3 Plump, pink grapefruit,
- preferably organic
2 1/2 c Sugar
1 1/4 c Water
2 tb Corn syrup
Superfine sugar; for coating
5 oz Semisweet chocolate
1 tb Butter
SCORE GRAPEFRUIT INTO QUARTERS and carefully pull off peels or juice fruits
and cut halves again in half. Place peels in large pan, cover them with
cold water and bring to boil. Simmer 25 minutes. Remove peels and let them
cool until they are easy to handle. Hold peels firmly against counter and
gently scrape away most of white pith just below skin. Cut cleaned peels
into strips with knife or scissors as narrow or wide as you like. In
2-quart saucepan, mix together sugar, water and corn syrup. Bring to boil.
When syrup is clear, add peels, lower heat and cook slowly until peels are
translucent, about 1 hour. Set cake rack over baking sheet. Remove peels a
few at a time and spread them out on rack to drain about 15 minutes. While
they are draining, thickly cover large plate with super- fine sugar. Set
several pieces at a time in sugar and turn them to coat them. When evenly
coated, set them aside on another plate or piece of parchment paper thinly
coated with sugar. This process will need to be done in several batches. If
sugar become lumpy with beads of syrup, pass it through a strainer, then
continue using it. Set aside sugared peels about 1 hour or until they are
dried. Carefully package them in tin or plastic container and store either
in cupboard or refrigerator. To dip peels in chocolate, melt semisweet
chocolate over simmering water along with butter. Stir well to ensure that
mixture is smooth before removing from heat. Dip each rind into chocolate,
coating most of it but leaving a little "handle" to grasp. Or, completely
immerse each rind in chocolate, then remove with 2 forks or pair of
chopsticks. Set slices on parchment paper or cake rack and place in cool
place to harden. Once chocolate has set, pieces can be stored in
refrigerator. Chocolate will discolor when it cools but will become dark
and glossy again once brought to room temperature. Makes 3 Cups
