Weird-looking, bright, yellow globs grow from a dead-and-down oak tree in the Silver Creek bottomland a short distance west of my Illinois home. No, they're not dangerous. They're good. They're good, edible fungi – yep, mushrooms. To be exact, they're sulphur polypore mushrooms, or laetiporus sulphureus, but their common name in many areas
is chicken of the woods. These bright, blobby mushrooms are great; not only are they edible, but they're also easily identifiable and taste darn good. Chicken of the woods grows throughout the summer on tree trunks in the forest, and they can grow pretty big. The smaller one in this photo is as big as my fist, so the other one is a two-fisted size at least. Harvest them when they are young and yellow, like these, before they become tan, woody shelves. Cut them into chunks and cook them in such dishes as chicken tetrazzini, chicken curry or chicken stew, following your recipe but replacing half of the called-for chicken chunks with chunks of sulphur polypore. Bon appétit.
is chicken of the woods. These bright, blobby mushrooms are great; not only are they edible, but they're also easily identifiable and taste darn good. Chicken of the woods grows throughout the summer on tree trunks in the forest, and they can grow pretty big. The smaller one in this photo is as big as my fist, so the other one is a two-fisted size at least. Harvest them when they are young and yellow, like these, before they become tan, woody shelves. Cut them into chunks and cook them in such dishes as chicken tetrazzini, chicken curry or chicken stew, following your recipe but replacing half of the called-for chicken chunks with chunks of sulphur polypore. Bon appétit.
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