Experiment Apricots!!

Mei-Ling (photo at reader request)

This has been a spectacular year for apricots.  Our friend Michael Wester has several trees, and his usually give fruit.  We try to go over and pick some of his fruit every year, because over on our side of town, late frosts often nip the flowers and so there isn’t much fruit.

We currently don’t have an apricot tree, but our neighbor does and several limbs overhang the fence.  This year Rose’s flowers made it through the frost barrier.  Before we could finish the two gallons or so of fruit we’d gotten from Michael, we had apricots pattering down into our yard.

What to do? Well, in addition to eating a lot,  so far we’ve dried fruit leather, dried apricots, gotten a jar of scraps fermenting into vinegar, put some fruit in the freezer, and now I’m experimenting with cookies.

There was one recipe I loved the look of, but Jim doesn’t like cocoanut, so that was out.  I tried another.  While it came out really well, I want to do another version, cut the sugar back, and ramp up amount of fruit, since the first batch tasty “fruity” but not as “apricoty” as I would have liked.

The vinegar experiment has been fun, but it will be a few weeks before I know how well it works out.  Even if it isn’t the best, it’s been cool to try.  I also read three books on making and using vinegar, which was stimulating in itself.

All of this has been a good distraction from the aches and pains as my PT for my rotator cuff ramps up to new levels.  I also like that my desire to create and innovate is coming back.  My hand dexterity is getting better (I typed this!!), but I’m still a ways from hours on the computer. 

Take care and let me know what summer adventures you’re having!