I live in Houston, but I am not from Houston. I'm not from anywhere in the South. I was born and raised in Ohio and have no idea what to do with a persimmon.
Truth be told, I never knew there was such a fruit as persimmon until a few years ago. I've never tasted one, have no idea how to know whether it's underripe, overripe, or just perfect. I have no idea how to cut it, peel it, or cook it. It's very possible that more than one of my children will taste a persimmon and proclaim, "Mommy, this takes weird."
So what in heaven's name would prompt me to place six persimmons in my grocery cart for purchase last Sunday? Simply because it was one of the few locally produced pieces of fruit at my local grocery market at this time of year. And I am bound and determined to at least give local, seasonal produce a try.
I'm not a true locavore by any stretch. I still buy (gasp) bananas. I don't make my own cheese from goatsmilk produced in my suburban backyard. I have canned goods and boxes of organic, whole grain cereal in my pantry. But I am a firm believer in doing the best you can. I buy locally produced chicken, beef, eggs, honey, herbal teas, and olive oil (who knew Texans made olive oil?). I make my own bread daily. And from now on I am going to give pride of place to whatever local, seasonal produce is available at my neighborhood market.
So what am I going to do with my persimmons? As I write a pot of persimmon jam is simmering on the stove. The beauty of the internet, if any such can be found, is in food subjects. Where to find "clean" meat, how to make the perfect apple pie from scratch, why grass-finished beef is so much healthier for you than grain-fed. And how to pick a ripe persimmon and turn it into a delicious freezer jam.
We'll see how it goes, but really how bad could it be? It's a sweet spread for my homemade bread turned toast. I'm sure it'll be edible at least.
What local foods do you eat?
I think you make many important points for those just starting out on a local/organic/better food journey. It is easy to watch a food documentary and want to drastically change your lifestyle. The problem is, and I myself am guilty of this, we often want to do it all at once and become so overwhelmed we quit before we start.
ReplyDeleteIt is good to know the road to a more sustainable diet can begin with one thing at a time. Maybe there is a local farm you've always wanted to visit and buy eggs - start there. Once you get into the habit, you will find it much easier to continue going local. That egg farmer may know another who supplies local, raw honey; who in turn knows of a winter farmer's market where you can get local veggies.
Before you know it, you have a freezer full of grass-finished beef, pastured poultry, pureed butternut squash from your summer garden, and persimmon jam.
It doesn't have to be done all at once, the important thing is to start and add as you go.