Persimmon cake

The last of the persimmon (fuyu kaki) crop is falling off the trees. If you slice them across the middle, you see the beautiful star inside. These are just ripe for eating but some were so squishy that the pulp had to be scooped out with a spoon. The pulp is perfect for making a cake. I don't have an original recipe but if you happen to have too many persimmon on hand, go to http://www.recipezaar.com/recipes.php?q=Persimmon+Cake
for a reliable recipe.

I had just pulled a bundt cake out of the oven when my mother-in-law called. She gave me a "return gift" from our aunt in the next village- that is, a gift to show appreciation for the gift that we had given. Now we need to call the aunt to thank her for the gift she gave us in return for the gift we gave her. It feels complicated.

I was given a few more persimmon, a bunch of carrots, some Napa cabbage, gobo burdock root and some oddly shaped potatoes. I needed to move some sacks of rice around so obachan could polish some rice - we are almost done with last year's rice. Maybe we will be able to eat new rice for New Year's. As I prepared to leave the barn, balancing the heavy gift box under one arm and a broken, nearly bottomless box full of the vegetables under the other, she hands me a hoe and asks if, on my way home, could I dig a couple of rows in the small garden and plant some spinach and bok choy seeds? Sure, no problem!