Crystallized Orange Nuts Recipes

ORANGE-SUGARED PECANS

Steps:

• In a large heavy saucepan, combine the sugar, water and orange juice concentrate. Cook over medium-high heat, without stirring, until a candy thermometer reads 238° (soft-ball stage). Remove from the heat; stir in pecans and orange zest. , Beat until mixture thickens and loses its gloss, about 2 minutes. Drop by teaspoonfuls onto waxed paper to set. Store in an airtight container.

SIMPLE CANDIED ORANGE PEEL

Steps:

• Cut peel on each orange into 4 vertical segments. Remove each segment (including white pith) in 1 piece. Cut into 1/4-inch-wide strips. Cook in large pot of boiling water 15 minutes; drain, rinse, and drain again.
• Bring 3 cups sugar and 3 cups water to boil in medium saucepan over medium heat, stirring to dissolve sugar. Add peel. Return to boil. Reduce heat; simmer until peel is very soft, about 45 minutes. Drain.
• Toss peel and 1 cup sugar on rimmed baking sheet, separating strips. Lift peel from sugar; transfer to sheet of foil. Let stand until coating is dry, 1 to 2 days. DO AHEAD: Wrap and freeze up to 2 months.

CRYSTALLIZED ORANGE NUTS

Steps:

• Butter a large cookie sheet (one that has sides).
• Using a 2 quart glass baking dish, pour orange juice into sugar, and mix well. Stir in pecans. Cover with plastic wrap, but leave a corner open to vent.
• Microwave on medium for 6 minutes. Stir and continue to cook on medium for about 4 - 6 more minutes until the syrup crystallizes (check after 4 minutes, and then each minute thereafter).
• As soon as it's crystallized, spread glazed nuts on the buttered cookie sheet evenly, separating the nuts. Let it cool completely.

ORANGE AND CINNAMON CRUSTED PECANS

Steps:

• In a deep saucepan, combine the sugar, water, orange zest, and cinnamon and bring to a boil. Add the pecans and simmer, stirring, as the water evaporates. The glaze will be shiny and transparent at first, then turn opaque, and crystallize as the water cooks away.
• When the nuts are completely coated with sugar crystals, they are done. Spread them out on a sheet pan to cool. (To wash the saucepan, soak it overnight.)

CARAMELIZED ORANGES

Steps:

• Squeeze enough juice from 3 oranges to measure 1 cup.
• Bring sugar and water to a boil in a 1 1/2-quart heavy saucepan over moderate heat, stirring until sugar is dissolved. Boil syrup, without stirring but washing down any sugar crystals with a pastry brush dipped in cold water, until syrup around edges begins to turn golden brown, about 10 minutes. Tilt pan and carefully add orange juice (caramel will harden and vigorously steam). Simmer, stirring, until caramel is completely dissolved, about 2 minutes.
• Cut peel, including all white pith, from remaining 6 oranges with a sharp paring knife and cut each orange crosswise into thirds.
• Heat one third of butter (1 teaspoon) in a 12-inch nonstick skillet over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking, then sauté 6 orange slices until golden, 2 to 3 minutes on each side. Transfer to a plate. Sauté remaining orange slices in butter in same manner, wiping out skillet between batches if necessary. Return all orange slices to skillet along with caramel sauce and cook over moderate heat until heated through, about 1 minute.

CARAMELIZED ORANGES

Steps:

• Place cold water in a heavy-based saucepan, add the sugar and bring SLOWLY to the boil, stirring to dissolve the sugar.
• (The sugar must be completely dissolved before the liquid boils.) Once the sugar is boiling, DO NOT STIR.
• Continue to boil.
• Use a pastry-brush dipped in water to wash down any sugar crystals forming on the sides of the pan, until the sugar is a rich, dark, caramel colour.
• Remove from heat and CAREFULLY add the warm water to the caramel WHICH WILL SPIT AND SPLUTTER!
• Return pan to the heat and continue stirring to dissolve the caramel in the water.
• Set aside to cool.
• Peel all the oranges, setting the peel of one aside.
• (Remove as much of the white pith as possible.) Place the peeled oranges in a bowl and pour over the caramel sauce, gently turning the fruit to cover each with sauce.
• Chill well.
• Cut the served peel into matchstick-sized pieces and cook until tender in boiling water.
• Refresh in cold water and drain.
• Sprinkle half the cooked zest over the oranges in the bowl and stir.
• Serve each chilled orange with the sauce and garnish with additional zest.
• Serves 6.

KAHLUA CRYSTALLIZED NUTS

Steps:

• Place nuts in shallow pan and toast in 300 degree oven for 20 mins.
• ,stirring once.
• Turn into a lightly buttered hot metal bowl or large saucepan.
• In 1 qt.
• saucepan, combine remaining ingredients and bring to a boil, stirring until sugar dissolves.
• Insert candy thermometer; bring to hard crack stage (300 F.).
• Pour over toasted nuts, stir with a buttered metal spoon to coat evenly.
• Spread in a single layer, on buttered jelly roll pan.
• Cool; separate into small chunks.
• Store in airtight container.
• Makes about 5 cups.

CHOCOLATE-AND-NUT-CRUSTED CANDIED ORANGE

Steps:

• Dip half of each orange slice into chocolate; roll dipped edges in nuts and place on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Add a few pieces of candied ginger.
• Let stand until set, about 15 minutes. Store in an airtight container at room temperature up to 1 month.