She's probably referring to tomatillos. See the link below. They are called Tomate Verde in Mexico. We grow them here with the tomatoes and usually use them to make green sauce or enchilada sauce or put them in salsa.

Bruce

Bruce, they're also known as ground cherries, is that right?

PP

I'd love to grow tomatillos. What do they taste like? I've never had one before. Maybe I should taste one before I decide to grow one. *grins*

Actually I'm just really knackered. Tough day outside. And sheep got shorn. One got away. Grrr..... So 1 unshorn sheep - anyone want a sheep? Free? You just have to round him off and take him away.

Mantis *dreaming of yummy spit roast sheep. Pulling bits of tender flesh off to go with the 1990 Rouge Homme cab sav that is passing my lips as we speak.*

PS are you the vego or is it Patrina, sorry, back to the dream.

They do look cute when they've just been shorn - like they're running around in their wooly underwear :)

Amanda
Vegetarian sheep keeper

Proud Parent PP

Let's spread the fun around!

Patrina

That’s right Patrina, Ground Cherry is another name.
Tomatillo - AKA Husk Tomato, Ground Cherry, Chinese Lantern Plant, Miltomate, Mexican Green Tomato, Bladder Cherry, & Tomate Verde just to make it confusing! I’d guess 99.5% of people in the States that eat them (and 99% of the folks that grow them) wouldn’t know them by anything other than Tomatillo.

Unlike tomatoes they do need insect pollination. In the 10+ years I’ve grown them, my observation has been: 1 plant equals zero or few tomatillos, 2 (or more) plants = some tomatillos, 2 plants of different types (say a purple and green) = lots of tomatillos.

Last night it was supposed to get down to around 3° C so I picked what was left. This is about half of them in the setting sun.
The taste is different from anything else. It’s kind of sweet, a little tart, not like a green (or green when ripe) tomato. One variety is named Pineapple and there’s a bit of a pineapple taste to it.

Adam, I’m pretty sure I have seeds left (3 varieties I think). I can send you some if your friend wants to grow them this year. Sarah too, if you want to give ‘em a try.

What does one use them Tomatillos for. If you have grown them for 10 years you must have a use for them.

Mantis *Sorry about the sheep thing, (thinking about it, I think most of the sheep I met, could probabaly do as good, or better job of running both our countries).
Also, not knowing a thing about Tomatillos.*

Here are a few uses.
Here’s a recipe
for chicken. I’d add a little lime to the sauce and barbecue the chicken.

If you like chocolate and chilies you should try Chicken Mole (Mo-lay). Soooo good.

Bruce, hoping Dubya will be doing retirement planning Wednesday..

Patrina

But I could imagine that this sauce would be good with some hearty veggies, too. :)

Thanks for the tip about pollination Bruce.

So, who else is growing tomatillos?

Amanda

Me!

Amanda, they're a must!

PP

There are now a few ready to be picked. Question - can I eat them raw? Or do I have to steam them? The recipes I've found so far mentioned to steam or cook them. :)

The Golden Berry doesn't fill out the husk as the tomatillo does. Wait till the husk is papery and brown. They are really delicious. Great snack while you wander in your garden. Sweet.

Your Aunt Molly Ground Cherry is doing well. Spreading and flowering and it also has some green lanterns. :)

Tomatillos and ground cherries are not the same. Although both are in the Physalis family, they are different species.

P. ixocarpo is the tomatillo (aka Mexican Husk Tomato)
P. peruviana is the Cape Gooseberry
P. philadelphica is the wild tomatillo
P. pruinosa is the Strawberry Tomato or Dwarf Cape Gooseberry

Generally (and this does depend on the variety and one's taste preferences), the ixo's and the phil's are in savory dishes, frequently cooked. The other two tend to be much sweeter and used fresh or in preserves and baking.

In all cases they can become garden pests if you let any fruit drop and rot on the earth. Think mint and privet and...

Jennifer, who believes she's PP's source for those tomatillo varieties

I saved a few seeds but as they need to be insect pollinated and there have to be 2 plants, but I had 2 different varieties, they are probably crossed. Oh dear.

How did the rest of you go? What did you use them for?

I also grew Ground Cherry "Aunt Molly". These did very well. I am still not sure about the taste, though. There is something there that I couldn't figure out. Not sure whether I'll grow them again next season.

Smart . I'll try to post pictures of a few recipes this season to get those of you Downunder to give 'em a try.

My tomatillos, 2 of 5 varieties.

What I'm doing as I'm posting, for those of you who have forgotten the tomato glut. Canning the excess. So many tomatoes, so little time…and so darn hot!

What is your favourite tomatillo?

Your preserved tomatoes look smashing! We are really enjoying our produce this winter. Heaps of preserved tomatoes, tomato paste, sun-dried tomatoes, bottled tomato-sauce, pasta sauce, frozen cherry tomatoes. It makes it all worthwhile when you slave away in the heat in summer.

Antesoo, I saved seeds from my tomatillos, but they are most likely a cross between Toma Verde and Rendidora (or so). But that shouldn't really matter. I've also got seeds for Cape Gooseberry and the Ground Cherry "Aunt Molly". If you'd like some seeds, send me an email.