I have and tasted the following fruits from the list: Aronia: Productive, bit too tart to eat fresh. wonderful to add it into juice. Plant is easy to grow. Chinese Haw: Sweet ,but not too sweet. little tart and sour. The source tasted like cranberry source we use in the Christman dinner. Very popular in China, although the fruit size is a lot bigger. Street vendors string a dozens of them on a long wooden or bamboo stick and coat them with sugar to sale to the kids as snack. Goumi: sweet-tart. My has small fruit, about pea size. Can be eaten fresh. The flower is sweet, pleasant. The plants is easy to grow. Japanese Raisin Tree: Tree itself can grow very tallll. The fruit is very sweet, but not pure sweet like sugar. Its sweetness has some other taste in it. I can't descrip the undertone taste . When we talk about the sweetness of the plants, for example, Stevia's leaves is very sweet but many people do not like the undertone taste. I vote mulberry the #1 favorite minor berry. The tree is easy to grow, the fruit is abundant, and fruit is sweet and juicy. It tastes better than raspberry, backberry or, other commercially grow berries. For people who are lucky in the south, Loquat is a good choice too. The tree is about 10-15' tall, the fruit is a bit smaller in a size of pingpong ball. When it is ripe, it is sweet and juicy. I have current grow in my yard. balck, red, and white. They can be eaten fresh but not particular good taste. It is better to juice them and mix them with other sweeter fruit juice. Another minor berry I like to grow is gooseberry. Pick Poorman. The fruit is balanced sweet and tart, very flavorful. It definately can be eaten fresh.

I also made a lot of jams/jellies with my fresh fruit when I first became so "inspired" - thanks to so many helpful folks here. As time wore on, we found we ate fewer of them than anticipated. So what to do with frozen berries, fruits? Make juice. I use a stainless steel pot (for acids), bringing fruit to boil, using half fruit pulp to half water. When fruit has released juices, line a collendar with cheese cloth and strain juice into a new stainless steel, plastic or ceramic vessel. Cool. Wrap the cheese cloth around the pulp tying into a bag and allow pulp to drain, until the juices are extracted - save the pulp for later. You can hang the bag and catch drips - avoid contact with metal though, use non-reactive containers to hold dripping juices. I bottle the juice into plastic individual water bottle containers (after thorough washing and disinfecting with bleach water - (my GD uses a lot of these small water bottles in her "exercise" routines - and she will drink most of the juice as well). Taste the juices (GD drinks em, she usually tests em for flavor, sweet, etc.) I like added lemon or lime juice here to our liking with less on the sugar. I fill the bottles about 2/3rds full - mainly because they will expand when frozen, and sometimes like to add soda water to the juice after thawing or sometimes add it to teas (I know that sounds funny, but it tastes good on hot summer's day). These fresh-tasting fruit drinks are well-received and I can add more sugar or not - as preferred, rather than accepting the bottled commercial drink status quo. (Ack). I reserve the pulp - either freeze or use immediately for an addition to a sweet bread recipe. I use my zucchini bread recipe - here it is - so versatile: Zucchini Bread: (or Pumpkin, Hubbard Squash, Banana, Apple etc.) 3 C zucchini (or whatever pureed pulp you have) 1-2/3 C sugar (usually less). 2/3 C oil (soybean) 2 tsp vanilla (might try almond?) 4 eggs (beat slightly) 3 C flour (sometimes use a little whole wheat - sub about 1/3 C +- for white flour - other idea - brans,? etc.) 1 tsp salt 2 tsp baking soda 1 tsp cinnamon 1/2 tsp baking powder 1/2 C nuts (toasted and ground) I used macadamias, almonds, walnuts - depending on whatever is available). 1/2 C raisins (sometimes use my own dried fruit - cut to size - fruit that I pureed and dried - fruit leathers, dried apple, pineapple - whatever I have lots of - and doesn't detract from recipe). Mix first 5 ingredients, then add flours, etc. Don't overbeat (it's not bread you know). Bake 350 degrees, 2 large buttered loaf pans. 50 to 60 minutes or when finger poke springs back when pressed to top of loaf. Cool on rack, run knife around edges before removal. Not too bad! My last effort involved cranberries with toasted - I think either almonds or macadamias - because that was what was in the freezer - and needed "using" at the...

More for you: STREUSEL-TOPPED PEACH MUFFINS 2 cups all-purpose flour 1/2 tsp. salt 1 tsp. baking powder 1/2 tsp. baking soda 1/4 tsp. allspice 2 large eggs 1/4 cup vegetable oil 2 Tblsp. milk 1/3 brown sugar 1 cup sour cream 1 cup peaches, peeled and diced For the topping: 1/4 cup all-purpose flour 1/4 cup brown sugar 1/2 tsp. cinnamon 2 Tblsp. butter Preheat the oven to 425° F. In a medium bowl, mix the flour, salt, baking powder, baking soda, and allspice. In another bowl, whisk two large eggs. Add the oil, milk, brown sugar, and sour cream. Blend well. Stir in the peaches. With a spatula, mix the dry ingredients into the liquid mixture. Stir until just combined. Spoon the batter into 10 to 12 well-greased muffin tins. Ten muffins will give you large, nicely domed muffins. Fill any unused muffins cups half full of water. In a small bowl, mix the flour, brown sugar, and cinnamon. Cut the butter in with a pastry knife until you have a coarse mixture. Spoon the topping onto the muffins before baking. Bake for eight minutes at 425° F. Reduce the temperature to 350° F. and continue baking for another 6 to 10 minutes or until they test done with a toothpick. Let the muffins sit in the tins for a few minutes and then remove them to wire racks to cool. Bakers note: The peaches add some liquid to this recipe. Depending on how ripe and juicy your peaches are, you may need to adjust the moisture by adding a Tblsp. of flour or milk. The batter should be thick and "spoonable". INDIVIDUAL TOFFEE PECAN PEACH CRISPS Filling: 6 cups frozen sliced peaches (about 2-1/2 lbs.) thawed, (I used 9 FRESH peaches) 3 Tblsp. sugar (I used light brown sugar) 1 Tblsp. fresh lime juice (I used lemon juice) 2Tblsp. all-purpose flour Topping: 3/4 cup all purpose flour 1/3 cup packed golden brown sugar 1/4 tsp. salt (I used kosher) 6 Tblsp. chilled unsalted butter, cut into pieces 3/4 cup English toffee bits (such as Skor) 1/2 cup pecans, coarsely chopped Vanilla ice cream For filling: Preheat oven to 350°F. Place six 1-1/4 cup ramekins or custard cups on large baking sheet. Mix peaches, sugar, and lime juice in large bowl to blend. Divide filling among ramekins. For topping: Whisk flour, brown sugar, and salt in large bowl to blend. Using fingertips, rub in butter until mixture holds together in clumps. (I did this in my food processor) Stir in toffee and pecans; sprinkle over filling. Bake crisps until filling bubbles and topping is golden brown, about 40 minutes. Cool 10 minutes. Serve warm with ice cream, if desired. Makes 6 servings. **NOTES: I baked the whole thing in a large oval Corning ware dish instead of using ramekins. It's supposed to make 6 servings, but I think you could easily get 8 out of it. All of my changes are in parentheses. From Bon Appétit, March 2002. Notes by Linda in MO, posted at Mimis Cyber-Kitchen 7/28/02.

This is my recipe that I use for chili. I know, in Texas there should be no beans, but I add them anyway and call it: YANKEE CHILI SOUP 1 ½ to 2 pounds ground beef or ground pork or ground veal or a mixture of one, two or all (I like to use about 1 pound of ground beef and 1 pound of ground pork) 1 whole sweet yellow onion coarsely chopped 4 to 6 cloves of garlic finely chopped 2 large cans chopped tomatoes 1 or 2 cans Rotel tomatoes & green chilies 2 cans red kidney beans (drained) 1 large jar of Spicy V-8 juice ¼ cup cumin ¼ cup chili powder 1 whole jalapeno or can use any dried hot pepper 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper, either flakes or ground Freshly ground salt and pepper to taste Olive Oil Heat olive oil in a large pot and put in the yellow onion and cook till tender, then add the garlic and cook for just a few minutes so it wont turn brown and burn. Put this onion-garlic mixture aside into a bowl. Then add the ground beef or ground veal to the pot and brown. After it has browned, add the onion-garlic mixture into the ground beef, stir and then add the remainder of the ingredients. Heat over a medium burner until it is hot and then turn down to medium low or low and continue cooking. The longer it cooks, the more flavor it has. In fact it is best if refrigerated overnight, and then reheated the next day either on the stove or in a crock-pot. Serve with crunchy French bread. This will serve about 8 large bowls of chili. LINDAS BEAN SOUP This recipe is my own concoction. I adjust all the spices and ingredients to my taste, so Ill give you the basics, and you have to go with it from there. Be sure to go easy with the spices in the beginning because the flavors intensify as the cooking continues. You can always add more, but you cant remove what is already there. **-Beans, either dry 16 oz. Bag (must soak overnight or follow directions on package) or canned about 4 cans (drain); (I use pinto or black beans, but any beans will work) -Bacon cut up (about ½ to 1 pound for a large pot) -Onions & Garlic (chopped) (I use a large onion and a whole head of garlic) -Chicken broth (about 3 32 oz. cans or cartons of broth) -Sausage (4 or 5 links) -Tomatoes (both chopped and whole) (fresh or canned) about 2 cans chopped and 4 fresh whole tomatoes -Rotel tomatoes (one or two cans) -Peppers fresh (jalapeno, Serrano, habanero) (I use one each-whole) -Beer (one can) -Cilantro (one bunch; the whole bunch including stems) -Fresh Chives and/or green onions (one bunch) -Oregano (fresh or dried) if using fresh herbs always use 3 times that of dried herbs -Cumin (1/4 cup) -Cayenne Pepper (one tablespoon) -Chili Powder (1/4 cup) -Salt & Pepper (freshly ground) to taste -Green Pepper (optional) -Rice (Optional) I fry up the bacon and add the onions and garlic. Be sure not to overcook the garlic or it will get bitter. If this happens, you might as well start over because burned garlic is really bad. Then I add the sausage and brown it. Again make sure you dont overcook the garlic. Then I add the broth, beans, a beer, the tomatoes, Rotel peppers, fresh peppers (I use one of each) and all the spices and then finish with water to cover the beans by about 2". Bring to boil (do not allow it to burn) and then reduce heat to simmer. Depending on whether I use dried beans or fresh beans, the cooking time will vary. With dried beans, it takes about 2 to 3 hours to cook. You can then serve the beans with sour cream, fresh chives, fresh tomatoes, fresh onions, and fresh cilantro. Also if you want, you can add some rice (either cooked or uncooked) directly into the beans towards the end of the cooking period. Or you can just serve the beans over a bed of rice. I use yellow rice, but white rice works just as well. The rice will give you more of a full feeling, if you know what I mean. **When using black beans add 2 to 4 smoked ham hocks for great flavor. Lindas Chuck Roast ½ cup all-purpose flour 1 tablespoon kosher salt 2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper 3 to 4 pound chuck roast 3 tablespoons olive oil 6-8 cloves of garlic, finely chopped 1 whole sweet onion 4-6 large carrots diced 3-4 stalks of celery cut into medium dice 3 leeks (white part only), well washed and chopped 2 cups roughly chopped mushrooms 2 cups chopped cabbage 1 head of fennel, chopped 2 plum tomatoes crushed 1 dried bay leaf 2 sprigs fresh thyme 2 springs fresh oregano 3 fresh sage leaves 3 springs fresh flat-leaf parsley (Italian parsley) 2 tablespoons chopped fresh rosemary ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional) ¾ cup dry white wine and/or ½ cup cognac 2 large potatoes, roughly chopped 2-4 cups broth (beef, mushroom, or vegetable or a combination of these) Preheat over to 425 degrees. Combine the flour, salt, and pepper and dredge the roast with mixture. Use a large ovenproof pan over medium-high heat, and when it is hot, add the oil. Then add the roast and cook until it is deeply golden on the bottom, about 5 minutes. Turn over and cook until it is deeply golden on the bottom, about 2 more minutes. Transfer the roast to a plate. Add the olive oil and then to a hot pan add the garlic, onion, carrots, celery, leeks, mushrooms, cabbage, fennel, tomatoes, dried bay leaf, fresh thyme, fresh oregano, sage, flat-leaf parsley, rosemary, and cook or wilt down for about 5 minutes. Then add the wine and/or cognac and broth mixture and continue to cook for 5 more minutes. Return the roast to the pan and place the chopped potatoes around the roast. Cover the roast with the herb-broth mixture. Cover pan and transfer to the oven. Cook at 425 degrees for approximately 30 minutes and then turn the oven down to 325 degrees and continue cooking for another 2 hours. Serve with a loaf of hot, crusty French bread. Lindas Osso Buco of Veal ½ cup all-purpose flour 1 tablespoon kosher salt 2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper 1 teaspoon paprika 4 veal shanks, tied to secure meat to bone 3 tablespoons olive oil 2 cups chopped high-quality bacon 6-8 cloves of garlic, thinly sliced 1 whole sweet onion 2 large carrots diced 3 stalks of celery cut into medium dice 2 leeks (white part only), well washed and chopped 2 cups roughly chopped mushrooms 1 fennel bulb, roughly chopped (optional) 2 plum tomatoes crushed ½ lemon zest only 1 dried bay leaf 2 sprigs fresh thyme 3 fresh sage leaves 3 springs fresh flat-leaf parsley (Italian parsley) 2 tablespoons chopped fresh rosemary 1 teaspoon dried fennel seeds ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes ¾ cup dry white wine ½ cup cognac 4 cups broth (chicken, veal, mushroom, or vegetable) Preheat over to 425 degrees. Combine the flour, salt, and pepper and lightly dust shanks with mixture. Use a large ovenproof pan over medium-high heat, and when it is hot, add the oil. Then add the shanks and cook until they are deeply golden on the bottom, about 5 minutes. Turn over and cook until they are deeply golden on the bottom, about 2 more minutes. Transfer the shanks to a plate. Add the bacon to the pan and cook until it starts to render its fat, about 2 minutes. Add the garlic, onion, carrot, celery, leeks, mushrooms, fennel bulb, tomatoes, lemon zest, dried bay leaf, fresh thyme, sage, flat-leaf parsley, rosemary, and fennel seeds and cook for about 10 minutes. Return the shanks to the pan and add the wine and cognac and broth. Be sure to cover the shanks with the herb mixture. Cover pan and transfer to the oven. Cook at 425 degrees for approximately 20 minutes and then turn the oven down to 325 degrees and continue cooking for another 1 hour and 40 minutes. Serve over risotto or basmatic rice. Also serve a loaf of crusty French bread for dipping. King Ranch Casserole By: Nancy H. Rosenberg Most versions of this popular entree involve Ro-Tel tomatoes and canned soup. So what if its not exactly gourmet fare? Its beloved nonetheless. FYI, no one knows where the name originated, but the dish didnt come from the King Ranch. The famed South Texas spread is known instead for its beef and game dishes. Yield: 10 to 12 servings. 1 (3- to 4-lb.) broiler-fryer, cut up 1 tsp. salt 1 (10 3/4-oz.) can cream of chicken soup 1 (10 3/4-oz.) can cream of mushroom soup 1 (10-oz.) can Ro-Tel Diced Tomatoes and Green Chilies 1 large onion, chopped 1 large green pepper, chopped 1 1/2 tsp. chili powder 12 corn tortillas 2 c. shredded Monterey Jack or "Mexican-style" cheese garlic powder to taste Place chicken pieces in a large Dutch oven, add water to cover and 1 tsp. salt. Simmer, covered, about 1 hour, or until chicken is tender. When cool, remove and bone chicken, reserving broth. Cut or tear meat into small pieces; set aside. In a separate bowl, combine soups with tomatoes, onion, green pepper, and chili powder, and mix well; set aside. Heat reserved chicken broth. Tear tortillas into fourths, dip each piece in warm chicken broth, and place half the tortillas on the bottom of a greased 9 x 13 x 2-inch baking pan or casserole. Continue layering, using half of chicken, half of soup-tomatoes mixture, and half of cheese. Sprinkle with garlic powder, and repeat layers with remaining ingredients. Bake, covered, at 350° for 30 to 40 minutes, or until cheese has melted and sides of casserole are bubbly.