Candied Peel

So far I have been unable to find mixed candied peel for my baking. This has not been such a big issue up to now as the main recipe I make using peel is Cumberland Plate Pie - which also requires currants. I have found currants here in the supermarket, but at a cost of around nz$6.00 for 100 grams. Say no more - no CPP.

The other recipe I use with mixed peel is Hot Cross Buns (having found yeast quite easily and a kind visitor brought me the appropriate mixed spices!) With Easter fast approaching I thought I should do some experimenting.

The internet is so good for finding answers, so searching found a few recipes for mixed peel. Most of them seemed a little too much work, or needed too much time over lots of days, but I narrowed it down to two recipes which I though might work. I also didn't want hard candied peel as I wanted the sort you can use in cakes etc, which is kind of sticky.

drying, cooling and waiting to be tossed in sugar

So I had a go - it's surprisingly easy, as the recipe promised, and as I removed some of the peels after session one I now have the cake candied peel as well as the firmer "candy" peel which is great for snacking. Needless to say I am already saving up orange skins for the next batch. We will not be throwing our peels on the compost any more.

So far the people who have tried my peels love them - and no, there are not many left from the first batch....

first batch of candied peel

I am still on the tofu trail - my experiment with turning soya flour into tofu was not a complete success, but I think I will have to try again and cook it for longer next time. If it works I will be able to have tofu at one sixth of the cost of bought tofu.

And on the coffee front, we decided to have our own coffee experiment, which so far, has brought good results. I have tried a few variations and the ones we like are (mixed in with the ground coffee in the filter) :
with citrus peel, with cocoa powder and sometimes orange flavouring, with cinnamon and cocoa, with cinnamon and ginger. Any suggestions for other combinations welcome!