Friday, July 17, 2009

Mirabelles for a rainy day


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

6 comments:

Amber said...

What a fine pleasure. Eating those plums from your garden! I want, need a garden!

Gail - Fort Rock Glimpses said...

You sure know how to make my mouth water. I love plums and would love to taste that variety. Your pastry looks wonderful.

Rowena said...

Amber, Gail - my only other hands on experience with plums were the ones that grew wild in the mountains of Kokee on Kauai. Smallish, dark sweet gems, I knew that when I had a home of my own, I would just have to put a plum tree in the yard!

MAYBELLINE said...

Perfecto! Those look fantastic. Supermarket produce only looks good. It tastes like nothing.

My fruit trees are only a year old and I'm surprised to see 5 peaches and 2 apples. Not much; but you gotta start somewhere.

Rowena said...

Maybelline - amen to that, even if whenever there's a gorgeous display of fruit or vegs, I find it so irresistible to pass up. It took every ounce of willpower yesterday when I saw the most perfect round zucchini at the supermarket. Now I'll be looking forward to the ones in my garden even more!

Fern Driscoll said...

Complimenti, on both fruit and tarts. They look gorgeous!