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.

Orange Ginger Chicken (HCG Friendly)

Recipe Status: I guess I've been spoiled with orange chicken recipes that have been very bold in flavor and at times very spicy. This in comparison was very bland. I liked it okay, but if I made it again, I'd definitely have to spice it up. A little cayenne and crushed red peppers, probably. Oh and more ginger. I could not taste any ginger. :(

100 g chicken breast, cut into cubes

1 orange cut into quarters

2-3 cloves minced garlic

1 tbsp fresh ginger root (roughly 1/2" to 1" piece of root)

1/2 tsp basil

Juice from half a lemon

Pepper to taste

Sprinkle chicken with pepper. Add chicken to heated pan and stir fry until all edges are no longer pink. Add garlic and cook 1 additional minute. Squeeze juice of orange quarters & lemon over chicken, then peel and separate sections of orange and add to the chicken. Stir in ginger & basil. Cover and simmer for 20-30 minutes.

*This counts as one meat and one fruit serving.

Orange Julius (HCG Friendly)

Recipe Status: Once again, pleasantly surprised. I'm not usually a big fan of orange julius because I love the tartness of fresh orange juice and the added sugar and vanilla makes it too sweet. But this was pretty good.

1 orange

Vanilla Creme liquid Stevia

Ice

Peel orange and place orange segments in blender. Add a handful, or two of ice in the blender. Blend. Add about 10 drops of the stevia. Blend again. If needed, you can add a little bit of water to help it blend better. Add more ice and/or stevia if desired. That's it!

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.)