Acknowledgments

Introduction

1. The History, the Varieties, the Lore

2. A Tale of Two Festivals

3. The Recipes

4. The People

Epilogue

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!

People in the Midwest—especially those living in Southern Indiana—take their persimmons seriously. But, if you were to ask people in other states, they'd probably ask, "What's a persimmon?"
This puckery little fruit, when ripe, is the perfect ingredient for amazing desserts, and you'll find lots of those in this little book. One thing I discovered when researching for this book was this—people are passionate about their persimmon recipes. Using cinnamon instead of Allspice or replacing buttermilk for cream makes for a very different persimmon pudding. For that reason, I have included several variations of recipes for essentially the same dessert or dish; however, one pinch of this or another pinch of that can completely change the flavor. I encourage you to try all of the variations of these recipes, and maybe even experiment with your own version!
As you'll discover in the following pages, there's also more than one variety of persimmons, and different persimmons make very different dishes. For example, the persimmons found in the western part of the United States are bigger and different in texture, and those are perfect for salads and soups and many other side dishes, while the Common Persimmon found in the Midwest is more suited for desserts. I've included recipes featuring both kinds of persimmons; however, full disclosure here. I'm more of a Common Persimmon person since that's what I've grown up with and loved ever since I was old enough to toddle around Lawrence County's Persimmon Festival.
I have several plastic bags of persimmon pulp in my freezer right now, and you can bet I'll be experimenting with more persimmon-y creations in days to come. I hope you'll do the same.
I also hope you'll enjoy the interesting little-known facts and folklore surrounding persimmons and the people who love and celebrate them. Lastly, I hope if you're already a lover of persimmons that this book will speak your love language and possibly introduce you to new information surrounding persimmons and offer new recipes. And, I hope if you've never tried a persimmon before that you'll be a bit adventurous and allow your taste buds to appreciate this lovely little fruit.