Good news for vegetarians (and mushroom lovers): Mushrooms that contain vitamin D2 can be just as beneficial as supplementing with vitamin D supplements, cites new research.
Read More:Mushrooms Offer Promising Vitamin D Benefits, New Study Finds
Mushrooms Offer Promising Vitamin D Benefits, New Study FindsApril 27th, 2013 - Jill EttingerGo Pink with Organic Mushrooms!October 2nd, 2010 - Barbara Feiner Start looking for fresh mushrooms in pink packages at your local supermarket and natural/organic food store. In honor of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, mushroom growers across the country will display their fabulous fungi in pink containers. Read More:Go Pink with Organic Mushrooms!Organic Mushroom & Egg WrapSeptember 23rd, 2010 - Barbara Feiner
As we recently reported, white button mushrooms may play a role in preventing breast cancer, and they’ve long been considered a power food.
This dish is prepared in the microwave oven for grab-and-go convenience, and individual wraps can be stored in your refrigerator for up to 3 days. Make a batch on a Sunday, and you’ll have several inexpensive lunches to bring to work. Read More:Organic Mushroom & Egg WrapMushrooms May Help Prevent Breast CancerSeptember 3rd, 2010 - Barbara Feiner
Mushrooms are known for their nutritional value and culinary versatility. Now, there’s a new reason to buy these fabulous fungi: They may help prevent breast cancer. Shiuan Chen, PhD, a professor of tumor cell biology at the City of Hope in Duarte, Calif., was among the first scientists to study how white button mushrooms offer protective benefits. “Diet is a key consideration for prevention because it is something that everyone can control,” he says. “Our research shows that women may benefit from a balanced diet that includes about 3.5 ounces of mushrooms per day.” Read More:Mushrooms May Help Prevent Breast CancerBoost Your Immune System with Organic White Button MushroomsAugust 3rd, 2010 - Barbara Feiner
White button mushrooms account for 90% of fresh mushroom purchases in the United States. Over the last few years, researchers have discovered these fab fungi can help keep the immune system in top shape. Studies at Tufts University in Medford, MA, reveal white button mushrooms enhance the activity of critical cells that promote immune function and protect/repair tissue. Pick up some organic white button mushrooms, and create a few satisfying appetizers, salads and vegetarian entrees:
Photo courtesy of the Mushroom Council Read More:Boost Your Immune System with Organic White Button MushroomsGrilled Portabella MushroomsJuly 2nd, 2010 - Barbara Feiner
Nix the burgers and hot dogs this Fourth of July in favor of today’s more healthful, bun-free option. Hearty portabella mushrooms can stand up to the heat of the backyard grill. In this recipe, they’re artfully topped with a savory tomato blend and garnished with toasted pine nuts and Parmesan cheese. Prep time is 15 minutes, grilling time is 10 minutes, and all of the ingredients should be available at a well-stocked natural and organic food store. Grilled Portabella MushroomsMakes 6 servings (1 mushroom each) 1 can (14.5 ounces) Italian-seasoned diced tomatoes
Note: You can easily toast nuts on the grill. Spray a small, cold ovenproof skillet with cooking/grilling spray. Heat skillet; add nuts. Toss until nuts are golden brown. Remove from heat. Recipe and photo courtesy of PAM Organic Cooking Spray Read More:Grilled Portabella MushroomsOrganic Truffle Oil: A Savory SplurgeJune 8th, 2010 - Barbara Feiner
Truffles, often referred to as the “ultimate mushroom,” are known for their earthy flavor and wallet-denting price (up to $4,000 per pound). Organic truffle oil is a less expensive option, with different varieties available online and at well-stocked natural and organic food stores. But read labels carefully. As Chef Daniel Patterson of San Francisco’s Coi Restaurant reports in the New York Times, some truffle oils lack even a hint of real truffle. “Most commercial truffle oils are concocted by mixing olive oil with one or more compounds like 2,4-dithiapentane (the most prominent of the hundreds of aromatic molecules that make the flavor of white truffles so exciting) that have been created in a laboratory,” he writes. The Food Network’s PickThe Food Network purchases USDA Certified organic truffle oil from da Rosario, a New York City-based company that sells organic truffle products to the U.S. market. Owned by Rosario Safina, author of Truffles: Ultimate Luxury, Everyday Pleasures, da Rosario sources truffles from a small plot on an organic farm in Italy’s Umbrian Valley. Products include USDA Certified 100% organic:
“If the label says USDA 100% Certified Organic, you can bet there are real, organic truffle pieces inside,” Safina recently explained in The Daily Beast. Chefs’ RecipesCelebrity chefs regularly use real truffle butter and/or oil in their favorite recipes. Check out:
Here in Los Angeles, hip restaurant La Cachette Bistro serves a Belgian Endives Salad with Organic California Walnuts, California Blue Cheese and Truffle Oil Dressing. Trendy Ketchup—known for its French fries tossed with Parmesan cheese and white truffle oil—has introduced a Summer Truffle Sausage Risotto. For additional recipes, look no further than OrganicAuthority Publisher Laura Klein’s favorite truffle oil dishes. Read More:Organic Truffle Oil: A Savory SplurgeMediterranean Stuffed Portobello MushroomsMarch 27th, 2010 - Barbara Feiner
“It’s great to gather around the dinner table and spend quality time with your family, but there’s no need to break the bank on calories or raise cholesterol levels,” says registered dietitian and chef Michele Powers, who recently shared 8 Ways to Enjoy Heart-Healthy Whole Grains. With today’s recipe, you can “celebrate and not feel guilty the next day,” she says, because the dish is heart-healthy and “packed with tasty vegetables.” Prep time is 10 minutes, cook time is 40 minutes, and all of the ingredients should be available at your local natural and organic food store. Mediterranean Stuffed Portobello MushroomsMakes 6 to 8 servings, depending on size of the mushrooms 1 tablespoon olive or canola oil
Recipe and photo courtesy of Uncle Ben’s Read More:Mediterranean Stuffed Portobello MushroomsTeasing the Taste Buds with TrufflesFebruary 3rd, 2010 - Barbara Feiner
The Fifth Annual Oregon Truffle Festival concluded its run on Sunday, showcasing what gastronomy experts call the ultimate mushroom. Truffles are found naturally throughout North American woodlands and are poised to become the next big culinary trend. “With seven truffle orchards in production around the country, and dozens more about to reach producing age, an American truffle industry is about to be born, following in the footsteps of the American wine industry,” says festival organizer and mycologist Charles Lefevre, PhD. Some of the state’s premier chefs prepared luscious dishes for the festival’s Grand Truffle Dinner, including Naomi Pomeroy of Beast (Crème Fraiche Tarts with Triple Cream, Shaved White Truffles & Mâche Salad with Black Truffle Vinaigrette) and Pascal Sauton of Carafe (Pacific Ling Cod Effeuilée with Foie Gras & Black Truffle Broth). One of the festival’s highlights was the Truffle Dog Training Seminar, where curious canines learned to hunt for truffles (which grow underground) by detecting their unique aroma. Pigs have traditionally performed this job in Europe. “The truffle dog’s role is not just to find truffles, but like a shopper squeezing avocados or sniffing strawberries, truffle dogs choose which truffles are ripe and ready to harvest,” says Dr. Lefevre, founder of New World Truffieres, Eugene, OR-based specialists in truffle cultivation. The truffle business is projected to exceed $6 billion within the next 20 years, “rivaling many other agricultural commodities traded worldwide,” according to a feasibility study Dr. Lefevre conducted. As the study notes, truffles can be managed sustainably with organic farming methods and:
Truffles usually cost $300 to $500 per pound, according to the National Restaurant Association, but rarer varieties can fetch up to $4,000 per pound. For an affordable option, buy a high-quality organic truffle oil at your local natural food store (or online). OrganicAuthority Publisher Laura Klein shares some of her favorite truffle-oil recipes here:
Photo by John Valls Read More:Teasing the Taste Buds with TrufflesTuscan Stuffed MushroomsJanuary 15th, 2010 - Barbara Feiner
If the gang is coming over to watch football, you can nix the bagged snacks and serve this healthier, tastier appetizer. The recipe is infused with classic Italian flavors, but you won’t have to spend hours chopping, stirring and sautéing. With only four ingredients, it’s light on effort, but long on enjoyment. Prep time is 20 minutes, cook time is 20 minutes, and all of the ingredients should be available at your local natural and organic food store. If you’re catering to a gourmet crowd, dress up the serving plate with sprigs of fresh basil or rosemary. Tuscan Stuffed MushroomsMakes 40 appetizers 1 container (10.5 ounces) prepared bruschetta sauce
Recipe and photo courtesy of Buitoni Read More:Tuscan Stuffed Mushrooms |
Today’s recipe pairs them with organic eggs for a hearty breakfast burrito that would also make a delicious lunch or dinner entree. 
