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Ground Cherries


I discovered a new fruit last week while shopping at our local farmers market.  We had relatives visiting from the Midwest and they spotted these ground cherries at one of the fruit stands and bought us a container since we'd never seen them before. They are the most interesting little fruit.  They fall from the tree when ripe so are harvested by picking them up off the ground during late summer and early fall. 


They have a paper-like husk that you peel off before you pop them into your mouth.


They look like a yellow cherry tomato but they have the taste similar to a grape only less sweet and they look like a grape inside, too.

They are related more to tomatillos than a grape, however, and are part of the nightshade family.  They are similar in nutrition to tomatoes with lots of vitamins A and C, beta-carotene and potassium. I didn't think they had much taste, a very mellow sweetness but we had fun eating them while Bruce's nephew and his family were here who knew about them living in Minnesota.  They like coming out West sometimes and being around mountains and all the wilderness we have to offer.  During this visit, we joined them at Mt. Rainier where we stayed a couple nights in a vacation rental so we could hike around the area.


They have two teenagers who play varsity sports in high school and an eleven-year old so they are a very busy and active family.  The first day we hiked Silver Falls Loop trail to a beautiful waterfall.


We didn't hike the whole trail because they also wanted to do another hike called Naches Peak trail that is a really popular trail.  It had snowed the night before so we didn't see any grand views of Mt. Rainier but it was a pretty hike nonetheless.  

I think Bruce and I may have gotten our Christmas card photo...


There is always something so exciting about being in snow.  Since they are from Minnesota, they see lots of snow but they don't see all the wilderness like this. 

Anyway, they have visited us several times and we all enjoy each other's company so it was a fun little trip.  I brought lots of food to the rental since they were flying in from Minnesota and they mostly had snack-food.  I made a double batch of my pumpkin bean chili with corn bread and zucchini lasagna for the two dinners and we also took our sourdough pancake mix and made sourdough waffles for both breakfasts.  Bruce also made a batch of our brown butter chocolate chip cookies and spiced nuts that are a family favorite.  I knew everyone would have big appetites with all the hiking on this trip and they did! The kids loved it all. We drove home afterwards but they went on to do more hiking and went up north to the San Juan Islands before coming back to our house for the weekend. For their last night, we made a big salmon dinner with baked potatoes and coleslaw

                         

that is always a treat for visitors.  And you can guess what we had for dessert...once again our super popular banana splits with my homemade chocolate sauce; the perfect dessert for hungry teenagers. 


This was all after a full day at the Public Market; Seattle's #1 tourist destination. 


I'm pretty sure the teenagers wanted to go here because of all the food offerings and more opportunities to eat.


I think they all got a good dose of yummy food and good meals on this trip, along with lots of Mother Nature but it didn't end here.  Right before we ate our salmon dinner, a full arch double rainbow showed up over the city and it was spectacular.


It couldn't have been a more perfect ending to a trip to our beautiful Pacific Northwest.



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