FitSugar

5 Things You Probably Didn't Know About Kumquats

FitSugar — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 10:00:00 -0700

I've always been a fan of fruit, but there's something about kumquats that used to weird me out. I've come around and maybe these five facts will help you come to enjoy a kumquat as well.

These fruits can be eaten skin and all, so look for organic kumquats, and wash them thoroughly before eating. They are like reverse oranges - the peel is sweet, and the pulp inside is sour. When you eat them together, you get a unique sweet and sour flavor. The seeds are small so either swallow them whole, or spit them out.
If you devoured eight kumquats, that would be 100 calories, 24g of carbs, 10g of fiber (wow!), and 2g of protein. Slice them thinly and add them to your salads for extra fiber and zesty flavor.
Kumquats were originally considered to be part of the Citrus family, but in 1915, they were given their very own genus, Fortunella. So technically, even though they look like oranges, they're not actually citrus fruits.

For more fun facts read more.

Kumquats aren't just eaten raw. They can be pickled, candied, made into relish or marmalade, used in desserts, or added to meats
You can find hybrid fruits such as limequats, mandarinquats, and orangequats. I bet those would be great in mixed drinks.

Fit's Tips: Look for round or oval shaped kumquats that are firm, not soft. The skin should be evenly colored. Store them in a plastic bag in the fridge for up to two weeks.

Are you fan of the kumquat? Check out this little dude eating tasting this fruit for the first time. Tell me your reaction to kumquats in the comments section below.

Source

Happy Hour: Kumquat Champagne Cocktail

YumSugar — Mon, 14 May 2007 15:28:53 -0700

One of my new favorite past-times is to head down to the farmer's market grab a bunch of tasty produce and relax in the sun at the Hog Island Oyster Company for a few oysters and a cool glass of bubbly. However, this weekend I had to get home to whip up some snacks for a friend's potluck birthday picnic, so there was no time for the bubbly. Not wanting to break my new tradition, I decided to have a glass that afternoon instead. While at the market I picked up a bunch of delicious kumquats and figured they'd make a great addition to the bubbly. While looking for a bit of inspiration, I came across this recipe for a Kumquat Champagne cocktail and knew it was the right recipe for me. To check it out, read more

Kumquat Champagne Cocktail
From The Surreal Gourmet

10 kumquats - 8 whole, 2 sliced
3 oz Cointreau
3 tbsp sugar
1 bottle champagne

Combine whole kumquats, Cointreau and sugar in a bowl. Use a blunt instrument to smash the kumquats and blend with the other ingredients. Let sit for 30 minutes. Strain off the solids and pour one ounce of liquid into each champagne flute. Top with champagne and garnish with a kumquat slice.

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Definition: Kumquat

YumSugar — Fri, 16 Feb 2007 03:33:33 -0800

kumquat
A small, oval, orange citrus fruit. The entire fruit (skin and flesh) is eaten, the skin is quite sweet and the inside is rather bitter. Many people actually eat the skin and discard the inside. You'll find kumquats sliced or zested raw over salads or as garnish, but you're more likely to find them candied, preserved or in marmalades.

Come Party With Me: Chinese New Year - Dessert

partysugar — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 10:15:25 -0800

In my opinion, a Valentine's Day dessert should include chocolate. Since I'm hosting a Chinese New Year-themed dinner on Singles Appreciation Day, I've found the perfect dessert: chocolate kumquat Spring rolls!

These deep-fried packages of goodness are filled with a rich kumquat dark chocolate. The rolls can be made in advance and are easily fried just before eating. To check out the delectable recipe I plan on using, read more.

Chocolate Kumquat Spring Rolls
From Epicurious

Ingredients

5 kumquats, cut into 1/4-inch slices and seeded, juices reserved
1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon ( 4 1/2 ounces/127 grams) heavy whipping cream
1/8 teaspoon of salt
8 1/4 ounces (233 grams) bittersweet chocolate, finely chopped
1 large egg yolk
1 tablespoon Grand Marnier
1 tablespoon unsalted butter, softened
Thirty-six 5-inch square spring roll wrappers
1 large egg, lightly beaten
Canola, vegetable, or other neutral oil for deep-frying

Directions

Put the kumquat slices and their juices into a small saucepan, add the cream and salt, and warm over medium heat just until bubbles form around the edges of the pan. Remove from the heat.
Put the chocolate into the bowl of a food processor and pour the hot kumquat cream over it. Let sit for 2 minutes, then process until the mixture becomes smooth and shiny.
Add the egg yolk, Grand Marnier, and butter and process to combine.
Line an 8 1/2 x 4 1/2-inch loaf pan with plastic wrap. Pour the chocolate mixture into the pan and transfer to the freezer. Freeze, uncovered, until completely hard.
Unmold the chocolate bar and peel off the plastic wrap. Cut the bar lengthwise in half, then cut each half crosswise into 1/2-inch slices. You should have 36 chocolate bars.
Lightly brush the entire surface of a spring roll wrapper with a bit of the beaten egg. Turn the wrapper so that you see a diamond, and lay a chocolate bar across the end closest to you so that the ends of the bar meet the edges of the wrapper to form a triangle. Take the corner of the wrapper closest to you and wrap it around the chocolate, then roll the chocolate away from you one full rotation. Tightly fold the sides in toward the center, then continue to roll up to the end of the wrapper, making sure the end is tightly sealed. Set on a baking sheet. Repeat with the remaining wrappers and chocolate.
Freeze the spring rolls for at least 10 minutes or up to 2 days; take them out only when you are ready to fry them.
Fill a saucepan with oil to a depth of 2 inches and heat to 350°F. When the oil is ready (a tiny pinch of flour will sizzle), add a few spring rolls, taking care to not crowd the pan, and cook, turning occasionally and adjusting the heat as necessary to maintain 350°F, until golden brown, about 4 minutes. Drain on paper towels and cook the remaining rolls. Serve warm.

Makes 3 dozen spring rolls.

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Baby's First...Kumquat?

GiggleSugar — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 03:00:00 -0700

There's a whole genre of babies eating lemons and pickles videos. This one breaks away from the pack a little. It's baby's first kumquat! (Don't worry, little fella. I make that face when I'm eating kumquats, too.)

Noteworthy Nibbles - Jan. 26-Feb. 2, 2010

YumSugar — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 14:15:20 -0800

What a great week to be a lover of all things food and drink! It's hard not to dream about being in more than one place when forced to choose between a top-notch Winter dinner, an entire festival full of truffle fare, and a day of nothing but kumquats. This weekend, we'll be hitting up the ZAP Zinfandel Festival, which puts all the region's newest zinfandels under one roof. Where will you be? Tell us in the comments below!

San Francisco, CA: Dine About Town - Jan. 26-31
New Castle, NH: The Winter Wine Festival - Jan. 27-30
Yosemite, CA: Chefs' Holidays at The Ahwahnee: Top Chef Session - Jan. 27-28
Beaver Creek, CO: Master Chef Classic - Jan. 28-30
San Francisco, CA: ZAP Zinfandel Festival - Jan. 28-30
Key West, FL: Key West Food & Wine Festival - Jan. 28-31
Eugene, OR: Oregon Truffle Festival - Jan. 29-31
Dade City, FL: Kumquat Festival - Jan. 30
Mohegan Sun, CT: The Sun Winefest - Jan. 30-31
Charleston, SC: Lowcountry Oyster Festival - Jan. 31

In the know about a fabulous event? Spread the word in our Noteworthy Nibbles group in the YumSugar Community!

Escarole Salad Two Ways - Beginner and Expert

YumSugar — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 04:00:31 -0800

I used to think cold weather meant the world was relegated to eating apples, pears, sweet potatoes, and butternut squash. But as I grew older I was introduced to a cornucopia of Winter produce, from blood oranges and kumquats to kale and leafy chicories. One of my top picks is übernutritious escarole, a greenish-white chicory that's not quite as bitter as radicchio and frisée.

Escarole is sweeter sautéed, but adds a nice crunch in a seasonal salad. Roughly chop it and toss with Dijon vinaigrette to cut the bitterness. Or, for something a bit more elaborate, make xató, a classic Catalan salad topped with a romesco-like sauce, and served with anchovy, tuna, and salt cod (baccala). Make the most of January's bounty with two different types of escarole salad when you read more.

Come Party With Me: Festival of Lights - Menu

partysugar — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 08:05:46 -0800

Hanukkah begins this Friday at sundown, and to celebrate, I recommend hosting an informal yet elegant dinner. When guests arrive, offer them a drink and a buckwheat blini with smoked salmon, crème fraîche, and salmon roe. It's the perfect bite to kick-start a party. For the main course, skip the traditional brisket in favor of Dijon lamb lollipops with red currant-mint dipping sauce.

Potato latkes are crispy and flavorful, and a simple mixed-green salad with kumquats rounds out the menu. To get these recipes, keep reading.

Happy Hour: Dry Soda

YumSugar — Thu, 01 Mar 2007 13:55:15 -0800

Yesterday we took a lunch excursion to the nearby fancy pants food court. Since I was already paying too much for a tuna sandwich, I figured why not throw in a fancy drink too? I was originally going to grab some fancy bubble-water, but saw these sodas on display and was captivated by them instead. All four flavors, Kumquat, Lemongrass, Lavender and Rhubarb, glistened in their display case, each demanding my attention. It was a tough choice, but eventually I settled on Lemongrass.

When I took it back to the office and cracked open the bottle, I was pleasantly surprised. I was expecting it to taste sweet ( kind of like Sprite), but the drink was deliciously light and delicate. The lemongrass flavor was potent enough to taste, but definitely not overpowering. I would definitely recommend picking this up; I personally can't wait to try the Kumquat flavor next. And, I should probably also add that it only contained 50 calories (Coke has 140).

Based out of Seattle, DRY Soda claims to "offer the first culinary soda, a line of all-natural, lightly sweet beverages designed for those wanting a sophisticated non-alcoholic option" (see what did I tell you guys? Soda for adults is a big food trend). You can purchase 12-packs of DRY Soda for $25.00.

Ask E. Jean For DearSugar: The Olympics Have Me Down, How Do I Get Motivated?

E Jean Carroll — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 10:00:00 -0700

Dear E. Jean,

I’ve been watching the Olympics. How do I get as motivated as these athletes? Watching all this extraordinary achievement makes me feel like such a loser. And the worst part is I can’t stop watching them.

I’ve been glued to the TV since they started, and I mean glued! Tonight while I watched the gymnastics I ate three bowls of cereal and a plate of lasagna! God! Am I the only person who's stopped exercising completely and is doing nothing but getting fat watching Shawn Johnson and Michael Phelps? I want to be successful, too!

I keep watching and hoping I’ll find out what their secret is, but nobody can put it into words. Should I just hire a life coach? - Coach Potato Girl

To see E. Jean's answer, read more.

Miss Couch, My Kumquat,

Oh, but the Olympic stars are revealing the secrets of their success. (And I’m not talking about Michael Phelps disclosing that he eats 12,000 calories a day or Nastia Liukin saying she likes to keep her “legs together on the dismount.”) Anybody watching the games has picked up a few Tips of Triumph:

Don’t focus on what’s wrong, concentrate on what’s right.
When an opponent falters, seize the opportunity.
Half the battle is knowing exactly what you want to do.
Play to your strengths. Know what you’re good at. And concentrate on it to the exclusion of everything else.
When you can’t go on, go on.
And the single idea which seems to be shared by nearly every athlete: “I suffered all those horrid practices, pains, tears, sweat, blood, and set backs . . . and now that I’ve made it to Beijing, thank God I didn’t give up!”

As for hiring a life coach, well now. I’ve seen a couple of specimens on Oprah who were so brilliant that I gained a brain size just looking at them, but, alas, in the real world, 99 out of 100 life coaches are total douchers.

The motivation required to find a good coach (i.e. a coach who did not receive his “certification” from an online moron factory) and the patience needed to listen to his bull hockey if/when you do locate one, will waste any energy you have left.

Best to form a “Just Do It” group with your friends and enjoy a hilarious time energizing one another, or read Self-Reliance by the great Ralph Waldo Emerson. Old Ralphy will jam you so full of success strategies, you’ll run the 100 meters of life in 10 seconds flat.

To see more advice from E. Jean, visit Elle magazine and AskEJean.com.