Manzapades (Lemon Marzipan) - cooking recipe

Ingredients

dried lemon peels of 12 lemon
1 cup blanched almond, finely ground
2 cups granulated sugar
1 cup powdered sugar

Preparation

Put the lemon peels in a bowl with water to cover. Let soak for 2 days, changing the water every 3 to 4 hours thru the day and evening.
On the third day, rinse the peels and put into a large saucepan with water to cover. Place over low heat and simmer for 45 to 60 minutes, until peels are very soft.
Remove from the heat and mash to a pulp or pulse in a food processor. You should have about one cup of pulp.
Return pulp to large saucepan and add the ground almonds and 2 cups granulated sugar. Mix well and place over low heat. Stir often with a wooden spoon. Cook until the mixture thickens and starts peeling away from the pan sides.
Remove from the heat and pour onto a chilled marble slab or chilled platter. Let cool.
When cool, spread the powdered sugar onto a separate plate. Kneed the mixture a little and them pinch off pieces the size of hazelnuts. Roll them into balls and then roll in the powdered sugar.
Put onto a large platter and when finished making balls, dust the marzipan again with the powdered sugar.
Let the marzipan rest for 24 hours before serving.