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Uses For Jujubes - Red Dates

Uses For Jujubes - Red Dates Last week, I talked about the hungry sparrows feasting among my jujube trees. Apparently many have not heard of a jujube or red date before and are curious what to do with them besides just eating them from the tree. Just to recap in case you have not read my previous post, when mostly yellowish in color they taste a little like a dry apple. They get sweeter as they turn a reddish color and as they turn completely red and start to wrinkle slightly, they are closer to a raisin or a date. No matter how you eat them, don't forget that there is a pit in the center. I find that cutting them close to the pit around each side is the easiest way to rid the fruit of the pit. The Varied Uses of Jujubes The light green to yellow jujubes are easily shredded and used any time apples are called for. I have used them in breads, muffins, and mixed with pear or apples for a fruit crisp when shredded right from the tree. I have mixed them in pancake batter in

Winter Birds and the Peace of Nature

Most people who love nature have their favorite haunts around their home. A place to escape for an hour or two close to home perhaps for a relaxing walk or to regain a few moments of peace. Recent events have strengthened the pull of nature for me so I carved out a few hours one morning last week for a little time with some friends. I have a few favorite locations around my home. I tried my local riparian preserve but so many people had the same idea as I did that it was rather full and the paths were packed with people. Not exactly my idea of gaining peace in nature so I quickly moved on. There is a man-made lake not far from the preserve and I decided to head there. To my delight, it was almost deserted and for most of my visit, I found myself alone with the birds. As I talked about in another post, about the winter birds returning and I was pleased to see a few birds that I have not seen all summer. The egrets were back in force though there are always a few hardy guys th

Thorns, Needles, and Spikes Thrive in Arizona

When most people think of Arizona they tend to think of desert and cactus. Southwestern cactus bring to mind long needles and plants that can be admired but steered clear of. While we do have a huge variety of cacti in our state, cacti are not the only plants to use needles, thorns, or spikes to protect themselves. Barrel Cactus Pillow Available in Our Store by southwestcreations So why does a cactus plant have needles? The obvious answer is to protect themselves but why do they need so much protection. Cacti are made up of a huge amount of water. The mighty saguaro for example can be caused to topple from too much water. A cactus will soak up water and store it allowing it to get through our long periods of drought. Animals seek out water and so a quick meal on a cactus pad can provide needed water for animals. While the needles keep away some animals, there are others that are very adapted to life in the desert. Javelina for example will munch on a cactus plant

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