Candied Kumquats

Found some lovely kumquats at the market and I didn't know what to do with them, so I tried this recipe..

4 cups of roughly chopped kumquats (roughly 1-1½ lbs.), 1 cup of water, 2 cups of sugar

With a pairing knife roughly chop the kumquats. Discard any seeds you can that are easy to get too, but they're edible so don't fret if some get chopped up or stay in the fruit. Feel free to leave any small kumquats whole. Heat the water and sugar over high heat until it comes to a boil. Simmer for 4 minutes. Add the kumquats and simmer for 10 minutes. Drain the kumquats through a sieve set over a bowl. Return the syrup to the pan and simmer for 5 minutes to reduce the syrup. Combine the kumquats and 1/4 cup of the syrup together. Serve or jar and refrigerate. Can be stored for up to two weeks.

Smothered Pork Chops

4 bone-in center-cut pork chops (about 1 inch thick), Kosher salt, 1/2 teaspoon Cajun seasoning, 3/4 cup all-purpose flour, 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, 1 tablespoon unsalted butter, 1 large onion, sliced 1/4 inch thick, 1 tablespoon fresh thyme, chopped, 1 1/2 cups low-sodium chicken broth, 2/3 cup buttermilk

Sprinkle the pork chops all over with salt and the Cajun seasoning. Pour the flour into a shallow bowl. Dredge the chops in the flour, turning to coat, and tap off any excess. Reserve the remaining flour. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chops; cook until browned, 2 to 3 minutes per side. Transfer to a plate. Add the butter, onion, thyme and a pinch of salt to the skillet. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the onion is golden brown, 8 to 10 minutes. Add 2 tablespoons of the reserved flour to the skillet and cook, stirring, 1 minute. Add the chicken broth, bring to a boil and cook until reduced by one-third, about 2 minutes. Add the buttermilk and return the chops to the skillet. Bring the sauce to a simmer, then reduce the heat to medium low and cook until the sauce is thickened and the chops are just cooked through, 10 to 12 minutes.

Dreamstime 12

A new sell, in this rhythm, my pension is secured...