Candied Fruit Slices Recipes

CANDIED CITRUS

Steps:

• In a Dutch oven, combine sugar and water; bring to a boil. Add citrus slices; reduce heat to medium. Cook until slices are translucent, about 20 minutes, turning occasionally. Reduce heat; simmer until slices are tender but still intact, about 10 minutes, turning occasionally., Using a slotted spoon or tongs, remove slices to a wire rack or a parchment-lined baking pan. Let stand at room temperature overnight to dry. (Save syrup for another use.) If desired, cut slices in half; use to decorate a cake, pie or other dessert, or to garnish drinks.

CANDIED LIME SLICES

Steps:

• Slice limes into thin rounds, blanch in a pot of boiling water for 2 min & drain.
• In the same pot, combine water & 1 cup sugar. Bring to a simmer & add lime slices. Simmer for 10-15 min, till white pith of limes looks translucent (May take longer if pith is esp thick or dense).
• Drain & spread out on a cooling rack to dry for at least 1 hour.
• Put 2 tbsp sugar in shallow bowl or saucer. When limes are dry, coat both sides of the lime slices by pressing them into the sugar (May need more sugar for good coverage).
• Store in an airtight container & layer between parchment paper or plastic wrap till ready to use. I freeze these when I make a batch & then just take out what I need to use.

HOW TO MAKE CANDIED FRUIT

Steps:

• 1. Prepare fruit. Cut pineapple, apricots and watermelon rind into small pieces; chop cherries in half; remove white pith from lemon, orange or grapefruit peel and cut into strips or small pieces. Depending on your finished use you may also simply cut your fruit into 1/4 inch (aprox.) slices.
• 2. Combine 1 cup sugar, 1 cup honey and 1-1/2 cups water in heavy saucepan.
• 3. Boil over medium heat and cook, stirring constantly, until mixture reaches 235 degrees F on candy thermometer.
• 4. Thread Stage 230° F-235° F sugar concentration: 80% At this relatively low temperature, there is still a lot of water left in the syrup. When you drop a little of this syrup into cold water to cool, it forms a liquid thread that will not ball up. Cooking sugar syrup to this stage gives you not candy, but syrup-something you might make to pour over ice cream.
• 5. Drop small amount of fruit into liquid.
• 6. Cook on low heat 20-30 minutes until the fruit or rind is transparent.
• 7. Drain and repeat with rest of fruit in the same syrup.
• 8. Cool fruit and store in airtight container. Your fruit can also be rolled in granulated sugar after it is cooled, to give it a nice frosty coating and to help keep the bits separate.
• 9. NOTE: When you are done making your candied fruit, you will have a very tasty syrup that can be used to sweeten drinks, or pour over ice cream... or whatever you can dream up. It might even be good as a glaze on a bundt cake! Be sure you taste it before storing it. If you like it, keep it. If you don't, well then toss it out.
• 10. Here's how they do it in Canada with lots more tips and information: http://www.canadianliving.com/food/cooking_school/how_to_make_candied_fruit.php More information and tips can be found at: http://allrecipes.com/howto/candying-fruits/
• 11. Interesting history from Wikipedia: Food preservation methods using sugar (palm syrup and honey) were known to the ancient cultures of China and Mesopotamia. However, the precursors of modern candying were the Arabs, who served candied citrus and roses at the important moments of their banquets. With the Arab domination of parts of southern Europe, candied fruit made its way to the West. The first documents that demonstrate the use of candied fruit in Europe date back to the sixteenth century.
• 12. Tips & Warnings You can blanch citrus peels (dip them in boiling water for a few minutes) to make them less bitter. If desired, you can also DEHYDRATE your CANDIED FRUIT by spreading thin layers on trays and drying for 12-18 hours at 120 degrees F until fruit is no longer sticky and the center has no moisture. To sun dry, put trays in full sun for 1-2 days, stirring occasionally, until fruit is no longer sticky. Take trays in at night. To oven dry, spread on trays and dry at 120 degrees F for 18-24 hours. Store dried candied fruit in an airtight container.
• 13. Found this particular recipe on http://www.ehow.com/how_3910_make-candied-fruit.html#ixzz2FQpsT6S

CANDIED FRUIT SLICES

Steps:

• Cream the butter. Gradually add the sifted confectioners' sugar, creaming well.
• Blend in the unbeaten egg and vanilla. Add the sifted flour; mix well.
• Stir in the pecan halves and cherry halves. (I like to substitute some yellow candied pineapple for a portion of the cherries to add more color to the cookies. Cut the pineapple into pieces about the size of the cherry halves.).
• Chill the dough 1 hour.
• Divide the dough into thirds. Shape into rolls 12 inches long. Wrap each roll in waxed paper or foil; chill at least 3 hours.
• Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Cut each roll into slices 1/8th inch thick and place on ungreased cookie sheets.
• Bake in preheated oven for 13 to 15 minutes or until edges are delicately browned.