A Bit of Cool Weather Does Wonders

  Our recent bout of chilly weather seems to have done the trick on ripening the citrus fruit.  The satsumas are super sweet now and the navel oranges are all turning bright in color  I will have to pull the ladder around to the grapefruit trees to snatch one from the tree for sampling. Those, too, should have sweetened with the frost of the past few nights. While most of the country is snowy and cold, the Bayou is looking for more rain come middle of the week.  Hopefully, I will manage to pick a bit of fruit to can before the thunderstorms roll through the area.  Canning is always a great way to spend rainy days.  Between canning and dehydrating the fruit, the house will smell divine and the rewards for all my labor will be incredibly delicious.  I am ready to get this on the move. Kumquat picking shall commence!

  The plan is to leave dozens of fruit on the lower branches for the grandchildren to pick when they come for Christmas.  They can help MawMaw and PawPaw pick the fruit, then later, may be able to help make orange peel candy.  This is always a holiday favorite around here so the candy jars stay filled.  This year, however, I want to try something new as well.  I found a recipe for candied orange slices! No peeling, removing the pith nor finely slicing.  Just thinly slice a whole orange and go from there.  It should be interesting to say the least.  

  Hopefully, with the unpredictable weather of late, we will not have any hard freezes that will throw my picking plans askew.  I think the grandkids will have a great experience doing a bit of "garden work".  Or, maybe this old lady expects too much from kids today.  That, too, should be interesting.