Baker's Angel Flake Coconut Macaroons

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Ingredients:

• 1 14 ounce package sweetened coconut 5 1/3 cups
• 2/3 cup sugar
• 6 tablespoons flour
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 4 egg whites
• 1 teaspoon almond extract

Steps:

• Mix coconut sugar flour and salt in a large bowl Stir in egg whites not whipped and almond extract until well blended Drop by tablespoonful onto greased and floured cookie sheets
• Bake 325F for 20 minutes or until edges of cookies are golden brown Immediately remove from cookie sheets to wire racks Cool completely

Broiled Winter Squash, Carrots and Onions

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Ingredients:

• 1 medium butternut squash
• 3 large carrots
• 2 large white onions
• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 1/2 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon curry powder

Steps:

• Preheat your broiler and set the oven rack to the highest level so that your veggies are 2-3 inches from the heating element
• Peel
• deseed
• and cut butternut squash I prefer to cut it into about 1/3 matchstick
• but dicing works well also
• Peel onions
• cut in half and then into 1/4-1/3 strips
• Scrub carrots and cut into large matchsticks or 1/4 coins
• Put the veggies into a large bowl
• drizzle with olive oil and toss to coat Sprinkle with all spices and toss again to even distribute spices
• Spread veggies in a single layer on a large jelly roll pan You may have to do more than one batch
• Broil veggies for 4-5 minutes
• or until the first side gets medium brown Stir or flip veggies and put in for another 3-4 mins or until the outsides are crispy and the insides are tender Repeat with any remaining veggies Serve as soon as possible
• though I was able to put the first batch in a warmed casserole and keep until the second batch was done without comprimising the texture

Butterhorns Aka Rugelach / Rugulach / Snails / Schnecken

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Ingredients:

• 1 cup butter at room temp
• 8 ounces cream cheese at room temp
• 2 teaspoons granulated sugar
• 2 cups flour
• 1 egg white beaten with
• 1 tablespoon water for glazing
• granulated sugar for sprinkling
• 1 cup walnuts or 1 cup pecans finely chopped
• 1/2 cup brown sugar firmly packed
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon

Steps:

• Cream butter
• cream cheese
• and sugar until soft
• Sift in the flour and mix to make a soft dough
• Divide dough into 4 equal balls
• flatten each one and wrap in wax paper
• Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes
• Make the filling by mixing all ingredients in a small bowl
• Preheat oven to 375
• Working with one disk of dough at a time
• roll thinly on a lightly floured surface into a circle
• about 9 in diameter
• Brush the surface with the egg white glaze and sprinkle the dough with 1/4 of the filling
• Slice the dough with a sharp knife or pizza cutter into quarters and then each quarter into 4 equal sections
• to form 16 triangles
• Starting from the base of each triangle
• roll up to form spirals
• You can curve them into crescents if you like
• Continue with the other 3 disks of dough
• Place on baking sheets and brush with egg white glaze
• Sprinkle lightly with granulated sugar
• Bake until just golden
• about 10 minutes
• For 32 extra large butterhorns
• divide the dough in half instead of fourths and roll each disk into a 12 inch circle and use half the filling
• Continue as above but bake for 15-20 minutes

Chai Tea Gift Mix

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Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup nonfat dry milk powder
• 1/2 cup powdered vanilla coffee creamer dry
• 3 tablespoons powdered sugar
• 1/4 cup unsweetened instant tea dry
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves

Steps:

• Mix all together and place in pretty airtight container and attach these instructions For each serving place 3 to 4 heaping teaspoons mix in a cup
• Fill with 8 ounces very hot water
• For creamier chai use half milk and half water

Christmas Dried-Fruit Jam

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Ingredients:

• 3 lbs tart apples cored wedges
• 6 cups water
• 1 1/2 cups dried figs chopped
• 1 1/2 cups dried apricots chopped
• 1 1/2 cups dried pears chopped
• 1 cup dried dates pitted chopped
• 1 cup dried prune pitted chopped
• 1/4 cup candied lemon peel
• 1/4 cup candied orange peel
• 1/4 cup candied cherry
• 1 orange juice and zest of finely grated
• 1 lemon juice and zest of finely grated
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon anise seed crushed
• 4 cups sugar
• 1/2 cup walnut pieces
• 1/2 cup slivered almonds

Steps:

• Place apples in large pot with water
• simmer until soft
• In a large bowl
• add all the chopped amp; pitted fruit
• Press soft apples with a potato masher
• then spoon into a square of cheesecloth clipped to a footed colander
• suspended over the bowl of fruit
• Let apples drip over fruit WITHOUT squeezing or forcing--overnight
• Next morning add remaining ingredients EXCEPT for nuts to a large sauce-pot
• adding soaked fruit
• Stir
• then simmer gently until sugar dissolves; bring to a boil; boiling for five minutes
• Skim survace
• add nuts
• boil another five minutes until 200F sea level
• Remove pan from heat; spoon jam into hot jars
• add two-part lids; process in boiling water bath for 15 minutes sea level
• Label and store in cool
• dark cupboard
• GIFT GIVING Use pretty jars and add a decorative label -- include in a basket with other home-made kitchen gifts How nice of you
• USES As described above OR as a replacement for traditional with suet mincemeat

Cranberry French Toast

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Ingredients:

• 1 loaf challah or other yeast egg bread
• 1 8 ounce package light cream cheese
• 1 cup sugar or Splenda
• 1 1/2 cups fresh cranberries or frozen some have even used dried cranberries and you may sub strawberries too
• 1/4 cup butter 1/4 cup
• 4 eggs
• 1/2 cup whole milk or almond soy or rice milk

Steps:

• Slice challah bread into thick pieces
• Combine the cream cheese sugar and cranberries together Cut a pocket into the bread and stuff cream cheese mixture inside
• Melt butter over medium heat in a skillet
• Beat eggs and milk together in a large bowl Dip stuffed bread into egg mixture coating both sides Place bread in skillet cook 1 to 2 minutes on each side till a nice golden brown
• Enjoy

Easy Gingerbread Cookies

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Ingredients:

• 1 6 ounce package butterscotch pudding mix or 1 6 ounce package Vegetarian butterscotch pudding mix
• 3/4 cup butter
• 3/4 cup brown sugar firmly packed
• 1 egg
• 2 1/4 cups flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 tablespoon ground ginger
• 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

Steps:

• Cream pudding and pie filling mix with butter and sugar; add egg and blend well
• Combine flour baking soda ginger and cinnamon; blend into pudding mixture
• Chill dough for 1 hour or until firm
• Roll dough on a floured board to about 1/4 inch thickness and cut with cookie cutter
• Place on greased baking sheets; use a straw to make a hole in the top of the cookie for hanging on the tree if desired
• Bake at 350F for 10 to 12 minutes
• Remove from oven and cool on wire rack
• Decorate if desired

Easy Sticky Toffee, Apple and Cognac Pudding

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Ingredients:

• 200 g stoned dates
• 100 g shelled walnuts or 100 g shelled pecans
• 2 dessert apples peeled cored chopped
• 3 tablespoons golden syrup
• 4 tablespoons cognac
• 100 g butter cut into cubes
• 2 eggs beaten
• 140 g soft brown sugar
• 170 g self-raising flour
• 1 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
• 180 g soft brown sugar
• 100 g butter
• 6 tablespoons double cream
• 50 g walnuts roughly chopped or 50 g pecans

Steps:

• Heat oven to 160C or 320F
• Whizz up the dates in a food processor until chopped up a little and then add the walnuts or pecans apple golden syrup amp; cognac Pulse a few times until coarsely chopped amp; mixed together but still chunky
• Add the butter eggs amp; sugar amp; pulse a few times to combine
• Finally add the flour amp; bicarbonate of soda amp; keep pulsing until everything comes together amp; is mixed well
• Butter a 15 litre pudding basin amp; tip in all the mixture
• Smooth and level the top amp; bake in the pre-heated oven for 1 hr 20 mins or 1 hr 30 mins or until a skewer inserted comes out almost clean
• While the pudding is baking make the toffee sauce; tip the sugar into a saucepan and add the butter amp; the cream Bring to a rapid boil amp; then simmer until the sugar is dissolved amp; the mixture has thickened amp; is caramel in colour
• To serve turn out the pudding and place the walnuts or pecans over the top of the pudding amp; pour over the toffee sauce; place pudding under a grill and cook until the sauce is bubbling
• Serve with Ice Cream Creme fraiche or Chantilly Cream
• FREEZER
• Make the pudding ahead of time and freeze in the pudding container for up to 1 month To reheat defrost amp; cook in the microwave for 8-10 minutes on mediumMake the toffee sauce and serve as before

Eggless Eggnog

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Ingredients:

• 2 1/2 cups silken tofu
• 2 cups soymilk
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• 1/2-3/4 cup dry sweetener
• 2 tablespoons maple syrup
• 1/4 teaspoon turmeric
• 1/4-1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
• 1/2-1 cup rum or 1/2-1 cup brandy

Steps:

• In a blender or food processor puree all the ingredients thoroughly until smooth and creamy
• Serve well chilled

Festive Butter

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Ingredients:

• 4 1/2 ounces butter softened
• 8 tablespoons fresh parsley finely chopped
• 1 roasted pepper peeled and cut into short strips

Steps:

• Mix together the butter parsley and red pepper strips
• Wrap the red pepper butter up in foil forming a cylinder shape Chill in the refrigerator for 24 hours
• Cut the butter in half cm thick slices and serve

Festive Candied Apple Chex

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Ingredients:

• 3 cups Corn Chex
• 3 cups Rice Chex
• 3 cups Wheat Chex
• 1 cup pecan halves
• 1/2 cup red cinnamon candies
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1/4 cup margarine or 1/4 cup butter melted not spread or tub product
• 1/4 cup water
• 1 cup cut-up dried apple pieces 1/2- to 3/4-inch pieces

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 300
• Mix cereals and pecans in large bowl and set aside
• Heat next four ingredients in a large saucepan over medium heat stirring frequently until melted and blended
• Pour over cereal mixture gently stirring until evenly coated
• Spread in ungreased large roasting pan and bake for 20 minutes
• Stir in dried apple pieces and bake for 15 additional minutes
• Spread on waxed paper or aluminum foil to cool
• Sprinkle with ground cinnamon if desired
• Store in airtight container

Fruit and Flower Salad

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Ingredients:

• 1/2 cantaloupe
• 1 cup fresh pineapple cubed
• 1/2 pint fresh strawberries
• 1/2 pint fresh blackberries
• 1 banana peeled and thinly sliced
• 1 cup green seedless grape
• 1 mango peeled and cubed
• 4 ounces swiss cheese
• 2 tablespoons rose water to taste
• 1 cup plain low-fat yogurt
• 4 tablespoons mango chutney to taste
• 1/2 cup almonds toasted
• 1 cup fresh edible flower

Steps:

• Combine fruit and cheese in bowl
• Sprinkle with rosewater
• Blend yoghurt and chutney
• Pour over salad
• toss if desired
• To serve spoon individual portions and garnish with flowers

Ginger Chocolate Shortbread

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Ingredients:

• 1 cup butter at room temperature
• 1/2 cup superfine sugar also known as fruit sugar
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup finely chopped preserved gingerroot not candied but the type preserved in syrup
• 3 ounces semisweet chocolate chopped

Steps:

• Please note that this recipe calls for preserved ginger
• which is the ginger typically sold in jars or in bulk stores where I buy mine that is in a sweet syrup; the type of ginger that is candied and sugared is NOT the type of ginger to use
• Place soft butter and superfine sugar in a mixing bowl and
• using an electric mixer
• blend butter and sugar together until fluffy
• Slowly stir in flour
• then chopped ginger
• then chopped chocolate
• The mixture will be crumbly
• Divide the dough in half and shape each half into a log about 1-1/2 inches in diameter; wrap logs tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate until firm
• about one hour
• Dough keeps well in the fridge for several days
• so theres no need to bake the whole batch up at one time if youre pressed for time
• When ready to bake
• preheat oven to 300F
• Cut logs of cookie dough into slices about 3/8-inch thick I found a sharp serrated steak knife worked better for me than my chefs knife; arrange about two inches apart on ungreased cookie sheet and bake in centre of oven for 18 to 20 minutes
• Cool cooked cookies on a wire rack; do not store until completely cool

Holiday Eggnog Cookies

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Ingredients:

• 2 1/2 cups flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 3/4 cup softened butter
• 1/2 cup eggnog
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 egg yolks
• 1 tablespoon ground nutmeg

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 300
• Mix flour baking powder cinnamon and 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
• Mix well with a whisk; set aside for now
• Cream the sugar and butter until the mixture forms like a grainy paste
• Add in the eggnog vanilla extract and egg yolks
• Beat on medium speed until smooth
• Add the flour mixture and beat at low speed until combined but do not over mix
• Drop rounded teaspoonfuls 1 inch apart onto ungreased baking sheets
• Lightly sprinkle with nutmeg
• Bake 23-25 minutes or until bottoms are light brown
• Let cool completely

Kindness Cake

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Ingredients:

• 1 cup butter softened
• 1 1/2 cups white sugar
• 3 large eggs
• 1 tablespoon freshly grated orange rind
• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 1/2 cups buttermilk
• 1 1/4 cups chopped pitted dates
• 1 cup cranberries fresh or frozen
• 1 cup chopped almonds
• 2 tablespoons butter softened
• 2 cups icing sugar sift through a sieve after measuring to remove lumps
• 2 tablespoons orange juice

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F; line 2 8x4 loaf pans with parchment paper and set aside
• In a mixing bowl beat butter with sugar until mixture is fluffy
• Next beat in eggs 1 at a time then stir in orange rind
• In a separate mixing bowl combine flour baking soda and powder and salt
• Stir dry mixture into butter mixture alternately with buttermilk dry buttermilk dry buttermilk finally dry
• Into this batter stir in dates cranberries and almonds just until combined
• Scrape batter into the two prepared loaf pans and bake in the centre of preheated oven until a tester comes out clean about 75 minutes
• Turn out onto cooling racks and cool completely
• You could now wrap cakes in heavyduty foil and freeze for up to one month if you wish
• To make icing beat butter with just 1/4 cup of the icing sugar then beat in orange juice
• Beat in remaining sugar until icing is smooth
• Spread icing over tops of both cakes

Kringles

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Ingredients:

• 3/4 cup butter softened
• 1 package active dry yeast
• 1/4 cup water 105-115F
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1/4 cup warm milk 105-115F
• 1 egg
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon lemon extract
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 cups pie filling poppyseed prune apricot raspberry
• 1 cup sliced almonds
• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 1 -2 tablespoon water

Steps:

• In a mixing bowl stir the yeast up with the warm water; add the sugar warm milk egg salt and lemon extract mixing well
• Stir in 1 3/4 cups of the flour until it forms a large ball
• Turn ball out onto a floured surface and knead in the remaining flour until the dough is smooth and elastic about 2-3 minutes
• Cover the dough and let rise about 5-7 minutes
• Flour a surface and roll out the dough into an 8x12-inch rectangle; place one sheet of the butter on top of the dough at one edge
• Fold the 1/3 that has no butter down over the middle third; then fold the side with the butter over the top of that it should be about 4-inches wide by 8-inches long
• Now fold the 4-inch side over 1/3 of the way and the same with the opposite end leaving a stack of dough
• Loosely cover the dough with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30-40 minutes
• Now roll the refrigerated dough out again to a 12x8-inch square
• Place the last square of butter to one side of the dough and do the folding process again then refrigerate the dough for 2 hours
• Cut the dough in half keep the other in the refrigerator while waiting; and roll out to a 6x24-inch rectangle if hard to roll allow to rest for 5 minutes or so
• Spread half the filling on the middle of the dough and sprinkle with half of the almonds
• Fold the dough over 1/3 of the way; brush lightly with water then fold over the other third and pinch the dough to form a seal
• Grease a baking sheet and place the kringle on forming it into a ring as you do and sealing the ends together; pat the kringle with your hands to keep it flat
• Repeat with remaining kringle
• Allow kringles to rise for about an hour or until a fingerprint remains when touched
• Bake at 350F for 20-25 minutes or until golden; cool on wire racks
• Prepare icing by mixing powdered sugar with enough water to form a drizzling consistency; drizzle over kringles while they are still warm

Lemon Nut Bread

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Ingredients:

• 3/4 cup margarine or 3/4 cup butter softened
• 1 1/4 cups sugar
• 3 eggs
• 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1/3 cup lemon juice
• 3/4 cup chopped pecans
• 2 teaspoons grated fresh lemon rind

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees
• Cream margarine and sugar until light and fluffy
• Blend in eggs
• Add combined dry ingredients to creamed mixture
• alternating with milk and juice
• mixing well after each addition
• Stir in nuts and rind
• Pour into greased and floured 9x5 loaf pan
• Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour and 20 minutes
• or until toothpick inserted comes out fairly clean
• Cool 5 minutes
• then remove from pan

Molasses Spice Cookies With Dark Rum Glaze

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Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup plus 1/3 c sugar
• 2 1/4 cups flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
• 1 1/2 teaspoons ginger
• 1/2 teaspoon clove
• 1/4 teaspoon allspice
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 12 tablespoons unsalted butter softened
• 1/3 cup packed dark brown sugar
• 1 large egg yolk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1/3 cup molasses light or dark
• 1 cup confectioners' sugar
• 3 tablespoons dark rum

Steps:

• Adjust an oven rack to the middle position Heat oven to 375 Spread 1/2 cup sugar in a shallow dish for coating Set aside Whisk the flour
• baking soda
• spices
• pepper and salt together in a large bowl Set aside
• Beat butter
• brown sugar and remaining 1/3 cup sugar together in a large bowl using an elecctric mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy
• 3-6 inutes Beat in egg yolk and vanilla until combined
• about 30 seconds Beat in the molasses until incorporated
• about 30 seconds
• scraping down the side of the bowl and bveater as needed
• Reduce mixer speed to low Slowly mix in the flour mixture until combined
• about 30 seconds Dough will be soft Give the dough a final stir with a rubhger spatula to make sure it is combinewd
• Using wet hands
• roll 2 T dough at a time into balls
• then roll in the sugar to coat Lay on two parchment-lined baking sheets
• spaced about 2 inches apart Bake
• one sheet at a tim
• until edges set and tops are cracked but centers are still soft and underdone Peek thru cracks to check centers Its about 10-12 minutes Rotate the baking sheet halfway thru baking
• Let cookies cool on sheet for 10 minutes You can serve them at this point or transfer to a wire rack
• cooling completely before putting on the rum glaze
• To make glaze
• just mix the confectioners sugar and rum together until smooth Drizzle it over the cooled cookies Let set for 10-15 minutes before serving
• NOTE if you want to make these w/o the rum glaze
• you could also use a variation that has orange essence in it Just add 1 t grated orange zest to the dough when you add the molasses Process 2/3 cup sugar with 2 t grated orange zest in a food processor until fragrance
• about 10 seconds Use that for rolling instead of the plain white sugar

Mulling Syrup for Wine

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Ingredients:

• 250 g golden caster sugar
• 3 cinnamon sticks
• 12 juniper berries
• 6 -9 whole cloves
• 3/4 teaspoon grated nutmeg
• 2 tablespoons Grand Marnier

Steps:

• Put all the ingredients into a large pan with 900ml or 1 1/2 pints of water
• Heat the mixture very gently to dissolve the sugar slowly then boil for five minutes
• Leave to cool in the pan
• Sterilise a funnel by pouring boiling water over it then use to divide the mulling syrup among three sterilised bottles 300ml or 10 fl oz each
• Divide the cinnamon sticks and juniper berries among the bottles
• Seal and store for up to two months
• When ready to serve pour the syrup into a pan add three slices each of orange and lemon plus a bottle of medium red wine
• Warm through

Pecan Tassies

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Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup pecans coarsely chopped
• 3/4 cup brown sugar
• 1 1/2 tablespoons butter melted
• 1 egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 dash salt

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350F
• Mix all filling ingredients together well
• Using a teaspoon
• carefully distribute filling mixture into pastry-lined muffin cups
• Fill each pastry cup 3/4s of the way full
• The amount needed does vary because there is no standard to the size of mini-muffin cups mine are just about the smallest Ive seen and I use about a 3/4 tsp of filling per tassie
• Bake for 20-25 minutes
• Immediately
• and very carefully using the tip of a pointed knife
• gently knudge out each tassie out of its cup and transfer to a rack to cool
• If they cool in the pan too long
• they are more difficult to remove
• Your first couple may break those are the ones I eat on the spot- the rewards of making them
• but you will soon learn just the right move to remove them perfectly

Pineapple Pickle Relish

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Ingredients:

• 20 ounces pineapple chunks in juice drained
• 8 ounces pineapple chunks in juice drained
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1 cup white sugar
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 1 teaspoon whole cloves
• 3/4 cup apple cider vinegar

Steps:

• Combine brown and white sugars cinnamon stick cloves and apple cider vinegar in a medium saucepan
• Bring to a boil over medium heat and simmer 10 minutes
• Add both cans of drained pineapple chunks Bring to a boil again and cook 10 more minutes
• Put in jars and store in the refrigerator

Potatoes Dauphinoise

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Ingredients:

• 4 medium potatoes
• 1 tablespoon butter or 1 tablespoon margarine
• 2 -3 cloves garlic crushed and chopped finely
• salt
• fresh ground black pepper
• grated nutmeg
• 1 cup cream low fat is fine
• 1 cup milk no fat or low fat is fine
• 1 cup grated tasty cheese low fat is fine

Steps:

• Variation This recipe also works well with orange sweet potato kumera
• If using sweet potato try substituting the nutmeg with a generous sprinkling of caraway seeds over each layer
• Yum
• Grease a 6 cup capacity ovenproof dish generously with the butter or margarine then smear the garlic around the bottom and sides of the dish
• I use a round glass pyrex dish Peel potatoes and slice thinly into rounds
• I use the slicing blade of my food processor
• Line the bottom of the dish with a single layer of overlapping potato slices
• Sprinkle generously with salt pepper and nutmeg
• Repeat this layering and sprinkling process until you have used all of the potato slices
• In a large jug combine cream and milk and stir well
• Pour this mixture over the potato slices gently easing the potato away from the sides of the dish to allow the liquid to penetrate evenly
• Place the dish onto a microwave safe plate and cook uncovered in a microwave on MEDIUM HIGH for 15- 20 minutes
• Check occasionally
• If the liquid in the potatoes boils over simply pour it from the plate back into the dish and continue cooking
• Microwave just until you can push the blade of a sharp knife through the potato layers without feeling any crunchy resistance
• Having reached this stage you can go on to cook the dish in the oven or cover with plastic wrap and keep in the refrigerator for several hours or more before cooking
• Pre-set your oven to 180C 350F
• Sprinkle the top of the potatoes with the grated cheese and place the dish on an upper shelf in the oven for 20 minutes or until the top turns golden brown
• This may take slightly longer if taking the dish straight from the refrigerator To serve cut into wedges and remove each wedge carefully with a spatula

Pumpkin Spice Bars

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Ingredients:

• 1 package spice cake mix
• 16 ounces cooked pumpkin or 16 ounces cooked canned pumpkin
• 8 ounces cream cheese softened
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 lb confectioners' sugar
• 1 cup flaked coconut lightly toasted
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil or 1/2 cup canola oil
• 4 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350F degrees
• Grease a jelly roll pan large baking sheet with a small edge all the way around
• In a large bowl using a mixer at low speed blend cake mix with salad oil eggs and pumpkin
• Blend until moistened
• Then mix at medium speed for 2 minutes
• Pour into prepared pan; bake until top is firm to touch; about 25 minutes
• Meanwhile at low speed beat cream cheese vanilla and cinnamon
• Add confectioners sugar; beat until smooth
• spread evenly over completely cooled cake
• Sprinkle with toasted coconut
• To serve cut in 2 inch bars

Red Onion Marmalade

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Ingredients:

• 6 red onions
• 2 teaspoons olive oil
• 1 teaspoon butter
• 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
• 1/4 cup brown sugar

Steps:

• have frypan on lowest heat
• add olive oil and butter
• dont stir
• all onions in at once nicely
• after 10 minutes pour over the balsmic vinegar and brown sugar
• dont stir you can shake
• after 5-10 minutes
• get tongs
• turn everything over
• can put lid on
• leave about 45 minutes-1 hour
• cool
• then transfer to bowl
• serve or keeps well in the fridge

Roasted Broccoli With Ancho Butter

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Ingredients:

• 3 ancho chilies about 1 1/2 ounces
• boiling water
• 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
• 1/4 cup pine nuts
• 4 large garlic cloves thinly sliced
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
• 3/4 cup unsalted butter softened
• salt
• 3 heads broccoli cut lengthwise into large spears stalks peeled 1 1/2-pounds

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 450
• In a heatproof medium bowl cover anchos with boiling water and let sit until softened about 20 minutes Drain the chiles and pat dry with towel Discard stems and seeds then coarsely chop
• While the anchos are softening heat 2 tablespoons of the olive oil in a small skillet until shimmering Add pine nuts and cook over moderately high heat shaking pan for about 3 minutes or until lightly browned Add garlic cumin and coriander and cook stirring until the garlic is softened and the pine nuts are deep golden about 1 minute longer Set aside until cool
• In a blender or food processor puree the pine nut mixture with the anchos and butter Season the ancho butter with salt and transfer to a bowl
• In a large mixing bowl toss broccoli with the remaining olive oil and spread onto 2 large rimmed baking sheets Roast the broccoli in the upper and lower thirds of the oven for 15 minutes or until crisp-tender After 7 minutes swap shelves and rotate pans Transfer broccoli to a bowl and toss with the ancho butter Season with salt and return to baking sheets and roast for 10 minutes longer or until the broccoli is tender Arrange broccoli on a platter and serve warm or at room temperature

Snow Cosmo

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Ingredients:

• 3 ounces smirnoff twist citrus-infused vodka
• 2 ounces Cointreau liqueur or 2 ounces patron citronge
• 3 ounces white cranberry juice
• 1 slice lime to taste
• cranberries garnish

Steps:

• Add all ingredients to a cocktail shaker with ice and shake
• Strain into a long stemmed glass and garnish with skewered cranberries

Sparkling Lime Christmas Punch

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Ingredients:

• 1 12 ounce can welch's frozen white grape juice
• 1 12 ounce can minute maid frozen limeade concentrate
• 1 2 liter bottle Sprite chilled
• ice cube
• frozen cranberries

Steps:

• Mix frozen juices according to directions on the can add 7 cans water
• Add Sprite to taste
• Serve in punch bowl -- adding ice cubes and frozen cranberries

Sweet and Spicy Yams

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Ingredients:

• 4 medium yams peeled and sliced
• 1/2 teaspoon orange peel finely shredded
• 1/2 cup orange juice
• 1 tablespoon brown sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/8 teaspoon allspice

Steps:

• In a large skillet
• bring 1 of water to a boil
• Add yams
• Cover and simmer for 15 minutes or until they are tender
• Drain
• In a small bowl
• mix orange peel
• orange juice
• brown sugar
• salt
• cinnamon and allspice
• Pour over yams in skillet
• Cook and stir until bubbly
• Simmer
• uncovered
• for 5 minutes
• spooning sauce over potatoes occasionally to make a glaze

Trio of Spanish Nibbles Olives, Almonds amp; Chickpeas

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Ingredients:

• 4 cups mixed good-quality olives
• 3 -4 slices orange peel
• 3 -4 slices lemon peel
• 1 teaspoon crushed red chili pepper flakes
• 1 teaspoon fennel seed 1/3 palm full
• 2 -3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• 2 cups marcona almonds or 2 cups toasted peeled whole almonds
• 2 15 ounce cans chickpeas rinsed and drained
• 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
• salt and pepper to taste

Steps:

• Make a double layer pouch of foil for the olives Add citrus peel red pepper flakes and fennel seeds to olives then top with olive oil Seal the pouch and shake it to distribute the spices and oil Place in hot oven at any temperature or on outdoor grill to heat them through
• Place the almonds in a small decorative serving dish
• Place chick peas in a medium skillet over medium heat and cook 15 minutes until crisp and dry In the last 5 minutes season the chick peas with paprika salt and pepper If you season them up too soon the paprika will blacken and become bitter
• Place the chick peas in a small serving bowl
• Place the olives on a platter and cut the pouch open to expose them Place the small serving dishes for nuts and chick peas on the platter alongside olives Place a ramekin or other small cup out to collect olive pits

Vegan Apple-Bottomed Gingerbread Muffins

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Ingredients:

• 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/3 cup brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 Ener-G Egg Substitute
• 3 tablespoons margarine melted
• 1/3 cup molasses
• 1/2 cup hot water
• 2 large apples
• 1 tablespoon margarine melted
• 2 tablespoons brown sugar

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350F
• TO MAKE APPLE BOTTOMS Peel
• core
• and slice apples into 1-inch chunks
• Mix apple chunks
• tablespoon melted margarine
• and 2 tablespoons brown sugar in a bowl until apples are lightly coated
• Place a spoonful of apple mixture in the bottoms of a lightly greased muffin pan and set aside
• TO MAKE GINGERBREAD BATTER Combine flour
• brown sugar
• baking soda
• and spices
• Mix egg replacer
• melted margarine
• molasses
• and hot water in a separate bowl
• then add this mixture to the dry mixture
• Stir just until thoroughly combined and spoon batter over apples
• Bake for 25 minutes I recommend eating these with a fork as the apples dont always stay together
• but I promise theyre delicious