Transcript:

Mushroom Hunting - MorelsAmbience: walking through leavesWork: Jim, if you see an elm tree like that one where the bark is starting to crack open like that. That's perfect for finding a morel. We're in a forest in New York's Hudson Valley, hunting for one of the world's most sought-after mushrooms. I'm Jim Metzner and this is the Pulse of the Planet.Work: The thing about morels is they are so difficult to see sometimes. You could almost be standing on them and not see them. David Work is former president of the mid-Hudson Mycological Association. He says that although morel mushrooms are hard to find, they're relatively easy to identify.Work: They're a great mushroom for beginners. I would recommend of course going out with somebody who knows their mushrooms when you find them for the first time. But it's a wonderful mushroom to start with and super tasty. This is a blonde or yellow morel. Absolutely delicious. When you dry them, the aroma and flavor gets better and better the longer you hold them. Once they're dry you can then re-hydrate them in whatever liquid you like, whether it's stock or cream or wine. I would have to warn people of course, that this activity of going out and finding mushrooms that you intend to eat is a potentially dangerous activity and it's something that you have to do with someone who's very knowledgeable.If you're interested in foraging for mushrooms, David Work recommends joining a local mushroom club. Pulse of the Planet is made possible in part by Virginia Tech, inventing the future through a hands-on approach to education and research.