There was no telling at 7:30 this morning, but by 11, the heavens parted to let the light shine through. The first thing I check each morning, almost to the point of becoming an obsession, is the weather forecast. Case in point: yesterday we picked mirabelle plums looked to be ripe enough, even if the color wasn't dark yellow color. I was already sick to my stomach at the thought of the plums getting hit with more hail, so I told my husband, it's plum pickin' time! Heck, I knew that it wouldn't be more than a couple of handfuls.
It was a celebratory event of sorts as we were told that it would be a wait of 2-3 years before the tree was ready to bear fruit. We purchased this Mirabelle de Nancy plum tree in 2007 (at a nursery in Milan) after having discovered them in Alsace one summer. They are very sweet and juicy, in the shape and size of a cherry, and I've read somewhere that the flavor is similiar to greengages.
Not supermarket perfect, but 100% organic nevertheless. The color is more chartreuse...probaby a few days shy from obtaining the deep yellow like we had seen in France. We tasted a few and they were so delicious even with a hint of tartness. The rest were pitted, quartered, and baked in a short pastry crust with sugar. With softly whipped cream they were simply sublime!
Yesterdays high: 29°C / 84°F
Today's average: 25°C / 77°F