Two loaves of kumquat bread
Mixed and baked: 4 pm
Gave second loaf to Kh. Jan
We have a kumquat tree
I love kumquats. They are a unique little citrus–you eat them whole, right off the tree, peel and all. The inner layer of the peel is the sweetest part of the fruit, with the juice being extremely sour. If you like super sour candy, then here is a natural version for you to try…
Our tree is exploding with fruit so I spend hours de-seeding, then blending the fruit so I can use it in many different ways. I add the blend to my chocolate chip cookies (so good!), I make a kumquat nut bread (here\’s the recipe), and sometimes we mix it with other fruit to make smoothies. It’s powerful stuff, and so delicious!
Here’s what it looks like once it’s blended
Anyway, today I was de-seeding another batch of fruit and decided to pop one in my mouth. I tripped, and inhaled quite a lot of juice into my windpipe, and for the first time in my life I couldn’t breathe. I doubled over in the hall, and couldn’t breathe in; I couldn’t breathe out, nor could I cough. I knew holding my breath wasn’t an option for too long, so I forced myself to inhale. No air, just a constricting and burning feeling, and a strange curiosity at how the juice was forming some sort of bubble or cover or cap in my trachea… I forced myself to cough, but the reflex didn’t respond. So odd! I was stuck.
Again, I forced myself to inhale and a horrible, desperate sound came from my throat. I tried again, and it hurt, but I could tell that a tiny bit of oxygen was getting through because my vision, which was turning fuzzy, cleared. My husband bent near to help, and the little one kept asking if I was okay, but what could they do?
I inhaled again. Oh, it was awful.
Finally, the whole mess in my lungs started to ease. I’ll spare you the details. I have a new appreciation for those who have asthma attacks. Not breathing is very disturbing…
A half hour after I’d recovered, and could manage a few basic sentences, I left the rest of the gang home and went to vespers alone. I lit a candle for everyone, even one for me, grateful for the lovely, easy air we breathe night and day. And then I gave the second loaf of kumquat bread to my daughter’s godmama, who is always ready with a hug and bursting with good cheer…
And now I’m home, seeing everything around me with an intensified sense of awe and thanks.
Amazing what the juice of one little kumquat can do…
The Woman and the Wheat 
So sorry you had that scarey scenario with the kamquat – just wanted to say that Jan shared a couple of slices with Valeska and me – DELICIOUS! (It reminded me a little of an orange/cranberry/walnut bread my mom makes!) It was nice to see you and get a quick hug…and have the unexpected pleasure of tasting your scrumptious bread!!! š
Yay, Wendy. So glad you got a piece… What a nice surprise to see you in church. And what a perfect way for you to end your day by hanging out with Kh. Jan-one of my all time heroes.
Hope to see you and your beautiful family in SB again soon š
Oh Jane, how scary! I’m so thankful everything turned out all right! You’re right, who knew a little kumquat can have such consequences?
I used kumquats in a cake recipe a very long time ago. It was a German recipe from a Burda magazine, of all things. My friend Marina, who went to german school in Romania translated it for me. I was quite determined to get that cake done. š
how terribly frightening. I’m glad you’re okay. I’ve never had a kumquat before, but now you have me intrigued. I’ll have too look and see if there’s any in our store.
Ca-rumba! Glad you are okay, Jane!
I wanted to tell you that since you seem to be able to make bread with just about anything, I’m wondering if in a few weeks you might like try your hand at some passion fruit.
Our next door neighbor has profuse vines and they tell us we can have all the fruit that grows on our side. This year it is loaded, and since a little goes a long way, we will have much more than we can use. I would love to share some with you if you’re game for another experiment.
ALWAYS game for an experiment… I would love some passion fruit–what fun to fiddle with something new! Aren’t you sweet to think of me? You’re the best of sharers, Miss Carla. Love you š
What a frightening experience. It gives new meaning to the fact that in Him we live and breathe and have our being.
I have met a few kumquats in my life but I never knew that you could eat the peel. Now I am eager to find some again.
Joanna–welcome–so good to see you here! Indeed, without Him we have no breath–no life…
Yes, find a kumquat and let me know how the two of you get along. I have one neighbor, with an enormous, enormous tree, and she and the kumquat don’t get along well at all! She’s a teenager who loves to be dramatic, and more than once has put on sour-face shows for us while chomping on the fruit… We have some of the funniest videos of her being ridiculous.