Refreshing Candied Citrus Peel

Don’t throw away the peel of lemon, grapefruit and oranges since they can be eaten as a light and sweet finish to a heavy meal or be used in other preparations and added to sweet and savory recipes. They also make a simple and thoughtful gift to friends, family or neighbors. Turning citrus peel into candy preserved them and develops their flavor so they can be stored for a longer period of time. One of the easy healthy recipes you can make and combine with other foods.

Candied citrus peel can be dipped in melted chocolate and packed as a gift. It also goes great with tea or coffee. Chop them up and stir them in muffin batter, scones, cookies, cakes, breads, and pastries for a delicious citrus flavor. All you need to make this basic recipe is the rind of lemon, orange and grapefruit, sugar, and water. To make it more special you can add brandy, rum, or cognac, or spices like cloves, cinnamon, and cardamom. You can do this recipe for any citrus fruit. You can make a mixture of citrus peels to accompany your gourmet recipes.

Ingredients

1 cup orange peel, cut into strips

1/2 cup white sugar

1/4 cup water

Directions

Place peel strips in large saucepan and cover with water. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce heat and simmer 10 minutes longer. Drain. Repeat this process two more times.

In a medium saucepan, heat sugar and 1/4 cup water over high heat until boiling. Place peel in sugar mixture, reduce heat and simmer 15 minutes, until sugar is dissolved. Remove peel with slotted spoon and dry on wire rack overnight. Store in airtight container.