Orange You Sweet!

We're into the full measure of holiday baking now - or in Jeanne's case, a rip-out of her kitchen floor due to measures beyond her control - but Jeanne and I continue to toss ideas and talk about what we love to do for season's greetings, and that's to keep our traditions fresh and sparkling sweet.

Enter candied orange peel, one of my top attractions. It started when I lived on the Sun Coast of Florida. My neighbor Anne Bailey would make candied orange and grapefruit peel, and I was fascinated because it felt very English Country Christmas, very old school. I adopted the tradition as my own, and now it's as much a part of the season as pralines and spritz cookies, which we'll get to in the next few days.

There are plenty of "how-tos" for candied orange peel on the web, but this the method that I stick and stay with. It's sweet, but it's also tangy, chewy and delightfully bright.

Candied Orange Peel, Grapefruit Peel

About 5 oranges or 2 large grapefruits, washed

Cold water

1 teaspoon salt

1 cup sugar

1/2 cup light corn syrup

1 cup water

sugar for coating

1. Cut the peel into four sections, then cover with cold water and a teaspoon of salt and bring to a boil.

2. As you chew a denuded orange segment, boil 5 minutes if you're doing oranges, or 10 minutes if it's grapefruit.

3. Drain, repeat the process three more times, but without the salt.

4. In a large saucepan, add the sugar, corn syrup and the cup of water. Stir them over low heat until the sugar dissolves.

5. While this is happening, use scissors to cut the peel into 1/2-inch strips.

6. Add the strips to the pan and boil gently, uncovered for about 40 minutes or until most of the mixture is absorbed.

7. Drain the peel in a colander.

8. Roll the peel in sugar. Place in single layer on wax paper and allow to dry for 2 days (Mama Mia turns her peel over after the first day).

9. Store in an airtight container.

Now that you have this recipe, throw yourself into making Florentines Cockaigne, a candy-like Italian cookie that calls for candied orange peel and an undercoating of chocolate. It's a Rombauer family favorite, according to the Joy of Cooking's All About Cookies. First peel out, then do the cookie.

Now pass the tea and hum a verse of "I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm."