Friday, December 21, 2007

Sticky Buns

Who doesn't like a good sticky bun? Here is a very easy and tasty recipe:


Sticky Buns

2 1/2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1/2 cup (packed) golden brown sugar
2 tablespoons light corn syrup
2 teaspoons light fresh lemon juice
1/2 cup coarsely chopped pecans
1 (8 ounce) Bread Dough
3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon


Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Butter 9 by 3-inch pan. Melt 2 1/2 tablespoons butter in small saucepan over low heat. Whisk in 1/4 cup sugar, corn syrup and lemon juice. Increase heat to medium and whisk until sugar melts and syrup boils. Pour syrup evenly over bottom of prepared pan. Sprinkle with pecans. Unroll dough on floured surface; press perforations together. Roll out dough to 8 by 12-inch rectangle. Sprinkle with 1/4 sugar and cinnamon. Starting at I short side, roll up dough jelly roll style. Cut crosswise into eight 1-inch-thick rounds. Arrange rounds in syrup in pan. Arrange dough slices cut side down in prepare dish, spacing evenly. Cover with plastic. Let rise in warm draft-free area until doubled, about 45 minutes. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Bake rolls until golden brown, about 45 minutes. Let stand 5 minutes. Turn out onto platter. Cool slightly. Serve warm.

Sugarcane Baked Ham w/Spiced Apples And Pears

Another doosy from Emeril:

Sugarcane Baked Ham


12 sugarcane swizzle sticks, each cut into about 3 inch pieces
1 hickory smoked ham, spiral sliced, 8 to 10 pounds (no bone, water added, cooked)
1 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
1 cup pure cane syrup (recommended: Steen's)
1/2 cup dark molasses
1/2 cup dark corn syrup
1/8 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1/8 teaspoon ground allspice
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon dry mustard
1/4 cup water
1 1/2 pounds (about 4) Granny Smith apples
1 1/2 pounds (about 4) Bartlett pears
2 dozen medium buttermilk biscuits
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Line a shallow baking pan with parchment or waxed paper. Insert the sugarcane sticks into the ham at 3 to 4-inch intervals. Tie the ham, using kitchen twine, horizontally and vertically to keep it together, like wrapping a gift. Place on a wire rack in the baking pan.

In a mixing bowl, combine all of the ingredients together except for the mustard and water. Mix well. In a small bowl, dissolve the mustard in the water, then add to the spice mixture. Blend well. Brush the entire ham with the glaze, coating it evenly.

Wash, core, and halve the fruit. Place all around the ham. Baste the ham a second time and baste the fruit with the glaze. Bake for 45 minutes. Baste the ham and fruit again. Bake another 45 minutes.

Remove the ham from the oven and let it rest for 5 minutes. Remove and discard the string and swizzle sticks.

Serve the apples and pears on a platter with the ham. Serve everything warm or at room temperature. Serve the biscuits on the side.

Tuesday, December 4, 2007

Maple Walnut Fudge

Who doesn't like Fudge. Everybody likes a great fudge. This is one!

Maple Walnut Fudge

Ingredients

2 cups packed brown sugar
half of a 10 oz can evaporated milk - not condensed!
1/2 pound butter
2 cups powdered (confectioners') sugar
1 cup walnuts
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 teaspoon maple flavoring (if desired)

Butter a 9x13-inch pan and set aside. Lining the pan with foil or paper and buttering makes cutting and removing much easier. In a medium saucepan, combine sugar, butter and milk. Bring to a boil over medium heat. Reduce heat very slightly and boil 10 minutes while stirring constantly. No longer!

Remove from heat and add icing sugar, vanilla, and maple flavoring. Mix thoroughly with hand mixer on medium until thick and glossy - just a couple of minutes. Fold in walnuts and pour in prepared pan.
Refrigerate until set.

Note: This recipe also doubles easily. For really succulent double fudge still use the one pan. It is thick and decadent, just like it should be. This fudge freezes very well, just make sure it is wrapped up good and tight.


Old Fashion Peanut Brittle

This is one of my very favorite christmas treats. Your guests will love it and it's easy!


Old Fashion Peanut Brittle

INGREDIENTS
  • 1 cup white sugar
  • 1/2 cup light corn syrup
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 cup water
  • 1 cup peanuts
  • 2 tablespoons butter, softened
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda

DIRECTIONS

  1. Grease a large cookie sheet. Set aside.
  2. In a heavy 2 quart saucepan, over medium heat, bring to a boil sugar, corn syrup, salt, and water. Stir until sugar is dissolved. Stir in peanuts. Set candy thermometer in place, and continue cooking. Stir frequently until temperature reaches 300 degrees F (150 degrees C), or until a small amount of mixture dropped into very cold water separates into hard and brittle threads.
  3. Remove from heat; immediately stir in butter or margarine and baking soda; pour at once onto cookie sheet. With 2 forks, lift and pull peanut mixture into rectangle about 14x12 inches; cool. Snap candy into pieces.
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