm” Depth Between 19 cm to 20cm – All dimensions are approximate and exclude the height of the handle. As the baskets are hand made the sizes might vary slightly. More information
Wicker Basket A nice wicker basket for mushrooming. Not too large so the mushrooms won’t get squashed or roll about too much. Dimensions: H20cm L40cm W32cm – Sizes quoted are measured from the outside of each basket and do not include handles More information	Wicker Basket This Natural wicker colour basket might do the trick rather nicely? Size: 47 x 36 x 49cm More information	Deep Wicker Basket This large and deep basket is for the optimist! Size 36 x 26 x 24/35H Hand Crafted, Beautiful basket – sturdy and robust… Quality Item More information

A mushrooming basket mustn’t be too deep or the mushrooms at the bottom may get squashed. Then again, it must be big enough to hold everything you find.

If it is too large, the mushrooms may roll around and get damaged.

Some people prefer Trug shaped baskets…

I’ve always got one to hand. Very useful to keep in the car; just in case the urge to go mushrooming overcomes you…

You’d be surprised how often I get overcome by the urge!

A Wicker Trug Basket A nice trug basket that would be fine for short mushroom forays or to keep in the car, just in case…. Dimensions: H26 x W34 x D26cm. More information

Large Rustic Trug This large rustic trug might just be the solution? Not too deep but big enough to hold a decent amount of mushrooms – looks strong, too. SSizes: 16cm H x 55cm L x 34cm W – Sizes quoted are measured from the outside of each basket and do not include handles. More information

There is an argument to say that your mushrooming basket should have a lid on it.

I’m not 100% convinced but any of the three baskets below would make ideal mushrooming baskets.

Large Wicker Basket This would be perfect for Cep season! Fill it and and keep the precious bounty dry! Large traditional wicker basket with lids….. Size 51 cm X 35 x 32 H/46H. More information

Wicker Basket in Traditional Weave Yes – you could get ten tonnes of Ceps in here! Perhaps I exaggerate slightly? Lovely traditional basket with white cotton liner and lids. Size 44 x 35 x 20/34H. More information

Large Basket with Lids Another large basket! Material: wicker/cotton – Size: 42 cm x 30 cm x 42 cm More information

All the best

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After only two short forays and a few trips to the back garden, we seem to be overwhelmed with mushrooms!

I’m not complaining though!

The do taste really rather good!

We’ve got friends coming round on Saturday. For starters we’re going to have a salad of Ceps and Lardons with tiny sautéed potatoes….

That should be something rather special!

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All the best

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Encouraged by yesterday’s success, we decided to go out mushrooming again.

Fortunately, the rain stopped and we nipped out.

Just down the lane and around the block; a little foray of about 2 hours (maybe 4 miles?)

Here, the Girlie is being disgusting with a Bolet orangé (Boletus aurantiacus) that we found!

In France, Bolet orangé isn’t often picked as people are scared off by the colour!

That’s a shame as they are very tasty and stand up well to cooking.

I suppose I should add that I am allergic to small examples of this mushroom; anything over four inches, though, has no effect on me?

Yes, we did get wet again but…

We found some gorgeous mushrooms!

Just over a kilo of boletes and about half a kilo of Rosé des prés (Agaricus campestris) from the back garden!

Girlie! Stop being so rude! What would your mother think?	A nice little Bay Bolete (just one of the many nice little bay boletes that we collected!)
The Girlie spotted this Cep! Well spotted Girlie!	Isn’t she a beauty? And the cep’s not bad either!
Another Bay Bolete hidden away…	And another one!

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I know where you’re hiding. I can see you!	An Amethyst Deceiver (Laccaria amethystea.) The stems are inedible but the caps taste and look lovely!
After a few miles the basket is beginning to fill up – just look at those lovely ceps!	It started raining on the way back. Still an excellent foray, though!

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All the best

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