Orange Marmalade Pecan Squares Food

ANNA'S ORANGE MARMALADE

Steps:

• Cut the oranges and lemons in half crosswise, then into very thin half-moon slices. (If you have a mandoline, this will be quite fast.) Discard any seeds. Place the sliced fruit and their juices into a stainless-steel pot. Add 8 cups water and bring the mixture to a boil, stirring often. Remove from the heat and stir in the sugar until it dissolves. Cover and allow to stand overnight at room temperature.
• The next day, bring the mixture back to a boil. Reduce the heat to low and simmer uncovered for about 2 hours. Turn the heat up to medium and boil gently, stirring often, for another 30 minutes. Skim off any foam that forms on the top. Cook the marmalade until it reaches 220 degrees F on a candy thermometer. If you want to be doubly sure it's ready, place a small amount on a plate and refrigerate it until it's cool but not cold. If it's firm -- neither runny nor too hard -- it's done. It will be a golden orange color. (If the marmalade is runny, continue cooking it and if it's too hard, add more water.)
• Pour the marmalade into clean, hot Mason jars; wipe the rims thoroughly with a clean damp paper towel, and seal with the lids. Store in the pantry for up to a year.

CHARLESTON CHEWIES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter an 8-inch square baking dish.
• Melt the butter in a small saucepan. Turn off the heat and let cool slightly, then add the brown sugar, almond and vanilla extract and stir until smooth. Stir in the egg.
• Whisk together the flour and baking powder in a small bowl, then fold the mixture into the brown sugar mixture. Fold in the pecans. Pour the batter into the prepared baking dish and bake until set around the edges but still loose in the center, about 20 minutes. Let cool completely, then sift confectioners' sugar on top. Cut into 16 squares.

PECAN SQUARES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• For the crust, beat the butter and granulated sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, until light, approximately 3 minutes. Add the eggs and the vanilla and mix well. Sift together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Mix the dry ingredients into the batter with the mixer on low speed until just combined. Press the dough evenly into an ungreased 18 by 12 by 1-inch baking sheet, making an edge around the outside. It will be very sticky; sprinkle the dough and your hands lightly with flour. Bake for 15 minutes, until the crust is set but not browned. Allow to cool.
• For the topping, combine the butter, honey, brown sugar, and zests in a large, heavy-bottomed saucepan. Cook over low heat until the butter is melted, using a wooden spoon to stir. Raise the heat and boil for 3 minutes. Remove from the heat. Stir in the heavy cream and pecans. Pour over the crust, trying not to get the filling between the crust and the pan. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, until the filling is set. Remove from the oven and allow to cool. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate until cold. Cut into bars and serve.

MORE THE MERRIER ORANGE, FIG & WALNUT BARS

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine the cake mix, preserves, oil and egg; beat on low speed until blended. Stir in walnuts. (Batter will be thick.) Spread into a greased 13x9-in. baking pan. , Bake at 350° for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool on a wire rack. Cut into bars.

MARMALADE MERINGUE BARS

Steps:

• Cream butter in medium mixing bowl.
• Gradually add 1/4 c sugar; beat until light and fluffy.
• Add egg yolks, orange rind, and vanilla; beat until well-blended.
• In separate bowl, combine flour, 1/4 c wheat germ, 1/4 c pecans, and salt.
• Add flour mixture to creamed mixture; combine well.
• Press dough evenly into ungreased 8x8 baking dish, across bottom and up 1" on all sides to make a crust.
• Bake at 350 for 12-15 min or until golden brown.
• While dough is baking, prepare meringue: Beat egg whites (at room temp) until soft peaks form.
• Gradually add remaining 1/4 c sugar (1 Tbsp at a time), beating until stiff peaks form.
• Fold in remaining 1/4 c wheat germ and 1/4 c pecans; set aside.
• Spread marmalade over warm crust; top with meringue.
• Bake at 350 for 18-20 min or until golden brown.
• Cool in pan on wire rack.
• Sprinkle w/powdered sugar, if desired.
• Cut into bars or squares.
• Store in airtight container for up to 1 week.

ORANGE MARMALADE COOKIES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375°F Grease a cookie sheet (I just use parchment paper).
• In a large mixing bowl, cream together the butter and sugar. Add the egg and orange marmalade and mix until thoroughly combined. Add additional marmalade if the batter is too stiff.
• In another bowl, sift together the flour and baking powder. With the mixer running, slowly add the flour mixture to the creamed mixture until blended.
• Drop by spoonfuls on the cookie sheet; do not crowd the cookies as the batter will spread during baking. Bake until the cookies spread out and are lightly browned, 8-10 minutes.
• Cool a minute or two on the cookie sheet before transferring to a wire rack to cool.
• *The original yield was 40 cookies, but I must have made them a little large, because I only ended up with 22.

ORANGE MARMALADE PECAN SQUARES

Steps:

• Line an 8-inch-square baking pan with plastic wrap that extends over the sides, then coat the plastic wrap with the vegetable oil; set aside.
• In a 2-quart heavy-bottomed saucepan over medium-high heat, cook the marmalade, applesauce, and sugar until the mixture registers 250°F on a sugar thermometer (15 to 20 minutes), stirring constantly with a wooden spoon or heatproof spatula. Immediately remove the pan from the heat, stir in the Grand Marnier and the chopped pecans, and turn the mixture into the prepared pan. Press the pecan halves on the top of the candy in evenly spaced rows of 8 across in each direction. Let the candy cool completely at room temperature (about 45 minutes).
• Remove the candy from the pan by lifting out the plastic wrap. Invert the candy onto a cutting board, peel the plastic wrap off the back, and reinvert the candy so that the nut side is up. With a large chef's knife, and using the pecan halves as a guide, cut the candy evenly into 1-inch squares.
• Between layers of waxed paper, in a tightly covered container wrapped in several layers of aluminum foil, the squares will keep for 2 weeks in the refrigerator. They are best eaten at room temperature.

ORANGE MARMALADE

Steps:

• Wash the oranges and lemon thoroughly. Cut the oranges into 1/8-inch slices using a mandoline, removing the seeds as you go. Stack the orange slices and cut them into quarters. Place the oranges into an 8-quart stainless steel pot. Add the lemon zest and juice and the water to the pot, set over high heat and bring to a boil, approximately 10 minutes. Once boiling, reduce the heat to maintain a rapid simmer and cook, stirring frequently, for 40 minutes or until the fruit is very soft.
• While the fruit is cooking, fill a large pot (at least 12-quart) 3/4 full with water, set over high heat and bring to a boil. Place 10 (8-ounce) jars and rings, canning funnel, ladle, and tongs into the boiling water and make sure the water covers the jars by at least an inch. Boil for 10 minutes. Turn off the heat, add the lids and leave everything in the pot until the marmalade is ready.
• Meanwhile, place a small plate in the freezer. Increase the heat under the orange mixture to return to full boil. Add the sugar and stir the mixture continually, until it reaches 222 to 223 degrees F on a deep-fry or candy thermometer, and darkens in color, approximately 15 to 20 minutes. You may need to adjust the heat in order to prevent boil over. Test the readiness of the marmalade by placing a teaspoon of the mixture onto the chilled plate and allowing it to sit for 30 seconds. Tilt the plate. The mixture should be a soft gel that moves slightly. If mixture is thin and runs easily, it is not ready.
• Remove jars from the water and drain on a clean towel. Place a canning funnel onto the top of 1 of the jars and ladle in the marmalade just to below the bottom of the threads of the jar. Repeat until all of the mixture has been used. The amount of marmalade may vary by 1 to 2 jars. Wipe the rims and threads of the jars with a moist paper towel and top each with a lid. Place a ring on each jar and tighten.
• Return the jars to the pot with boiling water, being certain that they don't touch the bottom of the pot or each other. (If you don't have a jar rack, try a round cake rack, or metal mesh basket. Even a folded kitchen towel on the pot bottom will do in a pinch.) Add additional water if necessary to cover the jars by at least an inch. Boil for 10 minutes. Using canning tongs, carefully remove the jars from the water, place in a cool dry place and allow to sit at room temperature for at least 24 hours before opening. Once open, store in the refrigerator. Unopened marmalade will last for up to 6 months.

ORANGE AND NUT SQUARES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• Spread the cookie dough out on a cookie sheet to 1/4-inch thickness (about 9" x 12") using your fingertips.
• Bake for 25 minutes.
• Let cool.
• Spread the marmalade over the cookie.
• Sprinkle with nuts.
• In a double boiler over very lightly simmering water, melt the chocolate. Dip a spoon in the melted chocolate and drizzle on top of the cookie. Let cool.
• Cut the cookie into 12 bars or squares.
• Serve or store in an airtight container.

ORANGE MARMALADE GRANOLA BARS

Steps:

• Line a 12" x 17" pan with parchment paper. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• In a large mixing bowl, combine all ingredients except egg whites and white sugar.
• In a separate bowl, beat egg whites while slowly adding sugar until foamy white. Combine egg white mixture with other ingredients and stir until thoroughly mixed.
• Pour granola batter onto pan and spread evenly.
• Place in oven for 20-25 minutes or until browned. After baking, allow to cool for at least 45 minutes before cutting. Cut into 20 rectangular bars.

ORANGE-PECAN SALMON

Steps:

• In a small bowl, combine marmalade, soy sauce, salt and pepper. Pour 2/3 cup marinade into a large shallow dish. Add salmon and turn to coat. Refrigerate for up to 30 minutes. Set aside remaining marinade., Preheat oven to 350°. Drain and discard marinade from salmon. Place salmon in a greased 11x7-in. baking dish. Bake, uncovered, 20-25 minutes or until fish flakes easily with a fork., In a small saucepan, bring reserved marinade to a boil; cook and stir until slightly thickened. Stir in pecans; serve with salmon.

MATRIMONIAL DATE SQUARES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Heat dates, 2/3 cup brown sugar, orange juice, and orange zest in a saucepan over low heat; cook, stirring occasionally, until dates have softened, absorbed the liquid, and mixture is like a paste, about 10 minutes. Remove from heat; stir in vanilla extract.
• Stir oats, flour, 1 cup brown sugar, baking soda, and salt together in a bowl; cut in butter with a knife or pastry blender until mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
• Lightly press 2/3 of the crumb mixture into the bottom of a 9x9-inch pan. Spread date mixture evenly over the crumb crust; sprinkle remaining crumbs evenly over the top of date mixture.
• Bake in the preheated oven until top is golden, about 30 minutes; cool on a wire rack for at least 1 hour before slicing into bars.