fruit lesson

Today is a lesson in fruits and veggies you won't find in the states...
The above photo features a fruit called "cas." It is like a lemon. It is used skin and all to make a juice drink. You puree the fruit then add lots of sugar...

Chiverre is like a squashy, giant, heavy fruit. It is sweetened and put into empanadas...for dessert or to drink with coffee. They're not in season often, so they're a treat.

Ayote is a squashy veggie and is used mostly in making soups. You can add celery, salt, and pepper...a little garlic...I'm hungry!

Platanos, or plantains, are obviously in the banana family. They are friend and you add sugar. When they're done, they're crispy and you add salt. There are many recipes...

Passion fruit, looks gross right!? The inside is full of slimy seeds. Most people make juice out of it. I like to call it "monkey brains" but that's not a technical term:)

Starfruit, or carmabola, is used for juice. It's so BEAUTIFUL. It's used to decorate many times.

Pejibaye are like little squashy veggies. Many eat them with mayo in the middle after you boil them. Ick. I do like it in soup form though. They smell funny when you cook them.

This is my favorite funny looking fruit. It's called mamonchino. It looks so weird right?! You peel the outside off and suck on the sweet seed in the middle. It tastes like a grape.

Chayote, what I like to call the "butt-like vegetable" ha Also squashy. It makes great soup. You can also slice it up, add corn and onion, cook them all together...Yum

Now that I'm all hungry, I'm going to eat something! You're all set for the farmer's market here in Costa Rica!