Category Archives: Cocktails

New Year’s Eve Bubbly & Cassoulet

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new_year_bubbly

Cassoulet, the French triumph over baked beans, is an enviable dish to serve at a New Year’s party; if you plan ahead, you will reserve 2 cups of the Christmas goose meat to lend an inimitable touch to the cassoulet. Ham Madrielene and Russian Salad complement Cassoulet most favorably for a New Year’s Eve buffet dinner to serve 24.

2 pounds dried Great Northern beans
12 cups water
3 pounds pork sausage links
2 pounds boneless beef chuck, cut into 1 inch cubes
1 pound bacon, chopped
2 cups cooked goose meat
4 cups chopped onion
6 cloves garlic, minced
2 teaspoons rosemary
2 teaspoons salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1 teaspoon dry mustard
1 teaspoon cayenne
2 cups dry red wine
3 cups bean liquid
2 cups tomato paste

Wash beans; place in stock pot and add water; bring to boil. Boil 2 minutes only; remove from heat and let stand 1 hour. Bring to low boil and simmer until tender; about 3 hours. Drain beans. Preheat oven to 350 F.

Cut sausage links in half and brown in skillet; remove and drain. Brown beef and bacon; drain. Place beef, bacon, goose, onions, garlic and seasonings in 6-quart casserole; add wine and bake in 350F oven 1 hour.

Add beans, sausage, and tomato paste. Stir lightly; add 1 cup bean liquid; bake, covered 1 1/2 hours or until beans are tender. For crisp crunchy top, bake uncovered last 30 minutes.

Copyright ©1977 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved. Printed in U.S.A.

Wassail

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wassail

6 cups apple cider or juice
1 cinnamon stick
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1/4 cup honey
3 tablespoons lemon juice
1 teaspoon grated lemon eel
1 can (18 ounces) unsweetened pineapple juice (2 1/4 cups)
Orange Stars (below)
Cinnamon sticks

IN large saucepan, heat cider and one cinnamon stick to boiling; reduce heat. Cover; simmer 5 minutes. Uncover; stir in remaining ingredients except Orange Stars and cinnamon sticks and simmer 5 minutes longer. Serve in punch bowl; float Orange Stars in bowl. Use cinnamon sticks as individual stirrers. 16 servings (about 1/2 cup each).

Orange Stars: Cut an orange into 1/4-inch slices. Insert 5 whole cloves at equal intervals in edge of each slice. Cut out a wedge peel and pulp between each 2 cloves.

Floating Cloved Oranges can be used instead or Orange Stars: Heat oven to 325°. Insert whole cloves about 1/2 inch apart in 3 oranges. Place in baking pan with just enough water to cover bottom of pan. Bake uncovered 30 minutes.

These oranges can be baked a day ahead. Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.

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

Aquavit in Ice Sheath & Christmas Goose with Scandinavian Smorgasbord

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aquavit

Christmas Goose with Scandinavian Smorgasbord

Plan on am ambitious smorgasbord for a gala holiday get-together; to cut costs and effort, make it a potluck party. Use a fruit-stuffed roast goose as the base of the smorgasbord; place it on a separate table along with the Aquavit in Ice Sheath and shot glasses (1 shot glass straight aquavit per guest); place a Scandinavian Punch and the smorgasbord on a separate table; guests wander from table to table, helping themselves to aquavit and goose at one, punch and smorgasbord at the other. (Estimate 20 shot glasses aquavit per fifth bottle.)

1 goose, 8-10 pounds
1/4 cup aquavit
Fruit stuffing:
1 pound fresh cranberries
1 pound dried prunes, chopped
2 pounds apples, cored and chopped
2 cups chopped celery
2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon nutmeg
1/4 cup lemon juice
1/4 cup aquavit

Preheat oven to 325 F. Clean goose; splash 1/4 aquavit inside carcass. Mix together fruits and flavorings; stuff goose with fruit mixture and truss up.

Prick goose skin with tines of fork to permit fat to drain off during cooking; place goose breast side down in shallow roasting pan; rub skin well with salt.

Cook goose 1 hour; using oven mits covered with plastic bags, grasp goose with both hands and turn over. Cooke goose, breast side up, 2 1/2 hours; turn heat up to 450 F and cook goose additional 1/2 hour. Remove from oven; cover lightly with foil; let goose stand at room temperature 20 minutes before carving.

Copyright© 1977 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved. Printed in U.S.A.

Holiday Eggnog

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holiday_eggnog

Holiday Eggnog

6 eggs separated
1 pin brandy or whiskey
1/3 cup dark rum
1 pint chilled milk
3/4 cup sugar
1 pint chilled heavy cream whipped
Nutmeg

Beat egg yolks until thick. Slowly add and beat in brandy and rum. Stir in milk. Whip egg whites until very foamy. Gradually add and beat in sugar; beat just until egg whites form soft, shiny peaks. Fold egg whites into brandy mixture; fold in cream. Chill. Serve in a chilled bowl; sprinkle with nutmeg. Makes about 24 servings.

Golden Eggnog

6 eggs, separated
3/4 cup sugar
1 quart chilled milk
1 tablespoon vanilla
1 pint chilled heavy cream, whipped
Nutmeg

Whip egg whites until very foamy. Gradually add and beat in sugar. Beat just until egg whites form soft, shiny peaks. Beat egg yolks until thick. Fold in egg whites. Slowly stir in milk and vanilla. Fold cream into egg mixture. Chill. Serve in a chilled bowl; sprinkle with nutmeg. Makes about 24 servings.

Published by -COOKINDEX_ Division of H.S. Stuttman Co., Inc. New York. ©Copyright 1958 Tested Recipe Instituted, Inc., New York.

Glögg (Christmas Wine)

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glogg1

10 whole cloves
8 cardamom pods, crushed
6 dried prunes, pitted
3 sticks cinnamon
1/2-inch piece gingerroot (optional)
Shredded peel of 1 medium orange
1 cup water
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
2 bottles (4/5 quart each) port
1 bottle (1 pint) muscatel
1 tablespoon aromatic bitters
1/2 cup raisins
24 blanched almonds
1 cup vodka

Tie cloves, cardamom, prunes, cinnamon, gingerroot and orange peel in cheesecloth bag. Heat water and cheesecloth bag to boiling in 1-quart saucepan; reduce heat. Cover and simmer 3 minutes. Remove cheesecloth bag.

Mixed spiced water, brown sugar, port muscatel, bitters and raisins in Dutch oven; stir until sugar is dissolved. Cover and let stand at least 8 hours.

Stir almonds into wine mixture. Heat until wine mixture is hot (do not boil). Slowly add vodka. Pour Glögg through strainer. Spoon a few raisins and 2 almonds into each of 12 small cups; pour Glögg on raisins and almonds. About 12 servings. (1/2 cup each).

© 1975 by General Mills, Inc. All rights reserved. Printed in U.S.A.

Christmas Punch and Christmas Sausage Cake

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christmas_punch

Christmas Sausage Cake

1 pound pork sausage
1 1/2 cups brown sugar, packed
2 eggs, lightly beaten
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon mace
1 teaspoon ginger
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1/2 teaspoon cardamon
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup strong coffee (cold)
1 cup currants
1 cup chopped walnuts

Preheat oven to 350 F. Combine meat and sugar in mixing bowl and mix well. Stir in eggs and beat well. Mix flour, baking powder, and spices together. Stir baking soda into cold coffee. Add flour-spice mixutre and soda-coffee mixture to mixing bowl alternately, beating vigorously.

Pour boiling water over currants and let stand until currants soften, about 5 minutes. Drain and pat dry with paper towels. Fold currants and walnuts into sausage cake batter and mix well.

Grease 9-cup bundt pan or charlotte mold and dust with flour; tap lightly to shake out excess flour. Turn batter into pan.

Bake 1 1/2 hours or until cake begins to leaves ides of pan and wooden skewer inserted in center comes out clean. Let stand 20 minutes; unmold. Dust lightly with powdered sugar before serving. If desired, garnish with dried fruits chopped (Dates, apricots, citron, etc.)

Note: Good served with cream cheese.

Copyright ©1977 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved. Printed in U.S.A.

Eggnog & Shrimp Christmas Tree

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shrimp_christmas_tree

3 pounds shrimp
2 quarts boiling water
1/2 cup salt
2 lemons, sliced
4 large bunches curly endive
1 Styrofoam cone (2 1/2 feet high)*
1 Styrofoam square (12″ x 12″ x 1″)*
Cocktail sauce (below)

Place unshelled shrimp in large kettle of boiling water; add salt and lemon slices; cover and cook over low heat 4-5 minutes or until shrimp are pink and tender; do not overcook or shrimp will be tough.

Drain and peel, leaving on last section and tail; devein. Place in bowl and refrigerate, covered, until needed.

Separate endive leaves and rinse well under cold water; drain and chill in plastic bags with paper towels to absorb moisture.

*Prepare Christmas Tree base: Place Styrofoam cone in center of Styrofoam square and trace with pencil; cut out circle and lodge cone firmly in square.

Cover base and cone with curly endive leaves, overlapping leaves to resemble evergreen leaves, and fastening leaves to Styrofoam with toothpicks. (Work from bottom to top.)

Decorate tree with shrimp, attaching to the Styrofoam with toothpicks and arranging them in spiral manner; if desired, decorate tree with additional nibblers (olives, pimiento stars, cherry tomatoes, radish roses) and top tree with red ribbon. Serve with Cocktail Sauce.

Cocktail Sauce: Mix 1/2 cup prepared horseradish with 2 cups chili sauce; for creamy cocktail sauce, fold in 1/2 cup mayonnaise.

Copyright© 1977 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved. Printed in U.S.A.

Tom Boy & Baby Hot Dogs with Pa’s Hot Dog Relish

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Baby Hot Dogs with Pa’s Hot Dog Relish

4 hot dog rolls
Mayonnaise and mustard
4 hot dogs
Pa’s Hot Dog Relish (see below)

Preheat oven to broil. Split hot dog rolls lengthwise and spread lightly with mustard and mayonnaise. Place under broiler and broil until bubbly and lightly toasted, about 1 minute.

Fry, broil, or boil hot dogs until heated through. Place hot dogs in hot dog rolls and close. Cut rolls in thirds, cutting crosswise, to form 12 miniature hot dog sandwiches. Secure with skewers and serve with additional mustard and mayonnaise and Pa’s Hot Dog Relish.

Pa’s Hot Dog Relish

1 cup chopped onion
1/2 cup chopped green pepper
1/2 cup chopped dill pickle
1/4 cup chopped pimiento
1/4 cup diced celery
1/4 cup chopped gherkins
1 cup prepared mustard
1 cup catsup
1/4 cup prepared horseradish
2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce

Mix ingredients together and chill, covered, in refrigerator. Holds up to 5 days on refrigerator shelf.
Yield: About 2 1/2 pints.

Copyright ©1977 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved. Printed in U.S.A.

Daiquiri & Salmon Cream in Pumpernickel Well

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1 unsliced loaf round pumpernickel bread (about 1 pound)


Salmon Cream:
1/2 pound smoked salmon
1 package (8-oz size) cream cheese
1/2 cup milk
2 tablespoons chopped chives
2 tablespoons chopped pimiento
1/4 teaspoon dillweed
1 tablespoon lemonjuice
1 dash hot sauce
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
2 tablespoons drained capers
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper

Prepare Pumpernickel Well: With sharp knife, cut circle out of center of bread, leaving narrow, firm ring of bread to use as container for Salmon Cream. Slice removed circle of bread into thin bread pieces.

Combine salmon, cream cheese, milk, chives, pimiento, dillweed, lemon juice, hot sauce, and Worcestershire sauce in electric blender or food processor and puree. Scoop mixture into Pumpernickel Well. Garnish with capers and pepper. Serve with sliced pumpernickel pieces.

Yield: About 2 cups spread.

Copyright © 1977 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved. Printed in U.S.A.

Spritzer & Sherry-Shrimp Aspic

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Sherry-Shrimp Aspic

2 envelopes unflavored gelatin
3 1/2 cups tomato juice
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1/4 cup tomato paste
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon celery powder
1 dash hot sauce
2 teaspoons dillweed
3 cups finely chopped cooked shrimp
1/2 teaspoon sherry extract
Garnish: Sliced cucubmers and melba toast

Sprinkle gelatin over tomato juice in saucepan. Place over moderate heat and stir gently until gelatin is dissolved.

Remove from heat; stir in lemon juice, tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, celery powder, hot sauce, and dillweed. Cool and chill.

When mixture begins to jell (will be consistency of unbeaten egg whites), stir in chopped shrimp and sherry extract. Turn into lightly oiled 6 cup mold. Cover and chill until set. Unmold and garnish with sliced cucumbers and melba toast.

Yield: About 4-6 servings.

Individual Shrimp Aspics

Follow above instructions but add 1/2 tablespoon (1/2 envelope) extra gelatin to tomato juice. Pour shrimp-tomato mixture into individual fish molds or muffin tins (3″ x 2 1/2″); chill until firm; unmold and serve on salad plates garnished with watercress and dollop of imitation mayonnaise.

Copyright© 1977 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved. Printed in U.S.A.