Amazing Fungi and Kale Covered Barley with Green Mushrooms

Some of you may remember that last Summer, I went to the National Botanic of Wales.  I promised to share some pictures from the Fungi Mushroom, but never did.  I had forgotten about it until recently when I made a recipe with mushrooms.  

So here goes.  Let me me warn you though there will be an intermission, interrupted with a mushroom recipe and then we continue onto some of  the Fungi Exhibits.

I absolutely loved the collection of hand stitched textile exhibits, all showcasing a mushroom and each one unique and carefully crafted. 

Blackening Waxcap

If you click on the image, you will see a number of others.  Each one different, exquisite and stunning in its own way. 

Fungi Saviour of the Planet- the Mycosphere!

Okay here comes the recipe: Kale Covered Barley with Green Mushrooms.  Some of you will know that barley is being used in place of rice in risotto style dishes.  The first time I ever came across Barley Risotto was in The Millennium Cookbook (1998) by Eric Tucker.  I've made Barlotto as it is pretentiously known a few times, but this is not a Barlotto.  

Its a simple recipe, I cooked the barley until it was tender, drained it and set it aside.  I sauteed one onion and a little garlic, until nicely soft then stirred in 100g chopped mushrooms. Once the mushrooms begun to soften, I stirred in the barley along with four tablespoons of cooked pureed kale and cooked for a few minutes. The mushrooms don't look so green in this photo, but I assure you the mushrooms had sponged up the kale colours. It wasn't the most satisfying meal I have ever had, but I sure felt healthy eating it. You could try enhancing it further with some feta cheese, sun-dried tomatoes and black olives. 

Back to the Amazing Fungi exhibits.

Fungus The Bogeyman by Raymond Briggs

Highland Show and Shiitake Mushroom Log

Other than tending to my allotment plots, I don’t often do much in my weekends, but when I hear Scotlands Highland Show is on, I get all excited. I have been going for a few years now, it’s the one thing I do look forward to in the year.

Unfortunately, last year it was taken over a lot by supermarket retailers, giving you cut pieces of cheddar cheese and plastic bags full of glossy leaflets, even a certain burger chain 'restaurant' had a marquee there showcasing its green credentials and healthy eating options, a good thing I guess.
Anyway, I have noted that the price has increased. These days it costs about £22 per person, but I have justified it as it is something that I don’t do that often, plus it will be a good day out.

In the past I would originally go just for the food fair. The Food Hall has almost 100 exhibitors and allows you to indulge on free samples on some of Scotland’s larder. However, I also found myself enjoying the farmers displaying their cattle with pride, and some of the handmade crafts, so I do keep going back.

The one thing I was excited with last year was a shiitake mushroom log. Although it was amazing to watch grow, I did find it a bit of a palaver. First, shocking the log in water and then covering it with cling film for a few days for the mushrooms to develop. The other food produce I definitely get from the Highland Show are Mrs Bridges preserves. D likes the beetroot and orange chutney, and I am quite partial to the blueberry curd. They are especially good with home-made waffles. So more news tomorrow of my visit to the Highland Show 2009.