Apricots Galore

I don't have the expectation that there will be any fruit on my apricot tree. In the 10 or so years that I've lived in my house, the apricot tree fruited once. Although the tree is planted in my yard about a third of the tree's limbs hang over on Lucille's, my neighbor's yard. Lucille had commented that the last time the tree fruited, she had picked about a handful of fruit or enough to make an apricot cobbler. I had picked about two handfuls of fruit that year. Needless to say, it wasn't a bumper crop.  

That same year, you could drive down Agua Fria Street and see people pulling over to pluck apricots. There is a row of apricot trees on one side of the street that is not flanking any houses. The sidewalk was littered with them. Alas, my house was not littered with them that year. 

Due to intermittent warming and freezing in winter and spring, I haven't had any apricots in six or seven years. The apricot tree has gotten unwieldy and I have considered chopping it down. This year the tree had lots of blossoms, but there was another freeze. I assumed, the tree would not bear fruit and mostly forgot about it. One day my neighbor stopped me as I pulled into the driveway from work. She asked if, "I noticed the fruit on our apricot tree?" I had, but only a single or pair of fruit here and there. 

Nothing had prepared me for this year's bounty. When I arrived home from work on Friday, there were apricots scattered all over the ground in the backyard. I started gathering them with the hope that they wouldn't entice my dog, Aster. I called my neighbor and left a message about the apricots falling and put a tarp over the ground so they wouldn't be damaged falling from the tree. 

After overindulging in freshly picked apricots Friday night, I've been zealously looking up apricot recipes. The first recipe I tried is for an Apricot Clafouti. The recipe I used is for a Cherry Clafouti from the Joy of Baking. A clafouti is a custard like dessert from the Limousin region of France and is traditionally made with cherries. I chose this recipe over others because it only required 20 minutes of baking. It was simple to make for a non-baker like myself and served four. Changes I might make the next time are: add some brandy or other liqueur, add lemon zest, and a pinch more salt for the batter.

I hope everyone has a bumper crop of something this year. Who knew I would have so many apricots? I'm joining the "Garden To Table Challenge" hosted by Wendy at Greenish Thumb. Check out what other gardeners are cooking from their gardens this week.