Nectarines, Strawberries and Melon in Orange-Honey Spiced Syrup

• 2 large oranges
• 2 cups water
• 1/3 cup honey
• 4 large whole star anise
• 1 cinnamon stick, broken in half
• 1 vanilla bean, split lengthwise
• 1 4-pound honeydew melon, halved, seeded
• 3 large nectarines (about 1 pound), pitted, cut into 1/2-inch-thick slices
• 1 1/21-pint baskets strawberries, hulled, quartered
• Orange peel strips (optional)

1. Using vegetable peeler, remove peel (orange part only) from oranges.
2. Set peel aside (reserve oranges for another use).
3. Combine 2 cups water, honey, star anise and cinnamon stick in medium saucepan.
4. Scrape in seeds from vanilla bean; add bean.
5. Bring to boil, stirring to dissolve honey.
6. Reduce heat to medium-low.
7. Simmer until liquid is reduced to 1 1/2 cups, about 8 minutes.
8. Remove from heat.
9. Stir in reserved orange peel.
10. Cool syrup.
11. Strain into large bowl; discard solids.
12. (Can be made 1 day ahead; chill.)
13. Using melon baller, scoop out enough fruit from melon to equal 4 cups.
14. Combine melon balls, nectarines and strawberries in large bowl.
15. Add syrup; toss to coat.
16. Cover and refrigerate at least 5 hours and up to 8 hours.
17. Ladle fruit mixture into bowls.
18. Garnish with orange peel strips, if desired.

oranges, water, honey, star anise, cinnamon, vanilla bean, honeydew, nectarines, baskets strawberries

Taken from www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/nectarines-strawberries-and-melon-in-orange-honey-spiced-syrup-5411 (may not work)