Portobello Mushroom Farmer?

Just ordered a Gourmet Portablella Mushroom Kit.

Portabella Mushrooms are pretty good to grill, but they may be good for you too. I’ve been reading a bit and nutritionally, it is suggested to replace beef with mushrooms and you may reduce your risk of obesity. I was doing this research for my nutrition class and read that “Formulating foods with mushroom instead of beef may reduce caloric intake by over 400 -calories per day, according to research from John Hopkins University. Source: Appetite July 2008, Volume 51, Issue 1, Pages 50-57 “Lack of energy compensation over 4 days when white button mushrooms are substituted for beef”Authors: L.J. Cheskin, L.M. Davis, L.M. Lipsky, A.H. Mitola, T. Lycan, V. Mitchell, B. Mickle, E. Adkins

Also, my friend, Susan, is a vegetarian. I am always looking for something to cook for her when she visits. We grilled them last summer and I know she likes them too. As we were planning our gardens this year (back in December/January), I mentioned that I would like to try growing these. They are a bit expensive and we don't always see them in our local store. We found them in several seed catalogs and I found this description online:

Gourmet Portabella Mushroom Growing Kit
“These huge, tawny mushrooms are a favorite for gourmet cooking! With their rich flavor and meaty texture, they even serve as the main ingredient in many vegetarian dishes. Portabellas are difficult to find at the supermarket, but with this kit, you can grow your own and enjoy peak freshness and flavor. Kit includes pre-inoculated spawn, produces in 3-5 weeks. Just add water and place in a cool, dark location, such as a basement.Mushrooms have a wonderful texture and flavor any way you use them. Plus, they’re loaded with nutrients, including vitamin B and potassium, which help boost the immune system. Grow your own and harvest delicious, nutritious mushrooms for weeks!” gardensalive.com

Good, sounds nutritious. Did the advertisement tell the whole story? The description doesn't give portobello mushrooms their full credit. Mushrooms have about 20% of their nutritional value as protein if they are dried. Because they are protein based, they also have some of the essential amino acids. They are low in fat, high in fiber. Both good and are likely why the obesity risk can be reduced. They also have vitamins such as thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, biotin, and ascorbic acid. Vitamins A, C and B6. They are also rich in minerals such as: iron, selenium, zinc, copper, potassium and phosphorus. They also contain phytochemicals which can help reduce cancer risks. One half cup of cooked mushrooms contains about 20 calories and provides a good source of selenium, which studies show may reduce the risk of colon and prostate cancer. Mushroom’ selenium and riboflavin also help support detoxification. http://www.dolenutrition.com/Facts_lr.aspx

I’ve seen them most recently in the grocery store for a couple of bucks. Not bad, but there is the shipping concern. No one grows them locally. So if I produce my own, I can also save some energy.

Emeril’s Food of Love had a recipe for the mushrooms that caught my attention. They had a recipe for a burger (my favorite way to eat Portabella Mushrooms. This was called Emeril’s Portobello Mushroom-Blue Cheese Burgers.
It included Vidalia onion slices, chopped garlic, balsamic vinegar the mushroom and 6 oz of Gorgonzola thinly sliced. Oh, and rosemary. I thought, that’s a great use for the rosemary in the garden. A marinade 1-2 hours with the vinegar and olive oil, garlic and rosemary. Then grill these and the onions (Emeril drizzled the onions with olive oil, but I like them straight on the grill). They cook faster than the burgers. Phil won’t eat the mushroom burger, so he starts the hamburgers earlier. Cook 5 minutes, add the cheese on the gills of the mushroom and cook till tender. Only about3 more minutes. Spread on a mayo with cayenne pepper.

Portobello or Portabella?
So which is it, Portobello or Portabella? The actual scientific name is Agaricus bisporus Some use the feminine version of the name, Portabella, to refer to smaller or younger mushrooms. The mushroom is also known as brown crimini or table mushroom in it’s smaller/younger version.

http://www.gourmetsleuth.com/portobellosportablellas.htm
http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/glossery/p.shtml?portobellor_mushrooms

Ordered it two weeks ago and the kit came yesterday. Today I set it up. It involves innoculated medium with compost that is cooked to sterilize. Then it cools and is innoculated with mushroom spores. This is shipped with a peat moss with lime to adjust the pH. I'm supposed to set it up with water in the peat and set is aside at room temp for 7 days. Then, I can check it and move it to the 50-65 degrees. We will see if we have tasty edible and healthy mushrooms by the end of March!