Orange Peel Vodka Food

ORANGE-VODKA HERBAL COOLER

Steps:

• Bring the sugar and 2 cups water to a boil in a medium saucepan over high heat, and cook until the sugar is dissolved. Remove from the heat, and stir in the basil, mint, tarragon and orange peel. Let cool to room temperature, then cover and refrigerate until cold, at least 4 hours and up to 24 hours.
• Strain the syrup into a pitcher, discarding the solids.
• Fill six tall glasses with crushed ice. Add a few tablespoons of the syrup to each, then stir in 2 tablespoons of the orange juice and a shot of vodka. Top off with club soda, and garnish with an orange twist and a mint sprig. Serve the remaining syrup to sweeten as desired; leftover syrup can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.

SUGARED ORANGE PEELS

Steps:

• Remove the orange peels carefully, avoiding the pith, then cut the peels into 1/4-inch-wide strips.
• Add the peels and 1 cup cold water to a pan, bring to a boil and cook for 7 minutes. Drain and set aside.
• Add 1 cup sugar and 1 cup water to a pan. Heat, stirring, until the sugar is dissolved and the syrup is boiling. Add the peels, reduce to a simmer and cook, swirling the pan from time to time, for 20 minutes. Drain and set the peels aside to cool on a rack for 10 minutes.
• Add the remaining 1 cup sugar to a baking sheet. Add the peels and roll in the sugar to coat. Place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper to set, about 30 minutes.

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 PEEL VODKA

Steps:

• Wash the oranges.
• Using a zester of vegetable peeler, peel the skin to create narrow ribbons.
• Scrape away any remaining pith.
• Put the peel into a large jar and add the vodka.
• Store in a dark, dry place for about 2 weeks, shaking the jar occasionally.
• Strain through cheesecloth, discard the peel and store in a bottle ready for use.

HOMEMADE ORANGE LIQUEUR RECIPE

Steps:

• Gather the ingredients.
• Using a vegetable peeler, remove the peel from two navel oranges.
• In a 1-quart jar, add the vodka, fresh orange peel, and dried bitter orange peel. Seal, shake well, and let infuse in a cool, dark place for 2 weeks (or up to 1 month), shaking the jar every day or two.
• The day the infusion is complete, make a rich simple syrup: Bring the water to a boil in a medium saucepan over medium heat and stir in the sugar until completely dissolved and the syrup is clear. Reduce to a simmer. After 5 minutes, remove the pan from the heat and let cool completely.
• Strain the orange peels from the vodka using a fine-mesh strainer lined with cheesecloth.
• Rinse out the infusion jar and use it to blend the orange liqueur by adding 3/4 cup of the simple syrup to the orange-infused vodka. Shake very well for at least 30 seconds. Taste the liqueur and add more syrup to sweeten to taste.
• Transfer the orange liqueur to a bottle or jar with a tight-fitting lid and use in your favorite cocktail recipes.