Sunshine Slaw

This tasty salad features kumquats and sun-colored bell peppers, sliced thin and tossed with green onions, grape tomatoes, and a rice dijon vinaigrette. Fatty avocado and earthy greens offset the slaw's sweet acidity.

My brother lent me the idea for this salad, and we refined it together. He's a 27-year-old bachelor who writes comedy and hates kitchens, so that means a lot.

The main ingredient is the kumquat, a thumb-sized citrus fruit. Unlike most citrus, the skin is sweet, and conceals a pucker-worthy interior. My mother has a small tree in her backyard, from which the little gems fall all Winter. If you're not fortunate enough to have a homegrown source, they can be purchased at most groceries.