December 21st, 2007 by alice
Tags: Cake, Christmas, Last, Minute
INGREDIENTS
- 575gmixed dried fruit
- 225gsultanas
- 225graisins
- 1lemon, juice and rind of, grated
- 1tablespoonblack treacle
- 150mlport wineor sherry wine
- 125gwhole wheat flour
- 125gplain white flour
- 1teaspoonmixed spice
- 1teaspoonground cinnamon
- 225gbutter
- 225gdark brown sugar
- 4eggs
- 175gglace cherries
- 25gsliced almonds
DIRECTIONS
- Put the mixed dried fruit, sultanas, rind and juice and treacle into a saucepan with the port and bring to the boil.
- Remove from the heat, cover and leave to get cold.
- Meanwhile, set the oven to 150C/300/gas mark 2 and line a 20cm/8 inch square tin or four 10cm/4 inch round tins with greaseproof paper.
- Sift the flours with the spices on to a plate.
- Cream the butter and sugar until very light, then alternately beat in the fruit, eggs and flour.
- Finally stir in the cherries and almonds.
- Spoon the mixture into the tins or tins, hollowing out the centre very slightly so that the surface will be flat.
- Bake the large cake for 2-3 hours and the small ones for 1 1/2 -1 3/4 hours, or until a skewer inserted in the middle comes out clean.
- Leave to cool in the tin(s).
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December 21st, 2007 by alice
Tags: Christmas, Pastry, Puff, Trees
INGREDIENTS
- 1 (17 ounce)package frozenpuff pastry sheets(2 sheets)
- 1/3cuplime curdor prepared puddingor preparedvegetarian pudding
- 1/3cuphoney, warmed
- green sugar crystals
- 8raspberriesor maraschino cherries, halves
DIRECTIONS
- Thaw pastry sheets at room temperature for 30 minutes.
- Preheat oven to 400º F.
- Unfold 1 pastry sheet on lightly floured surface.
- Cut 4 stars (or any shape appropriate for the occasion)of each size.
- Use 3 star cookie cutters in graduated sizes (2-inch, 2½-inch, and 3-inch cookie cutters or Cardboard patterns).
- Repeat with remaining pastry sheet.
- Place stars on baking sheets.
- Bake 10 minutes or until golden.
- Remove from baking sheets and cool on wire rack.
- To assemble trees:.
- Top large star pastry with 1 teaspoon pudding/curd.
- NOTE:.
- If using pudding you might want to use pistachio, or tint vanilla or cheesecake flavor green.
- Top with medium star pastry, turning star so points do not line up.
- Top with 1 teaspoon pudding/curd and place small star pastry on top, turning so points do not line up.
- Repeat with remaining star pastries, making 8 trees.
- Drizzle trees with honey.
- Sprinkle with green sugar (or color of your choice) and top each with a raspberry or cherry half.
- NOTE: Obviously there are many variations of this, fitting many occasions. Change the jelly; pudding for lemon curd; etc.
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December 21st, 2007 by alice
Tags: Cheerny, Cheese, Christmas, Shrimp, Spread, Time
INGREDIENTS
- 2 1/2cupscheddar cheese(about 10 oz, finely shredded)
- 1 (12 ounce)cartoncottage cheese
- 1 (8 ounce)packagecream cheese(softened)
- 2 (4 1/2 ounce)cansshrimp(deveined, drained & finely chopped)
- 2tablespoonsdried onion flakes
- 1/2teaspoongarlic powder
- 1/2teaspoonground red pepper
- 4tablespoonschili sauce
- 4tablespoonsgreen peppers(finely diced)
- 4tablespoonsred peppers(finely diced)
DIRECTIONS
- Use your food proc or immersion blender to combine all ingredients (except the shrimp & diced peppers) till the mixture is smooth. Then stir in the diced shrimp & peppers.
- Decide your presentation, prepare for it accordingly & chill for at least 1 hr b4 removing to garnish as desired & serve w/crackers, bread or choice of veggies.
- Presentation #1: Use the Christmas mold of your choice or bowl lined w/plastic wrap - Form into a log or ball wrapped in plastic wrap - Use a 1-qt rounded tube mold lined w/plastic wrap (meant to resemble a holiday wreath).
- Presentation #2: Prepare as bread or tortilla pinwheels & chill as directed above. In Iceland, bread pinwheels are called brauðterta. They are very popular & are made w/an already cooked, flattened & rolled bread product from the freezer section. It has a durable plastic sheet w/it to help you get a compact roll after you apply the filling. I do not believe this product is available in the U.S., but I suppose you could get creative & make your own.
- To Garnish: The recipe suggested using a combo of finely diced green & red peppers, cucumber, pimento or parsley. I happen to think that plumped dried cranberries would be good for this & even added to the shrimp & cheese mix. Bottom line: Use whatever suits your fancy to create your own desired holiday look.
- Re Pics: I posted pics of the brauðterta & tortilla version as it is a little late to go for a holiday look. In the tortilla pic, I made a stacker & cut wedges. I also got 7 2-in tortilla rounds from ea 8-in tortilla using my cookie cutter.
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December 21st, 2007 by alice
Tags: Christmas, Mice
INGREDIENTS
- 10ouncesmaraschino cherries, with stems
- 14ouncesOreo cookies
- 11ouncesHershey’s chocolate kisses
- 2/3ouncered decorating gel
- sliced almonds
- 11ouncessemi-sweet chocolate chips
- 2teaspoonsCrisco shortening
DIRECTIONS
- Drain cherries well and count them.
- Unwrap an equal amount of chocolate kisses and carefully remove one side of the chocolate cookie from the Oreo, leaving the cream filling on the other side. (Save plain side for another use.).
- Melt the chocolate chips and shortening in the microwave and stir till smooth.
- Dip the cherries in the chocolate, shake to remove excess.
- Set the cherry on the flat side of chocolate kiss, and then position them on cream side of the Oreo with the stem hanging over the edge.
- Position 2 sliced almonds for ears.
- Use red gel for eyes.
- Keep the chocolate warm by setting it in a bowl of warm water.
- Line cookie sheet with wax paper to set the mice on as you put them together. When you get them all done, let them set for a few minutes before decorating.
- To make holly leaves - draw a “v” on each side of the red berry.
- For the leftover melted chocolate and plain half of Oreos. Dip each Oreo in chocolate and either sprinkle coconut or chopped nuts on them.
- NOTE: You could use cherries without stems and substitute chow mein noodles for the tail.
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December 21st, 2007 by alice
Tags: Bread, Christmas, Cranberry, Jewelled, Machine, Walnut
INGREDIENTS
- 360ml tepidwater
- 3tablespoonsolive oil
- 2teaspoonssalt
- 3teaspoonsbrown sugar
- 2tablespoonsnonfat dry milk powder
- 570g strongwhite bread flour
- 7gdried yeast
-
EXTRAS TRAY
- 100gdried cranberries
- 50gwalnut pieces
DIRECTIONS
- Place all the ingredients, EXCEPT the walnuts & the dried cranberries, into your breadmaker in the suggested order; mine is wet first, then dry & then the yeast last.
- Put the walnut pieces & dried cranberries into the Extras tray - if your breadmaker does not have an Extras tray, add them manually in the last knead.
- (Also, if your breadmaker’s slot for Extras is small, add some of them by hand when the Extras tray opens!).
- Bake on White 2lb Rapid Medium crust OR White 2lb Normal Medium crust with the Extras setting if your bread maker has it.
- When the bread has finished baking, remove from the breadmaker carefully, with oven gloves, and allow to cool on a cooling rack.
- Remove the paddle BEFORE slicing, if it has remained in the bread.
- Great with: Cold Meats, Cheeses, Salads & Cream Cheese and also made up as my famous Christmas Sarnie(Sandwich)!
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