Buttered oranges

4 servings

Ingredients

Quantity Ingredient
5 Oranges; large, juicy
4 tablespoons Sugar
6 Egg yolks
2 tablespoons Sherry
1 teaspoon Rosewater; optional
4 ounces Butter; 1/2 cup
1 cup Heavy cream
Crystallized violets;for decoration, optional

Directions

"A recipe for Buttered Oranges can be found in Ann Blendcowe's cookery book published in 1694; they are also sometimes referred to as Nell Gwynn's Buttered Oranges, as she was believed to have served them to Charles II. Buttered Oranges are delicious, and they look spectacular."

To prepare the Orange Shells: Hold the orange so the stalk (or navel) is at the base and using a small knife cut off the top about two inches down. Scoop out all the flesh, being carefully not to break the skin. This can be done quite easily with a teaspoon. Using a pair of scissors, cut off the stalk that remains in the bottom, wash the orange and set it aside (the top can be discarded). Repeat this procedure with three more of the oranges. Grate the peel off the remaining orange and then squeeze the juice from this orange into the bowl. Place the flesh you have extracted from the other oranges in the sieve and squeeze the juice in the same bowl. Mix the juice with the sugar and egg yolks in a double boiler over low heat. Beat with a wire whisk until the mixture begins to thicken. Remove the top of the double boiler and cool in a bowl of cold water while you continue to stir; then add the sherry and rosewater. Remove the bowl from the cold water. Cut the butter into 1-inch cubes and mash it into the mixture piece by piece. Add the orange peel. Whip ¾ of the cream and fold it into the mixture. Pour the mixture into the four orange shells and refrigerate for at least 2 hours. Before serving, place three crystallized violets on the top of each orange; whip the remaining cream and force it through a pastry tube in a curly pattern around the top edges. SERVES:4

SOURCE:_Great British Cooking: A Well Kept Secret_ posted by Anne MacLellan

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