Parker: Culinary adventures make for great Christmas
My son’s stepfather gave me the finger during a Christmas Day brunch at his Ewing home.
Nah, no familial animosity or familiarity breeding contempt as Sam offered the delectable fingered citron as a parting gift following a traditional breakfast that included a musical backdrop provided by Jon Solomon during his 30-hour Christmas marathon broadcast of music, comedy, and stories on Princeton University’s college radio station WPRB 103.3 FM.
The fingered citron aka Buddha’s hand and Solomon were firsts.
Citrus medica var. sarcodactylis, or the fingered citron, is an unusually shaped citron variety Buddha’s Hand was part of the culinary adventure on Christmas.
whose fruit is segmented into finger-like sections, resembling those seen on representations of Buddha.
The fingered citron holds popularity in China, Japan, Korea and Vietnam where growers cultivate the fruit as an ornamental tree in gardens and containers on patios and terraces.
Sells for about $24 per pound, so, it better have many uses. The fingered citron supports most recipes that require lemon zest; makes for a great marmalade; flavors drinks and can be used in the wash, especially to scent linens.
And that’s not all as these lemon fingers boost immune systems, relieve gastrointestinal issues, quell nausea; reduce menstrual discomfort and lower high blood pressure.
The Tuesday meal included one other item that gained immediate appreciation— smoked salmon candy. Hold back on the prejudice as this offering now ranks as a must for popular table settings.
Many recipes on line for salmon fillets that are cured with salt and brown sugar, smoked, and painted with sweet maple syrup.
Our next meal occurred during mid-afternoon where a son-in-law deepfried a regular ham and spiraled ham.
Exquisite tastes and surprising that every neighborhood hound did not come sniffing around as the smell of ham enveloped the neighborhood.
Christmas Day delivered treats for foodies as men served up meals.
As roles evolve, more men have found success in the kitchen and a love for cooking.