CANDIED CITRUS PEEL

okay here is a really inexpensive home made food gift. made with lemons, oranges and grapefruits or you can choose to do only one of these... i don't do grapefruits because no one at home will eat the grapefruit, the adults because they are contraindicated for people on blood pressure meds and Chris doesn't like grapefruit...

this is really easy  and its really fun to give as gifts, wrapped in  a cute tissue line tin or a decorative box from the $ store an ornament from the same place,  some leftover ribbon et , . voila, good for your child's teacher, babysitter anyone really just not your mother-in-law she may think you are cheap... you know  how that goes, i'm kidding... it will cost you the price of the fruit, which you are going to use anyway .

we like to eat these after our christmas meal at my moms, when we are stuffed to the gills, it helps with digestion, just don't eat too many..


Candied Citrus Peel

makes 2 1/2 cups

2 grape fruits, , 3 oranges or 4 lemons
4 cups sugar plus more more rolling
4 cups water

pretty good so far huh

using a paring knife, make 6 slits along the curve from top to bottom of each citrus fruit.  cutting thru the peel but not the fruit,gently remove the peel, reserve the fruit for another use.

slice each piece of peel lengthwise into 1/4 inch strips, using a paring knife remove excess pith from each strip ad discard.

place strips in a large saucepan and cover with cold water, bring to a boil, then drain, repeat twice

bring sugar and water to a boil stirring occasionally until sugar dissolves, stop stirring. wash sides of pan with a wet pastry brush to prevent crystals from forming.

add strips to boiling syrup, reduce heat to medium low.

simmer gently until strips are translucent about 1 hour

remove from heat and let strips cool in syrup, using a slotted spoon transfer strips to a wire rack placed on a rimmed baking sheet, wipe excess syrup with paper towels, them roll strips in sugar.. arrange in a single layer on a wire rack and let dry for at least 30 minutes, it actually take a couple of hours

sugar peels will keep covered at room temperature for 2 weeks..