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Whoowhoop dropped this off Friday so we eat some of it Saturday evening, I do mean some as well as it was a good 10" across. We had it sliced and sautéed in butter with some garlic along with salad, new potatoes and quiche and the puffball made an excellent accompaniment. For those of you that have not tried it the texture and taste is about the same as field mushrooms however you get a lot more to eat. We split about a third between three of us so plenty more for another meal. So what has this got to do with emergency planning? You can find food in the countryside for most of this year however now is one of the best times with the hedgerows full of interesting and unusual things. If you are not sure of what you can eat then find someone who knows or get a book however do take care with Fungi.

BTW - With Puffballs a good rule of thumb is if they are white inside they *should* be edible.

Puffballs are lovely but its best to stay away from the smaller brownish ones as they will do you no good at all. I have a few books on collecting fungi but there are only a couple that I feel confident enough to eat. I am lucky enough to know a very good place for Morel's and another for St.Georges mushrooms.
Last Spring we had a bumper crop and now have nearly 2kg of Morels dried in the cupboard and sold another 3kg to a friend of my parents who happens to be a Michelin star chef-they were in his kitchen within 2 hours of picking and he gave us £80/kg for them He did ask where we picked them-I may be from Norfolk but I aint that thick.....
Shaggy Ink Caps are another really tasty one but only when they are young and before they go 'drippy', there is a look-alike that is also tasty but if you drink any alcohol with them or in the next 24 hrs they they are going to mess you up badly.
Strange things mushrooms.

Wow, that's a mighty mushroom tongueout

I believe you can use the flesh for plasters and dressings as well.

My own personal preference is to cut into cubes and add to a good red meat casserole. Thickens it up a treat and gives that nice earthy, mushroom flavour which complements the dish.
The one to avoid is the Yellow Stainer. Looks like a Horse Mushroom, is very common and slightly poisonous.
Eat a couple, no probs. Have a beer later and. Whooosh!! Up she comes!
I've known a few people make this mistake.

*writes note to Alcoholics Anonymous*

Aye Puffballs are very tasty indeed, sliced and fried in beaten egg, tastes almost like steak. I used to pick them up when checking pheasant feeders when i was at college.

Am I right in thinking that all fungi which grow on trees are edible ?

there are 3 types of fungi; Edible, Edible but not worth it, Poisonous! get to know and learn the poisonous ones, avoid them and enjoy the rest!

Food for free, a pocket sized little book by Collins. Couple of quid, and quite a good little book.

Before people go foraging in the wild...please go with someone who can identify what you find.