Southern Collard Green

Prep Time: 10 Minutes Cook Time: 3 Hours

Ready In: 3 Hours 10 Minutes Yields: 6 servings

"Leafy collard greens take a long, slow simmer in a ham hock bath, with flakes of hot pepper tossed in for kicks. Some folks like to shred the ham hock meat into the greens before serving up in bowls."

INGREDIENTS:

1 1/2 quarts water 1 1/2 pounds ham hocks 4 pounds collard greens, rinsed and trimmed

1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional) 1/4 cup vegetable oil salt and pepper to taste

DIRECTIONS:

1.	Place the water and the ham hock in a large pot with a tight-fitting lid. Bring to a boil. Lower the heat to very low and simmer covered for 30 minutes.
2.	Add the collards and the hot pepper flakes the pot. Simmer covered for about 2 hours, stirring occasionally.
3.	Add the vegetable oil and simmer covered for 30 minutes.

Technorati Tags: New Year Recipe

Meringue Mushrooms

Prep Time: 45 Minutes Cook Time: 1 Hour

Ready In: 1 Hour 45 Minutes Yields: 36 servings

"These take a bit of work and time, but are spectacular. They are highly prized for Christmas gift-giving! As with other meringue recipes, these should only be made on a dry day. You will need a pastry bag with a plain tip. If you can save some green plastic berry baskets from the summertime, these mushrooms look totally realistic placed in them."

INGREDIENTS:

1/2 cup egg whites 1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar 1/4 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 cup white sugar 1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder 4 ounces chocolate confectioners' coating

DIRECTIONS:

1.	Preheat the oven to 225 degrees F (110 degrees C). Line 2 cookie sheets with parchment paper or aluminum foil.
2.	In a large glass or metal bowl, use an electric mixer to whip egg whites until foamy. Add cream of tartar, salt, and vanilla. Continue whipping until the whites hold soft peaks. Gradually sprinkle in the sugar so that it does not sink to the bottom, and continue whipping until the mixture holds stiff shiny peaks.
3.	Place a round tip into a pastry bag, and fill the bag half way with the meringue. To pipe the mushroom caps, squeeze out round mounds of meringue onto one of the prepared cookie sheets. Pull the bag off to the side to avoid making peaks on the top. For the stems, press out a tiny bit of meringue onto the other sheet, then pull the bag straight up. They should resemble candy kisses. Do not worry about making all of the pieces exactly the same. The mushrooms will look more natural if the pieces are different sizes. Dust the mushroom caps lightly with cocoa using a small sifter or strainer.
4.	Bake for 1 hour in the preheated oven, or until the caps are dry enough to easily remove from the cookie sheets. Set aside to cool completely. Melt the coating chocolate in a metal bowl over simmering water, or in a glass bowl in the microwave, stirring occasionally until smooth.
5.	Poke a small hole in the bottom of a mushroom cap. Spread chocolate over the bottom of the cap. Dip the tip of a stem in chocolate, and press lightly into the hole. When the chocolate sets, they will hold together. Repeat with remaining pieces. Store at room temperature in a dry place or tin.

Technorati Tags: Meringue Mushrooms, Christmas recipe, Dessert, christmas desserts

Gingerbread Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting

Yields: 12 servings

"A wonderful change of pace for the holiday season. Moist and spicy cake balanced by creamy, soft frosting."

INGREDIENTS:

5 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened 1/2 cup white sugar 1/2 cup unsulfured molasses 1 egg 1 egg yolk 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour 1 tablespoon Dutch process cocoa powder 1 1/4 teaspoons ground ginger 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon ground allspice 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg 1/4 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon baking soda 1/2 cup hot milk 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened 2 ounces cream cheese, softened 2/3 cup sifted confectioners' sugar 1/4 teaspoon lemon extract

DIRECTIONS:

1.	Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Butter or line with paper liners a 12-cup muffin tin.
2.	Cream 5 tablespoons of the butter with the white sugar. Add the molasses and the egg and egg yolk.
3.	Sift together the flour, cocoa powder, ginger, cinnamon, allspice, nutmeg and salt. Dissolve the baking soda in the hot milk. Add the flour mixture to the creamed mixture and stir until just combined. Stir in the hot milk mixture. Pour the batter evenly into the prepared tin.
4.	Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 20 minutes or until slightly springy to the touch. Allow to cool a few minutes in the pan and remove to a rack to cool.
5.	To Make Frosting: Cream the 2 tablespoons butter and the cream cheese together. Beat in the confectioners' sugar until fluffy. Add the lemon extract and beat. When the cupcakes are cool, frost the tops with the frosting and serve.

Technorati Tags: Gingerbread, Cheese Frosting, Cup Cakes, Christmas Recipe

Grandma's Corn Pudding

Prep Time: 10 Minutes Cook Time: 1 Hour

Ready In: 1 Hour 10 Minutes Yields: 8 servings

"This corn pudding is definitely comfort food."

INGREDIENTS:

5 eggs 1/3 cup butter, melted 1/4 cup white sugar 1/2 cup milk

4 tablespoons cornstarch 1 (15.25 ounce) can whole kernel corn 2 (14.75 ounce) cans cream- style corn

DIRECTIONS:

1.	Preheat oven to 400 Degrees F (200 degrees C). Grease a 2 quart casserole dish.
2.	In a large bowl, lightly beat eggs. Add melted butter, sugar, and milk. Whisk in cornstarch. Stir in corn and creamed corn. Blend well. Pour mixture into prepared casserole dish.
3.	Bake for 1 hour.

Technorati Tags: Christmas Recipe, Pudding

Hot Apple Cider

Prep Time: 5 Minutes Cook Time: 10 Minutes

Ready In: 15 Minutes Yields: 6 servings

"Nothing beats a mug of hot cider on a cold winter day. This recipe is great as it calls for fresh apple cider and pure maple syrup. Start with only 6 strips each of the orange and lemon peel, and adjust to taste."

INGREDIENTS:

6 cups apple cider 1/4 cup real maple syrup 2 cinnamon sticks 6 whole cloves

6 whole allspice berries 1 orange peel, cut into strips 1 lemon peel, cut into strips

DIRECTIONS:

1.	Pour the apple cider and maple syrup into a large stainless steel saucepan.
2.	Place the cinnamon sticks, cloves, allspice berries, orange peel and lemon peel in the center of a washed square of cheesecloth; fold up the sides of the cheesecloth to enclose the bundle, then tie it up with a length of kitchen string. Drop the spice bundle into the cider mixture.
3.	Place the saucepan over moderate heat for 5 to 10 minutes, or until the cider is very hot but not boiling.
4.	Remove the cider from the heat. Discard the spice bundle. Ladle the cider into big cups or mugs, adding a fresh cinnamon stick to each serving if desired.

Pecan Pie

Prep Time: 25 Minutes Cook Time: 1 Hour

Ready In: 1 Hour 55 Minutes Yields: 12 servings

"This is the most amazing pecan pie. Once you start eating it you can't stop."

INGREDIENTS:

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour 1/2 teaspoon salt 2 tablespoons white sugar 1/2 cup butter, chilled 4 tablespoons ice water 3 eggs, beaten 3/4 cup light corn syrup

2 tablespoons dark corn syrup 3/4 cup light brown sugar 3 tablespoons butter, melted 1 pinch salt 1/2 cup pecans, finely crushed 1 cup pecans, quartered 1 cup pecan halves

DIRECTIONS:

1.	Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
2.	To Make Crust: In a medium bowl, combine flour, salt and white sugar. Cut butter into flour mixture until it resembles coarse crumbs. Gradually sprinkle the water over the dry mixture, stirring until dough comes together enough to form a ball.
3.	On a floured surface flatten dough ball with rolling pin. Roll out into a circle that is one inch larger than pie dish. Place pie shell into dish and refrigerate until pie filling is complete.
4.	To Make Pie Filling: In a medium bowl, mix together eggs, light and dark corn syrups, brown sugar, butter, salt and finely crushed pecans. Spread quartered pecans over bottom of refrigerated pie crust. Pour syrup mixture over top of pecans, then arrange pecan halves on top of pie.
5.	Bake in a preheated 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) oven for one hour or until firm; let cool for one hour before serving.

Technorati Tags: Pie, Pecan Pie, Christmas Recipe, Dessert

Cinnamon-Roasted Almonds

Prep Time: 15 Minutes Cook Time: 1 Hour

Ready In: 1 Hour 15 Minutes Yields: 16 servings

"Here is an easy snack idea to serve at any holiday party."

INGREDIENTS:

1 egg white 1 teaspoon cold water 4 cups whole almonds

1/2 cup white sugar 1/4 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

DIRECTIONS:

1.	Preheat oven to 250 degrees F (120 degrees C). Lightly grease a 10x15 inch jellyroll pan.
2.	Lightly beat the egg white; add water, and beat until frothy but not stiff. Add the nuts, and stir until well coated. Mix the sugar, salt, and cinnamon, and sprinkle over the nuts. Toss to coat, and spread evenly on the prepared pan.
3.	Bake for 1 hour in the preheated oven, stirring occasionally, until golden. Allow to cool, then store nuts in airtight containers.

Technorati Tags: Cooking, Learn Cooking, Christmas Recipe

White Chocolate and Cranberry Cookies

Prep Time: 15 Minutes Cook Time: 10 Minutes

Ready In: 50 Minutes Yields: 24 servings

"I make a basic chocolate chip cookie dough, but use white chocolate chips, dried cranberries, and brandy (instead of vanilla). Great for Christmas time!"

INGREDIENTS:

1/2 cup butter, softened 1/2 cup packed brown sugar 1/2 cup white sugar 1 egg 1 tablespoon brandy

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour 1/2 teaspoon baking soda 3/4 cup white chocolate chips 1 cup dried cranberries

DIRECTIONS:

1.	Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Grease cookie sheets.
2.	In a large bowl, cream together the butter, brown sugar, and white sugar until smooth. Beat in the egg and brandy. Combine the flour and baking soda; stir into the sugar mixture. Mix in the white chocolate chips and cranberries. Drop by heaping spoonfuls onto prepared cookie sheets.
3.	Bake for 8 to 10 minutes in the preheated oven. For best results, take them out while they are still doughy. Allow cookies to cool for 1 minute on the cookie sheets before transferring to wire racks to cool completely.

Christmas Recipes

"A festive melt in your mouth cookie, and very easy to make."

PREP TIME 15 Min
COOK TIME 20 Min
READY IN 35 Min

INGREDIENTS

• 1 cup butter, softened
• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup confectioners' sugar
• 1/4 cup red maraschino cherries, quartered
• 1/4 cup green maraschino cherries, quartered

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
2. In a large bowl, combine butter, flour, and confectioners' sugar. With an electric mixer, beat for 10 minutes, until light and fluffy. Spoon onto cookie sheets, spacing cookies 2 inches apart. Place a piece of maraschino cherry onto the middle of each cookie, alternating between red and green.
3. Bake for 15 to 17 minutes in the preheated oven, or until the bottoms of the cookies are lightly browned. Remove from oven, and let cool on cookie sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer cookies on to wire rack to cool. Store in an airtight container, separating each layer with waxed paper.

Technorati Tags: Christmas Cookies, Christmas Recipes

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