brown, about minutes Add the remaining thyme and season to taste with salt and pepper Serve the soup garnished with the sautéed mushrooms WORKING WITH MUSHROOMS W hen shopping for mushrooms of any sort, look for ones that don’t have any soft or discolored spots on their caps, which can indicate decay For mushrooms with gills (such as portobellos and shiitakes), examine the gills under the cap as well, as they’ll often start to turn before the rest of the ’shroom It’s OK if the bottom of the stem is a little discolored, but it should not be overly dry, mushy, or starting to shred apart As for dirt, it is no indication either way Mushrooms grow in dirt, so it’s inevitable you’ll find some attached to them Obviously, cleaner mushrooms are easier to work with, but a little dirt on the cap or clustered near the stem is no problem Once you get the mushrooms home, store them in a plastic bag with the top left open or in a perforated plastic container in the vegetable drawer of your refrigerator Fresh mushrooms should keep for 3 to 5 days under optimal conditions Can I Wash My ’Shrooms? You’ve probably had folks tell you things like, ... with, but a little dirt on the cap or clustered near the stem is no problem Once you get the mushrooms home, store them in a plastic bag with the top left open or in a perforated plastic container in the vegetable drawer of your refrigerator... either way Mushrooms grow in dirt, so it’s inevitable you’ll find some attached to them Obviously, cleaner mushrooms are easier to work with, but a little dirt on the cap or clustered near the