Forage then Feast: Lobsters Everywhere!

Remember last week when we got super excited about those gorgeous milky caps, the Lactarius Deliciosus? Well, meet it's colorful, tasty, parasitic friend, the Lobster "mushroom".
I put this in quotations because, unlike true mushrooms, these fungi actually attack and feed on Lactarius and Russula species in North America. During the process, they develop both a meaty, seafood flesh and a brilliant color similar to that of a freshly cooked lobster, hence their name. Even their shape is a bit lobster-tailed. Despite their nature of feeding on other species, these fungi are quite tasty and really fun to find.

Here, we are of course digging them out of the pine needle beds, as their favorite foods are intimately connected with pine trees. What is so exciting about finding lobsters, is that you will see one (and likely almost step on it), and then, if you take a look around, and dig a little deeper... You'll find a bucketful more. Where you find lobsters above ground, they are certain to also be hiding out below, like little gold nuggets, waiting to be discovered.

Here are our lobsters after a very thorough scrubbing (they are always very dirty!)

We found enough in a couple hours for several meals, and I found myself sautéing and seasoning, and subsequently freezing them by the bagful. As an alternative, they also dry well.

We cooked ours with butter, salt, pepper and thyme. They were earthy, a bit seafoody, nicely dense and chewy, and made me wish I made an Alfredo sauce and some fresh pasta to go with it.
Maybe next time!

Happy mushrooming and foraging, my woodland friends. 😊👍

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The Tree of Life