Honey Vanilla Orange Marmalade

We got a bit of honey from our bees last year and I thought it would be nice to pair it up with some orange marmalade.   And then I thought I'd jazz it up a bit more and add a vanilla bean.

Hello, Sunshine!    This is a brilliant improvisation on the marmalade theme.  It was easy, too.



Honey Vanilla Orange Marmalade
www.rurification.com

4 oranges, sectioned and zested
1 cup water
1 cup honey
1 cup sugar
1 vanilla bean [or a half if you want more honey flavor to shine through]

Zest the oranges first and boil the zest in the water and honey while you're sectioning the rest of the fruit.  Cut the vanilla bean in half and slice up the half to release the seeds.  Put all of the ingredients together in a large pot and boil until it reaches 220 degrees or the gelling temp you need for your altitude [see my Jam page, tab above, for that information.] Remove the vanilla bean.   Ladle into jars.   Process 10 minutes for canning. 

Note:  You can keep that vanilla bean and use it again, or you can drop it in a jar of sugar and let the sugar absorb the flavor.   That's what I do.   That sugar makes some amazing cookies.   And is great in tea.   Or in another batch of jam - like strawberry.  Mmmm.