Shiitakes!

It was, like, forever ago that Matt inoculated a little stack of hardwood logs with mushroom spawn. I can't be any more specific in my timeline than that, because the half of this partnership that is in charge of remembering things (Matt!) can't remember what year it was. So my best guess is: 2009-10ish.

A few days ago, after a week-long soaking rain, look what happened! Shiitakes!

I was so happy! The logs are behind my parents' firewood pile, so I cut the mushrooms and brought them home to Matt. I opened the bag to show him, and held it out for him to heft the weight in his own hands. First, I made him behold the giant grin on my face, in case he did not understand the scope of his fungal success.

This brown sack weighed, like, a ton! Oh phooey, of course I did not weigh them. We just ate them.

First there were tofu-shiitake tacos, and then there were biscuits with shiitake gravy. I did not take pictures of the tacos because I was too busy stuffing myself, and I did not take pictures of the biscuits and gravy because only a professional food stylist could make biscuits and gravy look appetizing.

So you'll have to take my word for it: fresh-from-the-log shiitakes don't look like the ones from the store. They are mahogany colored and plump, and they come with integrity. As for taste, I wish I had a chef's palate, but I don't. I'll just say they were excellent. And also: oh, yum!