Hello lovely Steemies! I'm back...it's been a while! I've been a little under the weather and busy with Christmas shenanigans but I'm here today to give you a great little recipe using the season's best citrus fruits- candied orange, lemon and grapefruit peel. They're a delicious after-dinner treat but once again, they're a little bit addictive, so make sure you make plenty in case you find yourself without any because you've eaten them all….I speak from personal experience ;)
You'll notice that I haven't given quantities here- it will all become clear later, I promise! But you can start off by using any number of oranges, lemons and grapefruits you wish. Please do use non-treated organic ones however, so that there are no nasties on the skin.
You'll need:
- oranges lemons, grapefruits- whichever tickles your fancy, or a mixture like I've used here
- water
- caster sugar
Here's what to do:
- Cut off both ends of the fruit.
- Place the fruit on its end, on a flat surface.
- Carefully cut down between the peel and the flesh- don't worry if a bit of flesh stays on the peel- this will add some juicy flavour!
- Cut the peel into strips. You can also cut some slices and half slices for a nice mixture.
- Place the peel strips and the slices into a large pot and cover with cold water. Cover with a lid and bring up to the boil. Drain and re-cover with water, and again bring up to the boil. Do this 3 times in total.
- After the third time, drain and weigh them. Re-cover with water and add the same weight of sugar as the peel.
- Cover with a lid, and gently simmer for 25-30 minutes, then leave the peel to cool in the syrup.
- Place the strips and slices on to a rack to dry for 24 hours.
- Dip the peel into sugar to coat them thoroughly, and leave them to dry out again overnight.
- Enjoy your 'healthy' candy!
Tip: these make great decorations for desserts! And great edible treats too- put a few in a clear bag, label them, tie some pretty ribbon round it, and BOOM! A gift that shows off your culinary skills!
See you soon Steemies! XXX