Candied Orange Peel

Old-fashioned Candied Orange Peel makes an especially nice gift at holiday time.

Ingredients

3 large oranges
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups sugar

Preparation

Rinse oranges and carefully remove peel in large pieces. Place orange peel in a heavy 2 quart saucepan; add water to cover, then add salt. Bring to a boil and cook until orange peel is almost tender, about 15 minutes. Remove from heat and drain well. Return orange peel to saucepan and add 1 1/2 cups water. Bring to a boil; drain immediately. Repeat heating and draining process 2 more times. After last draining, remove the white membrane portion from peel. Cut peel into 1/4 inch strips. In a saucepan, mix together 1 cup sugar and 1/2 cup water; cook, stirring, over low heat until sugar dissolves. Bring mixture to a boil; cover and boil gently 5 minutes. During cooking, wash any sugar crystals from side of pan with a pastry brush dipped in water. Cook mixture, without stirring, to thread stage (234°); add the strips of orange peel and cook very slowly, stirring frequently, until most of the syrup is absorbed. Place waxed paper under wire racks; remove peel from saucepan and spread over racks. When peel has cooled slightly, roll a few pieces at a time in remaining sugar. Cool completely; store in a tightly covered container.

Yield: about 1/2 pound

Special note: we no longer distribute eggs or margarine, but have left the recipes as originally printed to maintain their integrity.