FRESH ORANGE SLICES WITH MOROCCAN SPICES

Ingredients:

10 large navel oranges

2 tablespoons orange flower water

1 tablespoon sugar

6 sprigs fresh mint,

1/2 pound pitted dates

Pinches of ras el hanout:

3/4 teaspoon freshly ground nutmeg

1/4 teaspoon ground cloves

1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

1 teaspoon freshly ground white pepper

1 3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

2 teaspoons cardamom

1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper

Confectioners' sugar

Directions:

Peel and section the oranges squeezing any juices over the pieces in a bowl.  Stir in the orange flower water and sugar.  Cover and refrigerate this mixture for an hour.

Ras el hanout: Combine the spices and shake well to mix.  Keep tightly sealed in a container.

Just before serving shred the mint leaves, chop up the dates.  Mound the oranges on a platter.  Scatter on mint leaves and dates.  Add pinches of the ras el hanout spices and sprinkle on confectioners sugar.