Christmas Blog

Christmas time can get a bit too hectic for those people who have left things a bit too late especially their cooking. At times we all get caught on the wrong foot; the secret lies in not letting it affect our reasoning and quick thinking. If for example, you have forgotten to make a dessert and not remember that something is amiss till the last moment then you can always buy some good ice cream, soften it a little, mix in a jar of fruit cocktail, stir in some prepared jell-o and allow to set over a glass dish of crushed graham crackers. Voila! Your last minute dessert is ready in a couple of hours. Here are a couple of other last minute recipes.

One stage fruit cake

Ingredients:

• 2 cups of deseeded and chopped dates
• 11/4 cup water (substitute ¼ cup water with brandy/ sherry)
• 11/4 cup whole wheat flour
• 3 cups of mixed dried fruit (including dried apricots)
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp mixed spice
• 4 tbsp orange juice

Ice the cake with either traditional marzipan icing or use rows of different nuts.

Method:

Grease and dust an 8 inch cake tin and preheat the oven to 170 C /340 F. Soak dates in warm water until the dates are soft and mash with a fork. Add all the other ingredients and mix well. Pour the mixture into the prepared tin and level top.

Put nuts (walnuts, brazil nuts or pecans) in rows on top of the cake prior to cooking. Bake in a moderately cool oven for about an hour and a half until cooked.

Glaze the nut topping with a little syrup.

Angel biscuits

Ingredients:

• 5 cups plain flour
• 1/4-cup sugar
• 3 tsp. baking powder
• 1 tsp. soda
• 1 tsp. salt, 1 cup Crisco
• 1 pkg. dry yeast
• 3 Tbsp. warm water
• 2 cups buttermilk

Method:

Place yeast, warm water, and 1 tsp. sugar in small bowl and set aside. Sift dry ingredients together in large bowl. Add Crisco. Mix well. Add buttermilk and yeast. Mix well.

Cut into biscuit shapes and bake at 425 F in an oven until done.

Posted by admin on December 25th, 2006
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