Do you know these little Japanese lanterns?  They are tomatillos.  Delicious garden vegetable.  This plant is a volunteer from last year's plants.

 

Tomatillos are in the Nightshade family, along with tomatoes, eggplant, and peppers.  They are more closely related to ground cherries, though, since they also have  husks.  When they are young and developing, the husks seem full of empty air, but the berries are growing inside them.  When they are ripe, the husks split because the berries fill them up.  

 

Tomatillos are the main ingredient in salsa verde.  We also love them skewered, and cooked on the grill for a couple minutes.  They are tart like tomatoes, but turn sweet on the grill.  Try them; they're available in the produce department, and probably at the farmers market this time of year.  Or grow your own; they are really easy.  

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!