As per the recipe recommendation for the candy, I saved the syrup. They said it would be very useful, but I am not sure what I would use it for. I cooked the candy to 231F and it is thick candy like (crystallized) in structure. Anyone have ideas? By the way, the Budha's hand smell and flavor is terrific. Very potent. Even my son, who does not want me to get any more trees said that if I get one more, it should be budha's hand...;-)

LOL! You may have another citrus fanatic on your hands.

The cake and candy looks good. I don't think I have ever seen a Budha's Hand, much less eaten one. If there was some bitter to the peel, it may make it difficult to use the syrup. I have had that problem several times....seems like any minute bitterness winds up in the syrup.

Wow this is a great thread thank you Laura! I was trying to find your original post where you mentioned the b. hand so I could respond but couldn't find it. Sorry about that I read it and then got distracted lol. As you know I think they are so cool.

That specimen you have there is gorgeous! Your pics are lovely, I really like the candied bits one.

I love to make homemade pop whenever I have leftover fruit juice (unadulterated, from the fruit, not store bought)! Do you have a soda stream? Just make club soda and then mix a tiny amount of the b.h syrup with the club soda over ice and voila homemade pop. I make that whenever I have leftover simple syrup or even just with unsweetened fruit juice sometimes.

If there is any residual bitterness that could actually work, I think some true italian citrus sodas have a touch of bitter.

Thanks Hobby and John! Yes, I never thought he would actually suggest I get another tree! The syrup is not bitter at all. As per the recipe, I boiled them once and dumped that water, which probably had the bitter flavor. Then I cooked them with the sugar. I do not have a way to make the soda Hobby and have enough appliances in my kitchen...lol. Don't need another one! I'd bet I could use it to sweeten up lemonade....I'm sure it has uses, we just have to get creative...

Looking soooo delicious, Laura! I am having sugar cravings now .... Don't do that to me, Laura! I have to watch my sugar intake, lol.

Sunshine, I am with you! I fell off the wagon the last few months and am back on it now...I am drastically reducing the sugar also. I had one piece of cake and two of the little candies, but hours ago. They are right next to me and I WILL resist...lol

Such a test of willpower, isn't it?

I just bought a Budha's hand tree and was wondering what to do with the friut! Thank you!

"Buddha's Hand" is a variety of Citrus medica. It is the same species that includes the 'etrog' (except that the segments are divided for Buddha's Hand but undivided in the etrog. Both varieties are extremely aromatic, and quite curiously, both are have important religious/spiritual histories...in fact to the present day. The etrog is one of the essential plants of the Jewish celebration of Sukkot. So, for that holiday (usually in October), it is not difficult to find the fresh fruit if you live in an area with a large observant, Jewish population (but they are not cheap and can be exponentially expensive depending on their quality). I have never seen them for sale in any typical produce market. (If you want bitter citrus for cooking purposes, the only option is the Seville/Sour orange. And even that one is probably not sold in areas without sizable Hispanic or Asian populations. I am always buying them to make a marinade, hate throwing out the seeds which these fruits are packed full of, so as a result, I have a dozen of these now; they make great inexpensive plant gifts to friends as well.)

Curiously, the varietal Buddha's hand is also spiritually important within Hinduism. I have never seen that fruit sold not even in NYC's Chinatown.

Years ago, we had a very bad storm in November and we lost power. I had gas heat though so could cook. I had some left over citrons in the house that were still aromatic and I wondered if I would cook with them. I might have had a lemon but I decided to add the citron's peel to the chicken and roasted then broiled the chicken. It was exquisite!...Even though we ate in the dark.

Got all my citrus out. I was considering planting my Poncirus trifoliata in the ground this year. If you want a BITTER citrus, this one is the way to go. It is perfectly cold hardy into zone 6 and will grow in the Mid-Atlantic into southern New England but is a very thorny tree. I am sure that one too has some culinary uses if you add enough SUGAR! Not commonly planted even when perfectly cold hardy..., I think it must be those wicked thorns! It is a deciduous citrus but the stems are green in the winter

http://blog.orangesonline.com/2014/04/religion-and-citrus-surprising-history.html

diveval - You can use the Buddha's Hand for panettone. I recommend the Jim Lahey panettone recipe. The candied Buddha's Hand can last for several months. It lasts as long as a year in the syrup.

Looks great Laura! I made some lemon blueberry cookies recently and seeing this makes me wanna bake something else with citrus!

I now have three little Buddha's hand trees from Logees. It will be a while before I have fruit, but looking forward to it one day! I've not seen them at Whole Foods again. Thank you guys for all the comments/information and great suggestions for recipes!

Peel candy sounds yummy. Is ut limited to bhuddas hand or other peel will do?

I tried tuna steaks in a herbs,oj, soy sauce and evoo marinade and it was outta this world.

I have candied all types of orange peel..,.they are all great!

Just saw nice Buddhas hand plants at local nursery for $19. Not bad for flowering size. I think they marked them down because they're not as popular as other varieties.

$19?!?!?!

jealous. I'm paying$25-40 and this is citrus country

Yes, but the Meyer lemons were $40.

Wow! I'd love to find one of those trees. Dave, where is that nursery? Probably too far for me from Annapolis, but wishful thinking...

Fairfax County VA.