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- Subscribe - Contact Us - Rate Card - Place an Ad Archives Revels Classifieds Real Estate Menu Guide Wedding Weather Subscribe Contact Us May 25, 2005 Food & History National mushroom contest Are you a mycologist? The term generally applies to anyone who enjoys hunting and eating mushrooms. There are millions of us. In fact, for the past 45 years, Boyne City, Mich., has hosted the annual National Mushroom Hunting Contest on the first Saturday in May. The Boyne City Lions Club sponsors the weekend event. Jeff Cheek Contestants do not hunt for just any mushroom. They are looking for the Olympic Gold of these tasty funguses: The morel. Only brown, black, white and cap (false Morels) will be counted. There is a beautiful German folk tale about how the Morel was created. One upon a time, an old, ragged woman went into the forest to gather mushrooms for her family. She was old and bent from a lifetime of toil, with a wrinkled, sunburned face, but she was singing as she walked along. The Devil also lived in the forest. When he saw the happy old woman, he was furious! She was old and poor. She should be miserable and dejected. Her happiness drove Satan into a frenzy. Seizing the poor lady, he tore her into millions of tiny pieces, scattering them to the four winds. But the old woman won. Everywhere a tiny bit fell, a new kind of mushroom, the morel, sprang up. Some bits must have landed in America as they are found in every state except Florida and the desert Southwest. Some certainly fell in Michigan. Boyne City proudly claims to be “The Morel Mushroom Capital of the World.” The morel looks like the old woman. It is about six inches high, with the stem often slightly bent, like her. The crown is her face; it is wrinkled and pitted ranging from light brown to black in color. Contestants are divided into several categories. Seniors are those over 65 or with some disability. There are special male and female resident classes, from contestants living in the six counties around Boyne City, which gives them a special home field advantage. There are also male and female non-resident classifications. After everyone is registered, the 90-minute hunt begins with a blast from a siren. Contestants are bussed to the hunting area they have already selected. A second blast, and the hunt is on! After an hour, a third blast reminds the searchers they have only 30 minutes left. Two final blasts warns them they have 60 seconds to get back to the bus and turn their basket over to an official. Anyone reporting in late is penalized ten mushrooms per minute. By having an official take care of the collection, there is no way two hunters can combine their morels and win one of the prizes, which range from $50 up to $150 for the Grand Champion. The Grand Champion also has his or her name engraved on the national mushroom hunters’ plaque. Hunters have the option of having their mushrooms sold at auction or taking them home. I would take the second option. A mushroom omelette made with fresh mushrooms is light years better than one made with canned. Ingredients 1 cup sliced fresh mushrooms Butter for cooking Salt, pepper and garlic salt to taste 1 tablespoon milk 3 eggs Preparation Melt butter in skillet over medium heat. Saute mushrooms with salt, pepper and hint of garlic. Set aside. Beat eggs and milk together, add salt and pepper to taste. Melt tablespoon butter in second skillet. Pour in eggs. Place mushrooms in row in center. Cook over medium heat until omelette begins to brown. Fold wings over mushrooms. Slide onto plate, flank with dry toast, and serve. DailyTidings.com Home Page Archives | Revels | Classifieds | Real Estate Guide | Weather | Subscribe | Contact Us Copyright 2005 Ashland Daily Tidings and Ottaway Newspapers All Rights Reserved Deep Muscle Stimulator Ceramic Piggy Banks FREE Entertainment Guide Women's & Men's Slippers Accelerate Weightloss Products Backpacks Generic Viagra Vegas Travel Guide Search Engine Optimization Sportsbook Absinthe Supply Student Loans Hotel & Airline Reservations African Safari Hammocks Helzberg Diamonds Online Casinos Community Bonus Casino King of Spirits ink cartridges Mortgage Calculator Security Systems Mailing Lists Click Here Advertisement .:Advertisements:. Site Search: RESOURCES - Mail Tribune News - ODOT Road Cams