Happy New Year! I feel oddly sentimental writing at the end of our first year here at the Mushroom Channel. It goes without saying that many adventures have been had but there it is, I went and said it anyway. You have been, as always, remarkable company with your delicious ideas and pioneering spirits.
You know which local pub has the best mushroom burger, you send us tips on which pizza place in your neighborhood is using fresh mushrooms and which is using (gasp!) canned and your cooking. Oh your cooking. I could write a sonnet about your recipes. About the way you continue to share your kitchen with we friendly fungi. I think I will. Here goes, in the format of your weekly mushroom recipe round-up:
Hazel Bloom brings us her take on the stuffed button. I see these as metaphorical for the practice of cramming as much good stuff into the end of the year as possible. And I feel no guilt putting two stuffed mushroom recipes out among you because they are simply the perfect party food.
http://www.sippitysup.com/coq-au-vin-4-easy-steps
A classic recipe that looks and sounds significantly fancier than it is. Complex flavors brought to you by the little umami sponge known as…the mushroom. Sippity Sup has a wonderful step-by-step to take you right through the new year.
Now even though I’ve highlight a few rich dishes tonight, remember that mushrooms will be your friends for a healthy January as well. Light in calories, versatile and delicious, we’ll be sharing some heart-warming (and heart-healthy!) recipes in 2010.
Surprise: Mushrooms full of nutrientsDon’t be fooled by mushrooms and their lack of color – just because mushrooms are white does not mean they are not nutritional powerhouses. The Detroit Free Press alerts readers of this common misperception, and notes that mushrooms are in fact dense in nutrients. Not only do they supply B vitamins like riboflavin, niacin and pantothenic acid for energy, but they also are rich in folic acid, iron, potassium and antioxidants like selenium. Get these nutrients by giving their recipe for Mushroom Almond Paté a try at your New Year’s Eve party!
Wild Mushroom MixEnjoy this vegan and gluten-free mushroom mixture atop pizzas, as a dip with crostinis for an appetizer, or even use it as the base for a hearty mushroom soup! The versatility is endless!
Top 10 health tips for 2010Our friends from Canada over at The Daily Observer share the most important health tips for 2010. Aside from vitamin D topping the list (be sure to eat your mushrooms!), washing your hands to prevent catching airborne illnesses and measuring your waistline rather than hopping on a scale is recommended. Belly fat is particularly dangerous, possibly leading to a higher risk for heart disease, diabetes and high blood pressure. Measuring tapes are less expensive than scales anyway…
Drug from mushroom may help treat cancerUnrelated to our research at City of Hope on white button mushrooms and breast cancer, researchers at the University of Nottingham have discovered that a wild mushroom native to China, cordyceps, may be effective in treating cancer as well. “The researchers say low-dose cordycepin (the medication that includes cordyceps) seems to inhibit the uncontrolled growth and division of cells and at high doses it also inhibits growth by stopping cells from sticking together.” Aren’t mushrooms amazing?
Mushrooms: The Flavor of the DarkThe New York Times touts mushrooms as the “most versatile of ingredients,” highlighting their meaty texture and deep flavor. The nutritional bang for your buck that you gain from adding mushrooms to your favorite dishes is also noted. One serving of raw white button mushrooms only adds a mere 18 calories to your meal, but tons of nutrients! Did you know mushrooms are chocked full of B vitamins, which help to break down proteins, fats and carbs to get you energized?
Vitamin D: It does a body better than we thoughtWe’ve all known that vitamin D is great for bone health, but more and more new scientific research suggests links between low vitamin D levels and many chronic illnesses. On the flip side, increasing the amount of vitamin D in your diet (by eating D-rich foods like mushrooms!) can possibly decrease your risk for certain cancers, help you lose weight and boost your immune system.
Fungus or Feast? Make Room for Mushrooms Need a last-minute recipe idea to spice up your holiday menu? Why don’t you give one of these five unique mushroom recipes a shot, per recommendation from The New York Times!
Do you have a mushroom lover on your holiday list this year? (Nod your head, even if you are the mushroom lover on your holiday list this year) This is the gift guide for you! We were so inspired by our great find on Black Friday that we’ve decided to continue. Feel free to add your own mushroom gift ideas in the comments!
First up we have this adorable printed mushroom apron, the perfect accessory for protecting pants and party dresses alike from the errant drop of sauce or schmear of cheese.
Next up we have a bargain of a crowd pleaser to brush any remnant pieces of peet moss off the caps of your little fungi friends. At less than $2, this mushroom brush would make a great stocking stuffer! More on how to clean mushrooms here.
Once you’ve lightly dusted your mushrooms with your brand new brush, slicing them can be even easier than it already is with this chop and store combination. Truth be told, we’ve always found mushrooms to be one the easier vegetables to prep but this could come in handy for a variety of other things in the crisper.
The Mushroom Council recently attended the Worlds of Flavor Conference at the Culinary Institute of America, one of the country’s premier and trend setting foodservice events. This year, the theme was world street food and world comfort food, so mushrooms fit right in! Chefs from around the world convened to reflect on how Americans want to eat while enjoying three-days of sauce-slopping, noodle-slurping, kabob -sampling, chaat-nibbling, tamales-tasting, dumpling-savoring and tapas-grazing.
The Mushroom Council collaborated with Colavita and served some delectable dishes at our joint booth during the evening Market Place events.
Colavita Olive Oil and mushrooms paired together are just like two peas in a pod and make for some very tasty treats. You can click below to find recipes:
Great how-to video from Wegmans‘ Executive Chef Mark Makovev showing off the ease and elegance of mushroom risotto- perfect for holiday entertaining. If you’re really observant, check out the gorgeous mushroom display at the 00:43 second mark!
10 Surprisingly Healthy FoodsSome people still believe that mushrooms add flavor to meals, but no nutrition. Cooking Light turns this idea on its head by highlighting that mushrooms are the only fruit or veggie with natural vitamin D. A couple other “surprisingly” healthy foods that make the list are dark chocolate (it may help reduce high blood pressure, in small portions of course) and potatoes (they’re a great source of potassium and fiber). Check out their recipe for Mushroom-Herb Chicken as well.
Sick This Holiday Season?The holiday season is busy for all, and unfortunately it’s a prime time for illnesses to weigh us down. CBS recommends three ways to stay healthy for the holidays:
1) Get enough sleep – an adult needs 7-8 hours each night
2) Wash hands properly – scrub for 20-30 seconds and dry with a paper towel, not a blower
3) Load up on vitamin D – try to eat foods like mushrooms, salmon or eggs
Party Food The holiday season crept up fast. If you need some new holiday appetizer ideas, check out these mushroom rolls suggested by The New York Times’ blog, Bitten. Mushrooms are very versatile and add a nutritious kick to any meal.
Adjusting to winterAmericans hardly ever get enough vitamin D throughout the winter, as less time is spent outdoors – which is especially true for northerners. The “sunshine vitamin” can be hard to get during the winter months, but not if you eat the right foods (like mushrooms!). A vitamin D deficiency can be very dangerous, not only for bone health but also in regard to cancer prevention, immunity and overall wellbeing.
Health Tip of the week: Going Meatless with Mushrooms Winter is a time of year when we all crave comfort foods, and often times those are the foods full of extra calories. The Plain Dealer suggests skipping the extra fat by replacing meat with mushrooms! A study found that the meals made over with mushrooms not only reduced the participants’ caloric intake, but they felt just as satiated at the end of the meal.
How To Boost Your Immune System Against H1N1 Swine Flu Gather.com recommends an all-natural approach to staving off swine flu by strengthening your immune system – which starts with a healthy diet and drinking plenty of fluids. Stock up on fresh fruits and veggies, lean protein and whole grains. Also look for foods containing powerful antioxidants, like mushrooms!
A healthy makeover of a takeout stapleCrave Chinese food but trying to watch your diet? Try this healthy twist on a Chinese takeout classic, chicken and shiitake mushroom lo mein. This recipe will satisfy your cravings, but with only four teaspoons of oil and a lot less sodium.
From the Dietician: Nutrients in food can boost immunity The Des Moines Register says vaccines aren’t the answer to cold and flu season – it’s all about what’s on your plate! Power-pack your diet with probiotics, zinc, antioxidants and vitamin D. Mushrooms are a source of vitamin D, as highlighted in the article, but don’t forget they have zinc and antioxidants too!
Bright Ideas for Treating the Winter Blues Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) affects six percent of Americans throughout the winter months. To kick those winter blues The Wall Street Journal offers some tips. Light therapy, avoiding too many carbs in your diet, exercising outdoors and getting enough vitamin D (found in mushrooms!) could help to keep you in bright spirits in darker months.
I write this hoping that today finds you all fully recovered from a feast with friends and family alike. And by “recovered” I mean plotting menus for the next several weeks. This is always an interesting week in the kitchen for me because on the one hand, there are inevitable glorious leftovers but on the other, I’m a little over them and ready to start trying a few new flavors.
If you feel similarly then today is the ROW of your dreams because we’ve got something for everyone!
If you’ve got more leftovers than some straightforward stock, check out the recipe for Turkey Fricassee with Mushrooms at Serious Eats. Leftover meat, with fresh herbs, mushrooms and wine cooked with a rich broth > potpurri.
If you’re done with turkey but not the cold weather comfort food, Coconut Lime has a divine Chicken and Mushroom bake with your name on it. She has a great trick using fresh mushrooms and evaporated milk that cuts down on the fat in standard cream-based soups.
Jennifer Perrillo has quickly become a favorite read around here…in all of her various nooks including her personal blog, Gourmet Unbound, and Food 52. She has a new project called The Family Table focused on healthy, delicious eating for parents and kids alike. Not only do we love the idea but we already love the approach- she leads with Mushroom Bolognese and great advice on helping kids get used to new ingredients…like mushrooms.
Last but not least, there are those of you out there who barely saw the last guest’s taillight turning the corner before you started planning the next gathering. For those of you in this camp, consider Evil Shenanigans and her Bacon Jalapeno Stuffed Mushrooms. This essentially combines my two very favorite Pioneer Woman appetizers and somehow manages to improve on the fat factor (these still aren’t light, but improved). The lovechild of bacon wrapped jalapenos and brie stuffed mushrooms? Don’t mind if I do.
The Mushroom Channel is updated by a member of the Mushroom Council’s PR team unless otherwise noted.
Please note that many links within these posts are to external sites not owned or maintained by the Mushroom Council. The Mushroom Council is not responsible for the safety, completeness, accuracy or nature of the content on those sites.
First up we have this adorable 
Next up we have a bargain of a crowd pleaser to brush any remnant pieces of peet moss off the caps of your little fungi friends. At less than $2, this 
