Champagneoranges Recipes

CHAMPAGNE ORANGES

Steps:

• Combine sugar and orange marmalade in a small saucepan; cook over medium heat until sugar dissolves.
• Cool slightly.
• Combine sugar mixture, champagne, and orange sections, stirring gently.
• Cover and refrigerate 8 hours.
• To serve, spoon orange sections into individual compotes or dishes, and sprinkle with almonds.

MANDARIN ORANGE CHAMPAGNE COCKTAIL

Steps:

• Place the Mandarin oranges, vodka, sparkling wine and lemon sorbet in a blender and puree. Divide among champagne glasses and serve with a mint leaf.

COLD CANDIED ORANGES

Steps:

• Bring a stainless-steel pot of water to a boil. (It should be large enough to hold the oranges submerged.)
• Wash and dry the oranges, and channel from stem to navel at 1/2-inch intervals, removing strips of peel while leaving the pith intact, until the oranges resemble those onion domes on Russian churches. (You need a good, sharp channeler, not a tiny-toothed zester for this one.)
• Place the oranges and their long, fat threads of channeled peel into the boiling water, and reduce to a simmer. Cover the oranges with a lid one size too small for the pot, to keep them submerged. Let them blanch for about 25 minutes to remove the harshest edge of their bitter nature. They should swell and soften but not collapse or split.
• Remove the oranges and zest from the simmering water with a slotted spoon, and set aside. Dump out the blanching water, and return the dry pot to the stove.
• In that same pot, combine the sugar with 6 cups water; bring the sugar water to a boil over medium-high, stirring until the sugar has dissolved, then allow to gently boil, and reduce for 10 minutes, uncovered. You want some water to evaporate and for the syrup to take on a little body.
• Carefully place blanched oranges and zest into the sugar syrup, and reduce heat to a very slow, lethargic simmer. Cover oranges with a parchment circle cut slightly larger than the circumference of the pot (by 1 inch is enough), then place the too-small lid on top of the parchment on top of the oranges, to keep them fully submerged (and sealed under the parchment) in the sluggishly simmering syrup.
• Cook the oranges in the syrup for about 45 minutes, checking on them frequently to keep the temperature quite slow and stable, until they take on a high gloss and appear vaguely translucent and jewel-like. (We have several induction burners that come with features that can hold a temperature, and I leave the oranges at around 170 degrees for most of the candying, sometimes with a little bump up to 180. But without a thermometer or an induction burner, just a visual slow, slow, slow bubble is a good cue.)
• Cool oranges and peels in their syrup for a full 24 hours before serving. This kind of "cures" them. They get even better after 48 hours. First, you'll want to let them cool at room temperature until no longer warm to the touch, at least 4 hours, then refrigerate them until thoroughly chilled. The oranges last refrigerated for 1 month as long as they are submerged in that syrup.
• Serve very cold. Eat the whole thing, skin and all, with a knife and fork. It's like a half glacéed fruit and half fresh fruit - refreshing, tonic, digestive and so great after dinner.

BRANDIED ORANGES

Steps:

• Peel oranges leaving no white pith.
• Slice crosswise into thin slices, or cut into segments and place in a serving bowl.
• Stir sugar and water together over a low heat until disolved and then boil for 2mins.
• Cool, add Brandy and Grand Marnier or Contreau.
• Pour over prepared oranges.
• Serve at room temperature with whipped cream and/or ice cream.
• Can be made ahead, (I have done this 2 - 4 days ahead) and stored in fridge. Bring to room temp to serve or if preferred serve chilled.

CHAMPAGNE ZABAGLIONE WITH FRESH FRUIT COMPOTE

Steps:

• For zabaglione:
• Whisk Champagne, sugar, yolks and corn syrup in large metal bowl to blend. Set bowl over saucepan of simmering water (do not allow bottom of bowl to touch water). Whisk constantly until mixture has tripled in volume and candy thermometer registers 160°F., about 10 minutes. Remove from over water. Using electric mixer, beat zabaglione until completely cool, about 5 minutes.
• Beat cream to soft peaks in medium bowl. Fold cream into cooled zabaglione. Chill until ready to use. (Can be prepared 1 day ahead. Cover and keep refrigerated. Stir lightly to lessen texture before serving.)
• For fruit compote:
• Using small sharp knife, cut off peel and white pith from oranges. Working over bowl, cut between membranes to release orange segments. (Oranges can be prepared 6 hours ahead. Cover; refrigerate.)
• Using tip of vegetable peeler, cut out eyes from pineapple; discard eyes. Dice pineapple. Combine pineapple, quartered strawberries, kiwis and pear in large bowl. Mix in oranges.
• Spoon fruit into 6 stemmed glasses. Pour 1 tablespoon Champagne over fruit in each goblet. Top fruit with zabaglione. Garnish each serving with whole strawberry and serve immediately.

CHAMPAGNE CHICKEN

Steps:

• Lightly dust chicken breasts with flour and a little salt and pepper.
• In a large skillet, lightly brown chicken breasts to a nice golden brown in olive oil. Once browned on both sides, add mushrooms and champagne. Cook over medium heat, champagne should boil a little, for approximately 1/2 hour. When chicken is tender, transfer chicken to a platter.
• Pour cream into skillet. Simmer about 5 minutes, until slightly thickened. Pour sauce over chicken breasts. Serve.

ROMAINE WITH ORANGES

Steps:

• In a large salad bowl, toss the romaine, oranges and onion. In a small bowl, whisk the dressing ingredients. Drizzle over salad and toss to coat. Cover and refrigerate until chilled; toss before serving.

BLOOD ORANGE CHAMPAGNE COCKTAILS

Steps:

• Pour 3 tablespoons juice in each champagne flute. Fill flutes with champagne, and serve.

BLOOD ORANGE CHAMPAGNE COCKTAIL

Steps:

• Spoon 1 1/2 teaspoons crème de cassis into each of 8 Champagne flutes or other glasses. Add 3 tablespoons juice to each glass. Fill each glass with Champagne, then stir gently. Garnish cocktails with slices of blood orange, if desired.