Candied Orange Peels

Recipe Status: Long standing tradition at Christmas time. My favorite is dipping each piece in high quality dark chocolate. Mmmm.

Peels of 3 oranges

2 cups water

2 cups sugar, divided

Cut the tops and bottoms off the oranges. Cut the peel in four vertical lines, like you're quartering the orange, and remove the 4 pieces from the orange. Cut each piece into thin strips.

Bring a pot of water to a boil, and boil the orange peels for 15 minutes. Boiling it in water reduces the bitterness of the rind. If desired, drain and boil in fresh water a second time. Drain and rinse.

Bring 2 cup water and 1 cup sugar to a boil over medium heat. Add the peel, reduce heat to med-low, and simmer until the peels are tender, about 45 minutes. Drain, and toss or roll peels in remaining cup of sugar.

Place peels on a cooling rack and let them sit until sugar coating is dry. Usually it takes about a day, sometimes 2.

If desired, dip each piece in dark chocolate, or lay a bunch of pieces on wax paper and drizzle chocolate on the bunch. Or eat as is. Delicious.

This is also exceptionally tasty with grapefruit rinds.

Strawberry Orange Smoothie (HCG Friendly)

Recipe Status: Nice and simple. I love the citrus & berry combination.

Song: The Walk - Imogen Heap

1 cup strawberries

1/2 orange

1 cup ice cubes

1/2 dropper or 1 packet stevia (I never use it.)

Handful of spinach leaves (optional, but delicious)

Blend in blender until blended. ;)

*This counts as one fruit serving.

Sweet Zucchini Bread

Recipe Status: Best Zucchini bread EVER! Oh my heavens! Because it's not masked by cinnamon like most breads are, the wheat flavor is present, light and sweet. The orange gives it a beautiful complimenting element to the wheat. (And when I make it, I always double the recipe and bake 4 loaves at the same time.)

Song: Northern Lights - BNL

2 cups flour
1 cup whole wheat flour
2 cups sugar
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
4 eggs, beaten
1 cup vegetable oil
3 cups grated zucchini
Peel of 1 washed orange, minced (or try this with lemon peel)

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Butter two 9-inch loaf pans and dust with sugar, flour or wheat germ. Mix all the dry ingredients in a large bowl. Whisk the eggs, then add the oil and blend. Use a spatula to mix the dry ingredients with the egg mixture in several additions, then fold in the zucchini and the orange peel.

Bake for 50-60 minutes or until the top springs back when pressed lightly. Cool in the pans for 5 to 15 minutes before being turned out onto a rack or plate. Makes two incredibly tasty loaves, or 24 muffins. (Bake muffins for 30 minutes.)