Sparassis crispa

Scientific name:  Sparassis crispa Wulfen:Fries
Derivation of name: Crisp- means "curly" or "crisped" in
reference to the "curly" branches.  
Synonyms:  Sparassis radicata
Common name(s):  Rooting cauliflower mushroom.
Phylum:   Basidiomycota
Order:   Polyporales
Family:   Sparassidaceae
Occurrence on wood substrate:  Saprobic/parasitic; solitary
or in groups on the ground near conifer trunks or stumps or
sometimes on well-decayed logs and stumps; August through
October.  
Dimensions:  The entire complex mass of flattened branches
may be up to 50 cm and high and 90 cm wide.   
Description: This fungus occurs as a compact cluster of
flattened, leaf-like branches which are wrinkled, folded, or
curled and resembles a large head of leafy lettuce or a brain or
perhaps cauliflower except it is cream to pale yellow in color.
Each "leaf" is usually darkest at the edge. The branches arise
from a thick ((2-5 cm), tough, deeply rooting (5-14 cm) dark
brown to black stalk.          
Edibility: This is considered a choice edible species.
Comments: There are reports of fruiting bodies up to 50
pounds. If the root is left in the ground, the fungus will appear
for several years at the same spot.   

More information at MushroomExpert.com:   

    
Figure 1. This mushroom was collected during an Eastern
Penn Mushroom (EPM) foray and identified as Sparassis
crispa. It's possible this specimen is S. spathulata because
1) I have no record of a root, 2) S. spathulata is more
common, and 3) although recorded as S. crispa, S.
spathulata has mistakenly been called S. crispa. Despite
the uncertain identification, the picture is useful to show
the large size of these fungi.

Figure 2. What comes to mind? Noodles? Lettuce?
Cauliflower? A brain?

Figure 3. Note the darker edges or tips of the flattened
branches.