First time I tried morels was great. I ordered them online from a reputable mushroom site. got a bag full of plump fresh morels. I made a pasta dish with morels, parsley, garlic, olive oil, white wine and parm cheese.
A few months later I ordered them again ( same vendor) to make the dish again. I read a note that came with the morels that said " please wash thoroughly, since picked from the wild, morels may contain dirt, sticks and worms". Being an avid gardner, Im used to that stuff so it didnt bother me. I emptied the paper bag, saw a little dirt, small twig or two and what seamed to be a maggot-like insect. ( Still not squeamish), so I soaked and rinsed the morels , and when I looked at the bottom of the bow I soaked them in, I saw an unusually large amount of the maggot - like insects. Now I was starting to lose my appetite. Since the morels have so many nooks and crannies for these things to hide in, I wasn't sure i could eliminate all of them. I soaked and washed them several more times, each time noticing a large amount of insects at the bottom of the bowl. At that point , I lost my appetite and threw them all away. I was disappointed, cause I loved the dish so much, and now every time I think of morels, thats the only thing that comes to mind. I haven't ordered or had them since. I wish I could get over it, but its just one of those things that are burned in my memory.
