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!

Planting the family vegetables

So it's a nice cloudy humid day after the rain and it's a good chance to go out to join the mosquitoes and dragonflies in the mud. While at my house we are all struggling with the flu, I can't tell my mother-in-law that I'm sick or she'll have me quarantined. We plant edible chrysanthemum shungiku, bok choi/pak choi chingensai, mizuna Japanese mustard greens and garlic ninniku. I also need to go back to the field and weed the rakkyo, a kind of shallot used for pickles.

She is determined to teach me the fine points of maintaining the family garden such as how to make the rows straight; how to use farm tools (on the rototiller, use the rabbit setting not the turtle - I swear there really is a picture of a tortoise and hare on the machine!) or how to use either the hoe or your foot to make the rows; how to precisely measure fertilizers (make a scoop from an old bleach bottle, fill it almost full, sprinkle a bit like this using a little more or a little less); and how to plan for the harvest (just plant whatever seeds we have). Everyday with obachan is not only an experience, but an education. As you will see,it is OK to cover small seeds by kicking the dirt with your foot, but when you cover the garlic, you must use your hand! She is very particular and wants me to get it right.