Peppermint Bark

Everyone will love this christmas candy treat. Who can resist chocolate and peppermint? I know I can't.

Ingredients:

• 8 ounces (about 1-1/3 cup) dark chocolate, chopped
• 8 ounces (about 1-1/3 cup) white chocolate, chopped
• 6 peppermint candy canes

Preparation:

1. Unwrap the candy canes and place them in a food processor. Pulse several times until the candy canes have been chopped into small pieces. You could also place the candy canes in a large Ziploc bag and seal tightly. Use a rolling pin to smash the candy canes until they are the size you want.

2. Prepare a cookie sheet by covering it with smooth aluminum foil.

3. Melt and temper the dark chocolate. Pour the chocolate onto the prepared cookie sheet, use an offset spatula to spread it to a unform 1/8” thickness. The chocolate does not have to reach all sides of the sheet, as it will be broken up later. Place the tray in the refrigerator to firm up for 15 minutes.

4. While the dark chocolate hardens, temper the white chocolate.

5. Remove the tray from the refrigerator and spread the white chocolate in an even layer over the dark chocolate.

6. While the white chocolate is still wet, sprinkle the chopped candy cane pieces over the entire surface evenly. Press down very slightly to ensure they stick. Place the tray back in the refrigerator to firm up for 30 minutes.

7. Once bark is completely set, break into small, uneven pieces by hand.

Cook Time: Approx. 25 minutes

Annie's Fruit Salsa

I don't know Ann Page but I do know her recipe for fruit salsa and cinnamon chips and it is delicious. A perfect snack during this holiday season.

INGREDIENTS

• 2 kiwis, peeled and diced
• 2 Golden Delicious apples - peeled, cored and diced
• 8 ounces raspberries
• 1 pound strawberries
• 2 tablespoons white sugar
• 1 tablespoon brown sugar
• 3 tablespoons fruit preserves, any flavor
• 10 (10 inch) flour tortillas
• butter flavored cooking spray
• 2 cups cinnamon sugar

DIRECTIONS

1. In a large bowl, thoroughly mix kiwis, Golden Delicious apples, raspberries, strawberries, white sugar, brown sugar and fruit preserves. Cover and chill in the refrigerator at least 15 minutes.
2. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
3. Coat one side of each flour tortilla with butter flavored cooking spray. Cut into wedges and arrange in a single layer on a large baking sheet. Sprinkle wedges with desired amount of cinnamon sugar. Spray again with cooking spray.
4. Bake in the preheated oven 8 to 10 minutes. Repeat with any remaining tortilla wedges. Allow to cool approximately 15 minutes. Serve with chilled fruit mixture

Garlic Meatballs!

Here is an excellent christmas party appetizer to keep all your guests happy!

2 pounds lean ground beef
1 cup dry bread crumbs
3/4 cup milk
1/2 cup finely chopped onion
2 eggs
2 tsp. salt
1 tbsp. butter
3 cloves garlic
3/4 cup ketchup
1/2 cup liquid honey
1/4 cup soya sauce

Preheat oven to 500. Put meat in a bowl and break with fork. Add and mix together: bread crumbs, milk, onion, eggs, and salt. Shape meatballs into 1 inch balls. The smaller the better they taste. Place in single layer on a jelly roll pan and bake 12 to 15 minutes.Drain well. Melt butter in a saucepan and saute garlic until tender. Ad ketchup, honey, and soya sauce. Bring to boil, reduce heat, cover and simmer five minutes. Add meatballs to sauce. Return to boil and simmer uncovered for 5 to 10 minutes, stirring occasionally or until sauce glazes meatballs. The meatballs freeze very well.

Peppermint Candy

Here is a very tasty peppermint candy recipe, enjoy:

4 oz. cream cheese, softened
1 tablespoon margarine
1 tablespoon light corn syrup
1/4 teaspoon peppermint extract or a few drops of peppermint oil
4 cups powdered sugar
Green and red food coloring
Sifted powdered sugar
Green, red and white decorating icing (optional)

Beat cream cheese, margarine, corn syrup and extract.

In large mixing bowl at medium speed with electric mixer until well blended. Gradually add 4 cups powdered sugar; mix well. Divide mixture into 1/3's.

Knead few drops green food coloring into one third. Repeat with red food coloring and second third. Wrap each third in plastic wrap.

Working with one color mixture at a time, shape into 3/4-inch balls. Place on waxed paper-lined cookie sheet.

Flatten each ball with bottom of glass that has been lightly dipped in sugar. Repeat with remaining mixtures.

Decorate with icing. Chill.

Makes 5 dozen (thatsmyhome.com)

Peppermint Chocolate Cake

Chocolate Ganache (recipe follows)
1 tablespoon peppermint schnapps
Solid vegetable shortening for greasing the pans
Flour for dusting the pans
1 package (18.25 ounces) plain devils food cake mix

3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
1-1/3 cups buttermilk
1/2 cup vegetable oil, such as canola, corn, safflower, soybean or sunflower
3 large eggs
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1/2 recipe Peppermint Buttercream Frosting (recipe follows)

1. Prepare the Chocolate Ganache, adding the peppermint schnapps after all the chocolate has melted. Let the ganache cool.

2. Place a rack in the center of the oven and preheat the over to 350°F. Generously grease two 9" round cake pans with solid vegetable shortening, then dust with flour. Shake out the excess flour. Set the pans aside.

3. Place the cake mix, cocoa powder, buttermilk, oil, eggs and vanilla in a large mixing bowl. Blend with an electric mixer on low speed for one minute. Stop the machine and scrape down the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula. Increase the mixer speed to medium and beat two minutes more, scraping the sides down again if needed. The batter should look thick and combined. Divide the batter between the prepared pans, smoothing it out with the rubber spatula. Place the pans in the oven side by side.

4. Bake the cakes until they spring back when lightly pressed with your finger and just start to pull away from the sides of the pan, 28 to 30 minutes. Remove the pans from the oven and place them on wire racks to cool for 10 minutes. Run a dinner knife around the edge of each layer and invert each onto a rack, then invert them again onto another rack so that the cakes are right side up. Cool completely, 30 minutes more.

5. In the meantime prepare half a recipe of Peppermint Buttercream Frosting.

6. Place one cake layer, right side up, on a serving platter. Spread the top with Peppermint Buttercream Frosting. Place the second layer, right side up, on top of the first layer and frost the top and sides of the cake with Chocolate Ganache that has cooled and is spreadable. Work with clean, smooth strokes. Chill the cake until ready to serve.

Place this cake, uncovered, in the refrigerator until the frosting sets, 20 minutes. Cover the cake with waxed paper and store in the refrigerator for up to one week. Or freeze it, unwrapped in aluminum foil, for up to six months. Thaw the cake overnight in the refrigerator before serving.

Chocolate Ganache

This recipe makes two cups, enough to thinly frost a two- or three-layer cake.

3/4 cup heavy (whipping) cream
8 ounces semisweet chocolate, finely chopped
1 tablespoon liqueur such as Grand Marnier, framboise or peppermint schnapps (optional)

1. Place the cream in a small heavy saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a boil, stirring. Meanwhile, place the chopped chocolate in a large mixing bowl. Remove the pan from the heat and pour the hot cream over the chopped chocolate. Stir until the chocolate is melted. Stir in the liqueur, if desired.

2. To use this ganache as a glaze, let it stand at room temperature for 10 minutes before spooning over a cooled cake. To use the ganache as a frosting or filling, let it stand at room temperature for four hours, or chill it until it thickens and is spreadable.

Peppermint Buttercream Frosting

To neatly crush peppermint candy place it on a cutting board and cover with towel. Pound candy with meat cleaver or heavy rolling pin until candy is crushed.

8 tablespoons (1 stick) butter at room temperature
1/2 cup finely crushed peppermint candy (about 7 peppermint sticks)
3 cups confectioners sugar, sifted
2 to 3 tablespoons milk
1 to 2 tablespoons peppermint schnapps or 1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract

1. Place butter in a large mixing bowl. Blend with an electric mixer on low speed until fluffy(30 seconds). Stop machine and add peppermint candy, confectioners sugar, 2 tablespoons milk and 1 tablespoon peppermint schnapps. Blend with the mixer on low speed until the sugar is well incorporated, 1 minute. Increase the speed to medium and beat until the frosting lightens and is fluffy, 1 minute more. Blend in up to 1 tablespoon milk or peppermint schnapps if the frosting seems too stiff.

serves 16
Source: The Cake Doctor, October 1999 (pages 30, 428 & 418)

Roasted Beets with Feta

Here is a colorful dish that will get you in the holiday spirit!

INGREDIENTS

• 4 beets, trimmed, leaving 1 inch of stems attached
• 1/4 cup minced shallot
• 2 tablespoons minced fresh parsley
• 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
• 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
• salt and pepper to taste
• 1/4 cup crumbled feta cheese

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Wrap each beet individually in aluminum foil, and place onto a baking sheet.
2. Bake beets in preheated oven until easily pierced with a fork, 45 minutes to 1 hour. Once done, remove from oven, and allow to cool until you can handle them. Peel beets, and cut into 1/4 inch slices.
3. While the beets are roasting, whisk together shallot, parsley, olive oil, balsamic vinegar, and red wine vinegar in a bowl until blended; season to taste with salt and pepper, and set aside.
4. To assemble the dish, place the warm, sliced beets onto a serving dish, pour vinaigrette over the beets, and sprinkle with feta cheese before serving.

Creamy Rice Pudding

A very easy and tasty treat for your holiday party!

INGREDIENTS

• 3/4 cup uncooked white rice
• 2 cups milk, divided
• 1/3 cup white sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 egg, beaten
• 2/3 cup golden raisins
• 1 tablespoon butter
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

DIRECTIONS

1. In a medium saucepan, bring 1 1/2 cups water to a boil. Add rice and stir. Reduce heat, cover and simmer for 20 minutes.
2. In another saucepan, combine 1 1/2 cups cooked rice, 1 1/2 cups milk, sugar and salt. Cook over medium heat until thick and creamy, 15 to 20 minutes. Stir in remaining 1/2 cup milk, beaten egg and raisins. Cook 2 minutes more, stirring constantly. Remove from heat, and stir in butter and vanilla. Serve warm.