Recipe: Muffins with Candied Orange Peel (Little Women)

"Merry Christmas, little daughters! I'm glad you began at once, and hope you will keep on. But I want to say one word before we sit down. Not far away from here lies a poor woman with a little newborn baby. Six children are huddled into one bed to keep from freezing, for they have no fire. There is nothing to eat over there, and the oldest boy came to tell me they were suffering hunger and cold. My girls, will you give them your breakfast as a Christmas present?"

They were all unusually hungry, having waited nearly an hour, and for a minute no one spoke, only a minute, for Jo exclaimed impetuously, "I'm so glad you came before we began!"

"May I go and help carry the things to the poor little children?" asked Beth eagerly.

"I shall take the cream and the muffins," added Amy, heroically giving up the article she most liked.

candied orange peel

• 1 large orange
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 1/2 cup water

directions
1. cut orange into quarters. remove peel. cut peel into 1/4-inch strips. put peels into a medium saucepan and cover with cold water. bring to a boil. remove from heat and drain. repeat this two more times.

2. pour water and sugar into a saucepan and bring to a boil. boil for a few minutes until all the sugar is dissolved and the water is clear. add the orange peels and reduce heat to a simmer. simmer for thirty minutes or until the peel is translucent.

3. turn the heat off and remove the orange peels. let dry on a cooling rack for eight hours. (or until dry.) try to not eat all of these little jewels immediately. try really hard. it's worth it.

muffins with candied orange peel

• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup whole wheat flour
• 3/4 cup white sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/3 cup vegetable oil
• 1 egg, lightly beaten
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1/4 tsp almond extract
• 1/2 cup chopped candied orange peel

Directions

1. preheat oven to 400 degrees F. grease muffin tin.
2. combine flour, sugar, salt and baking powder. make a well in the center. add vegetable oil, egg, milk, and almond extract into the well. gently combine with a fork. fold in chopped candied orange peel.
3. bake for 18 minutes in preheated oven or until done. (test with a toothpick.)