Catholic Recipe: Candied Fruit Peel -- Epiphany Gift

An inexpensive gift for children is candied fruit peel. Its jeweled crustiness makes it ideal for Epiphany. Somehow the commercial producers have a way of making all peel taste the same. Peel may be wrapped in gold paper as gifts for a children's Epiphany party.

DIRECTIONS

Remove peel from oranges, grapefruit, or lemons — as much as you wish to candy. Be sure that white inner rind stays on peel. Slice it into 1/4 inch wide strips, as long and uniform as possible. Place in a saucepan, cover with cold water, bring to a boil, and pour off liquid. Repeat process five more times.

After sixth boiling, cover peel with cold water, boil peel until tender; then pour off water. Measure peel in a measuring pitcher, add on equal quantity of sugar, put both back into saucepan. Add barely enough water to be seen through the peel, bring water to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer until syrup is thick. This will take several hours.

Place a wire cake cooler in a large flat roasting pan and spread peel over wire, When it is well drained and cold, roll the peel in granulated sugar and let it stand overnight. It may be necessary to roll peel in sugar again the second day. Place in airtight container until ready for use or roll in gold paper as gift.