Jujube Apples

When my Mama was growing up they had a jujube apple tree and she told us about them when we were little, they called them zuzus though. One day Mama and Daddy found a tree and got one and planted it. We grew up eating them off of the tree in the yard. The apples were about the size of a small kumquat and we never did anything but eat them fresh off the tree. The jujube fruit originated in Asia and starts off green as as it ripens it becomes speckled with brown and then the entire fruit turns a pretty dark brown. The seed in the middle is shaped like a plum seed but thinner, eating around it is easy.  

We bought our tree at a nursery in Abbeville which has since closed, but it has larger fruit than the one I grew up eating. Ours are shaped like the photo above but I’m not sure what the name of it really is. Here below is a chart of several different types. There are no measurements in the description so I am not positive about the variety, but I think ours is shaped like the honeypot variety. My mom’s tree was more like the football shaped Tsao.

This is what the tree looks like. I haven’t got a photo on my computer of our tree but I will take one tomorrow.

This is a bowl of the ones that Erica picked tonight.

Last year I made some apple butter and it turned out pretty good, the tree is loaded right now so I may make some more soon. For now we’re enjoying eating them fresh off of the tree. Caroline and the twins really like them too, you will find the boys with pockets full of them as they ride the Rhino around the yard or while jumping on the trampoline. They are funny fellows.

 

You can read more information on the jujube fruit here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jujube

Pear Tart with Peach Glaze

Tonight I taught Alexa how to make a pear tart, she went to my Daddy’s house this past weekend after he called her to let her know that the pears were ready to pick. I picked two medium sized pears, peeled, halved, cored and sliced into thin strips.

I put them into a bowl and tossed them with about four tablespoons of light brown sugar. Then I arranged the pear slices down the middle of the puffed pastry which I thawed and cut in half and put onto a baking sheet that was sprayed with non stick cooking spray, I like Crisco’s butter flavored spray. I took 1/3 of a block of real butter, cut it in half then cut them into 1/4 inch pieces and dotted half down the middle of each of the tarts. Using about seven pieces across each.

Next I put four tablespoons of the peach preserves I made in July into a small bowl and with a little whisk I broke it all up, but didn’t add anything to it and spooned the preserves down the middle of the pears on the tart. I slipped the tarts into the oven which was set on convection bake at 350 degrees and cooked it for about 13 minutes, Alexa checked the doneness of the pears and how much it had browned at that point and decided to put it for another five minutes.

The pears were a tiny bit crispy once cooked all the way. We let it stand and cool for a little bit before moving to a glass serving plate. Dave declared it delicious after having about 2/3 of one of them. Thanks to my Daddy for sharing these delicious fruit and to Alexa for driving over to pick them. Prep time and cooking time was only about thirty minutes and I think it would be awesome served with ice cream when having guests over or at a brunch with coffee.

Fred had a piece before he left tonight and was very impressed with how good it was for the little effort that it took to make it. The recipe was a combination of one that I’d learned on Barefoot Contessa which was made with apples and apricot jam and the Pioneer Woman’s apple and brown sugar. I sort of combined both methods and used my own fruit and home made preserves for a Cajun country Katy version.

The Twins go to Kindergarten

This Friday was Alex and Elijah’s first day of Kindergarten at SES. Their new teacher is Mrs. Mandy Haydel, one of Claire’s elementary school friends. This is going to be an amazing year for the boys.

Just before summer vacation Pop and I gave them each a new guitar to begin taking their lessons after school. They really love music and I hope they both enjoy their music lessons!

Here’s Pop giving Eli a few pointers and playing for him just after tuning his guitar.

Here’s Kali giving Eli a few tips about finger placement. She’s taken three years of guitar and is quite the little musician.

Kali’s going to continue taking lessons at SES this year as well. Can’t wait to hear these three after a year of lessons!

Elijah giving his guitar a strum after Pop tuned it for him.

Layout created using Shabby Miss Jenn Designs “Book Worm” kit, new in the store this week!

Fourteen Months

Our sweet baby girl is already fourteen months old, where has the time gone? She smiled so sweet for me when I took her photo just a little while ago. She is such a joyful baby girl and it was a treat to spend the day with her while Mama worked! Love our Linee!

New Little Panther in the Family

We have a Little Panther in the family and Kali has a pretty black, white and red plaid to sport to school this year as she enters the fourth grade at Catholic High School.  She's sporting her new red uniform shirt on orientation day and was so excited to be going to her new school this morning.  She's got a lovely new teacher named Mrs. Danielle Trahan and she's excited to see her friends from SES and to make new ones too! PANTHER PRIDE can be seen in this girl's eyes for sure! August 8, 2013

I am certainly looking forward to see Kali grow in her knowledge of the world around her and in her Catholic faith. She will be going to SES for guitar lessons and I’m sure she will really enjoy spending a little time at her beloved elementary school to continue her musical education.

I created this layout using Shabby Miss Jenn’s new kit “Book Worm”