Chocolate Dipped Candied Orange And Lemon Zest And Chocolate Covered Pretzels Food

CHOCOLATE PRETZELS

Steps:

• Melt chocolate in double boiler over medium heat on stove top. Using tongs, or your fingers, quickly dip pretzels in chocolate allowing the excess to run off. Place dipped pretzels on waxed paper lined cookie sheets. Sprinkle with chopped nuts, colored sugars or other toppings. Allow to harden. You may need to refrigerate for a while to help this along. Once hardened, remove from sheets and store in a cool location, with waxed paper between layers.
• Tip: Package pretzels in clear cellophane bags or in vase for festive gift giving!

CHOCOLATE DIPPED CANDIED ORANGE AND LEMON ZEST AND CHOCOLATE COVERED PRETZELS

Steps:

• Melt the chopped chocolate in a water bath until it reaches 115 degrees F, stirring until very smooth. Pour 2/3 of the chocolate on to a marble slab or work surface. With a metal spatula, work the chocolate by spreading it back and forth across the work surface for at least 3 minutes until it is thick and on the point of setting. With a scraper, quickly transfer the chocolate from the marble to the reserved chocolate. Reheat the chocolate in the water bath.
• The chocolate needs to reach 84 degrees F before dipping. Using the candy dipping fork, dip some of the pretzels in the milk chocolate. Allow to dry on a piece of wax paper. Follow the same procedure with the candied oranges and lemons. Let the candy set in the refrigerator.

CHOCOLATE PRETZELS

Steps:

• About 2 1/2 hours before serving or early in the day
• In large bowl, with mixer at low speed, beat all ingredients except almonds until mixture is well blended. With hands, knead until mixture forms a ball and is smooth. (chop toasted almonds: place on plate. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Working with half the cookie dough, with hands, on unfloured work surface, roll 1 tablespoon of dough at a time into a 10-inch long rope. Shape rope into a loop-shaped pretzel. Gently press pretzel cookies, top side down, into chopped almonds. Place cookies, almond-side up, about 1/2-inch apart in ungreased large cookie sheet. Bake pretzels cookies, 15 minutes or until cookies begin to brown on bottoms. With pancake turner, remove cookies to wire racks to cool. Repeat with remaining dough. Store cookies in tightly covered container.

CANDIED ORANGE SLICES DIPPED IN CHOCOLATE

Steps:

• Cut the oranges in half lengthwise, with the cut side down slice the oranges crosswise into 1/4-inch slices, (you will have 1/2 of a slice of orange:DO-NOT peel),discard the ends.
• In a 10-inch saute pan combine the water and the 3 1/2 cups of sugar, stir to blend, then bring to a boil over medium heat.
• Add the orange slices, separating them, and simmer them gently for 1 hour uncovered; peroidically dunk any floating slices.
• Remove from heat and cool to room temperature.
• Remove the orange slices, with a slotted spoon and transfer to a cooling rack set over a baking sheet to let drain and dry for 24 hours; NOTE; I dryed them in my oven set for for baked goods, or if oven has a pilot light, this worked great if it is a damp day.
• After drying the slices, toss them in the granulated sugar and reserve them, do not stack them as they will stick together.
• While you are coating the orange slices with the sugar, have the chocolate melting slowly in the top of a double boiler over 120 degree water: Chocolate can be melted in the microwave.
• When all the chocolate is melted and creamy and registers 100 degrees on an instant themometer, remove the top section from the double boiler.
• Add the 2-ounce of chocolate and gently stir until the thermometer reads 88 degrees to 91 degree, then remove what remains of the chunk of chocolate.
• Now dip the orange slices 2/3 of the way into the chocalate; gently scrape off excess chocolate against the side of the pan.
• Place the orange slices on a sheet of wax paper to set.
• Work quickly with the slices if the chocolate becomes to thick for dipping, place it over the 120 degree water again until it reaches 88 to 91 degrees.