Greek Walnut Spoon Sweet Food

FRESH WALNUTS IN SYRUP (GLYKO KARYDAKI)

Steps:

• If you cannot prepare the nuts the same day, you can store them in the fridge for about two weeks.
• Wash the nuts and peel the outer skin.
• Take a knitting needle and prick the walnuts once. Place in a pot with plenty of water to cover them.
• Boil till soft.
• Remove from the saucepan and put into a large bowl of cold water.
• Leave in the water for 48 hours, changing the water every 8 hours.
• Remove from the saucepan and put into a large bowl of cold water and add the juice of one lemon.
• Leave in the water for 1 hour, this will make them crunchy and shiny.
• Put the 400ml of water and the sugar together in a saucepan and bring to the boil. Simmer for 8 minutes.
• Drain the nuts and put them into the syrup and boil for 5-7 minutes.
• Take the saucepan off the heat and put to one side for 24 hours. The walnuts need to stay in the saucepan to cool for 24 hours. At no time should you put the lid on the saucepan.
• Put the saucepan back on to boil and boil rapidly, when it is ready (the syrup thickens) add the juice of one lemon, boil for a little and remove from the heat.
• Add the cinnamon and the cloves.
• (The preparation time doesn't include the waiting time. Cooking time only approximately).

GREEK SPOON SWEETS (STAFYLI GLIKO)

Steps:

• Wash and clean the grapes, making sure that all stems are discarded.
• Cover the bottom of a large saucepan with a layer of grapes, then sprinkle with a layer of sugar. Repeat until all the grapes and sugar are in the pan.
• Pour the lemon juice over the grapes and sugar, and let rest for 12 hours.
• Add 1 1/2 cups water to the pot and bring to a boil.
• Reduce the heat to a simmer and cook for 10 minutes.
• Let rest once more overnight, or up to 24 hours.
• Bring the grapes and liquid to a boil and add the vanilla and cloves.
• Lower the heat to a simmer and cook for about 30 minutes, or until the syrup has become thick enough to coat a spoon. You want the fruit to look candied (the grapes will have actually shriveled a bit), and the syrup to be loose but gooey.
• Ladle the spoon sweets into clean mason jars and refrigerate.

GREEK ORANGE SPOON SWEET (GLIKO KOUTALIOU PORTOKALI)

Steps:

• Wash the oranges and thinly slice off the top and bottom.
• Put them in a pan with enough water to cover them and boil for 1 hour.
• Let them cool and then weigh them. Weigh out as much sugar.
• Cut in half horizontally and then cut the halves in half vertically.
• Cut the quarters into thin slices - 1/2" approximately.
• Empty the water from the pan and put the oranges in the pan.
• Add the sugar.
• Bring to a boil and simmer until it becomes a syrup - not too thick. This should be about 30 minutes.
• Put the hot sweet into hot sterilized jars and keep on counter until cooled. Store in refrigerator.