Friday, March 6, 2009

Candied Orange Peels

I thought I'd try my hand at candied orange peels. They turned out pretty good I might add!

Candied Orange Peel

Ingredients:

6 thick-skinned Valencia or navel oranges
4 1/2 cups sugar, plus extra for rolling
1 1/2 cups water

Directions:

Cut tops and bottoms off of the orange and score the orange into quarters, cutting down only into the peel and not into the fruit. Peel the skin and pith of the orange in large pieces, use the orange for another recipe. Cut the peel into strips about 1/4-inch wide. Put the orange peel in a large saucepan with cold water to cover, bring to a boil over high heat. Then pour off the water. Repeat 1 or 2 more times depending up how assertive you want the orange peels to be. (Test kitchen liked the texture of a 3 time blanch best, it also mellowed the bitterness. But it is a matter of preference.) Remove the orange peels from the pan.

Whisk the sugar with 1 1/2 cups water. Bring to a simmer and cook for 8 to 9 minutes.

(If you took the sugar's temperature with a candy thermometer it would be at the soft thread stage, 230 to 234 degrees F.) Add the peels and simmer gently, reducing heat to retain a simmer. Cook until the peels get translucent, about 45 minutes. Resist the urge to stir the peels or you may introduce sugar crystals into the syrup. If necessary, swirl the pan to move the peels around. Drain the peels, (save the syrup for ice tea.) Roll the peels in sugar and dry on a rack, for 4 to 5 hours. Return to the sugar to store. You can also dip them in chocolate once dried. :)





A few Emma pictures....




God, Quincy looks so big in this picture compared to her. LOL. Now you can see her true size. Either that or Quincy needs to go on a serious diet.

I'm so glad it's Friday!

18 comments:

Noodlegirl said...

Oh my the candied orange peels look yummy! Yes Q look like a fatty next to Emma lol! Can you tell I am slacking today lol.

April said...

I've never heard of candied orange peels, but I'm intrigued. They look good! Love your kitties....A-CHOO! Remember...I'm allergic! :)

Heather said...

aww emma is so cute! the candied orange peels look like french fries in the first picture! they sound yummy!

Anya said...

Quincy and Kareltje go on a diet together :)))))
No joke, that is because Emma is so small and Quincy seems thick LOL
Emma is soooooooooooooooooo beautiful she likes a little princes HEHE..... Mocha is your Queen LOL
Have fun with your cats this weekend :)))))))))
And the candied orange peels
looks great yummieeeeeee

lvroftiques said...

Michelle I am!! Do you know Isabel from Maison Douce? She's doing the show! If not here's her blog addy
http://isabellang.blogspot.com/
She's going to be in building D row D-4 Do you want to meet up with me there? She has the coolest shabby chicy stuff! Vanna

lvroftiques said...

Oh and forgot to add candied peel is my new favorite thing!! Mary Ellen from megardengal sent me some candied lemon peel and it was killer good! I bet it's equally good in orange...and then dipped in chocolate *drools* Yummmmm! Vanna

Rhonda said...

I've heard of candied orange peels but have never had them. They do look really yummy!

lvroftiques said...

Michelle I'm going tomorrow!And the furbabies look sooo cute!! Vanna

Chrissy...The Apothecary Shop said...

I have never heard of those, but they sure do look good!!! Have a wonderful weekend!!

Tulip Bliss said...

Emma is very striking!!! Do you know what type of a cat she is??? Michelle!!! I think you got me hook on cats!!! All I ever do now is look at cat stuff on the internet. I might go to a cat show tomorrow...the lady that gave us Tonic is showing her kitties at the Pomona Fairground. I'll take pictures if I go.

Joanne Kennedy said...

First I have to say that I just LOVE your kitties! Both are so cute. I miss having a kitty.

Those orange peels look so good. I bet the ones dipped in the chocolate are wonderful! I love chocolate and orange together.

I have lots of oranges from our tree in our back yard. I should make these!

Hugs,
Joanne

Penny from Enjoying The Simple Things said...

Those orange peels look wonderfully delicious! Yummy!!

Pam said...

My husband would be so excited if I made him these.

Your cats are so cute.

Anonymous said...

Yum, candied orange peels! Alton Brown did something similar on Good Eats once, but he made it seem a lot more complex.

Emma is such a lovely girl!

LOL...you can't put Quincy on a diet! He's just a strapping male, that's all. ;)

Mary said...

I really like your blog and your orange peel recipe, I'm going to try it! I love your cats, I have four of my own and enjoy posting them on my blog too. I can't imagine a home without them! Mary from Boogieboard Cottage. :O)

Allidink said...

Yay for kitties! A house isn't a home without a cat lol.

All the best,
Allison

Zaroga said...

The recipe sounds delish. Emma is sooo cute! So is Quincy.

Sweet Sage said...

Looks like Emma is settling in quite comfortably in her new Home Sweet Home!