In Search of Turkish Delight

The family just went and saw the latest Narnia movie.  It was  fantastic.   My mind started to wander and I thought of the first Narnia movie and Turkish delight popped into my mind.  I had an urge for Turkish Delight, but had no idea how to make it.  Thus begins my search for a Turkish Delight recipe.

I  have searched the Web and found several recipes that I want to try.   I will keep you posted on my experiments with Turkish Delight.

PS If any of you have a recipe for Turkish Delight or tips on making Turkish Delight, please feel free to comment.

Merry Christmas

Wishing you a very Merry Christmas.

"'⁸And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. ⁹And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. ¹⁰And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. ¹¹For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. ¹²And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. ¹³And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, ¹⁴Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace and goodwill towards men.'"

Geri

Christmas Cooking With The Kids: Holly Cookies

The kids and I just got done making Holly Cookies.  Holly cookies are like Rice Krispie treats only you use corn flakes or frosted flakes.  They are super simple to make  and the kids have a blast making and decorating them.

Holly cookies have become a family tradition.  We make these cookies every year for Christmas and they are loved by both kids and adults.

Holly Cookies

Ingredients:
1/3 cup butter
4 cups miniature marshmallows
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/4 teaspoons green food coloring
6 cups corn flakes or frosted flakes
Cinnamon red hot candies
Vanilla frosting

Directions:

1. In a large saucepan melt the butter over low heat.  Do not burn the butter.
2. Add the marshmallows to the melted butter.  Stir until the marshmallows have melted.
3.  To the melted marshmallows add the vanilla extract and green food coloring.  Stir until combined.
4.  Add the cornflakes to the marshmallow mixture and stir  until the flakes are well coated.
5. Drop the cereal mixture by tablespoonfuls on wax paper.  Decorate the cookies with the cinnamon red hot candies using the frosting to hold the candies in place.  Let cool.
6.  Store cookies (single layer) in an airtight container.

Makes about 18 cookies.

Holiday Cooking: Peppermint Bark Pretzels

Today, my daughter Becky and I made some Peppermint Bark Pretzels.  Becky came up with the idea after having some peppermint bark.  They are easy and fun to make.  This is a recipe the kids can make pretty much by themselves with a little supervision on your part.

Peppermint Bark Pretzels

Ingredients:
4 cups of pretzels
1 pound chocolate candy coating
1/2 pound of vanilla candy coating
1 regular size candy cane  crushed -you want to have fairly small pieces not large

 
Directions:
1. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. Melt the chocolate candy coating according to package directions for the microwave.
3. Dip the pretzels one at a time in the chocolate coating and set on the parchment paper to dry.
4. Melt the white candy coating according to package directions for the microwave.
5. With a spoon, drizzle the white candy coating over the pretzels on the parchment paper.
6.  Sprinkle the crushed candy cane over the pretzels.
7.  Let the pretzels set and store in an airtight container.

Have fun with this and enjoy.

Geri

Holiday Baking: Blondies

I love to eat blondies with ice cream.  The blondies in this recipe are not made from scratch but from a cake mix as the batter.  In my opinion, they turn out just as chewy and gooey as the ones I make from scratch.

Mix up a batch and enjoy.

                                      Blondies

Ingredients:

1 box of French or Golden Vanilla cake mix

½ cup butter melted

2 eggs beaten

½ cup semi sweet chocolate chips

½ cup butterscotch chips

½ cup chopped walnuts

½ cup shredded coconut

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

2. Grease the bottom of a 9x13 inch-baking dish.

3.  In a large mixing bowl, mix the cake mix, butter and beaten eggs together with a spoon.

4.  Stir into the batter the chocolate chips, butterscotch chips, walnuts and coconut.

5.  Spread the batter evenly into the baking dish.  Bake for 20 -22 minutes or until edges are a golden brown.

6.  Cool blondies completely.  Cut bars into 4 rows by 6 rows.

Makes 24 bars.

Holiday Cooking: Pistachio Tart

Tonight I made a light dessert loaded with flavor.  It starts out with a nutty crust followed by a cream cheese layer, pistachio pudding, Cool Whip and finally a sprinkling of nuts.   It is MMMM   Good.

The funny thing is I usually make this dessert around the holiday time.  But it is so yummy, versatile, and easy to make you can make it anytime.  If you are not a fan of pistachio pudding, use your favorite pudding.  Same goes for the nuts, use your favorite.

                                        Pistachio Tart

Ingredients:

1-cup flour

2 tablespoons sugar

¼ cup finely chopped pistachios

1 stick (1/2 cup) unsalted butter

1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese – cut into 1 - inch chunks

2/3 cup powdered sugar sifted

1 (8-ounce) carton Cool Whip - divided

2- (3.4-ounce) boxes pistachio instant pudding and pie filling

2-1/2 cups cold milk

¼ cup coarsely chopped pistachios

Directions:

1.Pre heat oven to 375 degrees.

2.  Lightly butter the bottom of a 9x13 inch-baking dish.

3. In a medium bowl whisk together the flour, sugar and pistachios.  

4.  Grate the butter into the flour mixture.  With fingertips work the butter into the flour mixture until it resembles cornflakes.   This makes the crust.

5. Spoon the flour mixture evenly in the bottom of the pan and press into the pan.

6.  Bake the crust for 10 minutes or until edges start turning a light golden brown.  Remove from the oven and let it cool.

7.  In a large mixing bowl add the cream cheese.  Beat the cream cheese and gradually add the sifted powdered sugar.  Beat until the sugar and the cream cheese are incorporated.  Add half of the carton of   Cool Whip and beat for another minute or until the Cool Whip is blended into the  cream cheese mixture.   

8.  Spread the mixture over the crust.

9. In a medium-mixing bowl add the pistachio pudding and cold milk.  Beat for two minutes with a whisk.  Let stand for 5 minutes.

10. Spread the pudding mixture over the cream cheese layer.

11. Spread the remaining Cool Whip over the pudding layer and sprinkle pistachios over the Cool Whip.

12.  Cover and refrigerate for 2 or more hours.  Serve chilled.

Makes 12 servings 

Grating Butter Into Flour Mixture

Butter Incorporated Into Flour Mixture

Baked Crust

Cubed Cream Cheese

Cream Cheese and Powdered Sugar Incorporated

Cream Cheese Mixture Spread Over the Crust

Pistachio Pudding Layer

Cool Whip Layer

Ready for Fridge

A Cookbook Christmas List: Two Known Authors - One Unknown

Every year I put out my Christmas cookbook  wish list.  In past years, my list has included:
    
                                           Julia Child:  Baking With Julia
                                           Sheila Lukins: USA Cookbook
                                           James Beard:  Beard on Bread and Beard on Pasta

just to name a few.

This year I have three must haves on my list.  They are:

Alton Brown:  Good Eats 2:  The Middle Years.  
I love Alton Brown.  His show is fantastic and educational.   I have his other cookbooks and they are a  culinary class.   You learn about different techniques, the hardware you need, why you need to cook or bake foods in certain ways.  His cooking books are my reference books for cooking and baking.
Alton's books also have  some recipes.   Some of my favorite recipes of his are Beef Jerky, Cheese Soup, Chocolate Peppermint Pinwheel cookies, Corn Dogs, Green Bean Casserole, Biscuits, Scones, Chicken and Dumplings.  The list goes on and on.


              

Dorie Greenspan:  I was introduced to Dorie Greenspan's  cookbooks a little over a year ago.  I was looking for a book devoted to pancakes.  Yes, pancakes.  I found a book at the library by Dorie Greenspan   "Pancakes: From Morning to Midnight."  One of the tastiest books I ever checked out.  This started my following of Dorie Greenspan.  Last year,  I received her Baking book - "Baking: From My Home to Yours."  My favorites are her Blondies, Creamy Scones, and Harvest Cake.  Absolutely delicious.

Sarabeth Levine:  This cookbook is my journey into the unknown.  I have read great reviews of her products and I made her  Creamy Tomato Soup that was featured on her blog.  It was delicious.  I also read several of her blog posts and  decided I kneeded her cookbook.    I will let you know in  future blogs about my cooking adventures with her cookbook.

Well, this sums up my cookbook wish list for 2010.    I believe I made good choices.

Geri