Monday, January 4, 2010

Small Measure Can-Do Contest, Round 7

It's the beginning of a new month, not to mention a new year, which means that it's already time again for another Small Measure Giveaway! For those of you new to the contest, or to this blog, I'm staging a giveaway each month from now until the release of my book, Homemade Living: Canning & Preserving with Ashley English. Each month one lucky person will win an artfully crafted canned item featured in the book and made by yours truly. 

From my pantry to yours, this month I'll be giving away a jar of Kumquat 5-spice Marmalade. I know I keep saying that each item I giveaway is one of my favorites. I've mentioned my love of Cardamom Apple Butter and Spiced Pear Chutney. This item, though, truly takes the cake. Because I've run out of superlatives, we'll just say that it is "highly covetable." My editor, who also is one of my closest, dearest friends, gobbled up her jar in about one day. It's spoon-worthy. Great on toast, of course, but resplendent on cheesecake, ice cream, and cupcakes, too. I'm sure it would also compliment a sandwich of cold cuts just as well as it would snuggle in expertly with some blue cheese. Kumquats are available now in many grocery stores (in the northern hemisphere, that is), as they, like most citrus fruits, truly come into their own this time of year. 

To enter: Simply leave a comment to THIS specific post by telling me your favorite way of cooking or serving or simply eating kumquats. Your comment MUST link to your particular blog or web site (and therefore to your contact information) or include your e-mail address. Otherwise, I won't be able to get in touch with you if you win! Any entries that do not include some way of getting in touch will be disqualified. 

Deadline: Comments must be received by midnight EST January 18th, 2010. Odds of winning will depend on the number of eligible entries received. 

Other rules:
1. You must have a mailing address in the United States of America (sorry international folks!).
2. Only one entry comment per person. 

How it works: Each comment will be assigned a sequential number. The winning number will be selected from a random number generator, so there'll be no favorites, simply a game of chance. 

Keep coming back each month to see what new tasty item is up for grabs! 

65 comments:

. said...

yum! can't wait for the book.

Darla said...

I love kumquats eaten straight up...I always forget how much I like them and when I have them again its like "Oh my god these are amazing!"

Renai said...

Oddly enough- the only time I can really remember eating kumquats is as a child, and only on road trips. They were expensive in Alaska, so always a treat- and perfect car food, since you could just pop one in your mouth whole. I think I need to pick some up very soon!

Curtiss P. Martin said...

Love to eat them by their lonesome, skins and all, popping them in my mouth one by one.

Although, I do love muddling them in gin with basil simple syrup and a little bit of champagne (or Prosecco). Yum!

curtisspmartin@gmail.com

hippychick said...

I've never had a kumquat, but would love to try it!

Stephanie said...

Sad to say, I don't know that I have ever eaten a kumquat. I'll have to be sure I do that in 2010!
stephanieschilling@gmail.com
Thanks!

megan said...

I don't eat kumquats often (ok, pretty much never), but I really wish that the book was already out so that I could make this! It sounds like it would be so perfect on a sandwich and now it's made my lunch seem unbearably bland.

kmfukuda said...

I love kumquats eaten as is, as well as in marmalate. My mom's aunt makes a kumquat marmalade each year that I want the recipe for, but that she isn't sharing at this time. So, each year I patiently wait for her to give us a jar.

kmfukuda@yahoo.com

J and E said...

How exciting! I must tell you about my ignorance re. kumquats. But if you asked me about persimmons I would have a story or two!

Striving for a Simple Life said...

I've never had kumquats and wouldn't have a clue of how to cook them. However, I think I'm going to look them up after reading this post. :-)

Stephanie

Shannon said...

I've only had them once, on a trip to Florida. My friends grandma had some growing in her yard, and we had them straight up...delicious!

sk said...

Awesome! I love kumquats. Well, ok, not eaten by themselves, but I do like their flavor. My grandma had a kumquat tree that would be just COVERED in little orange ovals this time of year, and I have made many a jar of marmelade...I would love to try yours!

Deirdre said...

I have to admit that I've never had a kumquat; I'll stop by the store this afternoon and pick up a few to try.

I'd love to win a jar of your marmalade. I love marmalade.

Alicia said...

It has been some time since I have had kumquats - "eaten straight up." Wow, s trip down memory lane.

MaddyG said...

Kumquat Salsa to serve with black bean or fish tacos is awesome!
I hope I win! ; )

Anonymous said...

What's a kumquat?

kdkelbel@yahoo.com

Daisy Driver said...

I would love to tell you how much I love kumquats and how I prefer to eat them but I have NEVER had one. I know, amazing isn't it. I have always wanted to but have never gotten the courage to buy them and make them into something. I love citrus, oh who am I kidding I love any type of jelly, jam or marmalade! Contact me at www.woodman-thinking-out-loud.blogspot.com.

Kristin Marsh Shepard said...

Now I need to try one.
kristinLmarsh@gmail.com

Jane said...

WEll I must say, I have never had kumquats! Sad at this age (not young) so I wouldn/need to win a jar.

Sense of Home Kitchen said...

Living in the northern plains we don't see kumquats much. I think I have only had them once. I don't have a recipe, but would love to try yours.

bgibson@daktel.com

tigress said...

hi ashley!

i would love that jar of kumquat marmalade. i have been contemplating working with kumquats for the first canning for the can jam this month. i've never actually had it but it sounds delicious! i do love a good marmalade!

Unknown said...

The only time I've had a kumquat was eaten raw. It had a very "rind-tastic" flavor. (Blegh.) Maybe it was not a good one.

However, I would love to give them a second chance!


Katy Wolk-Stanley

livi said...

i love kumquats as they are but i also love to add them to cocktails to give them a little citrus-y kick. Muddled with the mint in a mojito gives this drink a spring feeling!

Linda's Kitchen said...

I am sorry to say that I do not think I have every tried one. I will have to buy some and try.

Ann said...

I'm a kumquat virgin who would love to try your marmalade. Here's hoping!

jessica said...

I've never tried a kumquat- or seen them in a store really- so it'd be exciting to try one

Unknown said...

I've never had a kumquat either! One of my non-resolutions this year was to try new citrus, though (there's a store nearby with a fantastic selection of somewhat exotic fruit). Of course, the first thing I bought were clementines :P
kfultz@umich.edu

Anonymous said...

Last spring walking in a California park we came upon a hedge of kumquats, of all things. Having arrived from the frozen north, I could not contain my delight...I just started stuffing the fruit in my mouth & then my pockets!

Andrea said...

Having grown up in a very rural area, kumquats were a rarity. As such, my family enjoyed eating them plain and devoured them quickly. Even now, that same mindset continues for me, so I've never preserved them. Putting them up as a marmalade with some 5-spice sounds wonderful!

Charity A said...

I have no idea what a kumquat is!?! I am however looking forward to your books coming out!!

Bailey B said...

My only kumquat experience was chomping the homegrown delights of Mr. Adam's garden which his lovely daughter (that's you Ash!) brought home from a visit and shared with the ladies of AIM. I miss those days! (well, sort of) :)

Gray Skies said...

I've never had kumquats, and I've been meaning to try them for ages - maybe I should go pick some up at the grocery store soon!

Nell said...

I used to reduce them down with a little honey and champagne and then pour the resulting chunky syrup over molten chocolate cake. Wicked good. But probably my favorite was eaten whole out of the bag with my oldest son when he was small. A teenager now, it takes more to impress him but when he was a wee one, he adored anything tiny and kumquats were just that.

Love your blog - keep the posts coming. I swear, just reading it makes my day feel more wholesome and calmer somehow.
nellapearl27@gmail.com

Unknown said...

I make a Pear Kumquat Bread Pudding. It's lovely sweetened with maple syrup. Would love to win your delicious prize!!!

wesleyjeanne said...

Ooh Yay! Where do you get kumquats in WNC?? Our poor little Ingles sadly has none.

I have only eaten kumquats once, popped in my mouth right from a tree in my Aunt's backyard in Jupiter Florida when I was 20...um several years ago, shall we say.

We make regular old orange marmalade but I would love to try your special kumquat marmalade!

Valerie said...

WWW.doublegranch.com We love Ashley!!!! Her books, her blog , her design sponge articles. She is number one with us here at the farm.

Cat W. said...

I don't believe I've ever eaten a kumquat, but I do love the poem "A Kumquat for John Keats" by Tony Harrison. It's pretty fantastic, so I would have to imagine the kumquats are as well.

Rachel Vourlas said...

I love kumquats, halved, hollowed out, and refilled with the pulp that has been blended with marscapone and amaretto. Yum!

Kiyi Kiyi said...

I've never tried a kumquat.
But I like the word - it's fun to say!

Maria said...

I am another blogger who has never tried a kumquat and I don't think I have ever seen one either. I am assuming those small orange fruits with the cinnamon sticks in the picture are kumquats. Do you peel them or bite right in???

I would love to try the marmalade!

Erin & Merideth said...

i just tried this amazing recipe from sunday suppers! YUM!

http://sunday-suppers.blogspot.com/2010/01/winter-dinner-vanilla-pudding-with.html

Pretty Neat Designs said...

I have never had a kumquat before, but they sound interesting.

Anonymous said...

My favorite way to eat kumquats is straight from the tree. I have a potted tree in my backyard and the fruit is just starting to turn color.
dtrunk@aol.com

melissa said...

i have never even seen a kumquat! how bout that.

lunaschilde said...

When I was a teenager working at Beam's Chinese Restaurant in Spruce Pine, we served candied kumquats. I thought they were the most exotic and divine thing I'd ever eaten, and everytime I had the chance I'd sneak a couple. MMMM Fresh ones are excellent too, but those candied kumquats were the best.

Melanie J. said...

Have never eaten a kumquat, but would love to try some!

Kate said...

Kumquats are surprising every time. I used to pop 'em straight up, but now I think some sort of marmalade (like yours) is in order!

I can be reached via the webs at: me [at] teakate [dot] com

Samantha Colley said...

I haven't had a kumquat since I was little. We'd sneak them off the neighbor's bush whenever we could. I'd love to relive the memories with some kumquat marmalade.

Robin said...

They were always too tart for me as a child when we lived in Florida. Unfortunately that was my last contact with kumquats.

Julia said...

I don't often have kumquats but I'll wager that I would eat it out of a jar with a spoon in an hour if it was your kumquat five-spice marmalade. I mean, that just sounds superlative!

Susan Ryhanen said...

Ah...kumquats remind me of childhood when relatives brought them back from Florida!

Any citrus in marmalade is a winner!

Unknown said...

nice blog! i love eating kumquats plain because of the sour/sweet action in my mouth. http://di-wineanddine.blogspot.com/

Cynthia said...

I first had kumquats -- yummy candied ones -- from a small outdoor market in Lamalou-les-Bains, in the south of France. They were completely addictive, tart and sweet in the same bite. I have yet to try making them myself, but your post may provide that inspiration.

Anonymous said...

I've actually never had a kumquat, but I really want to try them now that they're popping up all over the blogosphere!

Cindy said...

oh, I love kumquat marmalade spooned over a bowl of fresh homemade yogurt. It's been many years since I've enjoyed it (mom-in-law with kumquat tree moved closer and didn't bring the tree with) but I can still remember the flavor. I'd slice the kumquats in my now-antique Cuisinart, then spend the afternoon picking out the seeds. I think I may need to watch for them at the farmer's market.

Anonymous said...

I've only had one, once. I picked it from a bush in a parking lot in LA. It was good! But in hindsight probably not so good for me (LA parking lot, probably kinda polluted). Thanks!!

Kaitlin
kaitlin at riseup dot net

Anonymous said...

I've never had kumquats. Don't think they grow around here. Still I'd love to try them, all the recipe's of fellow commenters make my mouth water!

Lara @ GoodCookDoris said...

I've never tried one - putting it on my foodie to do list!

becca said...

When singers would come to do a show, I would have to get their food and one time when Ellis Paul was visiting I got so excited about finding Kumquats (having never had one) that I bought them for him. Fortunately for me, he was not a fan and I got the benefit of his displeasure.

homesprout said...

I rarely ear kumquats, however, I'd love to try your marmalade!

Anjuli said...

i never had a kumquat till my roommate brought some home last year, and we just bit right through the skin! that was the weirdest thing to get over, but after that i loved it! i'd be stoked to try some in marmalade form...!
anjulia at gmail dot com

bridgmanpottery said...

oh, that looks so so good! I used to decorate for the holidays w/ kumquats- guests would eat them off the mantle!

Shantara said...

I'd love to say I LOVE kumquats. Problem is, I've NEVER eaten one! But, they do sound so delicious. I'm hoping you'll have lots of fruit recipe's in your book. I've been a fruit lover my whole life...don't know how I missed the kumquats.

Shantara said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Diana said...

Raw, unsweetened, like nature intended...that is the way I prefer eating Kumquats... but since you are in a giving mood, I look forward to enjoying them cooked, sweetened and blessed in spices. Thank you, dianasamour@gmail.com