Peel away, boys...

[desperance]

Some bright spark suggested that as well as/instead of developing a sweet marmalade from the oranges on our tree, I should think about candied or glacéd peel. So, y'know. I looked on the internet. And found a nice simple recipe that basically said "make a sugar syrup, add peel, boil till tender," and that was it. Well, I thought, I could do that.

Alas. I read on, other recipes, progressively more complex. When I reached the one that has the peel a full week in brine and then another week in successively sweeter syrups, before finally being dried off and rubbed with olive oil - well, yes. That was when I thought "I want to do this!"

The fascination of what's difficult, or at least complicated and time-consuming. I dunno. But if it makes a better product, and I'm betting that it does, then I'm so there.

Also, that was the recipe that started off by insisting one's oranges should be organic. It ... would be hard to be more organic than our oranges. They grow on a tree, and nobody sprays 'em with nothing.

In other news, apparently I moved to California because I missed the rain. Sigh.

Comments

[movingfinger]

FWIW, I believe that Chez Panisse follows the simplest method, and there is little to be gained from the more elaborate ones if you can do the simple recipe correctly. Don't exactly boil it---a gentle-but-firm simmer is more effective.

We candy pomelo and grapefruit peel as well as orange. Peel candying works best for thick-zested fruits, otherwise you are likely to have far too much pith left on...

(I cannot imagine what good is done by brining the peel, unless you want a pickled or salty flavor, and leaving it sitting in a series of syrups is the same as cooking and reducing, is it not?---Skeptical).

[desperance]

If I understand it aright, brining draws out the liquids inherent in the peel, and then osmosis-over-time draws the sugars in to replace 'em. *shrugs* I shall try both methods, and hold comparative tastings. Let the voice of the people decide!

(And thank you for the advices!)