Peel for Hot Cross Buns

[achookwoman]

Orange Peel for Hot Cross Buns
This peel can be used in Cakes ,Christmas Puddings, Steamed Puddings and of course Hot Cross Buns. It is fairly time consuming to make, but then I only make it once a year and freeze it. It could be placed in sterile jars, like jam, and kept in the pantry.
Because of the sugar content, it scoops out easily when required.

Save Orange peel in plastic bag in fridge. (any amount, but I usually work with 6 or more.
Cut peel into 1/4.
Place in large saucepan and cover with water. Bring to the boil and simmer until you can easily press you finger nail into the rind. ( It is important that the rind is very soft)
Drain off all the water and when cool enough to handle, scoop out the membrane with a spoon.
Place 2 cups of white sugar into a large flat pan , add 2 cups of water and boil to dissolve the sugar.
Place the peel into the TMX bowl and Turbo once . Look in bowl to see how fine the peel has been cut. You do not want mush. I had 700g of peel and it took 4 presses of the Turbo button. The number of times will depend on how much peel is in the bowl.
When sugar has dissolved into water, tip in peel.
Stand by stove and gently stir peel into liquid.
Boil rapidly and stir when required so that peel doesn't catch and burn.
When most of the water has evaporated, take off stove and cool.
I store in small zip lock plastic bags, and freeze.

Chocolate covered Orange straws.

After removing the Orange membrane from the peel, cut the peel into long thin strips.
Boil in sugar syrup being gentle not to break the strips.
Evaporate most of the liquid and set aside to cool.
At this stage I freeze them in a plastic container.
When required I coat with Chocolate.
Posted by elizabeth at 8:01 PM

[Cuilidh]

There is also this off Andiesenji's blog.

[cookie1]

Thank you Chookie. I've found I love this but had always hated peel from the shop.

[achookwoman]

Thank you Chookie. I've found I love this but had always hated peel from the shop.

Cookie,  I think that the bought peel has put many people off,  and tend to think it is the same as the home made peel.  It is quite a different product.

[MEP]

Chookie, I'm about make some of this. Approx how long does it take for the peel to soften enough for you to press your fingernails into the rind? Also, what does scoop out the membrane mean? Is that the remaining orange (if any) and any white pith on the rind?

Thanks in advance.

[achookwoman]

MEP, the length of time to cook the  rind depends on a number of things.  First how old the orange is and therefore how dry. Secondly what type of orange.
The scooping out part is to remove the pith,( white stuff). This is bitter. Also there maybe some of the orange still attached to the pith.
Hope this helps. 
I make a fair bit of this and freeze it in small plastic bags. It keeps for a couple of years in the freezer.

[MEP]

Thanks Chookie. I will try to remove as much of the pith as possible before cooking I think. My peels are between one to four days old.

[MEP]

I finally made a large batch of this today. I got 13 bags of 50 gm each. You are right Chookie, home made tastes and looks completely different from store bought. I'm very happy with the result.

Apart from Hot cross buns, where else can I use this? We don't like fruit cake.

Thanks for a great recipe Chookie.

[judydawn]

How big are your pieces MEP?  Larger pieces could be coated with chocolate, smaller, uneven sized pieces could be cut finely and sprinkled over the icing on an orange cake or mixed in with a muffin mixture.

[MEP]

Thanks Judy. I hand cut mine because I didn't want mushed so they're about 5 mm x 5 mm. Sprinkled over icing on an orange cake sounds great. I just have to find an orange cake recipe now.

[judydawn]

This one's great MEP. http://www.forumthermomix.com/index.php?topic=6401.0

[achookwoman]

Nice in Queen of Puddings , also Bread and Butter pud. Sweet bread ( fruit loaf) with Sultanas or Craisins and Walnuts.   It will keep very well if frozen.
Glad you like it.  Well worth the effort.

[cookie1]

It is truly wonderful with one end dipped in chocolate.

[MEP]

Thanks ladies for all the forest ideas. Will report back on which recipes I have tried. They all sounds so delicious.