Candied Orange Food

CANDIED ORANGE PEEL

Steps:

• Using a vegetable peeler, cut the orange part of the peel from the stem end of the orange down to the navel end, forming long 3/4 to 1-inch-wide strips. Bring a heavy small saucepan of water to a boil. Add the peels and cook for 1 minute. Drain and then rinse the peels under cold water. Repeat cooking the peels in the saucepan with fresh boiling water and rinsing under cold water.
• Stir the sugar and 1/2 cup of fresh water in a heavy small saucepan over medium-high heat until the sugar dissolves. Bring to a boil. Add the orange peels and simmer over medium-low heat until tender, about 15 minutes. Using tongs, transfer the peels to a sheet of parchment paper to dry slightly, about 1 hour.
• Line a small baking sheet with parchment paper. Stir the chocolate in a small bowl set over a saucepan of simmering water until melted and smooth. Dip 1 1/2-inches of each candied orange peel into the chocolate then place them on the prepared baking sheet and refrigerate until the chocolate is set, about 15 minutes.

CANDIED ORANGE PEEL

Steps:

• Slice the ends off the oranges and discard. Cut the oranges into quarters, then cut off all but 1/2 inch of the pulp, which keeps the peel from becoming bitter as it cooks. Cut the quarters into thin slices.
• Place the orange slices in a 6-quart saucepan and cover with cold water. Over medium-high heat, bring the water to a boil and boil for 5 minutes. Drain off the water and repeat this process with fresh cold water two more times.
• After the third boil, drain the orange slices, rinse them in cold water, and remove any pulp that is still attached, making sure there are no pieces of pulp stuck to them, (for looks only). In the saucepan, combine the orange slices, 3 cups of the sugar, and the orange liqueur, and cook over low heat until the sugar is dissolved (about 5-10 minutes), stirring constantly.
• Cover pot and cook 10 minutes to steam down the sugar granules on the side of the pot, stirring every few minutes. Continue to simmer over low heat for 1 1/2 hours, stirring frequently. Most of the sugar will be absorbed by the peel as it cooks. Remove the saucepan from the heat and immediately begin the next step.
• Place the remaining 3 cups sugar on a sheet of waxed paper, I use a cookie sheet with a rim). Roll spoonfuls of the orange slices in the sugar, separating the slices to coat them completely.
• Transfer the slices onto racks and let them air-dry (20 to 30 minutes).
• In a tightly covered container, the peel will keep for 2 to 3 months in the refrigerator.

CANDIED ORANGE SLICES

Steps:

• In a medium skillet, combine the water and sugar and bring to a boil. Add the orange slices and cook over moderate heat, turning them occasionally, until the liquid is reduced to a thin syrup and the orange slices are translucent, about 20 minutes.
• Reduce the heat to moderately low and simmer until the syrup is thick and the slices are tender but still intact, turning occasionally, about 10 minutes.
• Transfer the orange slices to a rack to cool. Reserve the syrup for another use.

CANDIED ORANGE

Steps:

• Cut tops and bottoms off of the orange and score the orange into quarters, cutting down only into the peel and not into the fruit. Peel the skin and pith of the orange in large pieces, use the orange for another recipe. Cut the peel into strips about 1/4-inch wide. Put the orange peel in a large saucepan with cold water to cover, bring to a boil over high heat. Then pour off the water. Repeat 1 or 2 more times depending up how assertive you want the orange peels to be. (Test kitchen liked the texture of a 3 time blanch best, it also mellowed the bitterness. But it is a matter of preference.) Remove the orange peels from the pan.
• Whisk the sugar with 1 1/2 cups water. Bring to a simmer and cook for 8 to 9 minutes (If you took the sugar's temperature with a candy thermometer it would be at the soft thread stage, 230 to 234 degrees F.) Add the peels and simmer gently, reducing heat to retain a simmer. Cook until the peels get translucent, about 45 minutes. Resist the urge to stir the peels or you may introduce sugar crystals into the syrup. If necessary, swirl the pan to move the peels around. Drain the peels, (save the syrup for ice tea.) Roll the peels in sugar and dry on a rack, for 4 to 5 hours. Return to the sugar to store.
• Cook's Note: One way to use orange peels is to stuff a dried date with a piece of orange peel and almond, then dip the entire thing into dark chocolate.

SIMPLE CANDIED ORANGE PEEL

Steps:

• Cut peel on each orange into 4 vertical segments. Remove each segment (including white pith) in 1 piece. Cut into 1/4-inch-wide strips. Cook in large pot of boiling water 15 minutes; drain, rinse, and drain again.
• Bring 3 cups sugar and 3 cups water to boil in medium saucepan over medium heat, stirring to dissolve sugar. Add peel. Return to boil. Reduce heat; simmer until peel is very soft, about 45 minutes. Drain.
• Toss peel and 1 cup sugar on rimmed baking sheet, separating strips. Lift peel from sugar; transfer to sheet of foil. Let stand until coating is dry, 1 to 2 days. DO AHEAD: Wrap and freeze up to 2 months.

CANDIED CITRUS PEEL

Steps:

• Cut the fruit into 8 wedges, then cut out the flesh, leaving about 5mm thickness of peel and pith. Cut each wedge into 3-4 strips.
• Put the peel in a pan and cover with cold water. Bring to the boil, then simmer for 5 mins. Drain, return to the pan and re-cover with fresh water. Bring to the boil, then simmer for 30 mins.
• Set a sieve over a bowl and drain the peel, reserving the cooking water. Add 100g sugar to each 100ml water you have. Pour into a pan and gently heat, stirring to dissolve the sugar. Add the peel and simmer for 30 mins until the peel is translucent and soft. Leave to cool in the syrup, then remove with a slotted spoon and arrange in 1 layer on a wire rack set over a baking sheet. Put in the oven at the lowest setting for 30 mins to dry.
• Sprinkle a layer of sugar over a sheet of baking parchment. Toss the strips of peel in the sugar, a few at a time, then spread out and leave for 1 hr or so to air-dry.
• Pack the peel into an airtight storage jar or rigid container lined with baking parchment. Will keep for 6-8 weeks in a cool, dry place.
• To make into a delicious gift, melt the chocolate in a small bowl. Dip the candied orange peel into the chocolate to half-coat them, shaking off the excess. Put them on baking parchment to set, then pack into small cellophane bags tied with ribbon or pretty kitchen string.

CANDIED ORANGE PEEL

Steps:

• Halve and juice the oranges. Reserve the juice for another use and put the orange rinds in a large saucepan or Dutch oven. Add water to cover and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Decrease the heat to medium-low and simmer until the rinds are tender, 30 minutes to 1 hour. How long this will take depends on the thickness of the rinds, so start checking them after 30 minutes to make sure they're not overcooking and turning mushy. To check for doneness, pluck one out and let it cool a minute; the rinds are cooked when you can easily scrape away most of the inner white pith with a spoon or a knife.
• Drain the rinds, and when cool enough to handle, cut each piece in half. Using a spoon or paring knife, scrape or cut away the inner white pith. Cut the rinds into strips 1/4 inch (6 mm) wide.
• In a large saucepan fitted with a candy thermometer, combine the 3 cups (750 ml) water, 4 1/2 cups (900 g) sugar, and the corn syrup, if using. Bring to a boil, then add the strips of orange peel and cook over medium heat until the temperature reaches 225°F (110°C) and the peel turns translucent.
• Place the candied peel in a strainer and stir a few times to make sure as much syrup drips off as possible. Spread the strips out on a wire rack set over a baking sheet and allow to dry for 2 to 3 hours.
• Spread the remaining 1 1/2 cups (300 g) sugar on a baking sheet. Place the orange peel strips in the sugar and toss with your fingers to separate the pieces and coat them well with sugar. Lift out the strips and shake off the excess sugar with your hands or place them in a colander and shake well. Set the sugar-coated strips on the wire rack and let dry overnight at room temperature.
• Storage
• The candied peel will keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 6 months.
• Variations
• You can substitute tangerines for the oranges. Note that the initial cooking time might be shorter because tangerine peels tend to be thinner. Lemon rinds can be candied this way, too.
• Tip
• Letting the peel dry thoroughly overnight is important because excess moisture can shorten the lifespan of the candied peel. If for some reason the peel gets too dry during storage, you can rehydrate it and make it more flavorful by soaking it in an orange-flavored liqueur such as Grand Marnier, Cointreau, or Triple Sec before chopping and adding to a batter.