Candied Orange Peels

Contributed by: Bridget McFarland

Ingredients
1 large navel orange
3/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips

Directions
Using a vegetable peeler, cut the orange part of the peel from the stem end of the orange down to the navel end, forming long 3/4 to 1-inch-wide strips.
Bring a heavy small saucepan of water to a boil.
Add the peels and cook for 1 minute.
Drain and then rinse the peels under cold water.
Repeat cooking the peels in the saucepan with fresh boiling water and rinsing under cold water.
Stir the sugar and 1/2 cup of fresh water in a heavy small saucepan over medium-high heat until the sugar dissolves. Bring to a boil.
Add the orange peels and simmer over medium-low heat until tender, about 15 minutes. Using tongs, transfer the peels to a sheet of parchment paper to dry slightly, about 1 hour.
Line a small baking sheet with parchment paper.Stir the chocolate in a small bowl set over a saucepan of simmering water until melted and smooth.
Dip 1 1/2-inches of each candied orange peel into the chocolate then place them on the prepared baking sheet and refrigerate until the chocolate is set, about 15 minutes.