The blusher. The one problem with this mushroom is that, whilst edible itself, it closely resembles others that are poisonous, including the death cap. It must be cooked as it contains a toxin which is destroyed by heat, like kidney beans. The most identifiable thing about it is that this reddish brown mushroom with pinkish grey scales and a white stem colours pink to red at sites of damage or bruising. The gills and flesh are white, also becoming red or pink on bruising. It is most commonly found in beech woods in summer to late autumn (US: fall). Also look closely at the ring on the stem. This should have lots of fine grooves on its upper side, unlike another poisonous mushroom which it closely resembles, the panther cap.
Hazel grouse. A game bird found in woodlands on hillsides, often perching in trees, especially aspen and birch, in Scandinavia and Baltic countries, the former Yugoslavia and Central and Eastern Europe, as well as mountainous regions of northern Italy.
Sago. It is made from the viscous sap of a tall palm tree. It is collected in the same way as rubber, by making an incision in the trunk.
Melon baller. A kitchen implement with a wooden handle with a small sharp edged bowl at one end. This is used to scoop ball shapes from, particularly, melons but can also be used for other similarly textured foods such as cucumber. Larger ones are used for ice cream.
