Mushroom Spices for the Home Chef

The home chef is always looking for new and exciting ways to use common ingredients in their favorite dishes. But, did you know that mushrooms can now be bought in powder form? Using mushroom powders are a great way to use these earthy fungi in an exciting new way in the kitchen.

Many home chefs love using mushroom spices in many different ways to add a unique twist on many simple dishes. One way to make risotto new again is to add a dash of mushroom powder. By doing this, the risotto will still keep its creamy texture without added lumps when regular whole mushrooms are used. The risotto will still have that wonderful and robust flavor of mushrooms but feel like silk on the pallet.

Having dried mushrooms on hand in the pantry is usually a must for those of us that love to cook, but do not always have the time to run to the store to get fresh mushrooms. The same should be said about having a spice cabinet stocked with your favorite mushroom seasonings, because they can also be used in many of the same ways that a dried mushroom can in your favorite recipes.

There is no limit what type of combinations that one can come up with by using mushroom powders in food. A favorite at my house is making air popped popcorn and sprinkling on Porcini mushroom powder with a dash of parmesan cheese. Not only is the popcorn healthier when prepared this way, it tastes great too. After doing this once, you will never use just plain melted butter and salt again.

Sometimes trying to find that perfect spice balance in soups and sauces can be hard. By adding shiitake mushrooms in powder form can add that right combination in not only taste, but also in texture. Many home chefs love using mushroom powders as their secret ingredient in their favorite stocks, soups and sauces.

Using mushrooms spices in dishes adds a special touch. These rich and earthy spices can be used in so many ways around the kitchen and is only limited be the imagination.

Cooking with Mushrooms

Looking to jazz up many of my recipes, I decided to start experimenting with different types of mushrooms in many of my favorite dishes. Mushrooms can be incorporated into so many dishes and add that special touch or unique flavor. I have become such an advent user of these tasty fungi, I am now even using mushroom growing kits in my kitchen and growing them right on my counter.

There are so many unique forms that mushrooms come in now, they have really stepped up my game in the kitchen and my family has taken notice. Many do not know that a great way to keep mushrooms from going bad is to use dried mushrooms. They still have the same taste and texture as fresh mushrooms. All you have to do is rehydrate them in some warm water for about 15 minutes and they are ready to add to one of your favorite recipes.

One of my all time favorite mushroom products to use is mushroom powders. These types of mushroom spices are great when added to salads or sprinkled on steaks before you grill them. This is one spice my spice cabinet is never without. I use mushroom seasoning instead of salt in many soups, stews and I even add a dash to my mashed potatoes for an earthy twist on this traditional side dish.

Many have never heard of dried candy cap mushrooms. These mushrooms have a sweet taste like maple syrup. My daughters and I love using this type of mushroom in banana bread for instance. This recipe has always been a big hit with not only our family; many of our friends love it as well. Everyone is always shocked to find out that the secret ingredient is the dried candy caps.

No matter if you are a novice cook or a professional chef, mushrooms are easy to use. From baking, grilling or just sprinkling on vegetables, mushrooms add that special touch to any dish.

Dried Mushrooms

Today many people are rediscovering their kitchen due to the sluggish economy. Not only is it cheaper to prepare meals at home, going out to eat can become an unnecessary expense. Making your own meals is cost effective and in some cases healthier then eating at a local fast food restaurant.

One way to save money is by using dried mushrooms in recipes instead of fresh. Dried mushrooms are more cost effective because they can be stored for up a year in your pantry. Fresh mushrooms if not used right away, will go bad and have to be thrown out. With dried mushrooms all one has to do to rehydrate them is to soak them in water for about 15 to 20 minutes and they are ready to be added to your favorite recipes.

Online, you can find a large variety of dried mushrooms for sale. Many people find ordering dried mushrooms online more convenient then going to specialty food stores or when one cannot find them at a local grocery store. The other nice thing is that they are delivered right to your home.

One of the specialty mushrooms that are gaining popularity in the culinary world is the dried candy cap mushrooms. These sweet tasting mushrooms are great for baking. Many do not realize that some certain types of mushrooms as the dried candy caps can be used in cakes and muffins. Candy cap mushrooms have a very sweet maple taste that goes great in many baked goods.

Using dried shiitake mushrooms in Asian inspired recipes adds a unique flair and taste. The shiitake mushrooms have a rich earthy taste that enhances soups and stir-fry. Many home cook and chefs like using shiitake mushrooms that are dried because they have a deeper and intense taste when compared to fresh shiitake mushrooms.

Almost all recipes that call for fresh mushrooms dried can always be substituted. Cooks that like minimal preparation when working with mushrooms find that dried do not have to be cleaned like the fresh varieties. If one has cleaned fresh mushrooms before know that it can be somewhat time consuming to make sure that all the dirt is removed first.

No matter what type of dried mushroom is your favorite, many can find what they need online. From sweet to earthy one is sure to find the right dried mushroom for every recipe.

Using Mushroom Powders in a Culinary Application

Mushrooms have been used for centuries in many culinary applications. These tasty little fungi add a distinct flavor and texture to many dishes. Though cooks have used fresh and dried mushrooms in recipes, many do not know that they can also be used in a powdered form. By using mushroom powder in food opens up a whole new avenue to many professional and amateur cooks.

A great way to get acquainted to using mushrooms powder is to substitute it in a recipe for fresh or dried mushrooms. Mushroom spices still have the same flavor but none of the prep work that is involved with fresh or dried mushrooms. They also are made of many popular types of mushrooms. Powders can be found made from chanterelles to porcini mushrooms. This has made mushroom powders very popular among many cooks in the culinary world at large.

One good way to experience a different twist on many old favorite snacks is by adding mushroom powder. Sprinkling mushroom powder on popcorn adds a new taste on an old standard. The flavor of the mushrooms enhances the delicate taste of freshly popped corn and is a great substitute for salt and butter. It can also be sprinkled on potato chips too.

For cooks who enjoy making their own dry rub for meat, adding mushroom seasonings gives an earthy flavor that shines through. Pork, chicken and beef take on a richer flavor when mushroom powder is used in a dry rub. At your next BBQ try adding a dash to a dry rub and see your guests try to guess what your secret ingredient is.

The many uses for mushroom powder are only limited by the imagination of the cook. These types of mushroom powders are wonderful in soups and stews also. The many varieties that are now available can perk up many a spice cabinet even the dried procini mushrooms. With no chopping and cleaning involved make mushroom powders a great convenience for cooks that like little prep work and lots of flavor in simple and easy to prepare dishes.

Add Mushrooms

When most people think of mushrooms, an image of a massive, poisonous fungus appears in their head. Here at Oakhill Mushrooms we are trying to transform the image of mushrooms into the delicious resources that they are. Oakhill Mushrooms has been around since January 2005. We are family-owned and operated. We have spent the past 5 years giving mushrooms a new face. We want people to delight in mushrooms as much as we do. There are so many possibilities and our goal is to let you know about them. Many people are automatically turned off to mushrooms without even trying them! That is something we are trying to stop.

There are many ways to infuse mushrooms into your diet. They are an excellent source of nutrients. They are full of antioxidants and vitamin D. You do not want to simply pick any old mushrooms up from the store. Oakhill Mushrooms is guaranteed to deliver the freshest mushrooms, mushroom powders, and dried mushrooms out there. What if you want to grow the mushrooms on your own? It is easy! We are here to help. Oakhill Mushrooms sell the finest mushroom growing kits so that you can take the product directly from the garden to the kitchen. No preservatives to worry about! We offer the best mushroom recipes on this planet. Our recipes are great for the chef in the family. The majority of our recipes come from a grandmother in the family who grew up in Italy. She has offered to pass her recipes to the rest of America through our website. So if you want authentic Italian recipes then stop by our online store!

What about that relative who will not even look at mushrooms? There are tricky ways to add mushrooms to any recipe, and they will never even know about it. Our dried mushrooms are a big hit. They last for months and are easy to incorporate into any recipe calling for fresh mushrooms. We do not over-charge either. We believe in customer satisfaction. You will find that our prices are very attainable for such a great product. We also cater to grocery stores and restaurants so do not let buying in bulk stop you from shopping with us. Our main goal is to please the customer so if there is any way that we can be of assistance to you then please let us know. Consider Oakhill Mushrooms the next time you are whipping up a dish that calls for mushrooms!

The Benefits of Mushrooms

Mushrooms have been around for years growing in your yard, a field or pasture or found in your local grocery store and farmers market. Did you know that certain mushrooms can provide you with essential vitamins when used in salads, baked dishes or a part of a vegetable tray? Whether you eat them in foods or raw dipped in your favorite sauce, you are still receiving important nutrients from mushrooms. You can buy mushrooms in cartons at your local store and you can even purchase foods with mushrooms already added. Fresh is always best when it comes to certain foods and the mushroom is one that falls under that category. Enjoy a mushroom cut up in your foods, whole as a snack or even in a powder form to add flavor to your favorite meal.

Since there are a variety of mushrooms in the world, the knowledge of the mushroom is important when it comes to the ones you can eat and the ones that are not edible. Knowing the difference between the types of mushrooms and their name as well as appearance is the difference between a good experience with mushrooms and a bad experience. Online you can rely on the experience found in a company that specializes in mushrooms and has experience in growing mushrooms, selling varieties of mushrooms and participating in vast research of the very popular mushroom and its family. With the knowledge the company supplies, you will be cooking with mushrooms in no time and even growing your own mushrooms. Imagine the fun you and your family can have when you purchase one of the extraordinary mushroom growing kits that will provide your children with an educational -- and tasty! -- experience.

Take advantage of the wonderful flavors as well as nutrients that you will bring to your body when you add mushrooms to your diet. You can choose from a variety of dried mushrooms to mushroom kits as well as dried candy caps and mushroom seasonings. If you are looking for a gift for the chef in your life, why not introduce them to a site that will provide extensive knowledge on the different types of mushrooms?

4 Delicious Mushroom Soup Recipes

Soups are wonderful all-round meals. They're great for storing the freezer and heating up quickly when you have no time to cook but are starving … they're great for both lunch and dinner … the water content in soup is said to help you lose weight … and there are just so many varieties! Today we're talking about how our favorite ingredient, mushrooms, fits into the soup genre. It is especially easy to use dried mushrooms in soups, because they naturally rehydrate with no additional work. Here are 4 mouth-watering options for dinner tonight!

Cream of Mushroom Soup

A great basic recipe to have under your belt. This only needs to be served in small bowls, because it is so rich and creamy. Use light and delicately flavored mushrooms like dried candy caps and dried pearl oyster mushrooms. Like most soups, it takes a while to cook, but all you need to do in terms of prep is chop and go.

Mushroom Laksa

Laksa tastes delicious and quite complex to a Western palate, but is actually quite simple to make. The poorer South East Asian countries where laksa originated depend heavily on mushrooms as a food source, so most Asian soups are delicious with mushrooms included. We recommend dried shiitake mushrooms for this dish.

Mushroom, Potato and Leek Soup

If you have your own favorite potato and leek soup, simply chuck in a few mushrooms -- there is no need to learn a whole new one! Sautee them first, though you should separate them from the leeks in the prep process.

Mushroom Meatballs in Noodle Soup

See how neatly mushrooms fit into the slot left by meat! Most of us eat a little more meat than we should -- you can cut down very easily without losing any of that delicious feeling of fullness or the rich flavor, by substituting mushrooms. Black trumpet dried mushrooms are best in dishes where a strong and rich flavor is needed, like this one.

A Guide to Exotic Cooking Mushrooms

Almost all of us are familiar with what the common varieties of mushroom look like and how to use them in our cooking. Many people aren’t even aware that there is an entire universe of both fresh and dried mushrooms beyond champignons! Today we have an overview of some of the more exotic varieties of mushrooms; descriptions and use in cooking, as well as their health benefits.

Oyster mushrooms

These mushrooms grow on the sides of trees rather than in the ground, and right from the start you can tell that they won't be the same as a boring old cup mushroom! They are common throughout North America, Asia, Europe and Australia. They are extremely versatile, and you can buy them as mushroom powders, dried or fresh.

Enoki mushrooms

These tiny, delicate mushrooms have a long stem and are cultivated in bunches. You can eat them raw -- they have a fruity sort of flavor! If you’re going to make shabu shabu, you'll need plenty of enoki mushrooms.

Shiitake mushrooms

Shiitake mushrooms have one of the highest antioxidant contents of any type of mushrooms -- they are being credited with helping keep the rates of cancer in China and Japan relatively low. They are also known as oak mushrooms, and you can buy them as dried mushrooms, mushroom powders or simply fresh in many speciality shops. They go well with stronger flavored meats.

Pine mushrooms

These delicious fungi commonly grow under pine trees, and exude a milky orange sap when cut. This sap adds color and flavor to dishes, matching well with pasta and egg dishes because of the nutty overtones.

Chanterelle mushrooms

You will usually only find chanterelle mushrooms as dried mushrooms or in powdered form. The name encompasses an entire family of mushrooms, but the ones you are likely to buy are golden chanterelle. They have a strong apricot smell, which can be slightly confusing! Soak them for 15-20 minutes in warm water, and if you're going to use dried mushrooms in soups or casseroles, add them at the start of the process, rather than the end as you would with fresh 'shrooms.

Dried Shiitake Mushrooms -- RECIPES!

Shiitake mushrooms have a very definite flavor -- you'll find button or cup mushrooms difficult to go back to once you've become used to the strong and exotic taste of dried shiitake mushrooms! While they are lighter in weight than the fresh variety, the flavor is also greatly intensified, so you don't need as much dried mushroom for a recipe as you would fresh. Today we are looking at how to incorporate these little flavor- and health-bombs into your everyday cooking, with some top shiitake mushroom recipes!

1. Mushroom Tart and Gravy

You can actually modify this recipe to include mushroom powder in the pastry, and put whatever meats and vegetables you like in the tart instead of just filling with mushrooms. The flavor permeates -- especially if you use the shiitake mushrooms stalks in the gravy as suggested.

2. Chow Mein

There are a hundred chow mein recipes available online, and this is a very simple one. If you really appreciate the flavor of your dried shiitake mushrooms, though, you'll love how they aren't drowned out by the other ingredients in this dish.

3. Mushroom and Bacon Curls with Creamed Eggs

This recipe is a Saturday breakfast favorite, and a great way to help you use up any excess mushrooms if you've been growing your own! The recipe says that you can use macaroni or asparagus in place of the mushrooms, but for us that simply isn’t an option!

4. Scrambled Eggs with Shiitake Mushrooms

Everybody has their own favorite scrambled egg recipe, and you can quite easily substitute the egg portion of this guide for your own, if you prefer. The real value of this dried shiitake mushrooms recipe is the guide for incorporating mushrooms into the scrambled eggs - issues regarding precooking and when to add the shrooms often catch people out. They can ruin a good shiitake!

5. Pasta with Dried Shiitake Mushrooms and Tomato Sauce

What an awesome substitute for meat Bolognese … what a healthy substitute for meat Bolognese! Dried shiitake mushrooms or dried porcini mushrooms can be used in this recipe, and they really fill out the dish. Mushrooms are one of the superstars of Italian cooking, for certain!

Fresh and Dried Shiitake Mushrooms -- Top 4 Cooking Hints

Shiitake mushrooms have gotten a lot of press lately, as the generall good health of Japanese people is increasingly studied by scientists, and more dietary hints about the origins of their good health emerge. Dried shitake mushrooms have plenty of health benefits, and are almost as potent as the fresh version. If you’re doing any cooking with dried shiitakes, we are today exploring some general hints for using them in your dishes.

1. Storage

Creating dishes with maximum flavor and health actually begins as soon as you bring your ingredients home from the store. Shiitake mushrooms should be stored slightly differently to other fresh produce:

• Always store in the fridge
• A paper bag will stop them sweating and going slimy, but will allow them to dry out more quickly
• Plastic bags should only be used for a very short time -- everywhere the bag touches the mushroom it will develop a layer of slime on top
• Plastic punnets with the mushrooms loosely packed inside, and a cling film covering that doesn’t touch the mushrooms, seems to be ideal for keeping mushrooms fresh longer.

2. To wash, or not to wash?

Most shiitake mushrooms do not need to be washed. Even commercially grown ones rarely need to be sprayed with pesticides or have any herbicide drift -- they grow so quickly and are almost never grown alongside other crops. You might just want to brush any dirt off with a pastry brush.

Washing dried shiitake mushrooms will cause them to absorb the liquid, creating a less potent taste. It would be rare that this was necessary.

3. Prepping your dried shiitake mushrooms

The basic rule for mushrooms is to trim, but not peel. You'll find peeling your dried shiitake mushrooms inordinately difficult, and it will do nothing to improve the flavour while stripping the fungi or valuable healthy compounds! Shiitakes often have a long dry stem portion which needs to be trimmed, but if you buy dried this may have been done for you.

4. Precooking in the microwave

Did you know you can precook your dried shiitake mushrooms in the microwave? Mushrooms tolerate microwave cooking extremely well, and contrary to popular belief scientific studies have shown that substantially more vitamins are preserved using this method.

Mushrooms and the World's Problems

There has been so much exciting research into the health benefits of mushrooms -- both for humans and for the planet Earth. The research explored has been in no particular order, and the benefits of mushroom kits, mushroom powders and seasonings explored here are just as valuable as those in the previous two posts. Be inspired by mushrooms.

Mushrooms helping fight obesity

Mushrooms are a low energy density food, yet have the same filling action and long-lasting effect on appetite that intake of high energy density foods like beef do. A small study involving the substitution of beef entrees for mushroom entrees showed that while there is no difference (generally) between the palatability of the meal, how full people feel afterwards, and full they feel for the rest of the day, there si a big difference in total calories and fat consumed.

Portabella and crimini mushrooms have same antioxidant action as colourful veges

If you grow your own portabella and crimini mushrooms in a mushroom growing kit (and eat them!), you are enjoying the same antioxidant benefits as those who eat fresh carrots, green beans, red peppers and broccoli daily. Color has long been thought to be an indicator of antioxidant effect -- a new study at Penn State disproved this with mushroom powders.

Shiitake mushrooms improve immune functions and crop health

Researches have found that the high molecular weight polysaccharides (HMWPs) in shiitake mushrooms could improve immune function in general, making them a possible preventive and reactive cure for a host of diseases. The logs that shiitake mushrooms are grown on can also improve the health of other crops (spinach, in the study), when chipped and added to the soil.

Organic insulation from mushroom spores

Student inventor Eban Bayer has created an organic insulation material from mushroom spores, as well as water, flour and minerals. This could help reduce energy consumption in households drastically, with a cheap medium. Perhaps someday you could grow your own insulation!

Mushrooms and the World's Problems

Mushrooms don’t generally get enough credit. In some countries, to be a fungus is one of the deepest insults possible! In reality, mushrooms are an essential part of our ecosystem, have enormous medicinal benefits, and help the environment in a myriad of ways. Let's look at the most interesting research on mushrooms, mushroom seasonings and mushroom spices in recent times, looking at them from a perspective for the health of the body, and the planet.

Button mushrooms pack same antioxidant benefit as exotics

Exotic mushrooms include dried porcini mushrooms, dried shiitake mushrooms and their close cousin the maitake, and other exotics like oyster mushrooms and matsutake mushrooms. A French team from the Institut National de la Recherche Agrinomique found that button mushrooms had the same (and in some cases better) free radical scavenging abilities as other more expensive and exotic mushrooms. The body was found to be higher in antioxidants than the stalk, also. However, compounds that are specific to exotic mushrooms may make an impact on their ability to fight certain diseases.

Maitakes help in protein identification

Maitake mushrooms are not only healthful in and of themselves, but are helping researchers discover all sorts of things about other organisms. Utrecht University's Prof Albert Heck found a way to identify protein types without knowing an organism's genetic makeup - previously a requirement for protein study. This will be used for exotic animal species, as well a for research into disease that change genetic makeup, like cancer and diabetes.

Mushrooms used as medicine delivery platform

You might be eating mushrooms instead of popping pills to help cure your ailments before long -- and not just because they are naturally rich in antioxidants. The prevalence of new treatments for diseases means that a platform which is reliable, cheap and fast for mass-producing protein based drugs is needed. Dr Romaine from Penn State University thinks that may be mushrooms.

Stay tuned for more research news on how mushroom kits and mushroom powders are improving our lives!

Four Favorite Asian Recipes with Mushrooms

Asian cooking traditionally uses very inexpensive and freely available ingredients, and in many dishes, mushrooms not only substitute for the taste and texture of meat, but are the star in their own right! It is the heavy utilization of mushrooms in Asian cooking that is thought to be part of the reason for the amazing disease resistance seen in Asian populations, including the Japanese, Mongolian and Tibetan people. Today we are looking at four different Asian-inspired ways to make mushrooms delicious. Fresh is best, so grab a mushroom growing kit and then pop on your chef's hat!

For all of the following recipes, use peanut oil rather than your standard vegetable oil for a more authentic flavor. Soy sauce and sweet chili will be staples, also.

Sweet Chili Mushroom and Pork Wontons

Wontons are a traditional starter item in so many Asian cuisines. These wontons use the amazing texture and freshness of mushrooms straight out of a mushroom growing kit in your pantry. Mix equal amounts of pork and cup mushrooms with 4 green onions. Chuck them all together with a couple of tablespoons of sweet chili sauce and soy sauce in a food processor, and then wrap them up with wonton wrappers according to the directions on the wrapper packet.

Wok Fried Mushrooms with Honey/Soy Seasoning

The honey-soy combination from Asian cooking has permeated so many favorite dishes in the Western diet! Here's another to add to the list. The keys to this recipe are the generous number of mushroom seasonings, including soy sauce, oyster sauce, honey and sesame seeds. Green onions and fresh chili help create a flavor explosion on white rice.

Mushroom, beef and bok choy stir fry

Made with all your favorite meal bases, and recognizable Asian seasonings, this makes it into standard rotation in many homes. The mushrooms in this recipe are marinated with oil, kecap manis, ginger and Chinese cooking wine to permeate them with amazing flavors.

Mushroom and fish laksa

With more South East Asian than northern Asian flavors, this laksa is rich and creamy. The recipe calls for Swiss brown mushrooms, but dried shiitake mushrooms or dried porcini mushrooms would be equally delicious. Using laksa paste rather than a host of herbs and spices makes the recipe easy to manage and delicious.

Mushroom's Nutritional Benefits: The Basics

Mushrooms are known as meat for vegetarians - they are high in many different compounds, vitamins and minerals, as well as high in flavor! They are a rich source of many food components that are essential to our daily processes. Today we are looking at how the vitamins and minerals in mushroom seasonings help you get through your day.

Potassium

Potassium cations (positively charged ions) are required for normal brain and nerve function. Dilute solutions of the potassium ion taste sweet, however higher concentrations taste bitter or salty. The potassium in your mushroom seasonings helps maintain proper fluid balance in the body, preventing both dehydration and water retention. Potassium helps lower high blood pressure, and reduces the risk of stroke.

Copper

Copper in the body helps facilitate iron uptake, another of the reasons that mushrooms are called meat for vegetarians - they are high in copper. People who consistently eat diets deficient in copper don’t metabolize fats as effectively, and don’t synthesize serotonin and dopamine as well, leading to insomnia and depression. Mushroom seasonings are a tasty mood remedy!

Selenium

Selenium was recently taken off the FDA's list of recommendations for prostate cancer -- but don’t let that lead you to believe it isn't useful in our bodies. Selenium is a powerful antioxidant, and works in conjunction with vitamin E in the body as a free radical scavenger.

Iron

Mushroom seasonings are high in iron, an element which is required for carrying oxygen to all the cells around the body. A large proportion of females are naturally iron deficient, and mushroom seasonings for your everyday food are a safe and natural way to correct that.

Riboflavin

Riboflavin is often supplemented into breakfast cereals … unfortunately, it is the sugary, generally unhealthy ones which get this treatment! Get your daily dose of riboflavin (Vitamin B2) from mushroom seasonings instead - it is required for proper energy metabolism, metabolising fats, reducing pathogens in blood. There is current research underway investigating the use of riboflavin along with beta-blockers for the treatment of migraine headaches.

Niacin

Another of the B vitamins, niacin is vitamin B3. It is recognized to be important in normal metabolic processes and in DNA repair - DNA deformities have been shown in some studies to lead to cancer and other conditions. Niacin is also used in mood regulation, and the metabolism of fats. So your mushroom seasonings effectively keep you feeling happy and looking healthy!

What You Might Not Know About Mushrooms

With the explosion of cooking shows on television, exotic herbs and spices have made a huge impact in the cooking industry. Some food items that have been used for centuries by Asian chefs are now making their belated appearance into the modern kitchen. One such food item is mushrooms; more specifically, shiitake and porcini mushrooms. There are a large variety of mushroom seasonings that have become very popular in the culinary aspect. But these delightful fungi are not just very tasty; they have powerful nutritional values as well.

There are many exciting recipes using dried shiitake mushrooms that are easy to prepare, very flavorful, and add to a healthy diet. One such recipe might be stuffed mushroom caps, using fresh crab meat, spices, and dried shiitake mushrooms. This recipe takes less than thirty minutes to prepare and is an excellent appetizer to serve for either a formal or casual dinner party. Shiitake mushrooms can be used in many different dishes to add a rich flavor to your foods.

You can buy dried porcini mushrooms and dried shiitake mushrooms at many large grocery chains or at many health food stores. These unique mushrooms would make an excellent gift for those individuals who enjoy experimenting with different types of spices and food items. One might give somebody a cookbook of recipes on the many uses of the mushrooms along with a gift package of dried shiitake or dried porcini mushrooms. This would be a unique and beneficial gift.

The health benefits of dried shiitake mushrooms and porcini mushrooms are many. They deliver a powerful blast of antioxidants that support the immune system and help to fight off harmful free radicals that are thought to be a cause of many different types of cancer. Antioxidants are very import to help build a strong immune system that can protect a person from infections. With the looming threat of the H1N1 virus, all the extra protection we can give our bodies is very important.

Award winning chefs around the world have been using dried shiitake mushrooms for many years. Now, with the birth of cooking shows, these mushrooms are quite affordable and available for everyday use in modern kitchens across the world. With the numerous recipe options available, you can add a healthy dose of flavor to some simple to prepare meals using mushroom seasonings. These mushrooms are more than just a spice; they are a healthy addition to your favorite recipes.

Growing Exotic Mushrooms at Home

I recently decided to try and do something different in terms of gardening. For years I have grown organic vegetables in my home garden and been an avid mushroom hunter when the seasons roll around. I was searching the Internet one day for different ideas and came across a great site where I found a wealth of information about growing my own mushrooms. You can imagine how my curiosity was piqued and I was interested to find out more information!

I decided to order my very own mushroom growing kit and soon after it arrived I was in business. I began to explore the many different recipes available which called for specialty mushrooms and was surprised at how many delicious dishes I could make with the mushrooms I was growing in my own home.

I purchased the oyster and shiitake growing kits. My kids and I found it fun and easy to produce our own delicious fresh mushrooms right at home. The instructions were easy to follow, and in about a week I noticed the first baby buds of mushrooms popping up. Over the next month or two, I was able to grow more mushrooms than I ever thought possible. What mushrooms I didn’t use in cooking, I was able to freeze dry for later use -- I cannot even begin to tell you how much money I saved on my grocery bill by doing that!

If you or someone you know is a mushroom lover, Oak Hill Mushrooms is a fantastic family owned company which has an extensive inventory of specialty items including books, merchandise, mushroom growing kit, recipes, dried mushrooms, mushroom powders and much more. I was amazed by the wide variety and the reasonable prices offered. I found everything I needed to indulge my love of mushrooms all on one website.

I plan on using the company again because my brother is an executive chef who knows how to make many different recipes using exotic mushrooms. Gone are the days of tromping through the wet, muggy woods searching for the ultimate prize of wild mushrooms, I can get everything I want from Oak Hill Mushrooms. I recommend that if you or someone you know is a mushroom lover, check out the selection available from Oak Hill Mushrooms -- you are not going to be disappointed and will find yourself returning to purchase products again and again.