I'm curious: why do you discard the mushroom stems? I use fresh mushrooms
when I make gravy, so don't know much about using the dried. Does the
drying process toughen the stems?
Lee Ann
----- Original Message -----
From: <KnowsUKay@xxxxxxx>
To: <fatfree@xxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Wednesday, April 25, 2001 7:45 AM
Subject: thickening
> I prefer to thicken with flour. It is simple - put some flour in a small
> bowl and add a little cold water..... the cold water should be enough to
make
> a paste.... work the paste until it is smooth and thick, and then add a
> little more water at a time until the mixture is easily pourable and satin
> smooth. Stir the hot liquid that you are thickening as you add the
mixture
> to the pot. Bring the liquid almost to a boil and the thickening will be
> evident. You can adjust thickness by adding more flour-water mixture.
This
> same method works for corn starch and other thickeners such as arrowroot.
> This is how I make gravy:
> Soak 6 dried mushroom in 2 cups of hot water until soft. Drian water from
> mushroom, saving it for gravy. Discard stems of dried mushrooms and
coarsely
> chop the caps. Saute 1/2 lb of sliced mushroom in a little water with
S&P.
> When mushroom are soft and the liquid is about evaporated, add the
mushroom
> liquid you have saved, along with the chopped caps. Cook until very hot.
> Make a flour or cornstarch mixture to thicken and when thick, taste for
> seasoning. Sometimes I add a little tamari or some veggie worchestershire
> sauce or a little sherry.
> Enjoy
> Kay
>