Persimmon, it's not a tomato!

Quite possibly my favorite fruit, although all food is my favorite at some point, the Fuyu persimmon is actually a berry. For a first timer this fruit is commonly described as a "funny looking hard tomato" but it is nothing like the later. Persimmon are full of sugary goodness and best eaten cold on a warm summer day. Late summer is the best time to look out for these at your local farmer's markets or Asian grocer. Sometimes I will save one and wait until it is over-ripe. This is almost impossible but if you can wait, it completely changes the texture of the fruit. The meat becomes very soft and the center remains crunchy. The difficult part now is trying to remove the skin. Trust me, wait and enjoy!

Nutritional info: 118 calories, 31 grams carbohydrates, 6 grams fiber, potassium 270 mg, calcium 13.4 mg, protein 1 gram, Vitamin A 3641 IU, and a great source of B vitamins as well.

If persimmons are not available at your grocer, try Bella Viva's dried persimmon. They are sweet and chewy and make a healthy treat. I suggest buying in bulk because they sell out fast! If in San Francisco, visit the Bella Viva stand at the Ferry Building Farmer's Market. You might just run into me there!