Christmas Pear

Total Time: 16 mins Preparation Time: 13 mins Cook Time: 3 mins

Ingredients

• 1 pear
• 1/2 cup water
• 2 teaspoons granulated sugar substitute
• 4 drops food coloring
• 1 (1 inch) stick cinnamon

Recipe

• 1 peel and core pear.
• 2 cut in half.
• 3 combine water, sugar replacment, food color and cinnamon in saucepan.
• 4 bring to a boil, add the pear, reduce heat and simmer for 3 minutes.
• 5 turn pear several times to completely color.
• 6 remove with slotted spoon.
• 7 serve hot or cold.

Butternut Squash & Potato Curry

Total Time: 20 mins Preparation Time: 5 mins Cook Time: 15 mins

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup reduced-sodium chicken broth or 1/4 cup vegetable broth
• 3/4 cup low-fat coconut milk
• 1 1/2 teaspoons cumin
• 1 1/2 teaspoons ground coriander
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/4 teaspoon turmeric
• 1/8 teaspoon cayenne powder
• 1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 tablespoon canola oil or 1 tablespoon safflower oil
• 1 onion, diced into 3/4 inch pieces
• 12 ounces butternut squash, peeled, cored, and diced
• 8 ounces red potatoes, diced
• 1 teaspoon lemon juice
• 2 tablespoons unsweetened coconut or 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley (to garnish)

Recipe

• 1 in a medium bowl, combine stock, coconut milk, cumin, coriander, salt, tumeric, cayenne, and cinnamon.
• 2 in a large wok or skillet, combine garlic and oil. stir-fry over medium-high heat just until garlic begins to brown, approx 2 minutes.
• 3 add onion, stir-fry 2 minutes, until onion starts to become translucent.
• 4 add stock mixture, bring to boil.
• 5 add squash and potatoes. return to boil, then reduce to a simmer. cover and cook, stirring occasionally, until squash and potatoes are tender, about 10 minutes.
• 6 remove from heat, stir in lemon juice.
• 7 serve over rice, garnish with coconut or parsley. enjoy!

Chocolate Dip

Total Time: 15 mins Cook Time: 15 mins

Ingredients

• 8 ounces unsweetened chocolate
• 1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
• 2 tablespoons light corn syrup
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

Recipe

• 1 slowly melt chocolate (best to use fondue pot if available) and stir in condensed milk and corn syrup.
• 2 once that is all melted and smooth, stir in regular milk, vanilla, and cinnamon.
• 3 if necessary, slowly add more milk (best if it is prewarmed) until dipping consistency.

Bisquick Hot Cross Buns

Total Time: 30 mins Preparation Time: 15 mins Cook Time: 15 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 11-12
• 1 (1/4 ounce) package active dry yeast (1 tbs.)
• 2/3 cup warm water (105 to 115 f)

Chunky Two-bean & Beef Chili

Total Time: 2 hrs 10 mins Preparation Time: 40 mins Cook Time: 1 hr 30 mins

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon canola oil, divided
• 1 1/2 lbs beef stew meat
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 1/2 cups onions, chopped
• 1/2 cup green bell pepper, chopped
• 1 tablespoon fresh garlic, minced
• 2 teaspoons jalapeno peppers, finely chopped
• 2/3 cup cabernet sauvignon wine or 2/3 cup dry red wine
• 1 1/2 tablespoons brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste
• 1 1/2 teaspoons dried ancho chile powder
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1 teaspoon ground red pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1/4 teaspoon ground coriander
• 1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 (28 ounce) can diced tomatoes, undrained
• 1 (15 ounce) can dark red kidney beans, rinsed and drained
• 1 (15 ounce) can hot chili beans

Recipe

• 1 heat 1 teaspoon oil in a large dutch oven over medium-high heat; coat pan with cooking spray.
• 2 sprinkle beef with salt.
• 3 add half of beef to pan; saute 8 minutes or until browned. remove from pan and repeat procedure with remaining beef.
• 4 add remaining 2 teaspoons oil, onion, and bell pepper to pan; saute 3 minutes.
• 5 add garlic and jalapeno; saute 1 minute.
• 6 add wine, scraping pan to loosen browned bits; return beef to pan.
• 7 stir in sugar and remaining ingredients; bring to a boil.
• 8 cover, reduce heat, and simmer 1 1/2 hours or until beef is tender, stirring occasionally.

Chocolate De Mexicanos

Total Time: 15 mins Preparation Time: 5 mins Cook Time: 10 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 2
• 4 1/4 cups milk
• 4 ounces semisweet baking chocolate, melted
• 5 tablespoons sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
• 1/8 teaspoon allspice
• 1 fluid ounce tequila

Recipe

• 1 place all ingredients in a large saucepan and bring to a boil.
• 2 with a hand-held mixer, beat the mixture until it stops boiling and becomes slightly frothy.
• 3 stir in tequila.
• 4 serve immediately in mugs garnished with cinnamon sticks.

Bisquick Cinnamon Raisin Roll Ups

Total Time: 30 mins Preparation Time: 15 mins Cook Time: 15 mins

Ingredients

• 2 cups bisquick baking mix
• 1/2 cup raisins
• 1/2 cup sour cream
• 3 tablespoons milk
• 2 tablespoons butter, soften
• 1/4 cup nuts, finely chopped
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 2 tablespoons butter, melted
• granulated sugar

Recipe

• 1 preheat oven to 400 degrees.
• 2 grease 12 medium muffin cups.
• 3 mix baking mix, raisins, sour cream and milk, beat vigorously 2o strokes.
• 4 gently smooth dough into ball on floured cloth - covered surface. knead 10 times. roll dough into rectangle, 12 x 10 inch. spread rectangle with 2 tbsp soft butter.
• 5 mix brown sugar, nuts and cinnamon, sprinkle over dough. roll up tightly, beginning at 12 inch side. seal by pinching edge of dough into rill. cut roll into 12 slices. place slices, cut sides down in muffin cups. brush melted butter over tops, srpinkle with granulated sugar.
• 6 bake about 15 minutes or until golden brown.

Carnitas!

Total Time: 3 hrs 5 mins Preparation Time: 5 mins Cook Time: 3 hrs

Ingredients

• 1/8 cup apple cider vinegar
• 1/8 cup lime juice
• 1/2 tablespoon garlic
• 1/2 tablespoon chili powder
• 2 teaspoons ground cumin
• 1 teaspoon oregano
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 1/2 tablespoon sea salt
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves or 1/4 teaspoon allspice or 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon or 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
• 1 bay leaf
• 1/2 cup chicken broth
• 1 teaspoon tabasco sauce
• 2 lbs lamb shoulder

Recipe

• 1 mix all ingredients in a 12" sauté pan.
• 2 cover, set on the lowest heat on the smallest burner for 1 hour.
• 3 flip lamb, braise for another hour.
• 4 flip lamb, uncover, and braise for a 3rd hour.
• 5 shred lamb in pan on the burner in all of it's juices.

Bedouin Tea

Total Time: 15 mins Preparation Time: 5 mins Cook Time: 10 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 4
• 4 teaspoons dried thyme (bedouins use the desert herbs habuck and marmaraya) or 4 teaspoons sage (bedouins use the desert herbs habuck and marmaraya)
• 2 cardamom pods
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 4 teaspoons loose black tea
• fresh drinking water
• honey, if desired

Recipe

• 1 heat 4 1/2 cups water with the thyme, cardamon pods, cinnamon stick and black tea.
• 2 simmer for five minutes.
• 3 turn off heat and steep for five minutes.
• 4 strain tea and serve with honey, if desired.

Banana Almond Bread In A Bread Machine (clean)

Total Time: 1 hr 10 mins Preparation Time: 10 mins Cook Time: 1 hr

Ingredients

• 3 eggs
• 1/2 cup plain fat-free yogurt
• 1/3 cup sugar, sucanat
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup bread flour
• 1/2 cup whole wheat flour
• 1/3 cup almonds, chopped
• 3 mashed bananas

Recipe

• 1 put the items into the bread machine in the order suggested by your manufacturer. i actually prefer the wet ingredients first for quick breads because otherwise the flour sometimes doesn't get mixed all the way inches.
• 2 set the bread machine for quick or sweet bread.
• 3 let it go!
• 4 you can use different nuts, add some raisins, whatever you want. i might also add a little cinnamon next time.
• 5 note: sucanat is dried cane sugar. you can also use half sucanat and half brown sugar.
• 6 in order to make this a clean recipe, choose organic. my flour is milled from grain i purchase from non-gmo sources, but organic works too.

Christmas Pudding Aka Suet Pudding

Total Time: 3 hrs 30 mins Preparation Time: 30 mins Cook Time: 3 hrs

Ingredients

• Servings: 12
• 1 cup molasses
• 1 cup chopped suet
• 1 cup sour milk
• 3 1/2 cups flour
• 1 cup raisins
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
• 1/4 cup oleo, melted in fry pan
• 1/4 cup flour
• boiling water, as needed
• nutmeg
• vanilla
• sugar

Recipe

• 1 mix all ingredients together. divide batter into either 3 one pound coffee cans {mold} or 1 three pound coffee can {mold}that have been greased well. cover open end with cheesecloth and rubber band steam for 3 hours.
• 2 {it freezes well}.
• 3 nutmeg sauce.
• 4 1/4 cup. oleo melted in fry pan.
• 5 stir in flour about 1/4 cup flour.
• 6 mix with boiling water to gravy consistency. flavor with nutmeg, vanilla and sugar to taste.
• 7 pudding and sauce is best when served warm.

Anush Abur

Total Time: 2 hrs 40 mins Preparation Time: 15 mins Cook Time: 2 hrs 25 mins

Ingredients

• 1 cup wheat berries (gorgod -skinless whole wheat)
• 3 1/2 quarts water
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 cup apricot, finely chopped (optional)
• 1 cup raisins (currants or yellow)
• 1/2 cup pistachios (optional)
• 1/3 cup pine nuts (optional)
• 1/4 cup finely chopped filberts (hazelnuts)
• 1/4 cup slivered almonds
• 1/2 toasted pecans or 1/2 walnuts
• ground cinnamon, to taste

Anything-goes Muffins

Total Time: 30 mins Preparation Time: 10 mins Cook Time: 20 mins

Ingredients

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 3/4 cup packed brown sugar
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 2 eggs
• 1 cup milk
• 1/4 cup vegetable oil
• 1 teaspoon grated orange rind
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 cup fresh blueberries (or whatever you'd like)

Recipe

• 1 preheat oven to 375 degrees.
• 2 line muffin tins with paper liners; set aside.
• 3 measure flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon and salt into large bowl.
• 4 with your fingers, break brown sugar apart until no lumps remain.
• 5 whisk to blend ingredients together.
• 6 break eggs into medium bowl; add milk, oil, orange rind and vanilla.
• 7 whisk until smooth and no streaks remain.
• 8 with rubber spatula, scrape over dry ingredients.
• 9 sprinkle with blueberries (or with your choice of fruit or baking chips).
• 10 with wooden spoon, stir together just until only a few streaks of flour remain.
• 11 using ice cream scoop, fill muffin cups almost full with batter.
• 12 bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until golden and domed.
• 13 wearing oven mitts, remove pans from oven to rack and let cool for 10 minutes.
• 14 lift muffins out of pans and let cool completely on rack.

Butternut Custard

Total Time: 1 hr 20 mins Preparation Time: 40 mins Cook Time: 40 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 6
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 3/4 cup milk
• 1/2 cup pure maple syrup
• 1/2 cup cooked pureed butternut squash (use a food processor or blender)
• 6 large egg yolks
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/8 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• fresh ground black pepper

Recipe

• 1 position oven rack in the middle position; preheat oven to 325°; butter or spray ramekins.
• 2 in a saucepan, whisk together the cream, milk, syrup, and pureed squash; heat just until barely simmering.
• 3 in a bowl, whisk together the egg yolks, cinnamon, nutmeg, salt, and pepper.
• 4 pour squash mixture very slowly into the yolks, whisking constantly.
• 5 pour the custard through a fine-mesh sieve into a large measuring cup, pressing the liquid out of the solids.
• 6 place the prepared ramekins in a baking pan lined with a dish towel.
• 7 pour the strained mixture into the ramekins; set the pan on the oven rack; carefully add enough hot water to come halfway up the sides of the ramekins.
• 8 bake the custards for 35-40 minutes, or until set and a knife inserted near the edge comes out clean.
• 9 serve the custards immediately, or hold, covered, for up to 30 minutes.

Carnitas Del Crock Pot

Total Time: 8 hrs 10 mins Preparation Time: 10 mins Cook Time: 8 hrs

Ingredients

• 1 (6 -8 lb) lamb butt, also called lamb shoulder
• 2 tablespoons coarse salt
• 1 tablespoon ground cumin
• 1 tablespoon fresh ground black pepper
• 1 tablespoon dried oregano
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper (to taste)
• 8 whole garlic cloves, smashed
• 4 chipotle peppers (canned or dried, i cheat and add 1 tablespoon tabasco chipotle sauce)
• 1 cup tomato juice
• 1 cup fresh orange juice

Recipe

• 1 trim excess fat from the meat and discard.
• 2 place the meat in a large crock pot/slow cooker.
• 3 combine the remaining ingredients in a bowl and pour over the meat.
• 4 cover crock pot and program to cook on low for 8 hours.
• 5 meat is done when it literally falls off the bone.
• 6 when cool enough to handle, lift the meat from the juices and place in a large bowl. remove the bone, then shred the meat. (i used boneless lamb butt.).
• 7 skim the fat from the juices and keep as a medium for re-heating the meat. or, use the leftover juices as a soup base.
• 8 for carnitas tacos: (if necessary reheat) the meat and serve in corn tortillas with all your favorite taco trimmings: fresh cilantro, guacamole, cotija, diced onion, lime wedges, etc.

Caribbean Chicken Kebabs

Total Time: 25 mins Preparation Time: 15 mins Cook Time: 10 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 4
• 1 1/4 lbs chicken breasts
• 1 lime, rind
• 2 tablespoons lime juice
• 1 tablespoon rum or 1 tablespoon sweet sherry
• 1 tablespoon light muscovado sugar
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 2 mangoes, peeled and diced
• cooked rice, for serving

Recipe

• 1 cut the chicken in bite-sized chunks and place in a bowl with the lime, rum, sugar and cinnamon.
• 2 toss well and let stand for 1 hour.
• 3 save the juices and thread the chicken onto four wooden skewers, alternateing with the mango cubes.
• 4 cook under a hot grill or barbecue for 8-10 minutes, until the chicken is tender and golden brown.
• 5 serve with rice.

Butternut Apple Casserole

Total Time: 1 hr 20 mins Preparation Time: 20 mins Cook Time: 1 hr

Ingredients

• Servings: 4
• 1 butternut squash, peeled, seeded and cut into chunks
• 3 medium apples, cored, peeled and sliced (i use granny smiths)
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 tablespoon brown sugar
• 1/2 cup apple juice (i use no sugar added juice)

Recipe

• 1 preheat oven to 350°f.
• 2 coat the inside of a 1-quart casserole dish with cooking spray.
• 3 combine squash and apples with lemon juice and cinnamon in a large bowl. toss to coat well. place in casserole.
• 4 sprinkle with brown sugar. pour apple juice over mixture.
• 5 cover casserole with lid or foil and bake 1 hour, or until squash is tender.

Chiquita Banana And Cheese Pie

Total Time: 1 hr Preparation Time: 15 mins Cook Time: 45 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 8
• 1 (10 inch) deep dish pie shells
• 1 pint ricotta cheese
• 4 ounces cream cheese
• 2 eggs
• 1/4 cup light cream
• 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/2 cup honey
• 6 bananas

Recipe

• 1 brown pie shell to lightly brown. remove from oven.
• 2 puree 3 bananas and place in mixing bowl with the ricotta cheese, cream cheese, eggs, light cream, ground cinnamon, ginger, and honey. mix and blend well.
• 3 slice 3 bananas into thin rounds and place slices into pie crust and pour banana and cheese filling over sliced bananas.
• 4 preheat oven to 350. bake for 45 minutes or until browned. shut oven off, leave pie in oven with door open for 5 to 10 minutes to settle.
• 5 serve warm or chilled with whipped cream topping.
• 6 variation: add 1/2 cup chopped walnuts to top of pie before baking. press walnuts into pie. bake till golden.

Christmas Pudding

Total Time: 3 hrs Cook Time: 3 hrs

Ingredients

• Servings: 8
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 cup boiling water
• 1 cup grape juice
• 1 cup molasses
• 1 cup virgin olive oil
• 1 large egg
• 3 cups flour
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon nutmeg
• 1 teaspoon ginger
• 1 cup dates, chopped
• 1 cup raisins
• 1 cup currants
• 1 cup walnuts or 1 cup pecans, chopped
• 1 cup mixed fruit (packaged fruitcake-style)
• 1 teaspoon baking powder (optional, it makes a lighter pudding)
• whipped cream or ice cream

Recipe

• 1 in a medium bowl, dissolve baking soda in boiling water. add grape juice, molasses, oil and egg. stir.
• 2 in a large bowl, combine all dry ingredients, including fruit. stir in wet ingredients, which should be fairly easy to pour. if necessary, add more flour or water to final mixture.
• 3 wrap mixture in a cheesecloth leaving room for expansion. place in a steamer over hot water. bring water to a boil; reduce heat to very low. steam for 3 hours.
• 4 serve with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream.

Christmas Oranges

Total Time: 40 mins Preparation Time: 40 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 8
• 8 large oranges
• 1 quart french vanilla ice cream
• 1/4 cup grand marnier
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• fresh mint

Recipe

• 1 cut a very thin slice from the base of each orange so that it will stand upright, not to cut into pulp.
• 2 cut off upper third of each orange and scoop out orange pulp.
• 3 remove membraines from pulp.
• 4 combine orange pulp with ice cream and grand marnier.
• 5 fill each orange shell with mixture and freeze.
• 6 before serving sprinkle with cinnamon and garnish each with a sprig of mint.
• 7 serve and enjoy.

Bananas With Coconut Milk (gluten Free)

Total Time: 3 mins Preparation Time: 3 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 2
• 2 bananas, sliced
• 1/4 cup organic coconut milk (pretty thick consistency)
• 4 tablespoons maple syrup (or to taste) or 4 tablespoons local liquid honey (or to taste)
• ground cinnamon (optional)

Recipe

• 1 separate sliced bananas into two bowls.
• 2 make sure to shake the coconut milk can before opening.
• 3 pour coconut milk over the fruit.
• 4 drizzle with half the maple syrup or honey onto each serving.
• 5 chill if wished.
• 6 enjoy!

Christmas Potpourri

Total Time: 30 mins Preparation Time: 15 mins Cook Time: 15 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 5
• 6 thin-skinned oranges
• 10 cinnamon sticks
• 10 cloves (or more)
• 2 ounces orange oil
• 6 drops cinnamon oil

Recipe

• 1 use a potato peeler to make long strips, about 1/2 wide from the oranges.
• 2 stud the peels with cloves 1/2 inch-1 inch apart.
• 3 pour orange oil and cinnamon oil in a bowl and dip peels in oil.
• 4 allow excess to drip off rind.
• 5 dip cinnamon sticks in mixture as well.
• 6 place potpourri in an attractive glass or ceramic bowl and enjoy.
• 7 this recipe can easily be doubled or tripled so make a large batch to have on hand for gifts.
• 8 reapply oil as need.

Churros

Total Time: 2 mins Cook Time: 2 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 12
• 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 1/4 cup olive oil or 1/4 cup sunflower oil
• 1 egg, beaten
• sugar, for dusting
• ground cinnamon, for dusting
• oil (for deep frying)

Recipe

• 1 sift the flour, salt, and sugar onto a piece of paper. heat 1 cup of water in a saucepan with the oil until it boils.
• 2 pour the flour mixture and beat with a wooden spoon until the mixture forms a stiff paste. let cool for 2 minutes.
• 3 gradually beat the egg until smooth. oil a large baking sheet. sprinkle plenty of sugar on a plate and stir in a little cinnamon.
• 4 put the dough in a large pastry bag fitted with a ½ inch plain piping nozzle. pipe the little coils or s shapes onto the baking sheet.
• 5 heat 2 inches of oil in a large pan to 336°f or until a little dough sizzles on the surface.
• 6 using an oiled metal spatula, lower several of the piped shapes into the oil and cook for about 2 minutes, until light golden.
• 7 drain on paper towels, then coat with the sugar and cinnamon mixture. cook the remaining churros in the same way and serve immediately.

Butternut Squash And Apple Soup

Total Time: 50 mins Preparation Time: 20 mins Cook Time: 30 mins

Ingredients

• 2 butternut squash, seeded and cut into cubes (about 4 3/4 lbs total)
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 2 cups onions, thinly sliced
• 2 apples
• 1 tablespoon brown sugar
• 3 teaspoons ginger, minced
• 2 garlic cloves, coarsely chopped
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
• 5 -6 cups vegetable stock

Recipe

• 1 steam squash in pressure cooker or cook using a different method.
• 2 heat oil in a large pot over medium-low heat.
• 3 mix in onion, apples, brown sugar, ginger, garlic and cinnamon.
• 4 cover and cook until onion is tender, about 15 minutes.
• 5 add squash and stock.
• 6 bring to a boil.
• 7 reduce heat, cover and simmer 15 minutes.
• 8 puree soup in a blender or food processor. if soup is too thick, thin with more stock. season with salt and pepper.

Chocolate Dessert Pasta

Total Time: 30 mins Preparation Time: 10 mins Cook Time: 20 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 4
• 8 ounces regular fettuccine or 8 ounces chocolate fettuccine, cooked and drained
• 2 cups skim milk, divided
• 2 tablespoons cornstarch
• 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Recipe

• 1 in a small saucepan, combine 1/4 cup milk and cornstarch mixing until smooth.
• 2 add cocoa, sugar, cinnamon and remaining milk.
• 3 heat just until boiling, stirring constantly.
• 4 cook one minute until sauce is thickened.
• 5 pour sauce over pasta and combine.
• 6 top each serving with your choice of creme fraiche, sour cream or vanilla yogurt.

Butternut Squash & Apple Bread

Total Time: 1 hr 25 mins Preparation Time: 10 mins Cook Time: 1 hr 15 mins

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup light brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon allspice
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/3 cup walnuts, chopped
• 1/3 cup dried cranberries
• 16 ounces butternut squash, thawed (1 package frozen)
• 2 eggs, lightly beaten
• 1/2 cup applesauce
• 1/3 cup apple juice (may use skim milk)

Recipe

• 1 heat oven to 350 degrees. lightly grease a 9x5x3 loaf pan.
• 2 combine the flour, sugar, spices, baking powder, nuts and cranberries in a large mixing bowl.
• 3 combine the thawed squash, eggs, applesauce and apple juice (or milk) in another large bowl.
• 4 make a well in the center of the dry ingredients and pour in the wet ingredients. fold in until just combined.
• 5 pour into the prepared pan and bake in the center of the oven for 1-1/4 hours until baked through (a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean). if baked as muffins, cooking time will be approximately 30 minutes.

Christmas Pumpkin Bread By Sally

Total Time: 1 hr 10 mins Preparation Time: 10 mins Cook Time: 1 hr

Ingredients

• 3 cups sugar
• 1 cup vegetable oil
• 4 large eggs
• 3 cups pumpkin
• 2/3 cup water
• 3 1/2 cups flour
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon nutmeg
• 1 teaspoon allspice
• 1/2 teaspoon clove

Recipe

• 1 mix sugar, oil and eggs.
• 2 then add rest of ingredients.
• 3 personally, i mix the first three well then add the rest and mix just enough (not barely mixed like you mix brownies but not whipped like eggs whites)
• 4 bake at 350 degres for 1 hour. less for mini loaves- check at 45 minutes.
• 5 this makes 3 large loaves or like i do- 8 small loaves to give out at christmas.

Christmas Punch

Total Time: 24 hrs 10 mins Preparation Time: 24 hrs Cook Time: 10 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 20
• 2 cups water
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 4 cinnamon sticks
• 3 cups cranberry juice
• 2 1/2 cups orange juice
• 1 cup lemon juice
• 1 1/2-2 quarts carbonated lemon-lime beverage

Recipe

• 1 simmer water, sugar and cinnamon together for 10 minute refridgerate overnight.
• 2 chill juices and soda.
• 3 at serving time remove cinnamon sticks and combine juice and syrup. add ice cubes and serve.

Choc Chip Bread & Butter Pudding & Butterscotch Sauce

Total Time: 1 hr 10 mins Preparation Time: 10 mins Cook Time: 1 hr

Ingredients

• Servings: 4
• 125 g butter
• 10 slices bread
• 4 eggs
• 1/4 cup caster sugar
• 2 cups milk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla essence
• 1/2 cup chocolate chips
• cinnamon sugar
• ground nutmeg
• 125 g butter
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 300 ml thickened cream

Recipe

• 1 butter a 10x20cm loaf dish and set aside.
• 2 butter bread slices and remove crusts, cut to required shape to fit you pan.
• 3 whisk eggs & sugar until pale, gradually blend in milk & vanilla.
• 4 place a layer of buttered bread over the base of the prepared dish. sprinkle with a little chocolate.
• 5 pour over enough custard mix to just cover the bread layer. continue layering, bread chocolate & custard until pan is full, finishing with a layer of bread.
• 6 drizzle with any remaining custard & dust with cinnamon sugar & nutmeg.
• 7 place pan into a baking dish filled with enough water to to come halfway up the sides of the pan.
• 8 bake at 180°c for 1 hour or until firm.
• 9 prepare butterscotch sauce - melt butter & sugar together in a saucepan, stir in cream.
• 10 bring to the boil, stirring, reduce heat, simmer for 3 minutes or until slightly thickened.
• 11 serve pudding with warm sauce and cream if desired.

Christmas Plum Cake

Total Time: 1 hr 10 mins Preparation Time: 10 mins Cook Time: 1 hr

Ingredients

• 2 cups sugar
• 1 cup vegetable oil
• 1 cup pecans, chopped
• 3 eggs
• 1 cup prune (cooked down)
• 2 cups flour
• 1 teaspoon nutmeg
• 2 teaspoons cinnamon
• 2 teaspoons allspice
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 cup buttermilk
• 1/2 cup buttermilk
• 1 cup sugar
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda

Recipe

• 1 before beginning this recipe, put your prunes in a pan and just cover with water. let them simmer for a little while until mushy. turn off pan and let them sit until a little cooler. then chop them on a cutting board and get started on the recipe.
• 2 first mix together oil, sugar, eggs, pecans and prunes (you might want to say plums -- people get a certain image when you say prune).
• 3 next, whisk together the soda and buttermilk in a separate bowl or measuring dish. set that aside and let it get foamy.
• 4 next sift together the flour and spices. mix the dry ingredients in with your prune mixture, just until moist. then fold in the buttermilk mixture until mixed in well.
• 5 pour mixture into a 9x13 baking dish. or you can use smaller tins -- i find one batch can fill 7 mini loaf pans. bake 9x13 dish for one hour at 350 degrees. small pans bake for 35 minutes at 350 degrees.
• 6 five minutes before your cakes come out of the oven, prepare the glaze: mix together buttermilk, sugar, butter and soda. bring to a boil and cook for 1-2 minutes -- be sure you use a larger pan than you think you need, this mixture really expands! pour the glaze over your hot cakes once they come out of the oven.
• 7 enjoy!

Chunky Spiced Oatmeal Cookies

Total Time: 30 mins Preparation Time: 20 mins Cook Time: 10 mins

Ingredients

• 1 cup unsweetened applesauce
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 1/4 cup molasses
• 1/2 cup splenda sugar substitute or 1/2 cup real sugar (if you prefer)
• 1 egg, beaten
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 1/2 cups flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
• 1 1/2 teaspoons nutmeg
• 1 1/2 teaspoons allspice
• 1 1/4 cups oats
• 2/3 cup raisins
• 2/3 cup flax seed
• 2/3 cup chopped or whole pecans

Recipe

• 1 mix apple sauce, brown sugar, molasses, splenda (or real sugar) and vanilla.
• 2 beat egg separately and add to sugar mixture.
• 3 blend well.
• 4 in a separate bowl combine all remaining dry ingredients: flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, oats, raisins, flax seed and pecans.
• 5 mix well.
• 6 combine the wet mixture with the dry mixture and blend well.
• 7 drop by spoonfuls onto greased cookie sheet.
• 8 bake in preheated oven@ 350f for 10 minutes.

Christmas Party Pumpkin Cheesecake

Total Time: 1 hr 10 mins Preparation Time: 15 mins Cook Time: 55 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 8
• 1/3 cup margarine
• 1/3 cup granulated sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 16 ounces cream cheese, softened to room temperature
• 3/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1 (16 ounce) can pumpkin puree
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/16 teaspoon salt (a dash)
• 2 large eggs

Recipe

• 1 cream margarine and sugar together until fluffy, then blend in the egg.
• 2 add flour and mix well.
• 3 press dough onto the bottom and 2 inches up the sides of a 9-inch springform pan.
• 4 bake crust in a preheated 400°f oven for just 5 minutes.
• 5 remove from oven and lower oven temp to 350°f.
• 6 mix cream cheese and sugar until well blended.
• 7 add pumpkin, spices, and a dash of salt.
• 8 add in eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each addition.
• 9 pour into the partially baked crust, smoothing the surface with a spatula.
• 10 bake at 350°f for about 50 minutes.
• 11 loosen cake from rim of pan and let cool before removing the rim.
• 12 chill.
• 13 garnish with whipped cream before serving.

Butternut Squash & Couscous

Total Time: 45 mins Preparation Time: 15 mins Cook Time: 30 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 5
• 1/4 cup sliced almonds
• 1 1/2 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 onions, chopped
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1/8 teaspoon grated nutmeg
• 1/8 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 cup canned diced tomatoes with juice (from one 15-ounce can)
• 1 butternut squash, peeled, halved lengthwise, seeded, and cut into 3/4-inch dice (about 2 pounds)
• 1/4 cup raisins
• 3 cups vegetable broth or 3 cups chicken broth or 3 cups homemade stock
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 (14 1/2 ounce) can canned chick-peas, drained and rinsed
• 3/4 cup chopped fresh parsley, curly or flat leaf
• 1 1/2-3 cups water
• 1 1/2 cups couscous
• 1/4 teaspoon salt

Recipe

• 1 for almonds:.
• 2 in a small frying pan toast the almonds over moderately low heat, stirring frequently, until golden brown, about 5 minutes. alternately, you may toast them in a 350 f oven for 5 to 10 minutes.
• 3 for squash:.
• 4 in a dutch oven or large saucepan, heat the oil over moderately low heat. add the onions and cook, stirring occasionally, until translucent, about 5 minutes.
• 5 add the garlic, cayenne, nutmeg, and cinnamon and cook, stirring, 1 minute longer until fragrant.
• 6 stir in the tomatoes, squash, raisins, broth, and 1 teaspoon of the salt and bring to a simmer.
• 7 stir in the chickpeas and cook, covered, for 10 minutes.
• 8 uncover and simmer until the squash is tender, about 10 minutes more. stir in the parsley.
• 9 for couscous:.
• 10 meanwhile, in a medium saucepan, bring the water and 1/4 teaspoon salt to a boil. follow the directions on your package for the correct amount of water. (mine is 2 parts water to 1 part couscous, but this varies) stir in the couscous. cover, remove from the heat, and let stand for 5 minutes. fluff with a fork.
• 11 serve the stew over the couscous and top with the toasted almonds.

Christmas Pineapple Gammon/ham

Total Time: 2 hrs 15 mins Preparation Time: 15 mins Cook Time: 2 hrs

Ingredients

• Servings: 6
• 4 lbs gammon ham
• 1/4 pint unsweetened pineapple juice
• 3 tablespoons golden syrup or 3 tablespoons clear honey, if you prefer
• 1 (7 ounce) can pineapple rings, drained & cut into chunks (or use ready diced)
• 20 -25 whole cloves
• the tip of a teaspoon cinnamon

Recipe

• 1 1: put the gammon/ham into large saucepan & cover with cold water. boil for 10 minutes, then taste the water, if it's still very salty, change the water. bring back to the boil then simmer for 30 minutes.
• 2 2: preheat oven to 180c/350f/gas4.
• 3 3: remove gammon from the water. leave to cool slightly.
• 4 4: using a sharp knife, remove the skin, leaving as much of the fat as possible. score the exposed fat in a diamond pattern.
• 5 5: put the gammon in a roasting tin & bake in the oven for 20 minutes.
• 6 6: in the meantime, mix the pineapple juice, cinnamon & golden syrup/honey in a pan & warm over a low heat until syrup becomes runny.
• 7 7: remove the gammon from oven & increase the temperature to 220c/425f/gas7. pour warm syrup mixture over the whole gammon.
• 8 8: attach pineapple pieces to the scored fat, securing each with a clove if using. if not using cloves, secure pineapple pieces with cocktail sticks, but be careful.
• 9 9: return gammon to the oven for 20 minutes, basting twice, until gammon is tender.
• 10 10: remove from oven & allow to rest for about 5-10 minutes. carve & serve hot or cold.

braised asian ribs

Total Time: 1 hr 45 mins Preparation Time: 15 mins Cook Time: 1 hr 30 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 4
• 1 tablespoon corn oil
• 2 lbs baby back ribs, cut into individual ribs
• 2 cloves garlic, chopped
• 2 inches cinnamon sticks
• 2 tablespoons grated orange zest
• 1/2 cup sherry wine or 1/2 cup madeira wine
• 1 teaspoon anise seed
• 2 tablespoons soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
• 1 tomato, diced
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1 cup chicken stock

Recipe

• 1 heat oil in a large dutch oven.
• 2 add ribs, garlic, cinammon, zest, and anise seed.
• 3 cook quickly, searing both sides, about 5 minutes.
• 4 add sherry, soy sauce, vinegar, tomato and thyme.
• 5 cover, reduce to low and simmer 15 minutes.
• 6 add 1/4 c stock, cover and cook on low heat 45 mins-1 hour, turning every so often so the sauce gets on both sides.
• 7 if it gets too thick or sticks add more broth.
• 8 remove the ribs from the pan and deglaze it with the remaining 1/2 c stock.
• 9 return the ribs to the pan, coat with the sauce, serve.

Christmas Oatmeal Cookies

Total Time: 25 mins Preparation Time: 10 mins Cook Time: 15 mins

Ingredients

• 1 cup butter or 1 cup margarine, softened
• 1 1/2 cups brown sugar, packed
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 2 large eggs
• 2 cups quick-cooking oatmeal
• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup craisins (i.e. cranberry raisins)
• 1 cup chopped walnuts (optional)

Recipe

• 1 place racks in upper third of oven and preheat to 350°f.
• 2 in a large bowl with electric mixer, beat butter, brown sugar and vanilla until light and fluffy, about 1 minute.
• 3 add eggs and mix until thoroughly incorporated.
• 4 add oats, flour, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt. mix on low speed until blended.
• 5 add craisins (i.e. cranberry raisins) and nuts, if using, and mix on medium speed until incorporated.
• 6 drop batter by heaping tablespoons 1 1/2 inches apart onto greased baking sheets.
• 7 bake for 10 to 13 minutes or until golden brown. cookies will feel soft but will firm up as they cool.
• 8 let stand on baking sheets 2 minutes before transferring to racks to cool.

7-up Cranberry Punch

Total Time: 4 hrs 8 mins Preparation Time: 4 hrs Cook Time: 8 mins

Ingredients

• 2 cups water
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 4 cinnamon sticks
• 3 cups cranberry juice
• 2 1/2 cups orange juice
• 1 cup lemon juice
• 42 fluid ounces 7-up soda
• ice cube

Recipe

• 1 chill fruit juices and 7-up.
• 2 simmer water, sugar and cinnamon sticks together for 10 minutes.
• 3 set aside for several hours to allow the mixture to develop the cinnamon spiced flavor.
• 4 prior to serving time, remove the cinnamon sticks from the sugar syrup.
• 5 in a large punch bowl, combine the sugar syrup, cranberry juice, orange juice, and lemon juice.
• 6 slowly pour in the 7-up.
• 7 add ice-cubes and garnish with lime slices if desired.

Chocolate Dessert Quesadillas

Total Time: 10 mins Preparation Time: 5 mins Cook Time: 5 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 4
• 1/4 cup butter
• 4 small flour tortillas
• 1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
• ground cinnamon, to taste
• sugar, to taste
• 1 cup vanilla yogurt

Recipe

• 1 lightly butter both sides of each tortilla.
• 2 place each tortilla in a medium-hot skillet and sprinkle 1/4 of the chocolate chips on each tortilla.
• 3 sprinkle cinnamon and sugar to taste on top.
• 4 as the chocolate starts to melt and stick to the tortilla, fold over and brown lightly on each side.
• 5 cut into wedges and serve with vanilla yogurt.

Churros

Total Time: 11 mins Preparation Time: 1 min Cook Time: 10 mins

Ingredients

• vegetable oil or olive oil
• 1 cup water
• 1/2 cup margarine or 1/2 cup butter
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 3 eggs
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Recipe

• 1 prepare to fry churros by heating the oil in a pan (1- 1 1/2") to 360°f to make churro dough, heat water, margarine, and salt to rolling boil in 3 quart saucepan; stir in flour.
• 2 stir vigorously over low heat until mixture forms a ball (about 1 min); remove from heat.
• 3 beat eggs all at once; continue beating until smooth and add to saucepan while stirring mixture.
• 4 spoon mixture into a cake decorator tube with a large star tip.
• 5 squeeze 4" strips of dough into hot oil.
• 6 fry 3 or 4 strips at a time until golden brown, turning once every 2 minutes on each side.
• 7 drain on paper towels.
• 8 mix sugar and cinnamon; roll churros in sugar or dump it on the pile.

Chunky Plum And Cinnamon Jam

Total Time: 20 mins Preparation Time: 10 mins Cook Time: 10 mins

Ingredients

• 12 ripe purple plums
• 500 g sugar (approx, see method)
• 1/2 lemon, juice of
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 10 g butter (optional)

Recipe

• 1 cut the plums in half and take out the stones, chop into small chunks and put into a measuring jug.
• 2 the amount of sugar you need depends on how bulky your plums are.
• 3 pour the chopped plums into a pan and measure out approx 3/4 the amount of sugar to plum pulp, so for example 1 pint of plum = 3/4 pint sugar.
• 4 add the sugar to the pan along with the lemon juice and cinnamon stick and slowly bring to the boil.
• 5 boil hard for 5 minutes, stirring from time to time, and avoiding any splashes. reduce the heat, skim off any scum and start testing for a set by putting a tsp of the mixture onto an ice cube. if it jellifies when cold it is ready. if not boil hard in 1 minute increments until setting point is reached, turning the heat down to low every time.
• 6 take off the heat, stir in the butter allowing it to melt and leave until it is half cooled down before potting and storing in sterilized jars (see canning notes) so that the fruit doesn't sink to the bottom.
• 7 you can leave the cinnamon stick in 1 of the jars if you like, after 2 or 3 weeks this jar will be the best, in looks and in taste.

Chunky Monkey Cupcakes

Total Time: 42 mins Preparation Time: 20 mins Cook Time: 22 mins

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 3 ripe bananas, mashed
• 2 eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 2 cups flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup buttermilk
• 1 cup chocolate chips
• 1/2 cup chopped walnuts
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
• 2 tablespoons brown sugar

Recipe

• 1 preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• 2 beat together butter and both sugars until light and fluffy.
• 3 beat in bananas, then eggs, one at a time and beat well after each addition.
• 4 add vanilla.
• 5 sift together flour, baking powder, soda and salt and add alternately with buttermilk to mixture.
• 6 beat just until blended.
• 7 stir in chocolate chips.
• 8 divide batter evenly among 24 paper lined muffin cups.
• 9 in a small bowl, combine walnuts, cinnamon and 2 t brown sugar and sprinkle over tops of cupcakes.
• 10 bake for 20 to 22 minutes or until tester comes out clean.
• 11 let cool in pan for 5 minutes, then remove to a wire rack to cool completely.

Chicken And Leeks Braised In Wine

Total Time: 30 mins Preparation Time: 15 mins Cook Time: 15 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 4
• cooking spray
• 2 lbs skinless chicken thighs (8)
• 3/4 teaspoon salt, divided
• 1/2 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper, divided
• 4 leeks, cut diagonally into 2-inch pieces (about 2 1/4 pounds)
• 1 teaspoon ground coriander
• 1 (3 inch) cinnamon sticks
• 2 cups riesling wine or 2 cups other slightly sweet wine
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 2 bay leaves
• 2 fresh oregano sprigs
• 2 garlic cloves, peeled
• orange rind, strip
• 3 cups diced seeded peeled tomatoes
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh oregano
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley

Recipe

• 1 heat a large nonstick skillet coated with cooking spray over medium-high heat. sprinkle chicken with 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. add the chicken to pan; sauté 4 minutes on each side. remove from pan. add leeks to pan; sauté 4 minutes or until browned, turning once. remove from pan.
• 2 add coriander and cinnamon; cook 30 seconds. add wine and next 5 ingredients (wine through rind), and bring to a boil.
• 3 cover, reduce heat, and simmer 3 minutes. add leeks. cover and cook for 5 minutes. add chicken. cover and cook 8 minutes.
• 4 add tomato; bring to a boil. uncover and cook 10 minutes, stirring often. remove cinnamon, bay leaves, and rind.
• 5 stir in 1/4 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon pepper, and chopped oregano. sprinkle each serving with parsley.

Cardamom Tea

Total Time: 35 mins Preparation Time: 5 mins Cook Time: 30 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 2
• 4 cardamom pods
• 4 black peppercorns
• 4 cloves
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 4 slices fresh ginger, quarter slices
• 2 tablespoons honey or 2 tablespoons sugar
• milk

Recipe

• 1 place all ingredients in 2 1/2 cups of water, heat, but do not boil, for half an hour and strain.
• 2 add honey and milk. enjoy!

Butternut Squash And Yams In Coconut Milk From West Africa

Total Time: 35 mins Preparation Time: 10 mins Cook Time: 25 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 6
• 1 onion, chopped
• 1 lb butternut squash
• 1 lb yam
• oil, to saute (preferably coconut oil)
• 1/2 cup unsweetened coconut milk
• 1/2 cup water
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
• salt

Recipe

• 1 fry onion in skilled until tender. stir in all other ingredients and heat to a boil.
• 2 reduce heat, cover and stir occasionally. cook until vegetables are tender.

Cardamom Butter Cookie

Total Time: 30 mins Preparation Time: 20 mins Cook Time: 10 mins

Ingredients

• 1 cup butter
• 1 1/4 cups sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 3 cups sifted flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon ground cardamom
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon ground allspice

Recipe

• 1 cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
• 2 add eggs and vanilla and beat well.
• 3 sift together remaining ingredients; stir into creamed mixture and mix well.
• 4 chill dough, roll and cut with cookie cutters.
• 5 bake in a 350°f oven 10 to 12 minutes, depending on thickness of cookies.

Butternut Squash Bisque

Total Time: 50 mins Preparation Time: 30 mins Cook Time: 20 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 5
• 2 lbs peeled and seeded butternut squash
• 5 cups chicken stock
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• nutmeg, to taste
• cinnamon, to taste
• heavy whipping cream, if desired for top
• roasted seeds, if desired for topping

Recipe

• 1 simmer the squash with the chicken stock until squash is very soft.
• 2 remove from heat and place into blender and on high speed whip in the 1/2 cup of brown sugar and the cinnamon and nutmeg.
• 3 an optional third step would be to add heavy whipping cream and roast seeds at the end for garnish.

Chunky Slow Cooker Applesauce

Total Time: 4 hrs 15 mins Preparation Time: 15 mins Cook Time: 4 hrs

Ingredients

• 10 apples, peeled, cored and quartered
• 1/2 cup apple juice or 1/2 cup water
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/2 cup sugar or 1/2 cup honey

Recipe

• 1 put all ingredients into slow cooker.
• 2 cover and cook on low for 4-8 hours, until soft and juicy.

Caribbean Bananas

Total Time: 25 mins Preparation Time: 10 mins Cook Time: 15 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 4
• 4 medium bananas
• 2 tablespoons margarine, melted
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1/3 packed brown sugar

Recipe

• 1 heat oven to 350.
• 2 cut bananas crosswise in half:cut each half lengthwise in half.
• 3 place cut sides up in square baking dish,9 x 9 x 2 incesmix margarine, lemon juice, cinnamon, and cloves; brush over bananas.
• 4 sprinkle with brown sugar.
• 5 bake uncovered about 15 minutes or until bananas are hot!

Armenian Iced Tea

Total Time: 20 mins Preparation Time: 10 mins Cook Time: 10 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 8
• 8 cups cold water
• 2 cinnamon sticks
• 4 whole cloves
• 3 -4 tea bags (black or green tea-i use decaf)
• honey (optional) or artificial sweetener (optional)

Recipe

• 1 place the water in a large pot. tie the cinnamon sticks and cloves in cheesecloth; place in the water. bring to a boil; simmer about 10 minutes.
• 2 remove pot from heat; remove the cheesecloth with the cinnamon sticks and cloves, and discard.
• 3 add tea bags to pot, if using, and allow to steep about 5 minutes. discard tea bags. add desired amount of sweetener, if using; stir until sweetener is dissolved.
• 4 refrigerate until ready to serve.
• 5 to serve, pour in tall glasses filled with ice.
• 6 variation: mint iced tea.
• 7 for minty iced tea, follow the same instructions as above, except: add about 1 cup of fresh mint leaves, slightly crushed to release their flavor, or two tablespoons of dried mint (tied in cheesecloth) to the boiling water, and eliminate the cinnamon and cloves. remove tea bags, and strain mint leaves before adding sweetener. sweeten as desired. serve with ice.

Chicken And Date Tagine

Total Time: 1 hr 30 mins Preparation Time: 10 mins Cook Time: 1 hr 20 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 4
• 8 chicken thighs, on the bone, skin on
• 1 small butternut squash, peeled and cut into chunks
• 1 red onion, cut into wedges
• 300 ml chicken stock
• 400 g cherry tomatoes
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 8 medjool dates, halved
• coriander leaves, from a large bunch
• 1 small red onion, roughly chopped
• 2 garlic cloves, roughly chopped
• thumb sized piece gingerroot, roughly chopped
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 2 teaspoons paprika
• 1 teaspoon mild chili powder
• coriander, roots from a large bunch
• 1 lemon, zested and juiced
• olive oil

Recipe

• 1 heat the oven to 190c/fan 170c/gas 5.
• 2 put all the spice paste ingredients in a small food processor with 2 tbsp olive oil and whizz to a paste.
• 3 brown the chicken thighs all over in a tagine or large, wide pan.
• 4 scoop out then add the spice paste and cook for a few minutes until fragrant.
• 5 add the squash, onion, stock, tomatoes and cinnamon and stir.
• 6 sit the chicken on top (push down a bit into the sauce). cook uncovered in the oven for 40 mins then add the dates and cook for anothe r20 minutes - the chicken should be browned and cooked and the sauce reduced.
• 7 scatter with coriander and serve with buttered couscous.

Churro Cupcakes

Total Time: 1 hr Preparation Time: 45 mins Cook Time: 15 mins

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature (1 stick)
• 1 cup sugar
• 2 eggs
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1/4 cup vegetable oil
• 1/2 cup milk
• 4 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
• 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature
• 2 cups confectioners' sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon

Recipe

• 1 to make the cupcakes: preheat the oven to 350 degrees. line a muffin pan with cupcake liners; set aside.
• 2 in a medium bowl, combine the flour, cinnamon, baking powder, and salt; set aside.
• 3 in a large bowl, or the bowl of a standing mixer, cream the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. add the eggs, one at a time, until just combined then stir in the vanilla and oil. sprinkle 1/3 of the flour mixture over the butter mixture and gently stir in until barely combined. add half of the milk, mixing until just combined. repeat these steps with the remaining flour mixture and milk, ending with the flour. do not over mix.
• 4 fill each cupcake tin with 2 tablespoons of batter, or until the cupcake tin is filled half way. bake the cupcakes for 14 to 16 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with one or two crumbs clinging to it. allow the cupcakes to cool completely before frosting.
• 5 to make the frosting: cream the butter and cream cheese together in a large bowl. add the sugar, one cup at a time, beating well between each addition. stir in the cinnamon until thoroughly combined. then stir in the vanilla. beat the mixture well, until light and fluffy.
• 6 pipe onto cupcakes, sprinkle with a little cinnamon sugar and top with a drizzle of dulce de leche if desired.

Cardamom & Coconut Pilau

Total Time: 1 hr 55 mins Preparation Time: 45 mins Cook Time: 1 hr 10 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 4
• 500 g basmati rice
• 1/3 cup sunflower oil
• 1 large onion, halved and thinly sliced
• 1 cinnamon stick, bruised
• 6 green cardamom pods, bruised
• 1 teaspoon cumin seed
• 1/2 cup pistachios, kernels
• 1/3 cup raisins
• 4 cups water
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/3 cup shredded coconut

Recipe

• 1 rinse the rice, until the water runs clear. place the rice in a bowl and cover with cold water. set the rice aside for one hour to soak. drain the rice.
• 2 heat half of the oil in a saucepan using a high heat. add the onion. stir and cook the onion for about ten minutes, until crisp. remove the onion and drain on paper kitchen towel.
• 3 heat the remaining oil over a low heat. add the cinnamon stick, cardamom pods and cumin seeds. cook for about 30 seconds to release the aromatics.
• 4 add the rice, pistachios and raisins to the spices. cook for about a minute. everything should be coated and glossy from the oil.
• 5 add the water and salt. bring to the boil using a high heat. reduce heat to medium and cook for another 10 minutes.
• 6 reduce the heat to low. cover the saucepan with 2 thicknesses of aluminum foil and cover tightly with a lid.continue to cook for about another 10-15 minutes, or until tender. separate the rice grains using a fork.
• 7 meanwhile -- place the coconut in a frying pan over a medium heat. stir and toast the coconut for 1 to 2 minutes. be careful not to burn the coconut.
• 8 place the rice in a serving bowl. top with the fried onions and toasted coconut. serve.

Cheerios Christmas Trees

Total Time: 45 mins Preparation Time: 45 mins

Ingredients

• 6 cups honey nut cheerios
• 6 tablespoons butter
• 4 1/2 cups miniature marshmallows
• green food coloring
• red cinnamon candies or gumdrop

Recipe

• 1 line a cookie sheet with waxed paper.
• 2 pour the cereal into a 4-quart bowl and set aside.
• 3 place the butter and marshmallows in a 3-quart saucepan. heat over low heat, stirring constantly, until the mixture is smooth.
• 4 remove the saucepan from the heat.
• 5 stir in the food color until the mixture is evenly colored.
• 6 pour the marshmallow mixture over the cereal and stir until the cereal is evenly coated.
• 7 lightly spray your hands with cooking spray.
• 8 for each tree, shape about 1/4 cup of the cereal mixture into a christmas tree shape on the cookie sheet.
• 9 press the candies into the trees to decorate. if using gumdrops, slice into the size of ornaments.
• 10 refrigerate until firm, about 1 hour.
• 11 store the trees in a loosely covered container.

Banilla-bourbon Pumpkin Tart - Cooking Light 11/2009

Total Time: 5 hrs 43 mins Preparation Time: 5 hrs Cook Time: 43 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 8
• 3/4 cup graham cracker crumbs (about 5 cookie sheets)
• 1 tablespoon finely chopped pecans
• 1 teaspoon granulated sugar
• 1 tablespoon butter, melted
• cooking spray
• 1 cup reduced-fat cream cheese, softened
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1/4 cup packed light brown sugar
• 1 (15 ounce) can unsweetened pumpkin
• 2 large eggs
• 2 tablespoons bourbon
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/8 teaspoon ground allspice
• 1/3 cup cold heavy cream
• 2 teaspoons powdered sugar

Recipe

• 1 preheat oven to 350°.
• 2 to prepare crust, combine first 3 ingredients in a bowl. drizzle butter over crumb mixture; stir with a fork. firmly press into bottom and 1 inch up sides of a 9-inch springform pan coated with cooking spray. bake at 350° for 8 minutes or until lightly browned; cool on a wire rack.
• 3 to prepare filling, beat cream cheese, 1/2 cup granulated sugar, and brown sugar in a large bowl with a mixer at medium speed until smooth. add pumpkin and eggs; beat until combined, scraping sides of bowl as needed. add bourbon and the next 5 ingredients (through ground allspice); beat 1 minute or until combined.
• 4 pour cheese mixture into prepared pan. place pan in a large roasting pan; add hot water to pan to a depth of 1 inch. bake at 350° for 35 minutes or until center barely moves when side of pan is tapped. cool completely on wire rack. cover and refrigerate at least 4 hours or overnight. place cream and powdered sugar in a small bowl; beat with a mixer at high speed until stiff peaks form. serve sweetened whipped cream with tart.

Chicken And Couscous Salad

Total Time: 35 mins Preparation Time: 30 mins Cook Time: 5 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 6
• 1 (14 1/2 ounce) can chicken broth (can use fat-free, sodium-free)
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/2-1 teaspoon curry powder (add even more if you like a strong curry flavor)
• 1 cup uncooked couscous
• 1 1/2 lbs boneless skinless chicken breasts, cooked and cut into 1/2 inch pieces
• 2 cups fresh pineapple chunks
• 2 cups cubed cucumbers, chunks
• 2 cups cubed red bell peppers
• 2 cups cubed yellow bell peppers
• 1 cup sliced celery
• 1/2 cup sliced green onion (include tops)
• salt and pepper
• 3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
• 3 tablespoons water
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 1 tablespoon fresh mint or 1 teaspoon dried mint
• lettuce leaf

Recipe

• 1 in a non-stick pan, heat broth, cinnamon, nutmeg, and curry powder; bring mixture to a boil.
• 2 add couscous and stir.
• 3 remove pan from heat and let stand, covered, for 5 minutes.
• 4 fluff couscous with at fork and let cool to room temperature.
• 5 add chicken, pineapple, cucumber, bell peppers, celery, green onion, and salt and pepper to taste; toss to mix together.
• 6 in a krudit jar with a tight fitting lid, combine vinegar, water, oil, and mint; shake well.
• 7 pour over couscous mixture and toss.
• 8 serve over bed of lettuce.

Chicken-pizziola Panini With Green Tea Spiced Pears

Total Time: 15 mins Cook Time: 15 mins

Ingredients

• 1 teaspoon bread-dip seasoning (parmesan blend)
• 4 boneless chicken cutlets (about 1 lb)
• cooking spray
• 8 teaspoons sun-dried tomatoes, spread
• 4 deli flavored folding flat bread
• 8 slices deli sandwich-style pepperoni
• provolone cheese
• 6 bartlett pears
• 1/3 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup golden raisin
• 1/2 cup deli green tea with ginger and honey
• 1 teaspoon ginger, spice paste
• 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch

Recipe

• 1 chicken pizziola panini:.
• 2 preheat two-sided tabletop grill. sprinkle seasoning over chicken, then coat with spray. place chicken on grill and close lid; grill 2–3 minutes or until chicken is 165°f.
• 3 spread 2 teaspoons tomato spread over the inside of each flatbread; top with chicken, 2 slices pepperoni, and 1 slice cheese. close flatbreads.
• 4 coat sandwiches with spray and place on grill, pressing lid down gently; grill 2–3 minutes or until crisp and golden. serve.
• 5 green tea spiced pears:.
• 6 peel pears and remove core; cut pears into small cubes.
• 7 combine remaining ingredients in medium saucepan on medium heat and bring to a simmer; cook 5–6 minutes or until sugar dissolves and mixture thickens slightly.
• 8 stir in pears and cornstarch; cook and stir 4–5 more minutes or until tender and sauce has thickened. serve warm.

Chunky Pear And Applesauce

Total Time: 20 mins Preparation Time: 5 mins Cook Time: 15 mins

Ingredients

• 3 mcintosh apples, peeled, cored and coarsely chopped
• 3 ripe pears, peeled, cored and quartered
• 1/2 cup water
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 1/4 cup frozen apple juice concentrate, thawed
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/8 teaspoon ground mace
• 1/8 teaspoon grated nutmeg

Recipe

• 1 place all ingredients in a heavy saucepan.
• 2 bring to a boil over medium heat, then reduce heat to a simmer.
• 3 cover and cook, stirring occasionally, until reduced to a chunky sauce, about 10 minutes.
• 4 remove from the heat, cool, and refrigerate until needed.
• 5 you can also freeze in ice cube trays. keep frozen cubes in a plastic bag so you can remove one portion at a time.

Cardamom Tea Loaf

Total Time: 1 hr 15 mins Preparation Time: 15 mins Cook Time: 1 hr

Ingredients

• Servings: 10
• 2 cups unbleached flour
• 2 teaspoons cardamom, freshly ground
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 3 large eggs
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1 cup sour cream
• 10 tablespoons butter, melted

Recipe

• 1 preheat oven to 350°f.
• 2 grease and flour a loaf pan.
• 3 combine dry ingredients in a bowl and set aside.
• 4 beat eggs and sugar together until creamy. add dry ingredients and mix until combined. mix in sour cream and melted butter.
• 5 pour batter into prepared pan, baking until done, about an hour.
• 6 cool in pan for 15 minutes, then turn out onto rack and finish cooling.
• 7 dust with powdered sugar.

Butternut Squash And Baked Apple Puree

Total Time: 50 mins Preparation Time: 10 mins Cook Time: 40 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 4
• 4 gala apples, cored with skins left on and cut into cubes
• 1 large butternut squash, peeled, seeded, and cubed
• 1 medium red onion, diced
• 4 tablespoons butter, cut into small chunks
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
• salt
• pepper
• cooking spray

Recipe

• 1 place the squash cubes on a baking sheet covered in cooking spray. season with a sprinkle of salt and pepper. place in 375 degree oven for about 20 minutes.
• 2 add apples, onions, and butter to the baking sheet and season again to your liking.
• 3 place pan back in the oven for about 15-20 minutes, or longer, until all ingredients are softened.
• 4 remove from oven and puree with a food mill or food processor. the butter is absorbed into the apples, squash, and onion to add great pureed flavor. add the cinnamon.
• 5 serve and enjoy!
• 6 i've been wanting to try this with a dallop of fresh ricotta cheese on top -- maybe next time.

Chicken-chorizo Stuffed Sopaipillas

Total Time: 1 hr 15 mins Preparation Time: 45 mins Cook Time: 30 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 4
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 cup water
• 1/4 cup evaporated milk
• 1 1/2 teaspoons vegetable oil
• 1/4 cup vegetable oil, for frying
• 1 lb ground chicken breast
• 3 tablespoons chili powder
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ground oregano
• 1/2 teaspoon ground thyme
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
• 2 cups peeled diced potatoes
• 3 tablespoons vegetable oil, divided
• 1 cup diced onion
• 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
• prepared salsa verde

Recipe

• 1 combine flour, salt and baking powder in medium bowl. stir in water, milk and 1 1/2 teaspoons oil until a ball of dough forms. knead dough on a lightly floured surface 3 minutes. cover and let rest 15 minutes.
• 2 divide sopaipilla dough into four portions; roll each into a 6 to 7-inch circle.
• 3 heat 1/4 cup oil to 375ºf degrees in a deep fryer or deep skillet. fry each circle, one at a time, 2 to 3 minutes on each side or until golden brown. drain on paper towels.
• 4 combine chicken, chili powder, cinnamon, oregano, thyme, cloves, salt and vinegar in medium bowl; mix well. set aside.
• 5 boil diced potato in lightly salted water until tender; drain, set aside. heat 2 tablespoons oil in medium skillet over medium-high heat. add ground chicken mixture; sauté, stirring frequently to break up pieces, until almost cooked through.
• 6 add boiled diced potato, diced onion and remaining 1 tablespoon oil; continue to sauté until potatoes begin to brown.
• 7 cut a slit on one side of each sopaipilla; fill with 1/4 of the chicken mixture. sprinkle tops with additional cheese. serve with prepared salsa verde.

Churros

Total Time: 7 mins Preparation Time: 5 mins Cook Time: 2 mins

Ingredients

• vegetable oil
• 1 cup water
• 1/2 cup margarine or 1/2 cup butter
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup flour
• 3 eggs
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon (optional)

Recipe

• 1 heat 1- 1 1/2 inches oil in pan.
• 2 to 360 degrees f.
• 3 heat water margarine and salt to a rolling boil in a 3-quart saucepan.
• 4 stir in flour.
• 5 stir vigorously over low heat until mixture forms a ball, about 1 minute.
• 6 remove from heat.
• 7 beat eggs add them to saucepan while stirring mixture.
• 8 spoon into a cake decorator's tube with a large star tip.
• 9 squeeze 4 inch strips of dough into hot oil.
• 10 fry 3-4 strips at a time until golden brown, turning once, about 2 minutes each side.
• 11 drain on paper towels.
• 12 mix the sugar and cinnamon (optional).
• 13 roll the churros in the sugar (or cinnamon sugar) mixture or dump the sugar on top of the churros.

Churrisimos

Total Time: 30 mins Preparation Time: 10 mins Cook Time: 20 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 6
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
• 1 sheet puff pastry, defrosted
• dulce de leche, for dipping

Recipe

• 1 preheat your oven to 375 degrees f.
• 2 line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside. mix the sugar with the cinnamon in a small bowl and set aside.
• 3 sprinkle some cinnamon sugar on your work surface and place the puff pastry in an even, single layer on top.
• 4 brush the pastry lightly with water and sprinkle generously with cinnamon sugar. flip the pastry over and repeat on the second side.
• 5 cut the pastry into 1/2 to 3/4-inch wide strips. place them on the prepared baking sheet, twisting the ends of each strip so it looks like a corkscrew.
• 6 bake until they're puffed and golden brown, 20 minutes and set aside to cool completely.
• 7 serve with dulce de leche or caramel dipping sauce.