Apricots

[poliphilo]

I have discovered apricots. Fresh apricots, I mean. I've always liked then tinned- in syrup (with ice cream)- but I don't think I'd ever eaten a fresh one before this Christmas. They taste like plums, a little firmer, a little less tart and the joy of them is that they're small. Large pieces of fruit intimidate me; I think- when faced with an apple or a large melon wedge- do I really have to eat all that? But an apricot goes down in a couple of bites.

And then I want another....

Comments

[shewhomust.livejournal.com]

The trick with apricots is that they have to be at just the right stage of ripeness. Not ripe enough, they can be sourly acidic; overripe, they taste of cotton wool. But just ripe, they are perfection. Dried, they often retain that sweet intensity of flavour (some people dislike the texture, but I love it).

How excellent to start the new year with a new pleasure!

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

I think the latest batch are a little over-ripe, but they'll do.

I was already fond of dried apricots. Chewy!

[dadi.livejournal.com]

You never ate a fresh apricot before? Whoa! I practically live of this fruit most of the summer. It is the only fresh fruit besides strawberries I can eat until I drop. I don't eat them now because out of season they are so expensive, and also I really don't like food that has to be transported from far away.
So I get they don't grow in GB, even in the summer? I'm such an ignorant!

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

I'm not sure if we grow them here. I doubt it. Gardeners with south facing walls might manage it, but I don't think it would be a commercial proposition.

I don't remember seeing them in the shops until recently- but it could be I just wasn't looking.

[jackiejj.livejournal.com]

Intimidated by large fruit! Why, we kids made ships out of our watermelon wedges--we'd make portholes with spoons.

I rarely buy apricots, because I seem to have bad luck with peaches and apricots, and they're always unripe or too ripe.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

I like watermelon. I like the crispness.

We buy unripe peaches and ripen them at home. Ailz and I have differing tastes here. She likes them hard and toothsome and I like them soft and juicy.

[halfmoon-mollie.livejournal.com]

I have the same problem as jackiejj, I buy the fruit and it's not quite ripe enough but when it 'feels' ripe, it's rotten in the center.

But, fruit is good for you!

You make me laugh with your 'large pieces of fruit intimidate me'. I always thought it would be fun to make a jack-o'lantern out of a large apple...what would you call that, an apple-o'lantern?

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

With peaches there's a very small window of opportunity when they're fit to eat.

I don't eat nearly as much fruit as I should.

I've seen jack-o-'lanterns made of swedes. They must be the devil's own job to carve.

[sina-says.livejournal.com]

this past summer i helped a friend make jack-o-melons. watermelons carved with beach scenes (palm trees, etc) for a party. they were very nifty.

oh, and what's a swede? i mean, aside from those troublingly blonde folks...

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

Those jack-o'-melons sound good. Easy to carve too.

Swede is the English for rutabaga. The Scots (I've just looked this up) call them Neeps (which I think is the best word of the three.)

[sina-says.livejournal.com]

i agree. from now on i'm calling them 'neeps'. not that i really need to call them anything since i've never actually eaten one...

[craftyailz.livejournal.com]

You big kid. Is that why you only usually eat oranges - because they split down into little pieces for you.

I expect it's also why you - the vegetarian - won't eat carrot, cabbage, swede, parsnips (and most other veg) because they look too big!!

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

And tough. We hates to chew.

Give us nice juicy fishies.....

[craftyailz.livejournal.com]

and chips of course! Plus make sure that the fish is nicely fillited and wrapped in some sort of crispy crumb - none of that horrible salmon or trout or tuna which are good for you - heaven forbid)

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

We loves our crispy crumb...yessss!

[upasaka.livejournal.com]

Fresh apricots are wonderful. I like the dried ones, too.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

I've always been very fond of the tinned variety too.

And I love apricot jam.

[karenkay.livejournal.com]

I'm doing this with clementines. And I do it with Italian prune plums. YaY small fruit! Loquats! Berries!