Candied Cactus - cooking recipe

Ingredients

3 cups cactus pieces, cleaned of spines and cubed
3 cups sugar
1/2 cup water
1 tablespoon lemon juice (fresh is best)
2 tablespoons orange juice (fresh is best)
food coloring (optional)

Preparation

Clean off any spines and glochids (the little hairy spines) from your cactus paddles; peel green skin and cube into 1 x 1/2 inch pieces.
Soak overnight in cold water.
Drain very well.
Make a syrup of sugar, water and fruit juices; add cactus and cook until syrup is nearly all absorbed, taking caution not to scorch.
May be tinted with food coloring if desired.