The American Paw Paw is a beautiful, multi-use addition to your backyard sanctuary, offering lush attractive alternate and spirally-arranged foliage, deep purple tulip-like blooms, and delicious fruit resembling papayas.  It is said that the English name Paw Paw either came from the Spanish or Portuguese word for Papaya, since their fruit is  so similar to each other. The Paw Paw is part of the Custard Apple family, and tastes like a combination of tropical fruits like mango, banana, pineapple and melon.  Sound delicious?  Come by the nursery to grow your own to make the decadent Paw Paw pudding recipe below.

Pawpaw Pudding

1 1/2 cups sugar

1  cup flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

half teaspoon cinnamon

2 eggs

2 cups pawpaw pulp

1½ cups of milk (dairy or other)

1/3 cup melted butter (or coconut oil)

Dash of sea salt (optional)
Preheat oven to 350º and oil a medium-sized glass baking dish. In a large mixing bowl whisk together all dry ingredients. Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients and mix in the eggs. Add all other ingredients and mix thoroughly. Bake 50 minutes. When cooled, cut in squares. Top with whipped cream if desired.