Longwood Gardens Mushroom Soup Recipe

Since there are so many requests at The Mushroom Cap for the Longwood Garden's Mushroom Soup recipe I thought it would be nice to share it here. Why not stop at The Mushroom Cap for your oyster, shiitake and crimini mushrooms? You won't be disappointed. Always fresh - picked and kept in the cooler.

The Bounty of Chester County Cookbook also has this recipe included.

Again thank you to Pam George (award winning food writer).

The Mushroom Queen

What a great article written by Pam George! How lucky I am. After trying to find the online version of this publication immediately after it appeared in my hands and having no luck whatsoever - I gave up at the time due to Mushroom Festival - arrival of twins - a trip to MI - holidays, etc.
Here I am awake at 2 am - I finally did a search again and found exactly what I was looking for.
I was led to this while looking at www.themushroomcap.com and finding the links to other previously written articles. This one needs to be added too! Can't say enough about free publicity - it all works hand in hand with helping to keep a business up and running.

Love the "twin" button mushrooms!
Another project - a new look for www.themushroomcap.com

Cute as a Button times two!

Meet Ava Olivia and Chloe Kathleen Storm

Anxious to get home to see family and friends today but finding it difficult to leave Ava and Chloe born 4 weeks ago on 10/24/11 at 7:30 and 7:31 am.
Chloe is no longer wearing her ankel band. We all feel pretty safe that we can tell them apart now - she does have a little birth mark on her belly just in case we don't. A test will soon determine if they are identical.
What a joy to become grandparents of twins in our 60th year. Ava and Chloe will be introduced to their cousins, Keira, Austin and Addison and their Aunts and Uncles in December - their first trip over the river and through the woods to Mom-Mom and Pop-Pop's home in PA! Can't wait to have the family together.

I hear them crying now - must be time for another feeding.
I will shed some tears today just as Pop-Pop did a few weeks ago the morning he left!

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving everyone! We do have so much to be thankful for!

Kennett Square Grown Dried Mushrooms

At The Mushroom Cap we strive to sell the freshest cultivated mushrooms - brought in from our family farm and from Phillips where most of the exotics are grown. When it comes to dried mushrooms we sell Kennett Square Grown Dried Mushrooms instead of purchasing dried mushrooms in bulk not knowing where they originated. We do purhase wild porcini, chanterelle, wood ear, morels, etc. because they are not readily available. We are now selling 1 oz. bags of shiitake, oyster and maitake. These make great gifts or a great pick-up for the traveler/tourist who wants to take some mushrooms home from Kennett Square, PA, Mushroom Capital of the World.

Do check out the link and see a picture of our dried oysters reconstituted and find a recipe for mushroom risotto. Not ever having to reconstitute dried mushrooms I had no idea how yummy they could look. You won't be disappointed with Kennett Square Grown Dried Mushrooms!

"The Mush-Room": 2011 Mushroom Festival

"The Mush-Room": 2011 Mushroom Festival

2011 Mushroom Festival

Kennett Square hosted another Mushroom Festival - the 26th annual on September 10th and 11th. It was a great event beginning with a parade on Friday night where the local fire companies, spearheaded by Kennett Fire Company No. 1, paid tribute to those who passed on

9 1 1. Iron Chef Jose Garces, Top Chef Kevin Sbraga and Master Chef Jennie Behm were our culinary celebrieites this year! Is that considered the triple crown in culinary? We think so. Over 220 of Rhonda's vendors spanned State Street from Willow to Lafayette. It did not rain throughout the event. I think the last time that happened may have been 5 or 6 years ago. Cannot say enough about the volunteers and their coordinator! Some of us (me and .....) eat, sleep and breathe the Mushroom Festival for close to 12 months of the year. We are proud of what we have accomplished by being an all volunteer organization (no payroll) and even more proud that the money raised is given back to the community! Three cheers for everyone who had anything at all to do with this year's festival!

Kennett Square, my home town is the place where my grandparents and my husband's grandparents lived side by side in apartments back in the 1920's in that building you can see on the right in the picture! Wow! That was some 90 years ago. Some things have changed, some things have not. Hooray for Kennett Square! For some of us it's just a lifetime of who we are!

Snack N Shrooms®

Was very excited to open the mail on Saturday morning to find a document from the United States Patent and Trademark Office. Snack N Shrooms is now registered and listed under Seasoned Dried White Mushrooms Int. Cl 29 (U.S. Cl 46).

Summer 2011

A couple of weeks ago two of us went to the Fancy Food Show in Washington, DC. Our only regret was that we couldn't stay longer. We made a decision to purchase gourmet foods that pair well with mushrooms. We tell everyone to saute mushrooms in olive oil and garlic so why not have the olive oil and garlic on hand. There are some great recipes using sun-dried tomatoes and sweet red peppers. Anxious to get some of these new products in and share some great recipes.

We also found a White Wine Sauce and a Red Wine Sauce - already tried the White - sauteed portabella mushrooms in olive oil w/salt and pepper, mixed in leftover roasted chicken and the already heated white wine sauce and poured the mixture over rice. It was delicious, easy - can't wait to try the Red Wine Sauce! Will keep you posted. These new products will arrive at The Mushroom Cap soon!

Memorial Day, 2011

It was a great day in Kennett Square today. The annual Memorial Day Parade was just what everyone expected. I hope the visitors from New York City and Los Angeles enjoyed what our little town had to offer. As you can see our own Fun-gi participated.

A stop at The Mushroom Cap - one couple watched our video this morning before getting their spot to see the parade. The other couple stopped after the parade to take some mushrooms back home to NY with them. They wanted something they don't always get in the city - they purchased maitake and shiitake.

Another Memorial Day has come and gone. God Bless America!

Snack N Shrooms off to Georgia

In searching for foodies to evaluate my snacks - I connected with someone in Lawrenceville, GA. Just a few days later one bag of each flavor in my new packaging was sent off in the big brown truck. My first out-of-state wholesale customer placed an order! Wow - how exciting. In writing back and forth I discovered that the person I am dealing with has a product called "Shroom Zoom". It sounded so familiar because I purchased some through a spice company. Her products are shiitake seasonings. She is placing Snack N Shrooms and Shroom Zoom seasonings together in a market!

Mushrooms To Go

Mushrooms To Go - We often hear how frustrated folks are about parking in Kennett Square. I find it interesting that when there is no place to park - it must be a good sign.

We want to make buying mushrooms in downtown Kennett Square an easy task by offering curb side convenient service! Call ahead, place your order, let us know your expected time of arrival, park at 114 Scarlett Alley and we will deliver product to you.

Here is a list of a few items that are available at TheMushroom Cap:

White button mushrooms $2.75/lb.
White medium mushrooms $3.00/lb.
White large mushrooms $3.50/lb.
Portabella mushrooms $5.00/lb.
Baby Bella/Crimini mushrooms $4.00/lb.
Shiitake mushrooms $8.00/lb.
Oyster mushrooms $8.00/lb.
Maitake mushrooms $15.00/lb.
Portabella Chop Sauce $7.99
Roasted Portabella Pasta Sauce $8.00
Snack N Shrooms - Original, Low Salt, Hot or Garlic $6.75/1.5 oz.

Snack N Shrooms Powder - Mild, Hot or Garlic $12.99/2 oz.

Mushroom Mustard - Made w/Snack N Shooms Powder $6.49

Marinated mushrooms in jars - Mexican Jalapeno, Portabella, Garlic Italian, Sweet Italian, Italian, Old World and Pickled $5.49/12 oz.

Hope to hear from you soon!

New York International Gift Fair

On Sunday, January 30th a friend and I took a train ride from Wilmington, DE to Penn Station NY. Once there we got on a bus to the Javits Center where the New York International Gift Fair was being held. After checking our luggage and coats we were off on a two day shopping spree. Before going I searched the vendor list for those who had mushroom related items. I was surprised to find 9 names. It was close to 1 pm before we got started. Our first stop was the best. We found a table and toadstools set along with several other fun things for kids. As the day progressed we found mushroom Christmas ornaments, mushroom egg slicer (a great one) a mushroom brush along with some garden ornaments as well as some glass table top mushrooms. How about mushroom garden ornaments made out of volcanic ash? We ordered two of each size.

All in all the two days at the Fair proved to be successful. The best was to hear several vendors tell us how popular mushrooms have become! Music to my ears - I can remember walking from booth to booth asking for mushrooms and walk away disappointed.

Oops almost forgot to tell you - we took 4 bags of Snack N Shrooms with us - gave a taste to those who would try! Feedback was very positive.

Childhood memory - snow storm - card game - fun

There is a peacefullness outside tonight - one that brings back memories of living in Kennett Square, PA as a young girl. When there was a snow storm, my Mom and I would walk to my grandparent's home on S. Broad Street. It was so quiet - the world seemed quiet - not many cars out and about, if any at all. It was always after dinner when we would take our walk. Once inside we always sat at the kitchen table - it was not only used for dining but for playing cards too. That is where I learned to play a board game where we used pennies instead of chips - Royal Rummy or Tripoly. Great memories around that kitchen table!

It's the same table that many a holiday meal was served - those creamed mushrooms were the best!

My first wholesale Snack N Shroom customer

It is time to venture out beyond The Mushroom Cap with Snack N Shrooms. Snack N Shrooms were first introduced at Flickerwood Wine Cellars Tasting Room in 2009. Put them on your bar - see what happens! Folks came over to The Mushroom Cap that day wanting more. Wow - maybe these do have promise.

It all started here and there! Julie (Flickerwood owner) is the designer of our logo.

Tonight all four flavors of Snack N Shrooms are for sale at Flickerwood!

Thank you Flickerwood for being awesome neighbors, great merchants and bringing folks to town with groupons!

A visit to Philadelphia

A long awaited few days, an hour away from home, was great! We stayed in a quaint home on Waverly Street in Philly w/friends. Our weekend began Saturday morning with a drive up 95. Got to our destination, unpacked our things - and out the door we went on a 12 hour jaunt in the city. Lunch at a great Mexican restaurant, shopping, a stop at Rouge in Rittenhouse Square, dinner at a nice Italian restaurant - drinks at R2L - Restaurant at Liberty 2 on the 37th floor overlooking the city lights! It was a nice end to a great day in the city of Philadelphia!

While shopping I found some of the prettiest glass mushrooms in four different sizes - I've written to the company - hoping to purchase them for The Mushroom Cap. Will keep you posted!

I missed Santa's arrival by helicopter last night!

Last year on the 1st Friday of December we buried my Dad that morning. During the evening our family attended New Garden Township's Tree Lighting and Santa's arrival by helicopter. It was something we just had to do since Santa is one of our family!

Santa arrived by helicopter again last night. Could not let Keira or Austin sit on Santa's lap for fear they would recognize Pop Pop's voice! Kids are so smart these days. Must get another family photo - Addison Grace Lafferty was born in April this year.

Mom-Mom was at The Mushroom Cap this year greeting guests, offering samples of Mushroom Mustard, SnackNShrooms and other gourmet mushroom food items during Kennett Square's December Art Stroll.

Philadelphia and The Countryside

VisitPA.com! Wow - was happy to see that Kennett Square is listed under Philadelphia and The Countryside along with Jenkintown and the Landmark Town Communities in its Happy Holiday Shopping Guide.
Was happier when finding The Mushroom Cap in the write-up. Was this the reason someone called to verify a product called "Snack N Shrooms"? I wonder.

A few months ago a gentleman called saying that he was proof reading a couple of chapters in a book for a friend. He could not give me any details but said that it would help my business. He was calling to verify my snack product. He also said that the woman who was writing the book had been to the Mushroom Festival and had tasted the snack the year before.

Will keep you posted of course.

Creamed mushrooms for Thanksgiving dinner

When growing up and going to Thanksgiving dinner at my grandparents house there was always a bowl of creamed mushrooms on the table. It was a must for Thanksgiving dinner. I can still remember my grandmother making them - standing at the stove, stirring - making sure they were just right. They were so good.
Thanksgiving is the busiest time of year for the mushroom growers. More mushrooms are sold for this holiday than any other.

So far we are shipping mushrooms to a few customers in NY and a few in NJ on Monday for their Thanksgiving dinners. One is a repeat customer who buys for her boss who thought the mushrooms were the best present she could have received! I wonder how everyone will prepare their mushrooms for their Thanksgiving dinner? Soup, stuffing, raw stuffed with dip for an appetizer, cooked stuffed with......................, marinated or.................... So many great things to do with mushrooms!

Mushrooms are great for any meal - nutritious too!

Stop by The Mushroom Cap and find a variety of gourmet food products as well as our cooler full of fresh mushrooms! A shipment of Shiitake oil should be arriving today or tomorrow along with a shiitake tapenade!

Hope to see you soon at The Mushroom Cap. We have lots of gift basket ideas for you to choose from!

Happy Holidays everyone!

26 years ago today!

The Growing Tree is 26 years old today! The Growing Tree shares space with The Mushroom Cap at 114 W State Street in Kennett Square, PA

A back porch (because we did not want to rent space and be committed to 5 or 6 days a week), a cash box, pipes hanging from the ceiling, a book of sales receipts and friends with children's outgrown clothing is how it all began on a country road in Landenberg, PA! How to get customers? Have a friend who worked in a mailroom in Wilmington, DE give you the list of streets and their zipcodes and send a flier to new birth announcements found in the local newspapers. The list was most valuable in that the newspaper did not disclose the complete address. The mailing list eventually grew to over 2000 with Moms coming from NJ, MD, PA and DE. Post cards went out periodically for sales. The shop was only open on Tuesdays and Saturdays to start - 9:30 to 4. Then we added Thursdays - then we added another day and.......................

Eventually we had a 2 car garage with a room above for the shop built in order to get the business off of the back porch and out of the house. The business grew and grew - we had girls clothing on one floor and boys clothing on the other - garage was not used as a garage for a very long time.

In the Spring and Fall we had huge garage/yard sales in the driveway where Moms would rent space for $10. They could bring their toys and baby equipment, cribs, etc. to sell. This sale was advertised in several newspapers - amazing where folks came from.

Advantages: Work at home, no rent to pay, home with the children who were only 6, 4 and 2 when it all began. As the children grew they were not the happiest about the business being at home but having been a latch key kid when growing up I knew that what I was doing was best for them. When they became involved in afterschool activities the store hours changed so that I could attend their activities.

In 1997 the building at 114 W State Street was purchased! Excitement - we were moving the business to my home town! The Landenberg store remained open as well until July of 2000 - it was apparent that since my youngest graduated high school that year I would no longer need to be home. When requesting phone service for the new location there were three numbers to choose from and one was 610-444-8484. Could this be? Two significant events happened in my life in 1984 - my Mom passed away in March and The Growing Tree opened in November.

That phone number was a message - it was meant to be!

The Growing Tree has changed a bit. We discontinued consignments for a couple of years. Our oldest daughter, Kelleanne encouraged the re-opening of The Growing Tree after her daughter, Keira was born in 2008. Since then we have added women's clothing, shoes and accessories.

Along the way I've met and become good friends with some great people! I've had some interesting conversations with customers over the years. And the best yet is seeing some of those Moms who first visited The Growing Tree in Landenberg so many years ago come to the Kennett Square location searching out those special little items for their grandchildren several years later! It's really good to see you again! Welcome back!

Kennett Square Merchant Holiday Raffle Basket

2nd Annual Holiday Gift Basket Raffle

Kennett Square Area Restaurant and Merchant Association is having their 2nd annual Holiday Gift Basket Raffle. Proceeds benefit KARMA - this association is a not for profit organization, raising funds for marketing.

In this basket are several gift certificates to local restaurants, salons, shops and service businesses as well as gifts (diamond pendant, KSQ Blanket, Jewelry, Pottery, Mirror, Solar Goose item etc.) We started off with a basket value of over $1500 - we have gone over that estimate as we continue to recieve gifts. The raffle drawing will take place on 12/12/10! This will give the winner an opportunity to complete his/her Christmas shopping! Tickets are $3 or 2 for $5 and available at most participating shops.