Chocolate Dipped Candied Orange And Lemon Zest And Chocolate Covered Pretzels Recipes

Steps:

• Melt chocolate in double boiler over medium heat on stove top. Using tongs, or your fingers, quickly dip pretzels in chocolate allowing the excess to run off. Place dipped pretzels on waxed paper lined cookie sheets. Sprinkle with chopped nuts, colored sugars or other toppings. Allow to harden. You may need to refrigerate for a while to help this along. Once hardened, remove from sheets and store in a cool location, with waxed paper between layers.
• Tip: Package pretzels in clear cellophane bags or in vase for festive gift giving!

Steps:

• Melt the chopped chocolate in a water bath until it reaches 115 degrees F, stirring until very smooth. Pour 2/3 of the chocolate on to a marble slab or work surface. With a metal spatula, work the chocolate by spreading it back and forth across the work surface for at least 3 minutes until it is thick and on the point of setting. With a scraper, quickly transfer the chocolate from the marble to the reserved chocolate. Reheat the chocolate in the water bath.
• The chocolate needs to reach 84 degrees F before dipping. Using the candy dipping fork, dip some of the pretzels in the milk chocolate. Allow to dry on a piece of wax paper. Follow the same procedure with the candied oranges and lemons. Let the candy set in the refrigerator.

Steps:

• Making the Candied Orange Peel
• Wash the oranges and remove the peel with a sharp vegetable peeler, avoiding any white pith. Put the orange peel in a saucepan with 4 cups water and a pinch of salt. Bring to a boil over high heat and boil for 5 Minutes. Drain. Repeat this process one more time.
• Put 1 cup of the sugar and 1 2/3 cups water in a clean saucepan and bring to a boil, stirring until the sugar dissolves. Add the blanched orange peel to the boiling syrup, immediately remove from the heat, cover the pan, and set aside overnight at room temperature.
• The next day, drain the peel, reserving the syrup. Add 1/3 cup of the remaining sugar to the reserved syrup, bring to a boil, and return the peel to the syrup. Remove from the heat, cover, and set aside overnight at room temperature. Repeat this process three more times, over three nights, adding 1/3 cup sugar each time. Once the peel is candied, let drain at room temperature for 1 day, then cut into thin slivers. (The peel can be stored in an airtight container for up to 1 month.)
• Dipping
• Temper the dark chocolate . Using a fork, dip each strip of candied orange peel in the chocolate, then lay it on an acetate sheet. Refrigerate the chocolate-dipped strips for 10 Minutes before detaching from the sheet. (Store in a cool place away from moisture for up to 1 month.)