
I bought a huge bag of oranges a couple of weeks ago and I realized I finally had my materials for making candied orange peel! I'd been wanting to try it since Thanksgiving but never got to it. And then
Vanessa tried it so I used the same
recipe she did.
I love being able to use the peels like that instead of just adding to my enormous mulch pile. Sure, it likes it but I like sweet treats too!
From
eh not so much
To
yum!
As per the recipe's suggestion I used the leftover syrup to make a pitcher of iced tea. I don't care how cold it is, iced tea is always drinkable at my house! I LOVE TEA.

I've also been known to dry the peels of oranges and mandarins for later use in potpourri.

You can mix it with things like cedar or even put it in a little pan of water to simmer on the stove with cinnamon and cloves - best air freshener ever!
I was also reading that dried orange peel makes a great additive to hot tea - haven't tried it but the leftover water from blanching the orange peels did smell pretty good. Homemade orange tea...ooh I'll have to try that with my mint leaves this summer.
A chunk of orange peel thrown into your garbage disposal and ground up also freshens it - and we know they always need that.
So what clever uses for orange peel have you found?
Because it really is trash to treasure!