Chocolate Orange Sticks

Ingredients

 

2 large thick-skinned oranges

1 cup sugar

1 cup water

125g (4oz) dark chocolate

 

Steps

 

Cut oranges into quarters by cutting through skin to flesh of orange; peel away orange skin with fingers, leaving thick pith intact on the orange strips about 1cm in thickness.  Drop orange strips into pan of boiling water, return to boil, drain; do this twice more.  Combine water and sugar in pan, stir over heat until sugar is dissolved.  Do not boil.  Add orange strips, bring to boil, reduce heat, simmer uncovered for about 5 to 10 minutes, or until orange strips become translucent.  Stir from time to time while simmering.

 

Using two forks or tongs, remove orange strips from pan to wire rack.  Leave to dry overnight.

 

Melt chocolate over simmering water. Place several orange stips in the chocolate at the one time, remove from chocolate with two forks or tongs, shake off excess chocolate, place on piece of aluminium foil.  Stand at room temperature until chocolate has set.  If weather is hot or humid, chocolate sticks will need to be set in the refrigerator.  Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.