The Gorean Voice - December 2005 - Vol VIII Issue 6

Cooking

Gifts from your Kitchen

by holly{Bruce}

A girl would like to wish everyone all the best as this year draws to a close. Whether one celebrates Winter Solstice, Hanukkah, Christmasor Kwanzaa, she prays your season is a blessed one. She also wishes everyone peace and happiness for the new year ahead.

This month’s issue is a collaborative effort. A girl has been fortunate to receive contributions from suitemindcrime{Maestro} or suite, for short. suite{Maestro} enjoys cooking and baking and shares two great recipes for the holiday season.

Gifts are one part of the holiday celebrations. However, the obsession with material possessions doesn’t have to be the focal point. It helps to remember that gifts are given as an expression of our love and friendship. It’s not the price of the gift which measures that expression, but rather, the care, thought and effort we put into it.

Since food also figures into such celebrations, it just seems downright practical to include such items as gifts as well. Bringing a cake or other homemade items to a party is a great group gift, or, for an individual/couple who appreciates such items.

holly would like to thank suite{Maestro} for sharing her recipe for pumpkin cheesecake. holly hasn’t been able to try it out yet, but is planning to do so for New Year’s.

Suite’s Pumpkin Cheesecake

Tip:
You can substitute additional caramel or apple pie filling for pumpkin.

Crust Ingredients:
1-1/2 cups finely ground, gingersnap cookies
1-1/2 cups toasted pecans, finely ground (if nuts are a problem, omit them and replace with more gingersnaps)
1/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/4 cup butter, melted

Crust Directions:
* Combine ground cookies, ground pecans and sugar in a bowl, add melted butter and mix until combined.
* Press crust mixture onto bottom and up sides of a 9-inch diameter springform pan with 2-3/4 inch high sides. Set aside. suite suggests tucking it in the fridge until you’re ready for it, in order to help it “set.”

Filling Ingredients:
4 (8-ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
1-2/3 cups granulated sugar
1-1/2 cups canned solid pack pumpkin (not pumpkin pie mix)
9 Tablespoons heavy whipping cream
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground allspice
4 large eggs
1 Tablespoon purchased caramel sauce
(suite uses her own homemade sauce by mixing brown sugar, butter and Kayo syrup caramelized into a rich sauce)

Filling Directions:
* Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C)
* Using electric mixer, beat cream cheese and sugar in a large bowl until light. Transfer 3/4 cup mixture to small bowl, cover tightly and refrigerate to use for topping.
* Add pumpkin, 4 Tablespoons whipping cream, cinnamon and allspice to mixture in large bowl and beat until well combined. Add eggs one at a time, beating until combined.
* Pour filling into crust (filling will almost fill pan). Bake until cheesecake puffs, top browns and center moves only slightly when pan is shaken, about 1 hour and 15 minutes. Transfer cheesecake to rack and cool 10 minutes.
* Run small sharp knife around cake pan sides to loosen cheesecake. Cool. Cover tightly and refrigerate several hours or overnight.
* Bring remaining 3/4 cup cream cheese mixture to room temperature. Add the remaining 5 Tablespoons whipping cream to cream cheese mixture and stir to combine. Press down firmly on edges of cheesecake to even thickness. Pour cream cheese mixture over cheesecake, spreading evenly. Spoon the caramel sauce in lines over cream cheese mixture. Using tip of knife, swirl caramel sauce into cream cheese mixture. Release pan sides from cheesecake and serve.

There are various ways in which to present a cake as a gift. The discount and dollar stores sell plastic, holiday platters and plates you can use. If you choose a platter, you can use the extra space to surround the cake with an assortment of homemade cookies and candies. Transfer your cake onto a piece of fitted cardboard, wrapped in aluminum foil first, then plastic wrap. Lift the cardboard base onto the decorative plate or platter. Wrap the cake with plastic wrap, and you can even tape a bow on top (rather carefully though). You can find plastic wrap in holiday colors and printed patterns as well. Also, you can buy cake boxes or gift wrapping foil for foods, wherever cake decorating supplies are sold (including craft stores and Wal-Mart). It’s a nice gift for anyone and holly is grateful to suite{Maestro} for sharing this recipe.

The next two items, Cookie Mixes in a Jar and Old-Fashioned Candy Jars, will require Wide Mouth, Quart Sized Canning Jars. If you weren’t able to purchase these before canning season ended, you might be able to purchase them online, for example, at http://www.polsteins.com/canning--jars.htm.

A girl was surprised to see our local K-Mart (central Maryland) still had some cases on the shelf. More than likely it was for making the cookie mixes, which have grown in popularity over the years. Various sized canning jars are used to make homemade candles as well. Otherwise, the extra cases are generally shipped back to storage warehouses for next season.

Cookie Mixes in a Jar

Cookie mixes layered in quart jars require no cooking on the part of the person preparing the mix. They are relatively inexpensive to make. And they can be made ahead of time as there is really nothing in them to spoil over a few months.

The person to whom you give the mix will need to have a recipe card for baking instructions. The easiest way is to put them on a recipe card, punch a hole in the upper corner of the card, and secure it to the outer rim of the jar with raffia or thin, polyester ribbon (quite inexpensive and can be found in the craft section of Wal-Mart). If you have a card maker program like the ones sold by Hallmark, you can print them out and bold the items the recipient will need to add: butter/margarine, egg(s) & vanilla. You can paste it to a colorful card or cardboard paper, cut zig-zag with shears. One likes to save unique Christmas cards from previous years and use those designs as a background. There are many ways in which to be creative with such a project.

The jars are easy to decorate. Cut a circle of fabric (in colors/prints to match the occasion) and secure it over the lid with a rubber band. Tie a bow of ribbon or raffia around the lid. Or, secure the fabric under the gold ring. It is always a good idea to tape the flat, gold sealing lid down to keep the contents from spilling out if the ring is unscrewed too quickly.

These make good gifts for female teachers, co-workers and neighbors. You can even create a gift basket with them as well. Wood chip baskets can be obtained inexpensively. You’ll notice such baskets have sharp staples along the edges (inside and outside), so you’ll want to cover them with a wide, fabric ribbon. You can line the basket with coordinated/holiday tea towels, pot holders or oven mitts. You can include some items essential for the baking: a set of wooden mixing spoons/spatula tied together with decorative ribbon, a can of Pam Cooking Spray and a bottle of McCormick’s vanilla extract. Bridal netting is always good for wrapping the basket and can be purchased at the craft section of Wal-Mart as well. You can find bridal netting in any color, as it is used for various crafting projects throughout the year. You can always substitute a holiday gift bag in place of a basket. If you choose to use a gift bag, you’ll need to provide cushion at the bottom and throughout with shredded tissue paper, so the contents don’t move around. Make sure the bag is made of a sturdy plastic, with a cord handle. Place the cookie jar in the middle of the bag, and tie the other loose items together so they don't get damaged. One may wish to lay the lighter items down carefully in the bag, surrounded by enough protection.

You can make these jars up before Christmas and use them to decorate your kitchen. As the holidays approach, you can start making them in batches, as opposed to freezing prepared cookie doughs. You can even bake them during parties and save a jar for Santa’s visit on Christmas Eve.

All of the following recipes require a quart jar. The easiest jar to use is a wide mouth canning jar, e.g., the Ball brand. They’re labeled “Wide Mouth Quart Size Canning Jars” on the box. They’re 32 oz. in size and are sold in boxes of 12. Don’t use mayonnaise, pickle or spaghetti jars: the necks are too small and there’s not enough room for your hands to move around inside. A box of 12 can be purchased for about $10.

Preparing the Jars:
Wash your jars, lids and rings. Thoroughly rinse and dry. You can put them all in your dishwasher (jars on bottom and lids/rings in a small, dishwasher container or silverware compartment).

Instructions on How to Layer the Ingredients:
* Use a set of nested measuring cups (1 cup, 1/2 cup, 1/3 cup, 1/4 cup) to measure the dry ingredients (glass cups are for measuring liquids).
* Blend the flour, baking powder and soda with a whisk or fork until well mixed.
* These layers need to be packed tightly so all the ingredients will fit and won’t get mixed up when the jar is turned on it’s side. Put the ingredients in the jar in the order given. First thing listed goes in the jar first. Use your hand to level, to smooth and to tightly pack each layer. The flour sometimes has to be added a little at a time and pressed tightly after each addition to make it all fit. Use the jar lid to push the last flour down into the jar.
* When cocoa powder or flour is in the middle of the jar, use a paper towel to clean the inside of the jar before proceeding. You don’t want chocolate or white streaks all over the inside of the jar.
* When making the cookies, butter makes a better tasting cookie than margarine. And don’t use diet products; they just don’t work. You’ll want to note this on the baking instructions card.

Jar Recipes

Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups Cookie Mix

Ingredients for Preparer:
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1-3/4 cup flour mixed with 1 tsp. baking powder and 1/2 tsp. baking soda
8 large Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups candies, cut into 1/2 inch pieces

Directions for Preparer:
Layer ingredients in order given in a 1 quart wide mouth canning jar. Press each layer firmly in place before adding next ingredient. Please refer to Instructions on How to Layer the Ingredients above.

Baking Instructions for Recipient:
* Remove peanut butter cups from jar. Set aside.
* Empty remaining cookie mix into large mixing bowl. Use a wooden spoon/spatula to thoroughly blend mix.
* Add: 1-1/2 sticks butter or margarine (not diet), very soft
1 egg, slightly beaten
1 tsp. vanilla.
* Mix until completely blended, using the wooden spoon or spatula.
* Mix in peanut butter cups.
* Shape into walnut sized balls. Place 2" apart on sprayed baking sheets.
* Bake at 375 degrees for 12-14 minutes, until edges are lightly browned. Cool 5 minutes on baking sheet. Remove cookies to racks to finish cooling.

Yields: 2-1/2 dozen cookies.

Chocolate Cran-Raspberry Cookie Mix

Ingredients for Preparer:
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1/3 cup cocoa powder (clean inside of jar with a paper towel after this layer)
1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1-1/2 cups dried cranberries (Craisins-Ocean Spray or Sun-Maid)
1 cup raspberry flavored chocolate chips (Hershey’s: regular chocolate chips are fine if you can’t find them).
1-3/4 cup flour mixed with 1 tsp. baking powder and 1/2 tsp. baking soda

Baking Instructions for Recipient:
* Empty jar of cookie mix into a large mixing bowl. Use a wooden spoon/spatula to thoroughly blend mix.
* Add: 1-1/2 sticks butter or margarine (not diet), very soft
1 egg, slightly beaten
1 tsp. vanilla.
* Mix until completely blended, using the wooden spoon or spatula.
* Shape into balls the size of walnuts. Place 2" apart on sprayed baking sheets.
* Bake at 375 degrees for 13-15 minutes. Cool 5 minutes on baking sheet. Remove to racks to finish cooling.

Yields: 2-1/2 dozen cookies.

White Chocolate Macadamia Nut Cookie Mix

Ingredients for Preparer:
1-1/4 cups granulated sugar
1/2 cup chopped macadamia nuts or chopped whole almonds
3 (1.4 oz) Nestles White Crunch candy bars, coarsely chopped (press this layer in very hard)
2 cups flour mixed with 1/2 tsp. baking soda & 1/2 tsp. baking powder

Baking Instructions for Recipient:
* Empty cookie mix into large mixing bowl. Use a wooden spoon/spatula to thoroughly blend mix.
* Add: 1-1/2 sticks butter or margarine (not diet), very soft
1 egg, slightly beaten
1 tsp. vanilla.
* Mix until completely blended using the wooden spoon or spatula. It will take a while to mix into a smooth dough.
* Shape into walnut sized balls. Place 2" apart on sprayed baking sheets.
* Bake at 375 degrees for 12-14 minutes, until tops are very lightly browned. Cool 5 minutes on baking sheet. Remove cookies to racks to finish cooling.

Yields: 2-1/2 dozen cookies.

Holiday M&M Cookie Mix

Ingredients for Preparer:
1-1/4 cups granulated sugar
1-1/4 cups M&M candies in red and green
2 cups flour mixed with 1/2 tsp. baking soda & 1/2 tsp. baking powder

Directions for Preparer:
Layer ingredients in order given in a 1 quart wide mouth canning jar. It will be a tight fit. Press each layer firmly in place before adding next ingredient. Please refer to Instructions on How to Layer the Ingredients above.

Baking Instructions for Recipient:
* Empty jar of cookie mix into large mixing bowl. Use a wooden spoon or spatula to thoroughly blend mix.
* Add: 1-1/2 sticks butter or margarine (not diet), very soft
1 egg, slightly beaten
1 tsp. vanilla.
* Mix until completely blended, using the wooden spoon or spatula.
* Shape into balls the size of walnuts. Place 2" apart on sprayed baking sheets.
* Bake at 375 degrees for 12 to 14 minutes until edges are lightly browned. Cool 5 minutes on baking sheet. Remove cookies to racks to finish cooling.

Yields: 2-1/2 dozen cookies.

Almond Joy Brownie Mix

Ingredients for Preparer:
2-1/4 cups granulated sugar
1/2 cup cocoa powder (clean inside of jar with a paper towel after this layer)
1-1/4 cups firmly packed, flaked coconut, sprinkled with 1 tsp. almond extract and tossed to blend
3/4 cup coarsely chopped whole almonds
1-1/4 cups flour mixed with 1 tsp. baking powder and 1 tsp. salt

Baking Instructions for Recipient:
* Empty jar of brownie mix into large mixing bowl. Use a wooden spoon or spatula to thoroughly blend mix.
* Add: 1-1/2 sticks butter or margarine (not diet), melted 4 eggs, slightly beaten
* Mix until completely blended.
* Spread batter in a sprayed 9"x13" baking pan.
* Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Cool completely in pan. Cut into 2" squares.

Yields: 2 dozen brownies.

Old-Fashioned Candy Jars

This gift idea is a great teacher’s gift for the kids. In fact, they can be a big help with making these as well. Get them involved in selecting the embellishments to use and have them fill the finished jars with wrapped candy.

Materials:
1 - 32 oz. Ball-brand, Quart Sized Wide Mouth Canning Jar with lid and ring
Colored & Decorative Lace, sold by the yard (Wal-Mart, Michael’s, Jo-Ann Fabrics) and/or Decorative/Wired Ribbon
Decorative Ornaments - try to use flat ones, they’ll secure easier to the jar
Wrapped, miniature holiday candies
Unsharpened Pencil
Glue Gun & Hot Glue Sticks

Directions:
* Wash your jars, lids and rings. Thoroughly rinse and dry. You can put them all in your dishwasher (jars on bottom and lids/rings in a small, dishwasher container or silverware compartment).
* Glue the lace all around the outer rim of the jar’s neck, using your glue gun. Run a circle of glue around the outer neck and use the eraser end of the pencil to secure the lace against the glue. Use a jabbing motion, with the pencil’s eraser to secure in place. Hot glue dries rather quickly, so you’ll do this gradually. Should you ever make a mistake with the glue, just wait for it to dry and peel it off (no problem). But always wait for the glue to dry first!
* If you choose to tie a ribbon around the outer neck, you’ll only need to secure it with the hot glue in three places (back and two sides) and tie in a bow. And you can glue a layer of thin ribbon on top of your lace as well.
* Glue the ornaments/decorative trim to the outside of the jar. Hold the ornament/trim down against the jar for several minutes, until the glue dries.
* Fill with candy and close with the lid and ring.

These look great to decorate your home during the holidays, or take to a party as a gift for the host & hostess. After the candy’s gone you can always find other uses for the jar e.g. pencil/pen holders or a money jar. Therefore, you can choose to decorate them in neutral rather than seasonal themes. You can skip the lace and ribbon for a man or boy, and just glue an assortment of sports ornaments to the outside of the jar.

Mema’s (Grandma’s) Glaze

In conclusion, suite{Maestro} has included a recipe which lends itself to the main course of your holiday or New Year’s dinner. This works for ham and turkey and is very tasty!

Ingredients:
1 cup real maple syrup (don’t use pancake syrup - it burns too easily and doesn’t have the same flavor)
1 cup pure honey (though occasionally suite’s grandmother would use molasses instead, in which case reduce to 1/2 cup)
1 Tablespoon ground cinnamon
1 Tablespoon ground cloves (although, if you’re doing a ham, omit this and stud the ham with whole cloves)
1 Tablespoon allspice

Directions:
Mix thoroughly and brush evenly and generously over the ham or turkey at regular intervals throughout the roasting process. This glaze will be very easy to burn, so make sure you cover your meat with tin foil. All of this should be gone by the time the meat is done, with just enough to give one last “glisten” before serving.

holly would like to thank suite{Maestro} for her gift of recipes this month. She would also like to thank everyone for reading. If anyone has any recipes, hints or ideas they’d like to share, please feel free to e-mail them.

Happy Holidays!

holly{Bruce}
E-mail: holly_anne1@yahoo.com