Chanterelles, coming out my ears!

[Kelilah]

I went out in the woods to forage for chanterelles with my husband and a friend this morning.  It's awfully late in the season and there wasn't much left, but among us we got just over 15 pounds of lovely meaty orange mushrooms!

I'm trying to figure out how best to use up mine, especially since my husband is leaving town for a few days tomorrow.  I'd like to preserve these if I can.  One friend said I could saute them with a bit of garlic and then freeze them to use in stuffing, frittata, etc. - what do y'all think of that, will it work?  (I am daydreaming of cornbread stuffing with leeks and chanterelles this Thanksgiving!)

I also have a recipe for a leek and chanterelle quiche.  Would that freeze well, do you think?  It'd be nice to just have it in the freezer for a nice company dinner.

Other suggestions?

[Naturopath Mom]

Foraging for chanterelles? That sounds wonderful! You can dry them or freeze them. I cannot say I have ever froze mushrooms before though. I have dehydrated them. Leeks freeze well, and I would guess as long as you are cooking them later that would be okay. What I do if I am not sure if something will freeze well is I will make a dish and then just stick a few bites in the freezer. I try it out after that, and if it works out then I will know it is ok to freeze a whole dish.

Sure wish I knew how to forage mushrooms!!

[plantnerd]

Oh poor you!

I made a rocking mushroom lasagne a few weeks ago, its an Ina Garten recipe on foodnetwork.com.  You could assemble and freeze it.  Ummm, cream of mushroom soup.  Or you could make duxelles-  chop the shrroms, saute slow in butter until they almost form a paste and the moisture is gone, then freeze that in ice cubes.  You can throw them in rice pilaf, sauces, soups, gravy, omg they are magic.

[Arduinna]

mushroom filo pie yummmmm

[Kelilah]

Ooh, great ideas, thanks to all!  Especially on the duxelles, I actually have a recipe that I forgot about so this is a good excuse to use it.  I appreciate the reminder.

Husband is off on a work trip and can bring back the most incredible smoked bleu cheese.  I told him if he brings me some of that cheese when he comes home later in the week, I'll put it in a chanterelle lasagna!

[robugmum]

I had to use up a bunch of chanterelles recently.  I sauteed them with a bit of olive oil and froze them to use later.  Just saute till done and put them in a zip-loc bag.  Push out all the air and freeze them flat!