I’m home tonight. With no plans to work on any of my assignments due within the next few weeks, or even blog about the latest road trip, I sat down, propped up my feet, and opened the innocent looking package from my husband’s employer regarding medical insurance for 2010. This is not a comedic stand up routine folks. Despite the fact the American medical system is broke and front and center in the news, I plowed in. How bad could it be?
Really bad. Five minutes later, depressed at the knowledge the cost for our coverage would be increasing by one-third, with thoughts of an HMO flashing through my head like Boris Karloff with a flashlight under his chin, I made my way to the kitchen.
Tonight I’d make the persimmon bread from the recipe that accompanied my recent post about the fruit’s seed being a predictor of winter conditions. The persimmons purchased over a week ago have ripened nicely on the countertop and need some attention – as in a suspension of batter and an oven.
Cutting into the first persimmon yields a soft, fleshy, orange fruit, the color for which fashion designers would need a brown bag. It’s that glorious.
Only thing missing: ummm, seeds. Nada. Zip. Zero. None. Whaaatttt??!! My post that spawned a rush all over the world to purchase persimmons, is a LIE?!
Yes. And no. The trees that yielded the persimmons that yielded the seed that yielded the spoon indicating lots of snow this winter, were wild persimmons picked on my Dad’s ranch. Being the ranch is 3 hours from here and to achieve 2 cups of mash from the not-much-bigger-than-a-marble fruit would take a bushel, I opted for market persimmons.
Some desperate research indicates I purchased the most widely cultivated species: the Japanese persimmon ‘Hachiya’. Another variety was also available (looked more like the ugly step sister of a tomato) for which I will return to the market tomorrow. I’m on a seed quest. And geez louise, so are some of you!
My advice if you’re looking to open a seed to shock and awe your friends and family with Farmer’s Almanac type winter predictions that are a bit more scientific than my beloved Magic 8 Ball, tell the person at your market what you want to do. They should be able to guide you towards a persimmon species with seeds, thereby rescuing my reputation as a, umm, as a highly regarded forecaster with a Farmer’s Almanac and a Magic 8 Ball sitting on her desk.
Tomorrow I’ll post about how the seed quest turned out. In the meantime, the bread is fantastic – my new favorite quick bread – better than banana nut bread, strawberry bread, or zucchini bread. It’s my new go to for gifts. Good thing we were low on milk.
[…] A Big Fat Persimmon Lie […]
Pingback by Persimmon Prediction Winter 2011-2012 — January 8, 2012 @ 6:52 pm
[…] A Big Fat Persimmon Lie […]
Pingback by But First, Persimmons — November 17, 2011 @ 8:53 pm
There is at least one persimmon tree at the Tulsa County Courthouse plaza. It is located in a large concrete planter just off of Denver Avenue and between the North entrance of the courthouse and the South entrance of the library. Anyone that needs a fix can just go there and pick some up off the ground.
Here’s another fun fact about that tree, it smells. Those damn things get down into the ivy covering the planter and rot. They smell of ass mixed with a dead squirrel in the spring. I try to avoid going that way when I go to court during the rotting season.
Comment by Trevor Lee — November 20, 2009 @ 12:02 pm
wow looks tasty
Comment by Ann — November 19, 2009 @ 2:39 pm
Joel,
Better than those B&W brownies? Hmmmm,,, I’d have to have them side by side to compare. And plenty of milk!
J.R.,
I agree banana nut bread is hard to beat, but I’m telling ya, this is better. Okay, maybe it’s just really really good in a different way than bnb.
Tim,
Duck eggs? I’m on it. I’ll send you an email with thoughts.
Pops,
Glad you got a chuckle from the Boris Karloff with a flashlight under his chin. I kind of liked the line about the fashion designers too. LOL
Comment by Tammie Dooley — November 19, 2009 @ 10:16 am
Awwwww, of course I am kidding. I’ll bet that bread is better than those black and white brownies you love so much.
Comment by Headed East — November 19, 2009 @ 12:21 am
Hey! I’ll take a loaf if …………………only if you can get me on that ‘lousy’ but partially paid for group plan…… LOL i am such jerk!
Comment by Headed East — November 19, 2009 @ 12:19 am
Bite your tongue !! Better than banana nut bread….I’ll never believe it !! š
Comment by J.R. — November 19, 2009 @ 12:03 am
Oh My GOD… that looks SOOO GOOOD! We’ve been enjoying farm-fresh chickens and eggs AND duck eggs lately. Any recommendations on what all to do with duck eggs? They’re rich. We’ve made soft-boiled (yum), scrambled (yuck), in quiche (too firm) and we understand they’re great to bake with but I don’t bake so much!!!! HELP
Comment by tim cope — November 18, 2009 @ 11:49 pm
Absolutely delightful. Your writing continues to grow and ripen like the beautiful persimmons in your pictures. It’s taste and textures makes me want to dig in again and again like the bread you so wondrously describe. I’m still chuckling over the image of Boris with the flashlight under his chin. Good luck on your future weather predictions!
Comment by Pops — November 18, 2009 @ 10:44 pm