Goddess Blessed Vegetarian Chocolate Clusters With Orange Rind Recipes

CHOCOLATE-DIPPED ORANGE PEEL

Steps:

• Making the Candied Orange Peel
• Wash the oranges and remove the peel with a sharp vegetable peeler, avoiding any white pith. Put the orange peel in a saucepan with 4 cups water and a pinch of salt. Bring to a boil over high heat and boil for 5 Minutes. Drain. Repeat this process one more time.
• Put 1 cup of the sugar and 1 2/3 cups water in a clean saucepan and bring to a boil, stirring until the sugar dissolves. Add the blanched orange peel to the boiling syrup, immediately remove from the heat, cover the pan, and set aside overnight at room temperature.
• The next day, drain the peel, reserving the syrup. Add 1/3 cup of the remaining sugar to the reserved syrup, bring to a boil, and return the peel to the syrup. Remove from the heat, cover, and set aside overnight at room temperature. Repeat this process three more times, over three nights, adding 1/3 cup sugar each time. Once the peel is candied, let drain at room temperature for 1 day, then cut into thin slivers. (The peel can be stored in an airtight container for up to 1 month.)
• Dipping
• Temper the dark chocolate . Using a fork, dip each strip of candied orange peel in the chocolate, then lay it on an acetate sheet. Refrigerate the chocolate-dipped strips for 10 Minutes before detaching from the sheet. (Store in a cool place away from moisture for up to 1 month.)

CHOCOLATE COVERED CANDIED ORANGE PEEL

Steps:

• With a sharp knife, score orange peel into four wedge-shaped sections. Loosen peel with a spoon and remove; save fruit for another use.
• Place peel in a heavy saucepan and cover with cold water; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 20 minutes. Drain, then repeat process twice, draining well each time. Cool for 5 minutes.
• Carefully scrape off excess pulp from peel. Cut the peel into 1/4 inch strips.
• In another saucepan, combine sugar, water, corn syrup and salt. Cook over medium heat until clear. Add orange peel strips; boil gently until all syrup is absorbed and peel is transparent, about 30-35 minutes.
• Using a slotted spoon, transfer strips to wire racks for at least 3 hours or until dry.
• Melt the chocolate and shortening; stir until smooth. Dip each strip halfway into chocolate. Dip the other half in sugar if desired.
• Cool on racks that have been coated with nonstick cooking spray.
• Store in a covered container in the refrigerator. Yield: about 3 cups.

ORANGE HAZELNUT CHOCOLATE CLUSTERS

Steps:

• Melt the chocolate in the top of a double boiler over hot, not simmering, water, stirring frequently with a rubber spatula to ensure even melting. Remove the double boiler from the heat, remove the top pan containing the chocolate, wipe it dry, and set aside briefly. Replace the water in the bottom pan with lukewarm tap water, set the pan of chocolate on top of this, and stir gently to reduce the temperature of the chocolate (10 to 15 minutes). It will begin to get a bit thicker as it cools. If using a thermometer, it should register 95°F.
• Again remove the top pan of chocolate from the water and replace the water in the bottom pan with tap water that is a few degrees warmer than the chocolate. If using the same thermometer to check the temperature of the chocolate and the water, be sure to dry it completely so no water mixes with the chocolate. Set the pan of chocolate over the pan of warm water. The warm water will hold the chocolate at the correct temperature so that it does not cool too fast.
• In a bowl, mix the hazelnuts thoroughly with the chopped candied orange peel. Stir this mixture into the chocolate, making sure that the nuts and peel are thoroughly coated with the chocolate.
• Line a baking sheet with parchment or waxed paper. Spoon out clusters 1 inch in diameter onto the sheet, leaving 1 inch of space between them. Let the clusters set up at room temperature, or chill them in the refrigerator for 15 minutes, then place them in paper candy cups. In a tightly covered container wrapped in several layers of aluminum foil, the clusters will keep for 1 month in the refrigerator or 2 months in the freezer. The clusters are best served at room temperature.
• VARIATIONS
• Orange Almond Chocolate Clusters: Replace the hazelnuts with toasted, whole, unblanched almonds.
• White Chocolate Orange Almond Clusters: Replace the bittersweet chocolate with white chocolate and replace the hazelnuts with toasted, whole, unblanched almonds.
• Orange Pecan Chocolate Clusters: Replace the hazelnuts with toasted pecans.
• Cherry Almond Chocolate Clusters: Replace the candied orange peel with 1 cup plus 1 tablespoon roughly chopped dried cherries and replace the hazelnuts with toasted, whole, unblanched almonds.
• Cranberry Almond Chocolate Clusters: Replace the candied orange peel with 1 cup plus 1 tablespoon roughly chopped sweetened dried cranberries and replace the hazelnuts with toasted, whole, unblanched almonds.
• White Chocolate Apricot Hazelnut Clusters: Replace the bittersweet chocolate with white chocolate and replace the candied orange peel with roughly chopped dried apricots.

GODDESS BLESSED VEGETARIAN CHOCOLATE CLUSTERS WITH ORANGE RIND

Steps:

• Place the honey-nougat chocolate and white chocolate separately in heat-proof bowls.
• Place each bowl over a pan of simmering water.
• Stir and melt the chocolate until smooth.
• Set aside to let it cool.
• Mix the orange rind into the honey-nougat chocolate.
• Mix in the walnuts into the white melted chocolate.
• Place a spoonful of mixtures{of the dark and white chocolates} separately into the small paper baking cups.
• You need 35-40 small baking paper cups.
• Leave to set in the refrigerator for sometime.
• Store in an airtight container in a cool and dry place.
• Serve with tea or coffee.
• I think, personally, these are the best thing to have after a Japanese bath!
• They make you feel like a QUEEN after an already soul-cleansing dip!