What would holiday memories be without our special holiday foods?  When think back and remember our  family celebrations I can literally smell and taste the wonderful foods.

This year I’m remembering a new food — Persimmons!

I first experienced persimmons this fall when the Body Enlightenment System recipes I was using included many persimmons. I remember looking suspiciously at the somewhat odd-looking fruits at my local food co-op. I wasn’t sure how to choose the best ones, and I have to admit the price seemed more than a little high to me. However, after tasting the sweet juicy persimmons I decided they were more than worth that price!

After falling in love with persimmons I started feeding that love as often as possible. In addition to simply eating the glorious food in all its wonderful goodness, I made persimmon smoothies and puddings regularly. From simply blending a persimmon into pudding for a fun treat, to making it into a nutritious green smoothie — persimmons became a regular treat I looked forward to!

Simply Persimmon Pudding or Drink

• 1-2 Soft ripe persimmons
• 1-3 celery stalks, depending on preference and desired consistency
• water to desired consistency (add a little at a time!)

This simple persimmon pudding or drink was my first experience with blending persimmons, and I found that they blend up wonderfully thick and decadent, and if you let the blended mixture set just a little while it is sets up like a pie filling! In my experience if I want to be able to drink it, especially through a straw, I have to include quite a bit of water! I also discovered that I LOVE the combination of persimmons with celery. Of course I now love just about any fruit blended with celery so I should no longer be surprised at these wonderful combinations.

The second time I went to the store I noticed two different types of persimmons: Hachiya and Fuyu. The heart-shaped Hachiya must be very soft before eating them, but the Fuyu, shaped more like a tomato, can be eaten while still hard. However, I’ve only eaten either type when they are soft as I prefer the texture. I also eat organic persimmons so that I can eat the entire fruit without peeling it. The main reason I don’t bother to peel it is because I am lazy. So far this has not affected the consistency of my smoothies or puddings.

While the nutritional content of each type of persimmon varies somewhat, both seem to be excellent sources of vitamin C, beta carotene, and minerals. To me, this makes it an especially excellent fruit to enjoy during the challenging cold season here in Wisconsin. And the enjoyment … oh, some say that persimmons are the “Food of the Gods” and I think I agree.

So, you can imagine how I felt when I wasn’t able to find any persimmons at the few grocery stores I had a chance to stop at while in Texas on our Christmas trip. While I was thrilled with all of the wonderful fresh citrus, I was a bit sad that I couldn’t make the Holiday Persimmon Smoothie that my BES Buddy, Alissa, had given me the recipe for shortly before I left to head south.

Then, as we were heading back north there they were — just a few ripe persimmons in the produce section of the unsuspecting grocery store located just off of the Interstate…I caught my breath in anticipation! I looked at them, went back to filling my cart with the “travel essentials” on my list, and then went and stared at them again…I couldn’t resist. So, I purchased two wonderfully ripe persimmons to stash in our cooler until I could get into the hotel that night. I practically drooled thinking about those juicy persimmons the rest of the day!   Later that night I pulled my Blendtec blender out of the cooler I keep it in while traveling (don’t you travel with your blender?), and whipped up a custard-like smoothie that will forever be part of my Christmas memories!

Perfect Persimmon Holiday Green Smoothie

submitted by Alissa

Blend:

• a handful or kale and about 1/2 cup of water together

Add  and blend together:

• 2 bananas
• 2 persimmons
• 1/2 cup of water (less for a pudding consistency, more for a smoothie texture)
• freshly grated nutmeg (about 1 tsp)

Think of sitting by a warm fire when drinking.

P.S. You can read about another Raw Diva falling in love with persimmons too!