Oh Gooseberries!

 These golden orbs stood out yellow and shiny on Easter morning. They were nestled between the strawberries and blueberries at Stop and Shop. What are they? Gooseberries or Cape gooseberries.

They truly intrigued me. I've heard about them as many other people have, yet I thought they were just wild growing somewhere. It turns out they're from originally from England but also thrive in Peru , Columbia and even Hawaii. That may explain why they're mentioned in  some Nineteenth Century  British novels and stories. Their Latin name is Physalis Peruviana and the fruit grows inside a  calyx, or petals, producing a small tomato like fruit. They have a sticky exterior, Imagine a grape tomato covered in honey or maple syrup. You have to wash your hands after eating them. Their flavor is a strange mix of sweet and tart. Think pineapple married to peach while the texture is like that of a tomato. The skin is thick with a pulpy , seeded inside. They  have Vitamin K - good for blood clotting and beta carotine.

The question is what do you with them? The Brits turn them into pies and crumbles along with soaking them in gin and turning them into jam. You could put them into a cake. The recipe that I think would highlight them best is the classic English fool. This  was found on the Good Food section of the BBC. Fool is usually made with freshly whipped cream but this one has Greek  yogurt added. You could just make it with the heavy cream and confectioners sugar, along with vanilla extract. You do have to smash them  until they become pulpy. I'm also thinking salads. They're like tomatoes and would be an interesting change up from orange or apple slices. They'd be great in a grilled chicken one dressed with a light vinaigrette. You could also add some slices to fruit salad to for some tang and color.

Those golden robs have a lot of potential. Buy them if you see them at your local grocery. Gooseberries are an interesting fruit, a neat snack and addition to desserts and salads.

A Fool For April's Fool

What better dessert for today and for the rest of Spring than a fool.This traditionally English dessert is easy to make and a great way for both kids and adults to eat fruit.As the season progresses you can have fresh strawberry, peach or blueberry fool.This is a treat that can also be varied and amped up. Fools have been around since the time of the Plantagenets and got into full gear during Elizabeth I's reign.It's an easy dessert (and I'm surprised it's not common here in the States, given its' easiness). The name possibly could come from the Old French word fouler to crush ,but it's not certain.It's is the perfect dessert for a neophyte cook who is trying to impress. Slice any kind of fruit into small pieces and cook with sugar until semi soft.Fold into already whipped cream ,swirling the fruit mixture into pretty whorls.The English still use currants and gooseberries which tints the cream a lovely deep purple with strands of lavender.The original recipe also says you can use apples but berries work the best.Strawberries are good as are blueberries however you can also try blackberries for more bite or raspberries for a more mellow flavor.Peaches are also good too. You may want to spike them with some sweet white wine when cooking them.Rhubarb is also puller although it does require a lot of cooking and sugar Fools can also be varied in ingredients. a traditional fool may have just custard or a blend of custard and cream well mixed so it's light and airy.What I would do is make zabaglione and stir in fresh cut strawberries or blackberries ,letting these cook as the custard cooks.Don't add overly sweet fruit to this Italian classic.It's already sweet from the sugar and Marsala already added.One of the best British dessert is Eton mess.It originally served at Eton during the summer cricket games, this is mix of meringues,broken into a strawberry fool.You can try this too with chocolate snaps( those one you use for that easy refrigerator log) .For the cream.whip in shaved dark chocolate to the cream.You can also add a surprise layer of homemade fudge sauce too.Again,if you're making this ,stick with cherries,strawberries or raspberries. Make a yummy fool. Not just for today but for the days ahead.Spring will give us some of the best fruit.Use it in a light and airy dessert , perfect for the warm days ahead.

June Means Fruit Time!!!!

Spring harvesting has arrived. With the arrival of June come bounties of all sorts of good fruits. There are strawberries and gooseberries to peaches and rhubarb. This is the time to enjoy the fresh picked sweets whether from your garden or from the store.

Strawberries will be in abundance this month. Enjoy them. You can soak them in Asti or make preserves with them. They are also good sliced over pancakes and waffles and of course this is the season for strawberry shortcake . Many farms throughout the area will be offering strawberry picking. Take advantage of these. if you're in the UK it''s also gooseberry season. These are used in jams and in pies. The most famous dish is gooseberry fool . This is when the fruits are pureed with whipped cream and then served with more cream. It's popular in the English countryside.

Rhubarb is another big June harvest. This is where you pick the stalks (not the leaves that are highly poisonous) and then cook them into pie filling or jam. Sometime strawberries are combined with the rhubarb to give it a sweeter taste. Rhubarb pie is wonderful especially when it's home made and covered in real whipped cream. You can also make a compote with the rhubarb as well. Just make sure that the freshly picked stalks are thoroughly rinsed free of all dirt and bugs.


Now that June is here, it's time to enjoy the fruits of a late spring - early summer harvest. Relish these sweet and natural treats any way you like. Like a perfect June day , they're wonderful and memorable.