Sunday, November 15, 2009

Baking persimmons



My aunt Eileen just gave me four plastic grocery bags of Hachiya persimmons that a friend shared with her. A bumper crop year, I gather. She doesn't bake, but gladly accepts such offerings because she knows she can deliver the goods to me or other suckers, I mean bakers, and that her gesture might just result in finished treats showing up back at her house. Slick trick, auntie.

I love baking, but four bags?! Holy Hachiya! I shared one bag with my boyfriend's mom, who isn't a persimmon person but who's surrounded by a revolving group of kin, one of whom might happily take them off her hands.

I've never grown persimmons, and for awhile was hazy on the whole baking versus eating thing. Hachiya... baking... tannic, then pulpy. Fuyu... eating... crispy. Got it.

So what do I do with these beauties? I Google them.
And forget expensive floral centerpieces, folks. This looks like a fun excuse to scrounge up some candles, get out the clippers, and wander around your yard before Thanksgiving dinner guests arrive. Yes, you can use persimmons in your centerpiece.

What am I thankful for this Thanksgiving? The obvious choices, but also the generosity in people that makes them want to share their bounty... the ability others have to pull us out of the darkness when we have run out of matches... and buttery slices of persimmon bread. Oh, and that strange, terrible, wonderful virtual neighborhood we call Facebook.

11 comments:

  1. Persimmon jam!!! A runny one that you can drizzle over pancakes! Flavored with nutmeg, perhaps?

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  2. I concur! I am about ready to whip up my first batch of persimmon jam myself, although with a different kind of persimmon so it will be quite an experiment... I am amazed at the gorgeous bounty! Beautiful!

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  3. Persimmon Cookies are YUM! Give them a try. My mom used to make them for us when I was little.
    I just receive a bunch of persimmons from my dad, I just ate them as is. Sweet, slimy and a bit messy.

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  4. I don't have my mom's recipe, but this one seems easy. (the ingredients seem similar)
    http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/persimmon-cookies-i/Detail.aspx

    yum
    Lynette

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  5. I really recommend steamed persimmon pudding with hard sauce--one of my favorite treats at Christmas when I was a kid. It's moist and spicy and soaked in brandy. What's not to like?

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  6. Anonymous8:42 PM

    SO so glad to see you posting again here Angela!

    May the season be filled with wonderful produce, new baking experiments and more posts from you for the rest of us to savor.

    Good holidays to you,

    Garden Gram

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  7. Actually, those look pretty darn tasty! Never was much of a persimmon guy until an aunt put together one of the tastiest dishes in world history. The pudding thing, lol.

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  8. sounds fun. Never heard of Persimmons until now.

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  9. Beautiful Persimmons! I am a baker, but prefer all things chocolate. Love the kitty post....adorable!

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  10. lovely! nice harvest

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  11. That's a great idea your aunt has! Too bad it won't work with grapefruit or I'd try it myself.

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