Comments on: Cape gooseberries/husk cherries

By: Malsperanza

Malsperanza — Thu, 21 Sep 2006 22:49:31 +0000

Bigger than normal gooseberries, smaller and sweeter than tomatillos, a.k.a. winter cherries. They’re the fruit of the ornamental plant called Japanese lanterns. In Italy they’re called alchechengi, and are dipped fresh in chocolate–delicious. But hard to find in the US.

By: Rebecca

Rebecca — Thu, 21 Sep 2006 06:59:44 +0000

i’ve heard of gooseberries before, but never seen nor eaten them.

By: John Klima

John Klima — Thu, 21 Sep 2006 00:16:54 +0000

Didn’t we get some of those on a cheese plate at the Philadelphia Worldcon many moons ago? They were delicious!

By: Erin

Erin — Wed, 20 Sep 2006 23:59:35 +0000

Gooseberries! I’ve never seen them called anything else. Our family always used them in gooseberry pie, though I’ve discovered some local gooseberry jam as well.

Tangy when green, and the pie tastes almost exactly like rhubarb pie. Mmmmmm . . .

By: shelly rae

shelly rae — Wed, 20 Sep 2006 23:28:14 +0000

I do like these yummies. I’ve seen them out here as ground cherries rather than husk cherries though. They are related to tomatillos but I never use them like a tomatillo. But perhaps that’s because they never last very long around here. “Ground cherries? What ground cherries?”
Anon

By: Marie

Marie — Wed, 20 Sep 2006 22:57:20 +0000

hmmmm… ive never seen or heard of them before. they look wicked cool though and i will deffinately be on the lookout for them.

By: Justine

Justine — Wed, 20 Sep 2006 22:35:49 +0000

They’re not tomatillos. They’re much smaller and sweeter. Plus the best ones are golden yellow, not green.

By: Ryan Freebern

Ryan Freebern — Wed, 20 Sep 2006 22:34:25 +0000

‘Round here we call them tomatillos.

By: amy fiske

amy fiske — Wed, 20 Sep 2006 22:26:04 +0000

hmmm…they look like tomatillos. good for salsa. haven’t seen any recently.

By: Justine

Justine — Wed, 20 Sep 2006 22:09:29 +0000

Yes, the apples are amazing, but do yourself a favour, Veejane, get some husk cherries! (And then report back here.)

By: veejane

veejane — Wed, 20 Sep 2006 21:36:25 +0000

I saw some at the farmer’s market just this Tuesday, and they were labeled (husk cherries) so I knew what they were, but I’ve never eaten them in my life.

Also, September is the month for apples, and the Macouns are ripe, and with the early onset of cool I am already into leeks, chard, potatoes, and other hearty fall vegetables. I don’t think the tomatoes are completely gone by, but they’re going.