Candied Orange Peel

I've been doing some recipe testing for the upcoming Vegan Bakesale Cookbook.  When I saw Dundee loaf, it was tops on my list to try.  It is a slightly sweet bread with marmalade, fruit, and other tasty flavors.  One complication was that the recipe called for candied orange peel. 

None of the local stores around here carry it.  Online the prices were pretty crazy, so I opted to make my own.  Believe it or not, this is deceptively simple.   Here are the steps to make your candied orange peel:

1.  Use the larger side of a zesting tool to slice strips of orange peel (preferably organic as the skin is where pesticides and wax would be concentrated).   If you don't have a zester, no worries.   I didn't either, so I sliced thin pieces of peel off the orange.  Then used a small knife to cut off as much of the white bitter pith that was still visible on the pieces.  After that, cut into strips. 

2.  Mix 1 cup of sugar and 1 cup of water and bring to a slow boil to dissolve.

3. Add the orange peel and let simmer for 30-45 min until the peels start to get translucent.

4.  Put 1/2 cup of sugar on a shallow plate.   Scoop some of the peel  up with a fork and toss it in the sugar to coat.  Then put it on a tray to dry out for a few hours.  Repeat.  

Save the orange syrup for use in tea, lemonade or other flavoring!