buddha's hand...

buddha's hand..., a photo by credd on Flickr.

Called a Buddha's Hand Citron, this odd looking fruit is actually one of the oldest members of the citrus family. Although it smells strongly of lemon, it has no juicy pulp hidden beneath its rind. Instead, the Buddha’s Hand is grown commercially for its powerful zest. The aromatic rind is used to flavor lemon liqueurs and specialty vodkas, and provides aroma to lemon-scented cosmetics. Chinese and Japanese households hang it in their homes as a natural air freshener, and it even has a place in some religious ceremonies.

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i'm getting ready to make my cranberry sauce...and i plan to zest a bit of it into the sauce...and use some of the fingers to flavor vodka.

sweet and spicy pumpkin seeds...

sweet and spicy pumpkin seeds..., a photo by credd on Flickr.

1 medium pumpkin
5 tablespoons sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
Pinch of cayenne pepper, to taste
1 1/2 tablespoons peanut oil

Directions

Preheat oven to 250 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Cut pumpkin open from the bottom, removing seeds with a long-handled spoon. Separate flesh from seeds, and reserve the flesh for another use (see Pumpkin Pie). Pumpkin should yield 1 cup seeds.

Spread seeds on parchment in an even layer. Bake until dry, stirring occasionally, about 1 hour. Let cool.

In a medium bowl combine 3 tablespoons sugar, salt, cumin, cinnamon, ginger, and cayenne. Heat peanut oil in a large nonstick skillet over high heat.

Add pumpkin seeds and remaining 2 tablespoons sugar. Cook until sugar melts and pumpkin seeds begin to caramelize, about 45 to 60 seconds.

Transfer to bowl with spices, and stir well to coat. Let cool. These may be stored in an airtight container for up to 1 week.

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recipe...
courtesy of martha stewart...
as usual...
i made the recipe my own...
and added a bit of ghost pepper (pictured below)...
omitted the ginger...
and reduced the oil to 1 tbsp.

 

the outcome...
DELISH!

i put them in the car so i wouldn't eat them all tonight...
and would have some to take to my co-workers tomorrow.

sugar pumpkin & seeds...

sugar pumpkin & seeds..., a photo by credd on Flickr.

to make a pumpkin cake with brown butter icing...
and some sweet and spicy pumpkin seeds.

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i received the pumpkin in my csa box last week...
and had it on the counter as part of my fall decorations last week...
but now...
it's gonna be cake!

today...
i'm roasting it to make the puree...
tomorrow...
i'll make the cake.