This is a great year for persimmons but so far all I do with them is make leathers and persimmon cookies. I could use a little help with some new uses for them.

-- Nick Tepsick (wildheart@ekyol.com), September 20, 2000

Answers

I have mixed them with other fruit in recipes before. For example if the recipe call for 2 cups of peaches I have used one c. persimmons and 1 c. peaches. Any fruit bars that is "chewy" I would think persimmons would work in. I have a recipe for a really good banana type bread made with them that I will hunt down and post later.

-- Marci (ajourend@libby.org), September 20, 2000.

Dry them and use persimmon bits like you would raisins. They would also be good mixed into dressing. (so are dried cranberry bits for that matter) Rodale's "Stocking up III" has a recipe for persimmon jelly, I imagine you could also do preserves, or persimmon butter, or make a sauce for poultry or ham. (stuff a cornish hen with dried fruit and nuts before roasting, mmmmm)

-- Connie (Connie@lunehaven.com), September 21, 2000.

On a recent thread on persimmons, I posted a recipe for persimmon pudding. It's delicious. Look under country kitchen, scroll down to Persimmon-what to do with them.(May not be exact wording)

-- Cindy (atilrthehony_1@yahoo.com), September 21, 2000.

Found the recipe:

Spicy Persimmon bread-2c. persimmon pulp, 3c. flour, 1 t. salt, 2.5 t. bake.powder, 2 t. bake soda, 1 Tbsp. cinnamon, 1 t. nutmeg, 1/8 t. ground cloves, 1.5 c. sugar, 2 eggs, 1.25 c. appleasuce, .5 c. raisins, 1 Tbsp. vanilla.

Sift dry ingredients together. In another bowl, beat eggs, then add rest. Add dry ingredients. Pour into gresed loaf pan and bake at 350 for about 40-45 min. or until done.

-- Marci (ajourend@libby.org), September 22, 2000.

Cindy

Thanks a lot. It sounds really good.

Nick

-- Nick Tepsick (wildheart@ekyol.com), September 22, 2000.

Nick,I have a cookbook put out by Bear Wallow Books, its called Old Fashioned Persimmon Recipes. you can contact them at P.O. Box 579 Nashville, Tn 47448. Or you may e-mail me and leave your address I will make a copy and send to you, it's only a 31 page book. They also have books on just about any thing you can think of as far as food goes. You can get 4 volumes for $9.95 or all 18 for $37.80. God bless.

-- tracy emily (emilyfarms@tsixroads.com), September 26, 2000.

Nick: Granted, persimmons are great food (I love them really ripe and almost frozen like yogurt) but you ought to try persimmon wine. Just be advised that persimmons have a laxative effect (like plums)which is not lost when you make wine with them. Great wine, but use with caution.

-- John and Pat James (jjames@n-jcenter.com), September 27, 2000.

Nick, recieved your e-mail. Book is in the mail. Good Luck.

-- tracy emily (emilyfarms@tsixroads.com), September 27, 2000.