Candy + stamping = great gift!
I think this is the right place to post this since it's got a bit of everything. *crosses fingers*
Every year around Christmas my mom and I would make Orange Peel Candy (yes, you read that right... orange peels made into candy). Since leaving home I've continued the tradition. What I like to do is decorate little containers and give this candy-in-a-jar to friends for Christmas. Since I started stamping decorating has taken on a whole new level!
The Jar:
1 dollar store jar that seals air tight!
Various paper crafts and stamps
Examples from the current Stampin' Up catalogue (ignore the lack of Christmas theme):
Page 28: halloween jar at the top
Page 62: happy birthday jar at the top
Page 75: kitty treat jar at the top
Page 100: popcorn jar
Alternative containers:
If you'd rather make your own container there's lots of examples in the book. Just make sure to put your candy in a zip loc baggie to ensure it doesn't go bad!
Page 18: "Pretty Punch" box bottom left
Page 22: "Vases in Visage" box top right
Page 29: candy bag top left
Page 36 and 37: candy box and candy bag cover
The Candy - What you need:
Several mandarin oranges (you can use other oranges, but mandarins work best)
A medium saucepan
several cups of white sugar
wax paper
time
Peel the oranges (or save peels when you eat the oranges in a sealed container in the fridge) and cut peels into strips about the length and width of your fingers. Discard green or yucky bits of peels!! You only want the good stuff!
Measure peels and make note of the amount you have. It's best to do this only a cup or two at a time. Stick to one cup if this is your first time.
Place peels in saucepan and barely cover with water. Bring to a boil and simmer for 30 minutes. Drain and refill the water, once again bring to a boil and simmer for 30 minutes. This takes the tartness out of the peel.
Drain saucepan again. Add to the pan the same amount of white sugar as you have peels. One cup of peels = one cup of white sugar. Add a SMALL amount of water, just enough to wet the sugar a bit. Bring to a boil and simmer on LOW heat until reduced (this means when there's pretty much nothing but soggy peels left in the pan).
Carefully dump out your peels onto wax paper. Seperate peels and roll in white sugar, placing in a safe place to dry. BE CAREFUL these peels are HOT!
Let dry for at LEAST 24 hours, 48 hours is better, before placing in a sealed container... otherwise you'll get moldy peels. Ew!
Tips for creative candy:
Try adding a piece of ginger or a cinnomon stick to the mix when either boiling the peels or boiling the sugar mixture.
Add lemon peels for a few pieces of lemon peel candy.
Reduce with brown sugar instead of white sugar for a much sweeter taste (kids love this one obviously).
Last edited by BerkanaTyr; 09-19-2007 at 03:19 PM..
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