Nature's own fireworks ~~~ Happy New Year

Buddha’s Hand citron, or Fingered citron is a fragrant citron variety whose fruit is segmented into finger-like sections.

 

The citron grows on a shrub or small tree with long, irregular branches covered in thorns. Its large, oblong leaves are pale green and grow four to six inches. Its white flowers are tinted purplish from the outside and grow in fragrant clusters.

 

The fruit has a thick peel and only a small amount of acidic flesh (if any) and is juiceless and sometimes seedless. It is very fragrant and is used predominantly by the Chinese and Japanese for perfuming rooms and personal items, such as clothing.

 

The peel of the fruit can be candied into saccade. In Western cooking, it is often used for its zest. The inner white pith is not bitter as is usually the case with citrus, so the fingers may be cut off and then longitudinally sliced, peel, pith and all, and used in salads or scattered over cooked foods such as fish.

 

...on our trip last weekend, we made our usual stop at Murray Farms for some fresh fruits and veggies...they had these on display, and, well, you know my penchant for the unique...I just had to get one.

 

...Happy New Year, my friends...I wish to take this time to thank you so much for your kind words and support, but most importantly, for your friendship throughout this year...I wish for you and your families a wonderful brand new year...look forward to better things. Hugs to you all. :~}

 

...here's Boston, and ~~~ Don’t Look Back ~~~

Done