The Perfect Persimmon
History, Recipes, and More
Published on 25. August 2020
Book
Hardback
144 pages
978-1-68435-111-4 (ISBN)
Description
Whether served in a batch of cookies or in a soup bowl, the persimmon is a favorite fruit of Midwesterners. Called the "divine fruit" or the "fruit of the gods," persimmons range from the American common persimmon, perfect for every kind of dessert, to Fuyu persimmons, a variety from China that has since won many hearts.
In The Perfect Persimmon, award-winning journalist Michelle Medlock Adams serves up persimmon expertise, from knowing when the fruit is at its ripest to sharing the best preparation techniques. Adams hails from the birthplace of the Mitchell Persimmon Festival in Lawrence County, Indiana, where the Midwest's best-kept secret, persimmon pudding, has people flocking toward what some consider the persimmon capital of the world.
Armed with a love of persimmons that has been nurtured from a young age, Adams has collected the best persimmon recipes, guaranteed to satisfy any hankering for the savory or the sweet. Accompanying these recipes are personal anecdotes detailing childhood memories and folktales about greedy possums, wise turtles, and the persimmon seed's ability to predict winter forecasts, providing a colorful context for this favored fruit.
In The Perfect Persimmon, award-winning journalist Michelle Medlock Adams serves up persimmon expertise, from knowing when the fruit is at its ripest to sharing the best preparation techniques. Adams hails from the birthplace of the Mitchell Persimmon Festival in Lawrence County, Indiana, where the Midwest's best-kept secret, persimmon pudding, has people flocking toward what some consider the persimmon capital of the world.
Armed with a love of persimmons that has been nurtured from a young age, Adams has collected the best persimmon recipes, guaranteed to satisfy any hankering for the savory or the sweet. Accompanying these recipes are personal anecdotes detailing childhood memories and folktales about greedy possums, wise turtles, and the persimmon seed's ability to predict winter forecasts, providing a colorful context for this favored fruit.
Reviews / Votes
"I recently got a new cookbook in the mail. It's not very big - at about 8-by-5-inches and a scant 130 pages or so of text, it's dwarfed by many of the books in my collection. But like its subject, it is packed full of yum, sweet and maybe just a little bit squishy. The author is Michelle Medlock Adams, an award-winning journalist and best-selling writer. From what I can see from perusing the 100+ titles on her website, this is her first book about food. And the subject is one that is near and dear to many Hoosier hearts. If I told you she grew up in Lawrence County, Indiana, you might begin to guess what is it is - a tiny orange fruit that is just starting to ripen here in Bloomington, the persimmon."-Carolyn VandeWiele, Herald-Times (Bloomington, IN)"I thoroughly enjoyed travelling with Michelle through time and space to learn about the persimmon, its ecology, and place in Midwest culture. The persimmon graces my table each fall in a spiced chutney to accompany game birds such as goose, duck and heritage breeds of turkey. Such a delicious fruit, and Michelle has inspired me to perfect my own version of persimmon pudding-look out Lawrence County!"-Lisa M. Rose, author of Midwest Foraging: 115 Wild and Flavorful Edibles from Burdock to Wild Peach
"The Perfect Persimmon is full of yummy recipes, spiced with historical references, topped with small-time charm, and sprinkled with Michelle's signature style. What a delight!"-Ashley L. Jones, Modern Cast Iron
"A delightful and delicious read about the history of the persimmon and the taste memories of this fruit created and shared for generations in homes throughout Indiana. Michelle's storytelling will fill your plate with a new appreciation of the persimmon."-Margaret McSweeney, founder and host of Kitchen Chat
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
Bloomington
United States
Product notice
Paper over boards
Illustrations
27 b&w illus.
Dimensions
Height: 209 mm
Width: 132 mm
Thickness: 13 mm
Weight
322 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-68435-111-4 (9781684351114)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
E-Book
08/2020
Red Lightning Books
€9.49
Available for download
E-Book
08/2020
Red Lightning Books
€18.18
Available for download
Person
Michelle Medlock Adams is an award-winning journalist and best-selling author of many books, including Dinosaur Devotions, What Is America?, and They Call Me Mom.
Content
Acknowledgments
Introduction
1. The History, the Varieties, the Lore
2. A Tale of Two Festivals
3. The Recipes
4. The People
Epilogue
Introduction
1. The History, the Varieties, the Lore
2. A Tale of Two Festivals
3. The Recipes
4. The People
Epilogue