Eating the Trees - Persimmons

The leaves are starting to fall and the persimmon trees are showing off their bright orange fruits.

Persimmon trees are easiest to identify in the fall when the leaves have fallen off but the fruits are still clinging to the branches.  The fruits don't generally start falling and ripening until there's a frost, but there have been enough falling to make it worth bringing a bag with when I go by a tree.

We only have very small persimmon trees around our property.  The largest persimmon tree I've ever laid eyes upon was growing next to a restaurant just up past the Missouri border.  The trunk was bigger than I could wrap my arms around.  It may not be huge for where you are, but it's the biggest one I've seen. 

There are three or four small persimmon trees in the goat area and four other medium-sized trees around the woods that surround the house.  The neighbors also let us pick from their tree.  Well, you really don't "pick" persimmons from the trees themselves but pick them up from the ground where they fall.  They are quickly eaten by the wildlife though, so I'll take the trunk in my hands and give it a good shake until more come down.  I was brave and ate one that was on the ground as it looked ripe for eating; thankfully it was ripe.  You do not want to eat an unripe persimmon.  Ask me how I know.

We got about five pounds of fruit, not enough to make anyting with just yet, so I'll put them in the fridge until we can get more.  Some of them weren't quite ripe anyhow. 

If we can gather enough I'd like to make preserves.  I made a real nice persimmon bread a few years ago and will again.  It would be nice if I can manage to shell out enough of the hickory nuts to toss in with the batter.  I haven't bought a nut cracker yet.....it's on my list though.

Almost forgot!  Today's the last day to enter MyBlog Birthday Giveaway!  Rhiannon will draw a name tomorrow.