Monday, February 27, 2012

Orange Compote


My sister and I were on a walk and someone who lived in our neighborhood shouted across the street, “Do y’all want some oranges?”


Not being the shy one – she said yes!  So here we are – about a mile from the house – each of us with a HUGE bag of oranges in our arms attempting to walk home!  Finally I gave up and called Honey Bunny to pick us up!  Whew!  Besides, one of the bags broke and oranges were starting to roll around!


Where my sister isn’t shy – I would have said no and kept walking.  I’m SO glad we were together!  These oranges are thin skinned and sweet as sugar!

However, I now have my work cut out for me!   I’ve got to figure out what to do with them!  The first order of business was this compote!

It’s a bit thinner than marmalade, but is made along the same principal.  I used Martha Stewart’s recipe and cut the sugar in half – they were that sweet!

The compote was very good – but when I put it over some Greek Yogurt with walnuts….WOWZA!  They were M.F.E.O.  Remember that scene from Sleepless in Seattle?  I tried to find a clip on YouTube for you, but I'm the only one who thinks it's YouTube worthy!


Orange Compote
Adapted from Martha Stewart

Ingredients
  • 4 Tablespoons thinly sliced zest from navel oranges (don’t use a zester – peel and then slice)
  • 4-6 Navel oranges (peel & pith removed with a knife) quartered and thinly sliced (seeds removed) about 2 cups
  • 1/3 cup sugar
  • Coarse salt

Directions
  1. In a sauce pan combine zest, oranges, sugar and salt. 
  2. Add 4 Tablespoons of water and bring to a rapid boil over high heat.
  3. Reduce heat to medium and simmer – stirring occasionally – until the oranges start to break apart.  Approximately 12-15 minutes
  4. Cool to room temperature.


52 comments:

  1. How lucky to live somewhere you can get fresh oranges. I would be jumping up and down for free oranges. And such a great use for them. I love Sleepless in Seattle, I watch it every time it's on. I love Meg's hair in that movie. Lol!

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  2. I wish I was there with you.
    I have always admired Martha Stewart but unfortunately never got to try any of her recipes. Your orange compote looks delicious with yogurt and walnuts.

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  3. OMG this looks so good!! And my kitchen is FULL of oranges and I wasn't sure what I would do with them all. Now I have my answer!

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  4. OMG this looks so good! My entire kitchen is full of oranges and I wasn't sure what to do with them. Now I know!

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  5. hi ann, the oranges look so pretty, makes me want to eat
    great recipe too. will try out. have a nice day

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  6. Very nice and simply recipe Ann. This is bookmarked bc I need these easy and lovely recipe.

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  7. Oh this sounds delicious, Ann! Now I know what to do (aside from simply eating them) with oranges after I make Homemade Orange Syrup.
    There's an idea if you're still looking for making something else from the oranges you got :-) http://estrella05azul.wordpress.com/2010/02/21/recipe-of-the-month-orange-syrup/

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  8. how lucky for u! wish i lived with such generous neighbours haha...the compote looks lovely

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  9. Oh your orange compote looks really vibrant and refreshing :) I will try this soon :)

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  10. Wow - how lovely to be offered fresh oranges. I love that you didn't go for marmalade. The compote is pretty as a jewel and I can imagine it just zings with the greek yoghurt!

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  11. I used to be someone who would have said no to something like that too, but living here has taught me to step out of my comfort zone. And sometimes, when you do, you get the most wonderful suprises! Gotta love that Florida citrus, right!?! This compote looks wonderful!

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  12. Don't you just love living in the South! That compote is excellent and I will have to refer to your recipe next orange harvest!

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  13. Ohhhh to live where you can get oranges right off a tree in your back yard. You girls probably were a big help. I can imagine what it must smell like to have rotting oranges all over your yard...and the bees they much attract.
    Your recipe looks great! I love a good orange. Few and far between for us to find a real good sweet orange here in the N.E..
    Thanks for the recipe, and I am lovin the pics from your new camera! What kind is it?

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  14. Lovely neighbours you have there! At the end of the street there is an unhabited property (yet owned by someone) with three apple trees. Each year they pick the apples and put them in huge bags on the side of the footpath with a sign saying something along the lines of "take as many as you want!".

    So jealous! Not only don't oranges grow where I live but at this time of the year, nothing is in season at all... :<

    Cheers,
    Tobias

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  15. Yet another reason I should live in your neighborhood. It's gorgeous Ann!

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  16. Man! I need to get me some neighbors like that!!

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  17. this is so refreshing and a quick way to make one Ms.Ann..I love the smell of freshly squeezed oranges..passing by Ms.Ann ;)

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  18. Well wasn't that fate that oranges were handed over to you. Definitely a sign to get in the kitchen and create with them! You did land an excellent recipe, perfect for the citrus craving. Your suggestion of ladling it over walnuts and yogurt does make me want to try it.

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  19. Yay for free oranges! I'm kind of laughing at the thought of trying to walk home with that many oranges falling out of my arms! You've already put them to great use I see! This compote looks delish!

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  20. There is a house across the street from my development with 5 orange trees, loaded and going to waste. Next year, I am marching up to their door and asking if I can have some...you can come, too! That compote sounds so good.

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  21. This is awesome! I nver thought of makign compote with oranges. My neighbor just offered me a bunch of oranges. Yah! can't wait to try this!

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  22. I love compote but would never have tried Orange compote! I will now.
    As for the walk I could well picture myself fighting with the broken bag of oranges.....this great opportunity gave you the occasion to eat good and share a lovely recipe!
    Thanks Ann.

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  23. Free oranges? I am sooo jealous! This compote looks lovely, especially paired with yummy Greek yogurt. Awesome recipe.

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    1. Also: I'm awarding you a versatile blogger award - even though you've always received - because I love you and your recipes so much!!!

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  24. Ann, I would eat first half from that bag while walking, really! I've never had an orange from the tree...:( No, you are not the only one who thinks the same about posting something from Sleepless in Seattle. There are two of us now! I love that movie, and I love Seattle, although, there's not much of Seattle in that movie. Anyway, this is a great use of the oranges! Love it!

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  25. I had a very funny imagine in my mind as you were describing the orange dilemma . Great that you got so many oranges. The compote is a great start in using them up. Yummy breakfast photo!

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    1. That looks delicious...

      Aarthi
      http://www.yummytummyaarthi.com/

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  26. I sure do remember that scene Ann. I'll have what she's having. What a stroke of luck to be offered free oranges — I can only suspect they had a tree in the back yard. I remember renting a house for a vaycay one year and they had a grapefruit tree in the back...fresh grapefruit off that lovely tree every morning. YUM.

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  27. This compote looks very fresh and delicious - awesome recipe my friend :D

    Cheers
    Choc Chip Uru
    Latest: Marbled Muffintopcookiecake Hybrid

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  28. I've never tried this. I'll have to give it a go!

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  29. Wow, what a cool compote! and it's made from free oranges. Can't beat it! :)

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  30. Ha I can just imagine you walking down the street, arms full of oranges & some rolling around on the ground. Must have been a sight! I wish we had good oranges up here right now, your compote sounds incredible!! Great recipe!

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  31. I love compote as well as oranges, but adding some yogurt...great idea! Looks delicious :)

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  32. Looks great & tasty too! I'm trying tomorrow, still have few oranges in my kitchen! Thanks for sharing your amazing recipes! Love your blog, so refreshing!

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  33. This sounds fantastic, Ann!! I absolutely love the idea of serving it over Greek yogurt! Also... I'd have been shy too and just kept my head down and kept walking lol. I can feel for you there.

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  34. That's some gorgeous orange compote! And that's so nice you got all those oranges!!!!

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  35. This looks delicious! Sounds like it will go perfectly with yogurt.

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  36. Talk about an orange windfall. What a great neighbor and good for you that your sister was there to accept (I would have been too shy to accept too). I think this orange compote was a wonderful idea! :)

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  37. I love the story behind the oranges! And this compote looks incredible - especially with that yogurt! Yummmmm. I'll need to try this next time I come across some seriously spectacular oranges.

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  38. Terrific first response in using up the oranges!
    So funny that your husband had to come and pick you both up :)

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  39. Ooh, I am sooo jealous. I wish I had a tropical neighbor with oranges!

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  40. That is a funny story. My husband and I are those neighbors. We own the property next to our house and there are orange trees, grapefruits, tangerines and every year it is the same thing. How to get rid of them, they have to picked off the trees because right now they are starting to bloom for the new crop. The blossoms smell wonderful sort of like jasmine. Hubby bags them up and sets them on the sidewalk and by morning they are all gone. I like your compote, I definitely need ideas for this abundance of citrus. Thanks Ann.

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  41. Free fresh oranges, yum! I would have said no and kept walking too :) This compote looks great, what a great idea!

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  42. First of all,I just read your previous post and wanted to say I enjoyed it! You sound exactly like me when it comes to shopping, but the food section in Harrod's looked like heaven on earth! Your orange compote looks perfect! I I love a good orange, marmalade, compote, preserves, or pretty much anything orange!

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  43. This looks refreshing and healthy. It also brings back memories of one of my favorite meals in Greece -- yogurt with fruit, walnuts and honey. Sounds like you don't need the honey with those sweet oranges, but it sure looks good.

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  44. This recipe looks like an easy and simple one. What a great idea to make an orange compote. Looks yummy!
    I just read your Harrods post, missed the chance to enter in the give away. The photographs look wonderful and make me want to go back to London for a holiday.

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  45. That was nice of the guy to give away oranges. But I would have said no thanks and kept on walking. Great recipe.

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  46. How fun to get oranges from someone's tree. And your compote sounds delicious for anytime of the day. Your pictures are beautiful too!

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  47. What a sweet gift from a stranger! They look and sound fantastic, and the compote to die for, I've never had orange compote, but mmmmm, I think I need to!

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  48. I LOVE orange compote and just how easy this is to put together!

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  49. Nothing beats fruit fresh from the tree! I’m trying to grow my own orange, lemon and lime tree, but since Holland weather is not really cooperating…I don’t think they will ever bear fruit.

    Love your orange compote!

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