Orange A Peel Food

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.

ORANGE CRANBERRY BARS

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine flour and sugar; cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Stir in pecans. Press into an 8x4-in. loaf pan coated with cooking spray. Bake at 350° for 15 minutes., Meanwhile, in another bowl, combine the egg, milk, orange zest and vanilla. Combine sugar and flour; gradually add to egg mixture and mix well. Fold in the cranberries, coconut and pecans. Spread over crust. , Bake for 15-20 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on a wire rack.

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.

ORANGE PEEL CHICKEN

Steps:

• For the candied orange peels: Bring 3 small pots of water to a boil. Divide the skins in the water and cook for 4 minutes in each pot before draining. This process removes bitterness from the skin.
• Combine the sugar, peppercorns, cloves, cinnamon and 2 1/2 cups water in one of the pots from boiling the oranges and submerge the blanched orange skins. Bring to a simmer and cook over medium-low heat for 45 minutes. (Do not allow the syrup to brown or discolor.)
• Drain the skins of any excess syrup (reserve the syrup for another use, such as for cocktails) and place them in a single layer on a baking sheet fitted with a wire rack. Cover and allow them to sit overnight. Cut them into strips.
• Make the sauce: In a small saucepan over medium heat, stir together the soy sauce, honey, lime juice, garlic and 1/2 cup water and bring to a boil over medium heat until the sauce reduces slightly, about 10 minutes.
• For the stir-fry: In a large heavy-bottomed skillet or wok, heat 1 tablespoon canola oil over medium heat. When the oil begins to smoke, add the mushrooms with a pinch of salt and cook until they soften, 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from the skillet. Add 3 tablespoons oil to the skillet and heat until it smokes lightly. Spread the chicken out in a single layer on a sheet tray and sprinkle with salt. Add the chicken to the skillet in a single layer. Allow the chicken to cook, mostly untouched, stirring once, until it browns around the edges and is cooked through, 3 to 4 minutes.
• Meanwhile, in a separate medium skillet, heat the remaining 2 tablespoons oil over medium heat and add the orange peel strips. Cook until slightly crispy, 3 to 4 minutes.
• To the skillet with the chicken, add the snow peas, garlic, scallions and mushrooms. Taste for seasoning. Add the chiles de arbol, if using, and the grated ginger. Add half of the fried orange peel slices and the sauce, then transfer to a serving platter. Garnish with the remaining fried orange peels. Serve with the rice.