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The only goals I want are the kind that go in the net…

Several of my friends started doing a little craze that has been going around the Internet for awhile.

Perhaps you have heard of it….101 things in 1001 days.

The concept of it is to make a list of 101 thing you would like to accomplish in 1001 days.

Now they do not all have to be big accomplishments.

It could be as simple as finish reading that book you never did, going to a museum you have never gone to, eating something  you have never had or alphabetizing your spice rack.

Then of course you have your big things like going to Tahiti, learning to sky dive or getting your masters degree. The options are limitless as you can imagine.

I, I am not a goal setter.

Never have been. Too lazy. 😛

I mean sure, I have over all goals that I have in the back of my mind but really…no goals.

This is why I am not on TV doing infomercials at 2 am telling you how to get ahead in the world.

Instead, I bake cakes.

And cookies.

Bread and what not.

If I had goals, I doubt I would have time to do that, as I would be too busy trying to accomplish things instead of simply baking. And really, who wants that?

However, I do have these friends that made these lists and seem to insist on actually fulfilling them.

My good friend A is one of them.

I already helped her by letting her make a birthday cake for me. You might recall I posted about how no one will ever bake for me and so I always have to bake my own birthday cake.

So A stepped up and made me a great birthday cake. Now, I am not goal oriented but I am all for helping out those type “A” people who are. In case you were wondering, I am a type “B-” personality. 😉

One of A’s goals was to eat a kumquat.

She asked if I ever made anything with them, and I had but really not that often…too much work for such a small fruit.

But alas she turned to me in her tiny citrus fruit time of need.

What I found were these Tangerine Kumquat Cookies(I know, again with the tangerine).

They come from The Good Cookie by Tish Boyle, which is a wealth of cookie goodness.

The only actually kumquat part was a candied one.

You do the candying. The rest of the cookie is pretty much a tangerine scented butter cookie.

Me not being a fan of the kumquat just simply ate the cookie part only.

A was more than appreciative and seemed to eat quite a few. I’m not sure if she is sold on the world kumquats, but at least it is one more thing off her list.

Next up, Tahiti (for real…she is going…be jealous, I am).

As for me, my goal is simple….get to bed before 2 am and actually fall asleep before  3 am tonight. Wish me luck!

Tangerine Kumquat Rounds

Tangerine Kumquat Rounds

Kumquat Slices:
15 kumquats, rinsed and dried
1 cup water
1 cup granulated sugar
2 TBSP light corn syrup

Make the Kumquat Slices:

Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil.
Using a small sharp knife, cut ¼ inch off the ends of each kumquat. Cut the kumquats crosswise into 1/8-inch slices. Remove the sees as you slice the kumquats.
In a small saucepan, combine the water, sugar and the corn syrup. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring just until the sugar is dissolved. Add the kumquat slices, reduce to a simmer, and simmer until they are translucent and tender, about 20 minutes.
Increase the heat to high and cook the syrup until it registers 220F on a candy thermometer. Immediately remove from the pan the heat. Drain the kumquats, discarding the syrup. Using a spoon, carefully transfer the slices to the lined baking sheet, making sure they do not touch. Let cool while you make the cookies.

Tangerine Cookies

2 cups all-purpose flour
½ tsp baking powder
¼ tsp salt
1 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
½ cup confectioners’ sugar
1 tsp finely grated tangerine zest

Make the Dough:
Sift together the flour, baking powder, and salt into a medium bowl. Whisk to blend and set aside.
In the bowl of and electric mixer, using  the paddle attachment, beat the butter and sugar at medium=high speed until smooth. Beat in the zest and vanilla. At low speed, gradually add the flour mixture, mixing until the dough starts to come together in large clumps. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes, or until firm enough to roll.

Cut Out and Bake the Cookies:
Position rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 350F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
Place the dough on a lightly floured surface. Using a rolling pin, roll out the dough into a thickness of 1/8 inch. Using a  1 ¾ -inch fluted cookie cutter, cut out as many rounds as possible and arrange them an inch apart on prepared cookie sheet. Gather up scraps and reuse them to make more cookies.
Place candied kumquat slice on top of each cookie and sprinkle with coarse sugar. Bake cookies, one sheet at a time, for 9 to 11 minutes, until they are set and golden brown on the bottom. Transfer the cookies to a wire rack and cool completely.

Adapted from The Good Cookie by Tish Boyle, 2002

Tangerine Kumquat Rounds

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Comments

  1. Not much of a goal-maker myself, then I just feel guilty when I can’t get it done. The DB challenges are goal enough for me 🙂

    I love those cookies! Never had a kumquat, will have to give it a try sometime. The raw sugar is soo pretty on them.

    Reply

  2. Go Flames!!!

    You know I’m just like you in that I don’t set goals either … I mean I do have things I’d like to accomplish, but I don’t freak out about it.

    I would like to accomplish (and eat) these lovely cookies!

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  5. I saw kumquats at a store last weekend, and wondered how I would ever use them! Good for you for finding a recipe! They look tasty, but I still wonder what else people do with these tiny little fruits. My goal will be to try them sometime.

    Speaking of goals- check out my blog. I started something new this month, because my goal is to actually use my cookbooks more often. I have all sorts of ideas already…

    Reply

  6. 1001 days? My god, that would take much too much calendar counting time for me to begin tackling. If I can cross something off my ‘to do’ list from the day before, I consider that good planning and a significant accomplishment.

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  8. You can never have enough of tangerine. Wanted to say thank you so much Peabody, made your Roasted Onion And Gorgonzola Soup (changed the cheese to Havarti though because nobody else around this house likes bleu cheese) and it was so good. It was talked about all night, you really helped make my B-Day sugah!

    Reply

  9. I used to set grand goals for myself and then beat myself up when I couldn’t deliver. No matter what I achieved, I was always miserable. After my father died, I realized that life was too short to worry about what you didn’t have. You should just enjoy the “now”.

    I think I would really enjoy a few of those pretty cookies! Thanks to Brilynn, I recently discovered kumquats and I really like them!

    Reply

  10. Cute cookies! Very nice of you to help out your friend by making them. I love Tish Boyle’s cookbook – actually I think I got it because of other cookies I’ve seen you make. So thanks!

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  12. Thanks again for the cookies Pea! They were absolutely delicious (as evidenced by me scarfing down about 5 of them at the pottery place). 🙂

    I’m not sure if I’m really sold on the world of kumquats either, but I’m glad I was able to try them.

    Reply

  13. How beautiful! Kumquats intrigue me but I’ve never done anything with them…i guess, i’ll have to add it to my list of goals! 🙂

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  15. You’re my kind of goal setter. I often think setting goals like that is a recipe for disaster — or at least for disappointment. But if making a list is what gets you to eat a beautiful kumquat cookie, well, it’s hard to argue with that!

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  16. These are absolute perfection. I really really love how these look and I can imagine the taster. I’m a candied kumquat lover!

    Reply

  17. These little buttery rounds are the cutest! I too am a kumquat virgin, not sure if I’ve ever even seen them around here, but I guess I’ll have to go on the hunt for them now.

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  19. I keep thinking that goal setting would be a good thing, but I never do it. I guess the procrastinator is much stronger than the goal setter. Meh, I’m gonna go bake cookies.

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  20. I actually have the opposite problem as you and have too many goals. Family, work, cooking, fun … there are not enough hours in the day. It’s probably good then that I often suffer from insomnia. 😉 Great looking cookies.

    Reply

  22. I try to make goals, but if I have more than I that I have to work on, I get too overwhelmed and don’t want to do any of them!

    These cookies look fantastic!

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  27. all I do is make goals….and then right before I reach them, I change them because I think i’m so great why not make it more difficult…and then I don’t reach the new goal and feel like a failure even though the initial goal has been met….make sense? those cookies are so gorgeous I want to print the pictures and hang them on my wall!

    Reply

  28. You know, when I am up past 2am there is something cool knowing that you and I could have an internet party together, even with the time difference 🙂
    I pop kumquats like others pop little happy pills. I love when they bust open in my mouth, pucker up!
    The cookies are gorgeous!!

    Reply

  29. Hadn’t been tagged for that chain letter yet…and I think I know who will do it…so now I’m prepared.

    Really really like the colour of the slices…

    j

    Reply

  31. Kumquat? That sounds so unique that I might actually try it! You have some amazing recipes Peabody! Too bad you don’t live in my neighbourhood.

    PS: If only the pucks shot by our beloved Canucks went into the net, we’d still be in the playoffs. 🙁

    Reply

  33. Does a goal list count that says, eggs, butter, milk, pasta. pick up dog food, toothpaste, tights, etc?
    Yeah? Then I have one of those every week. It just feels like 101 different things.
    Nice looking bics.

    Reply

  34. I love Tish Boyle’s book! All her cookies turned out great…

    Yours look perfect! Just like the ones in the book…

    Cheers,

    Rosa

    Reply

  35. Me no goal-setter, either – for the same reasons as your good self…

    Still, the world of baking and food blogging evidently benefits from your lack of action in other spheres. So that’s a good thing, right?

    The cookies look gorgeous, BTW. Absolutely perfect and even and wonderfully set off by the kumquat. Great idea.

    Reply

  39. I like B personalities! I like “be” personalities!
    I like people who will make cookies with kumquats so their friends can achieve their goals. 🙂
    You are a lovely person!
    Cheers!
    Gabi

    Reply

  45. It’s important to set attainable goals so you don’t get discouraged. Sample goal list: 1- Bake something. 2- Eat something. 3- Get some rest.

    Don’t be disappointed if you can’t do it all on the first day. Just keep trying! 🙂

    The cookies look so cheerful with the candied kumquat centers. Good job!

    Reply

  46. Wow..those look fantastic.
    I managed to do everything on my list by the time I was 47, including sky diving. …time for a new list!

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  47. For the peanut butter cookies from 101 easy peasy cookies, I liked them best without the white chocolate and walnuts (though others liked them with regular chocolate chips).

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  48. Don’t think I could do the 101 things either. Barely have time for the stuff I have to do now. I hope you got to bed early like you wanted.

    The cookies are awesome. I have never had a kumquat either.

    Reply

  49. those are adorable little cookies! my mom used to make candied kumquats when i was a kid – the peel/rind was my favorite part! 🙂

    i’m like you – i am happy if i fall asleep w/in one hour of going to bed…it’s an awful curse. of course hubby falls asleep in 60 seconds! life’s not fair…

    Reply

  50. You’re such a nice friend to make these cookies! Those crazy lists scare me. As if I didn’t have enough going on as it is 😉 You just keep on scoring the good goals, lady!

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  51. Hehe, I’m about a year into my “101” challenge myself. I find it sometimes very useful (for example my goal of perfect attendance for a semester in law school has helped me get my arse to class), though there are adjustments to be made. Sometimes goals do change. About seven of my goals are impossible or just not something I want anymore. I think a day-by-day approach can be just as good 🙂

    Reply

  52. Goals. Sometimes I’ve had goals. Most of my life I guess my major always goal has been to enjoy life and see if sometimes I can help others find some enjoyment with it also.
    I love the candied kumquat! Beautiful. The cookies look incredible so pale on the top and gold on the bottom!

    Reply

  53. I tried these on friday and I loved them, thanks for the recipe! I found them fairly time consuming but worth it. Its definitely the more floury shortbread with the powdered sugar but the candied kumquats were wonderful and turned out beautifully. My only small advice is that I used a small saucepan for the candied kumquats and it completely overflowed! I’d say maybe a ‘medium’ saucepan might work better!

    Reply

  54. oh peabody i’m so lazy too! i do things my own time and don’t like people telling me what to do ugh!

    these are so beautiful and i can imagine how delicious, if i saw them in a bakery window i would drop everything and buy a box full1 JUST STUNNING

    Reply

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