Category Archives: Christmas

Honey Macaroonies

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1½ cups quick-cooking rolled oats
½ cup flaked coconut
½ cup chopped walnuts
½ cup all-purpose flour
¾ cup packed brown sugar
½ cup butter or margarine
2 tablespoons honey
36 red or green candied cherries

In large mixing bowl stir together first 4 ingredients. In heavy saucepan combine brown sugar, butter, and honey; bring to boiling, stirring frequently. Pour over dry ingredients; blend well. For each cookie, press one level tablespoon mixture into greased 1¾-inch muffin pan. (For flatter, crisper cookie, place dough in 2-inch muffin pan.) Top each with candied cherry. Bake in 350° oven for 15 to 20 minutes or till well browned. Cool in pans for 10 minutes; remove from pans to rack. Cool completely. Makes 3 dozen cookies.

JAM THUMBPRINTS

In mixing bowl cream ¾ cup butter and ½ cup sugar till light and fluffy. Add 2 eggs and 1½ teaspoons vanilla; beat well. Thoroughly stir together 2 cups all-purpose flour, 1½ teaspoons baking powder, and &Frac14; teaspoon salt. Stir into creamed mixture. Chill at least 1 hour. Shape dough into 48 balls. Place 2 inches apart on greased cookie sheet. With moistened finger, make indentation in each cookie. Combine ½ cup red raspberry, boysenberry, or currant jam; ⅓ cup chopped filberts; and 1 teaspoon grated orange or lemon peel. Place ½ teaspoon jam filling in center of each cookie. Beat 2 egg whites with ¼ teaspoon cream of tartar till soft peaks form. Gradually add ½ cup sugar, beating to stiff peaks. Pipe a wreath of meringue around jam atop each cookie. Bake in a 350° oven 10 to 13 minutes. Remove to rack; cool. Makes 48.

© Meredith Corporation, MCMLXXIX. All Rights Reserved. Printed in U.S.A.

Ensalada de Nochebuena (Christmas Eve Salad)

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4 servings

You will need
3 oranges, peeled and thinly sliced
2 tart apples, cored and thinly sliced
1 cup cooked, sliced beets (reserve liquid)
1 cup pineapple slices or chunks
2 bananas, peeled and sliced
4 large radishes, thinly sliced
1 head lettuce, shredded
½ cup peanuts, chopped
½ cup pine nuts, chopped (optional)
Seeds of 1 pomegranate, or ¾ cup fresh cranberries
Dressing: ½ cup sugar
4 tablespoons vinegar
1 cup reserved beet liquid

Arrange lettuce on a large platter. Alternate fruits and beets attractively over the lettuce. Sprinkle with chopped nuts and pomegranate seeds. Just before serving pour on dressing.

© Shufunotomo Co., Ltd., Japan 1975

Walnut Caramels

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Preparation time: 15 min.
Cooking time: about 1 hr.

Luscious caramels make a welcome gift at Yuletide. They can be made a week to 10 days ahead of presentation, as long as they are wrapped airtight and stored for the interim in a cool, dark place.

For 64 candies (about 1½ lbs.) you will need:

2 cups sugar
¾ cup light corn syrup
½ cup (¼ lb.) butter or margarine
2 cups half-and-half
½ cup finely chopped walnuts
1 tsp. vanilla

Preparation:

  1. In a large heavy saucepan combine sugar, corn syrup, butter and half of the cream. Heat to boiling over medium heat, stirring constantly.
  2. Stir in remaining cream, nuts and vanilla. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until mixture reaches a temperature of 244°F. on a candy thermometer (small amount dried into very cold water will form a firm ball). As mixture becomes thick, stir constantly.
  3. Immediately pour mixture evenly into a well buttered 8-inch-square pan. Let stand until cool.
  4. Cut into 1-inch squares. Wrap individually in waxed paper or plastic film.

© MCMLXXXIV MY GREAT RECIPES®. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. PRINTED IN HOLLAND.

Mince Pies

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Cooking time: see stage 5
Preparation time: mincemeat 35-40 mins., mince pies depending upon dough used
Main cooking utensils: deep pay pans, cookie cutters

For 8-12 servings you will need:
For 2½ lb. mincemeat:
1 apple
scant cup shredded suet
½ cup brown sugar
finely grated rind of 1 lemon
juice of 1 lemon
generous 3 cups mixed dried fruit
scant cup chopped candied peel
scant cup blanched almonds
½ teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon mixed spice
½ teaspoon grated nutmeg
4 tablespoons rum, brandy, or whiskey

Pastry:
Basic pie dough made with 2 cups all-purpose flour, etc., or puff paste made with 2 cups all-purpose flour, etc.

  1. Peel the apple, grate coarsely, the mix with the other ingredients. Put into clean jars, seal down.
  2. Roll out dough, cut rounds to fit into deep patty pans.
  3. Put in mincemeat.
  4. Cover with smaller round of pastry, brush edges with water, seal together. Make a slit in the top of each to allow the steam to escape.
  5. Bake as follows, basic pie dough – approximately 20 minutes in the center of a 425-450°F. oven. Puff paste – 20 minutes in center of 450-475°F. oven, reducing heat slightly after 10 minutes if necessary.

TO SERVE: Hot or cold. They may be dusted with granulated or sifted confectioners’ sugar.

TO VARY: Mix mincemeat with fruit juice instead of rum, but the mincemeat will not keep so well.

PRINTED IN CANADA. ©Copyright Paul Hamlyn Ltd. 1967

Spicy Sugared Nuts

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Preparation time: 15 min.
Cooking time: about 15 min.

Easily-made, this unusual confection is wonderful as a holiday treat. Include it with other candies for a welcome gift.

For about ¾ lb. of candy you will need:
½ cup pure maple syrup or maple blended syrup
½ cup sugar
1 Tbsp. Butter or margarine
½ tsp. Cinnamon
¼ tsp. Ginger
⅛ tsp. each ground cloves and allspice
Dash salt
1½ cups pecans

Preparation:

  1. In medium saucepan, combine syrup and sugar.
  2. Bring to boiling over medium heat, stirring until sugar is dissolved.
  3. Using a candy thermometer, cook syrup without stirring until temperature reaches 236°F or the softball stage.
  4. Remove from heat. Add butter, spices, and salt.
  5. Stir in nuts, then beat with spoon until syrup begins to thicken and becomes slightly creamy in color.
  6. Spread on waxed paper, separating nuts with a fork.
  7. Cook, then store in airtight containers.

© MCMLXXXV MY GREAT RECIPES ALL RIGHTS RESERVED®. PRINTED IN HOLLAND.

Christmas Pudding

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Cooking time: 6-8 hours
Preparation time: 45 mins.
Main cooking utensils: 1 or 2 ovenproof bowls, foil or wax paper

For 12-16 servings:
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup fresh soft bread crumbs
1 teaspoon each mixed spice, cinnamon, and nutmeg
Scant cup shredded suet
½ cup brown sugar
1 dessert apple, grated
1 small carrot, grated
¾ cup chopped candied peel
2 eggs
Scant cup currants
1⅓ cups raisins
¾ cup seedless white raisins
Scant ½ cup chopped prunes or dried apricots
1 cup chopped, balanced almonds
Grated ring of ½ lemon
Juice of ½ lemon
Grated ring of ½ orange
1 tablespoon corn syrup or molasses
⅔ cup ale, beer, or milk

  1. Mix all ingredients together and leave overnight, then stir again wishing hard for good luck.
  2. Put into the greased bowl(s), cover with foil or wax paper. Alternatively cover the top with a flour and water paste (mix 2 cups flour to a paste with water).
  3. Steam or boil for time given, allowing longer time for one pudding. Remove wet covers as soon as pudding is cooked, then put on dry covered and re-steam for 2-3 hours on Christmas morning.

TO SERVE: With brandy butter made by creaming ½ cup butter, 1½ cups sifted confectioners’ sugar and 3 tablespoons brandy.

TO STORE: In a cool dry place.

Preparing fruit for Christmas cooking: If washing the fruit allow it to dry at room temperature for 48 hours.

PRINTED IN CANADA. © Copyright Paul Hamlyn Ltd 1967

North Pole Party

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IGLOO CAKE

For a winter birthday or the hottest day in summer! Go on an around-the-house explorer’s party, ending at the North Pole with box lunches, sugar snow, funny little gnomes and Igloo Cake.

1 package of our devils food cake mix
1 package of our fluffy white frosting mix
1 ounce unsweetened chocolate
¼ teaspoon shortening

Bake cake in 2 layer pans, 8 x 1½ inches, as directed on package. Prepare frosting mix as directed on package.

Cut layers into halves to make 4 semicircles; put halves together with frosting to form igloo. Place cake upright on cut edge on serving plate or tray. Frost top and sides of igloo.

Melt chocolate and shortening over low heat. Using teaspoon, drizzle melted chocolate on top and sides of igloo in parallel crisscross lines to make ice block squares. Surround igloo with sprinkling of granulated sugar for snow.

Into each box lunch, tuck a whole carrot, an apple, a small chocolate bar for quick energy and at the last minute, 2 hot crusty fish sticks. Stories about penguins, polar bears and walruses will keep the children happy during lunch.

© Copyright 1971 by General Mills, Inc. All rights reserved. Printed in U.S.A.

Kalashus Med Choklad (Chocolate Cottage)

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Cooking time: 20-25 mins.
Preparation time: 30-35 mins.
Main cooking utensils: 2 6- to 7-in. Square cake pans
Oven temperature: 375°F
Oven position: toward top

For 8-10 servings you need:
¾ cup butter
¾ cup sugar
3 eggs
1½ cups all-purpose flour
1½ teaspoons baking powder
2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa

Decoration:
Chocolate butter frosting
¾ cup butter
3 cups sifted confectioners sugar
2 1-oz. squares semisweet chocolate, melted
2 eating apples
little lemon juice
1 marshmallow

  1. Cream together butter and sugar until soft and light.
  2. Gradually beat in eggs.
  3. Fold in sifted flour, baking powder, and cocoa.
  4. Put in the two greased and lined pans and bake until firm to the touch.
  5. When cool, cut a 2-inch slice from each square for the roof.
  6. Cream the butter and beat in the confectioners’ sugar.
  7. Take 1/4 cup of frosting for the piping.
  8. Add melted chocolate to the remainder and beat well.
  9. Sandwich cakes together with some of the frosting to form the house.
  10. Place smaller pieces together on top to form roof.
  11. Cover entire cake with chocolate frosting.
  12. Pie the reserved white frosting in the shape of a door and window. Any left over may be used to pipe a border around the bottom of the house.
  13. Place sliced apple dipped in lemon juice on roof to form slates. Top with a marshmallow chimney.

PRINTED IN CANADA. © Copyright Paul Hamlyn Ltd. 1967

Christmas Cake

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Cooking time: 3 ¼ – 3 ½ hours
Preparation time: 1 hour
Main cooking utensil: 8- to 9-inch spring form pan, brown and wax paper
Oven temperature: 325-350° F for 1 hour then 275-300° F for the rest of the time.
Oven position: center
For 20-26 servings:
½ lemon
1 cup butter
1 cup brown sugar, firmly packed
5 eggs
1 tablespoon brandy, sherry, or lemon juice
2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
½ teaspoon each of cinnamon and mixed spice
½ cup ground almonds
¼ cup candied cherries
scant ½ cup chopped candied peel
2 cups seedless white raisins
2 cups currants
⅔ cups raisins
Royal icing: See Card 9

  1. Grate rind from the lemon, squeeze the juice if using instead of brandy.
  2. Cream butter, sugar, and lemon rind until soft, then gradually add the eggs beaten with the brandy. Fold in a little sifted flour if the mixture shows signs of curdling.
  3. Add the rest of the ingredients.
  4. Put mixture into prepared pan and bake for the time and temperatures given. To test if cooked listen carefully, a faint humming indicates it is not fully cooked. With this type of cake you can cover the top with wax paper to prevent it becoming too dark.
  5. Cool in cake pan for 10 minutes. Finish cooling on a wire rack. Store in airtigh tin until ready to ice – see Card 9.

TO STORE: Can be stored for several weeks in an airtight tin.

To prepare for baking rich cakes: Line bottom with double round of brown and then wax paper, line sides with wax paper, tie a band of brown paper around outside.

Printed in CANADA. ©Copyright Paul Hamlyn Ltd. 1967

Santa Sand Tarts

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4 cups sifted all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. salt
1 cup butter or margarine
2 cups sugar
3 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
Red, white Confectioners’ Icing, recipe at right
Red cinnamon candies
Shredded coconut
Green sugar

Sift together flour, baking soda and salt. Cream butter; slowly add and beat in sugar and continue beating until well blended. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition; blend in vanilla. Add sifted dry ingredients gradually; blend well. Cover bowl; chill dough several hours or until firm enough to roll.

Set oven for moderate, 350°. Grease cooky sheets. On a lightly floured board, roll out chilled dough, 1/4 inch thick. Cut with floured Santa Claus cooky cutter; place on cooky sheets. Bake 8 to 10 minutes, or until cookies are golden. Run spatula under cookies to remove from sheets. Cool on wire racks. Decorate as shown with icing, candies, coconut and sugar. Makes about 4 dozen.

CONFECTIONERS’ ICING

Measure 1 cup sifted confectioners’ sugar into a bowl. Stir in just enough water, about 1 tablespoon, to make frosting easy to force through a decorating tube. Or add a little more water if it is to be brushed on cookies or used for making lines with a toothpick. Tint, if desired, with a few drops of red or green food coloring; blend well. Or leave white. Makes about 1/2 cup.

Published by –COOKINDEX– Division of H.S. Stuttman Co., Inc., New York © Copyright 1958 Tested Recipe Institute, Inc., New York