At a trade show in the early 1980s, I asked him why the
puffball fad had faded so dramatically.
Theresa sliced up one of the
puffballs, which was white and firm inside (from the book: "make sure they are not yellow or they will be bitter") and fried them with some butter and onions.
But after a lot of door slamming and crying her mum caved in, turned to her sewing machine and transformed a 'sensible'' A-line skirt into a
puffball.
Heather Campbell with the giant
puffball, tipping the scales at well over five pounds, found growing on her fields Picture: JEFF PITT jp061008puffball-2
Giant
puffballs should be firm and not soft (if your finger makes an indentation on the outer surface, leave it in the field, as it's already lost the peak of its freshness.)
Fungi range in size and complexity, from microscopic organisms such as yeasts to the larger mushrooms and
puffballs. Lesser known forms include the water molds, slime molds, rusts, smuts, and lichens.
During April 8-14, 1994, eight persons aged 16-19 years from southeastern Wisconsin visited physicians for respiratory illness associated with inhalation of Lycoperdon perlatum (i.e.,
puffball mushrooms).
Most giant
puffballs generally grow to between 10cms and 70cms (3.9ins to 28ins) in diameter but they can reach 150cms (59ins).
And although you wouldn't have thought there was much money in stinging nettles, seaweed or giant
puffballs, he supplies posh restaurants such as The Ivy and Jamie Oliver's Fifteen, so he probably does all right for himself.
The mere idea of the orange Robert Kilroy Silk being taken seriously as a politician, let alone a party leader, fills me with gloom and silly little parties seem to spring up now like
puffballs.
Puffballs, known as calvatia gigantea by scientists, are rarely found in Scotland.
FUN GUY: Giuseppe Fois (right) with
puffballs and mushrooms.
