Day 6 of the March SOLSC! #SOL2022

A few days ago we ate the first jackfruit of the year. Our neighbour gave us some arils in a box. They were delicious and the colour was a beautiful orange. Jackfruit trees are widely grown in our place. The timber is supposed to be very good for making furniture, doors and other woodwork.  We too have a tree in our back yard. Most of the trees in our garden were planted by the previous owners decades ago. There are ten coconut trees. Fortunately, they are in the borders of our plot.

Unfortunately, we had to cut two jackfruit trees. One was in the place where we were building our house. And other not far from the  house. The roots of this tree do not go far down, they spread just below the surface of the ground. We were advised to cut the tree. Our neighbours told us the fruits had been delicious. Our loss. We had to cut a mango tree too. But there are three more trees. We are happy to see fruits in two trees. Our daughter and grandchildren are coming on April 3^rd. We are hoping the fruits will be ripe by then.

Last year our jackfruit tree bore only one fruit. God only knows why 😊. When there are many we share them with our neighbours and relatives. We use the fruit at different stages of its growth. We make different types of sambhars and other dishes. Dosas are made from raw and ripe jackfruits. A few days ago, we saw very small fruits. Hopefully they will remain. Many a time they become black and fall.

Mango pickles

Aam Panna

Yesterday my neighbour gave us some raw mangoes. She said they would not become ripe. Today I made pickles with some and Aam panna with the rest. Aam is mango in Hindi. The weather is becoming hotter and Aam panna is refreshing 😊. Mango, lime pickles and chutneys are a part of our daily food. I enjoy making them but in small quantities. We get a good variety of pickles in our place.

stoneware jar

My husband tells me during his childhood in the village, pickles were made and stored in large stoneware or ceramic jars. I have a small one 😊. Pickles and salted jackfruit or raw mangoes were stored in the attic above the kitchen. Firewood was usually used for cooking and the attics were always warm. Whatever was stored did not spoil. But we don’t use firewood or have such attics, I have to use the refrigerator to keep pickles which spoil soon😊. Life has changed a lot.

aam panna – Dassana’s Veg Recipes