Tag Archives: Orange Peel

Belize, Farming, Food, Saving Money

Dry Season…Time to Dry Fruit.

More.MunchkinThe days are becoming hotter and drier, with rains becoming fewer and far between.  This is the time to harvest anything that you can get your hands on and dry it.

Sapodillas are still in season:

Sapodilla Fruit.
Sapodilla Fruit.

We have gathered quite a bit to sun-dry.

Dried Sapodilla Fruit.
Dried Sapodilla Fruit.

When dried, they make a very good substitute for dates; they are intensely sweet and would be good for baking.  Gnome will be making mead with dried sapodilla…watch this space!

We have also been drying orange peel:

Dried Orange Peel.
Dried Orange Peel.

Dried orange peel can be added to savouries like stews, curries and soups to impart a warm, orange flavour.  It can also be ground up and used in cakes and breads.  It is extremely versatile and uses up something that you would normally throw away.  I hate to waste anything, especially when it involves something edible!  Look out for my recipes which use orange peel:

Sapodilla Curry with Venison.
Sapodilla Curry with Venison.

You will find this recipe in Belize Wild Recipes; this one is an orange peel curry.

Okay everyone, start sun-drying all your fruits now!!

Belize, Food, Plants

Sapodilla and Orange Peel Curry.

Just catching up on some recipes that I created over the last few weeks: Munchkin.Eating.BunIt is sapodilla season!!  This is a sweet tasting fruit with the flavour of caramel and cinnamon.  Gnome has got first dibs for making a Melomel (honey and fruit wine) but I have been sneaking some past him to create some tasty dishes..they don’t call me Ninja Munchkin for nothing!

Wheel Barrow of Sapodilla.
Wheel Barrow of Sapodilla.

Sapodilla fruit makes a great base for a curry especially with its aromatic cinnamon tones.  I have complimented this “earthiness” with dried orange peel which I have coarsely ground with a blender:

Dried Orange Peel.
Dried Orange Peel.

Other spices in the curry include: cumin, mustard seeds, fresh curry leaf and fennel.  Venison was cooked in the curry and then the dish was served with basmati rice.

Sapodilla Curry with Venison.
Sapodilla Curry with Venison.

Gnome decided to overlook the fact that I had taken some sapodillas, without his permission…since the curry was so good!!

For the full recipe, click on Sapodilla and Orange Peel Curry with Venison.