I have almost finished with all the autumn recipes in Simply in Season. I had already planned to have guest bloggers review the cranberry recipes, but another fruit has become just as problematic: the persimmon.
In the past month or so various persimmon recipes have been appearing in my favorite local cooking blogs and magazines, such as Culinate and Eating Well. However, I didn’t see them at my farmer’s market.
I posted an inquiry about where to find the fruit on a local food message board, and was advised that I should try to buy frozen or canned pulp instead. Or that I could get some at a local Asian grocery store. So I scoured all the specialty grocery stores in my area, and found no pulp and only a few very expensive persimmons at the Asian grocery stores. I asked if they had any canned. The woman looked at me and said “it’s much better fresh.” Well of course it is, but this was right after I had de-seeded several grapes for the grape pie and I was not relishing the thought of picking through more fruit pulp.
Upon further exploration, consisting of Google searching “where to buy persimmon pulp in Michigan,” I discovered that Asian persimmons are actually different from American persimmons. I also found a really cool website that is a treasure trove of persimmon information called persimmonpudding.com.
It lists places where one can find persimmon pulp; unfortunately, the furthest north was central Indiana, which is still an 8 hour drive from Michigan. I have therefore decided not to review the persimmon recipes in Simply in Season. I feel kind of bad, but the fact that they are not local and would have to be shipped tipped the scales against buying pulp online. What’s the point of doing a blog project about sustainable, local food and then purchasing fruit and having it shipped to me?
So, dear readers, I hope you are not too disappointed. If you would like the recipe for persimmon pudding, it is available on the publisher’s website.
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I have yet to try a persimmon but I’m impressed at all your hard work to find one!
I’ve been really into persimmons lately. They are awesome. I’ve been finding them at my local Asian grocery for about $1.50 per pound.