You win some you lose some,

As is the game of life.
Why the post title? Well am happy to say that I did find something to make with those kumquats,  a ricotta kumquat cheesecake, which came out perfectly, well would have been perfect except I somehow managed to burn the bottom in the last 10 min. Having read in another cheesecake recipe to bake it on the lowest rack was I believe my fatal error. This was twofold as I simultaneously managed to also burn the dark chocolate brownies which then had to be on the upper rack. So yes, two baked items ruined for a dinner party just in the final moments. Will have to wait till next January I guess to try this kumquat cake again. Sigh, you win some you lose some. There are bigger things to get upset about than baked goods. Although it was more than a little frustrating. In any case here is the recipe for the ricotta cheesecake, which apart from the burned taste had a great texture and flavour.

Kumquat and ricotta cheesecake 

Filing
500 grams ricotta 

1 cup marscapone
1 cup plus 1 Tbs powdered sugar
1 1/2 Tbs flour
1 1/2 Tbs Brandy (optional)
4 eggs
2 Tbs milk or cream
pinch of salt


Crust
2 cups crushed graham crackers or digestive biscuits 
2 Tbs brown sugar
1 tsp cinnamon
125 grams melted butter (1/2 cup)


Topping
2 cups kumquats (peel and chop) 
4-5 seeded kumquat insides  
1 cup sugar 
1/4 cup water (enough to just cover the peels)

Step 1. Melt butter and mix with sugar and crushed crackers then press into 9 inch pan and set in fridge.
Step 2. Cook down kumquat peels with sugar and water into a thick glossy syrup, adding in the kumquat insides (tart juices) just at the end and puree.
Step 3. Beat until smooth ricotta, marscapone cheese and powdered sugar, add in brandy and beat, then add in the flour. Once the mixture is smooth then add in one egg at a time, finally drizzle in the cream.
Step 4. Pour mixture in prepared crust and bake for 60 min on a low (but not the lowest) rack till slightly golden on top, once done turn oven off and let the oven door stand half open, when the cheesecake cools take out on a cooling rack and add the topping on the top (if you like you could drizzle it on each
individual piece).

of note:  I didn't realise just how burned it was till it was plated and served at my friends house!

Thus the smiling happy picture.