Cherimoya

I just ate a cherimoya. It was my very first one. I saw it at Central Market the other day and bought it on a impulse, the single fruit cost me almost $10. You know what, it was worth it, this thing is delicious! It has a really wonderful texture, custardy. It feels like an avocado, firm skin but soft flesh underneath. But, eating a bite, it's not quite as smooth (I don't think it has nearly the fat content). Almost like a banana, a really mushy one, but in this case it's a positive aspect, rather than the reverse. I guess it depends on your banana preferences though, I like mine firm with a little tinge of green around the extremities. But in addition to the texture, the cherimoya's taste is amazing.

It's really sweet, and tasted a bit like a cross between a banana and a pineapple. Cutting it open, through the green, skin there is stark-white juicy flesh underneath (I'm seriously not trying to make this sound like pr0n, sheesh) and really big black seeds. They are scattered throughout, like you would find in a watermelon I guess, but bigger. You just eat around them and spit them out if you miss one. I've saved some of it for the rest of the horde, I like to expose the kids especially to new fruits and flavors that they might not (or I might not) have every tried before. I'm sure this one will be a hit. Unfortunately, it only grows in Andean Peru, and is a little difficult to find and pricey when you can. If you have the means I highly recommend you pick one up.

Unexpected Success!

Dinner was color themed tonight. Yellow. We had baked macaroni and cheese, roasted golden beets with a reduced balsamic glaze, and some macerated golden raspberries. I enjoyed all three courses, but that's no surprise. What was a surprise is that the two girls ate all three, then both asked for more beets! Ha, I'm must be doing something right!

Roasted Golden Beets

I bought two bunches of beets at the market, really I was after the greens (a real fave of mine) but I made those last night. Now I have these beets (not a real fave of mine). Set the oven to 385 and peel the beets. Chop into quarters and place loosely in a casserole or roasting pan, don't pile them. Throw in a half cup of onions and a few cloves of chopped garlic. Toss the lot with a glug of olive oil, salt and pepper. Place in the oven for 40 minutes or until the beets are soft and beginning to just brown on the edges. Meanwhile, reduce a half cup of balsalmic vinegar in a small saucier until the bubbles get larger and begin to pile on one another. At this point if you pull a spoon across the pot it should leave a clean streak behind it. Quickly remove from the heat and let cool. You should have a nice syrup to coat the beets with before you serve them up.