Sunshine and Candy: Kumquats

Today we needed a little sunshine and it came to us in the form of Candied Kumquats. These will be great on a cheese plate or alongside roasted chicken. Tonight I'm serving them with molten chocolate cakes and sparkling wine. It's A Sunshine Day!

Candied Kumquats
1 cup kumquats
2/3 cup sugar
1/3 cup water
1/2 vanilla pod, sliced lengthwise and seeds removed with knife tip
5 pink peppercorns
1/2 anise flower
2 cardamom pods, seeds removed
3 whole cloves

Rinse kumquats and remove stem tip; quarter and remove seeds. Place in small pot and just cover with water. Bring to simmer over medium heat and simmer 2 minutes. Drain and reserve fruit.

In same pot combine sugar, 1/3 cup water, vanilla pod and seeds, peppercorns, anise, cardamom seeds, and cloves. Bring to simmer and stir until sugar dissolves. Add kumquats and cook 3 to 5 minutes. Cool and store refrigerated up to 2 weeks.