HOW TO PREDICT WEATHER WITH A PERSIMMON SEED

Cut open a persimmon seed. (The fruit should be locally-grown to reflect your weather. A ripe seed works best.)

Image from www.hoosierweather.com

Look at the shape of the kernel inside.

• If the kernel is spoon-shaped, lots of heavy, wet snow will fall. Spoon = shovel!
• If it is fork-shaped, you can expect powdery, light snow and a mild winter.
• If the kernel is knife-shaped, expect to be “cut” by icy, cutting winds. It will be bitterly cold.

Here’s a close-up of a spoon. Get out the shovel!

Photo credit: Tammie Dooley/www.soloroadtrip.com

That’s it! Now, cut open a persimmon and tell us what you see. (The answer depends on where you live.)

Another favorite tradition for predicting winter weather is to use a woolly bear caterpillar.

Or, check out how The Old Farmer’s Almanac predicts the weather!

PERSIMMON RECIPES

Persimmons have a unique fall flavor that is similar to pumpkin. Most persimmons are the “hachiya” variety. The fruit is very tart so it’s often considered a baking fruit, adding its sweet flavor and moistness to pudding, bread, and pie. Persimmons can also be made into dried fruit, jam, ice cream, and even alcohol.

A ripe persimmon has a “squishy” body and a creamy texture. Ripen persimmons at room temperature. Place in a paper bag to speed up ripening.

Persimmon Pudding

Persimmon pudding is a baked dessert with the taste of pumpkin and the texture of gingerbread.  This persimmon pudding recipe is from the “Indiana Nut Growers Cookbook” (1995), courtesy of the Indiana Nutgrowers Association.

Ingredients

2 Cups persimmon pulp
2 Cups sugar
3 small eggs
½ stick (4 Tablespoons) margarine
1 teaspoon baking soda
½ Cup buttermilk
1-¾ Cups sweet cream (or milk)
1 teaspoon cinnamon
2 Tablespoons additional persimmon pulp
1-¾ Cups flour
1 teaspoon baking powder

Instructions

1. Mix together the persimmon pulp, sugar and eggs.
2. Mix baking soda with buttermilk and add to mixture in bowl.
3. Melt margarine in baking pan and add to mixture.
4. Sift flour and baking powder together and add alternately with cream or milk.  Add cinnamon and mix well.
5. Fold in the additional 2 Tablespoons persimmon pulp.
6. Pour into 13 x 9-inch metal pan and bake at 350 °F for 55-60 minutes.  Be careful not to over bake.

Serve with a dollop of whipped cream and enjoy!

Every September, the city of Mitchell, Indiana, hosts the Persimmon Festival. Their persimmon pudding is famous!

This Persimmon Bread recipe comes courtesy of The Old Farmer’s Almanac Readers’ Best Recipes cookbook!

Have you ever used this prediction to forecast weather? What are some other means of prediction you have heard of?