A Bright Sunshiney Day
In my hometown this morning, the day is as bright and gold and delicious as this slice of lemon and candied kumquat tart. It has rained here (pounding, torrential rain) for a week and now the whole city is washed sparkly clean. It’s a glorious day and not a moment should be spent indoors! Unless you are me, the unfortunate one. For while my neighbors ride their bikes and rake out their gardens, I’m stuck in bed with a nasty flu. Needless to say, this doesn’t leave me with much inspiration for today’s post.
I’m hoping this picture of the lemon and kumquat tart is enough, though. You can’t feel too sorry for me, for I did manage to take a few bites from its pointy end. Maybe you will find inspiration in hearing how the crumbly, buttery crust melts on the tongue. Maybe you can intuit that the smooth-side-of-satin filling is apt to glide just as graciously down your heathy throat as it did my rather troubled one. And you, unlike me with my dulled senses, have the possibility of getting the full force of the citrus, floral and tangy and perfectly balanced by just enough sugar and butter. Twice-kissed you’ll be by lemon and kumquat!
Friends, if I had it in me, I’d bake you a lemon and candied kumquat tart and you could see for yourself that although one might have to stay inside on a gorgeous spring day, there still is the possibility of sunshine and pleasure. Even in the tangled misery of soreness and aches and elevated temperatures, a drop of sweetness can seep in and stain everything with its brightness and twang.
If you are inspired to try this on your own, I imagine that this recipe by David Lebovitz would get you there. Especially if you go all the way and candy yourself some kumquats.
(Image: Dana Velden)