barefoot bluefoot

mushrooms
Because they propagate through spores instead of by seeds, certain varieties are hard to grow commercially and can only be foraged in the wild. This is a job best left to the professionals(or absolute nut bag bikers of the southern Oregon variety) because many types of mushrooms are inedible and sometimes poisonous…………
Polenta:2 cups whole milk2 cups low-salt chicken broth1 bay leaf1 cup polenta (coarse cornmeal)1/2 cup (packed) coarsely grated Comté cheese2 tablespoons (1/4 stick) butterfor the ragout:3 tablespoons butter, divided4 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided1 1/2 pounds assorted wild mushrooms (hen of the woods and blue foot are my favorite), thickly sliced1/4 cup finely chopped shallots2 teaspoons balsamic vinegar1/4 cup low-salt chicken broth1/3 cup crème fraîche or cream1/3 cup chopped fresh parsley, divided1/3 cup (packed) coarsely grated Comté cheese