By Staff
I truly hope that I shall never outgrow the memories of Christmas past and eagerly await the Christmas present! It was not the thought of the forthcoming presents that excited me nearly as much as anticipating the lingering odor of the pine that permeates every area of the room. The smell of the oranges and apples in our Christmas stockings, the smell of hot chocolate laced with a healthy dash of whipped cream, the undeniable odor of nutmeg in our eggnogs; and that old familiar scent of anise in our holiday cookies. Every so often, the delightful odor of sage escapes from the oven door as we check on the turkey. I kid you not when I say that I am awaiting the day when they invent tiny discs that will instantaneously emit the odor of delectable meals. This way, the minute you insert the disc in the machine … you can determine if that is the taste you are craving. This method could then take all of the guesswork out of the situation. Can you visualize a supermarket of the future equipped with such a device? Homemakers would beat a path to their door just for the opportunity to try it and who knows but what sales would pick up considerably.
Springerle (Anise Cookies)
1/4 cup butter
5 eggs, beaten
1 pound granulated sugar
1 pound flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon soda
4 drops anise oil
Cream the butter and sugar; then add baking powder which has been dissolved in a little milk and the anise oil. Fold the eggs lightly, then the flour which has been sifted with soda. Roll the dough out into 1/4 inch thickness, then press designs into the dough with your floured springerle rolling pin. Cut apart at the design. Place on to a buttered cookie sheet and leave exposed overnight. Bake for 30 minutes at 300 degrees. Store for up to a month in a stone jar with an apple or orange.
A Touch of Levity: I deeply dread going to the dentist. Once, to ease my tension, I listed my middle name as "Wimp." The receptionist read it, laughed and assured me that many patients felt the same way. Thirty minutes later, the receptionist came into the waiting room. Looking at me directly, she said, smiling, "The doctor will now see the wimp." Three other people got up with me.
Homemaker's Hint: Hand dishwashing liquids are very versatile. They can be used to clean dirty hands, they can be used to hand launder delicate washable clothing, and, as mentioned throughout advertising, they can be used for many other stain removal and cleaning purposes.
Pffeferneusse
1 1/2 cups syrup
1/4 cup butter
1/2 cup shortening
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
3/4 teaspoon anise seed
1/2 teaspoon cloves
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon allspice
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1/4 pound nuts, chopped
1/2 cup coffee
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
5 1/2 cups flour
Mix all ingredients to make a stiff dough. Knead, then let stand for two days. Roll into little balls. Bake on greased cookie sheet for 12-15 minutes in an oven of 375 degrees.
A touch of levity: Our daughter announced that she no longer believed Santa Claus, thus flatly refused to leave milk and cookies for him on Christmas Eve. Upset at losing a four-year tradition, her father tried bribing and cajoling her. Nothing worked. Later that evening, to my surprise, she walked into the living room carrying a bowl of oatmeal. Her father helped her put the bowl under the tree, next to eight others just like it. "What on earth are you ding?" I asked. "I thought she didn't believe in Santa." "She doesn't," he said, beaming. "But the reindeer … they're a different story!"
Homemaker's Hint" Save empty plastic bread bags and double bag store bought bread before freezing it. The bread freezes without getting freezer burn. This saves extra trips to the store for bread.
Russian Tea Cakes
1 cup butter or shortening
1/2 cup sifted confectioner's sugar
2 1/2 cups sifted flour
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3/4 cups finely chopped nuts
1/4 teaspoon salt
Cream the butter and sugar, then add the sifted flour and salt and mix well. Gradually begin adding the nuts and extract. When well mixed, chill. When ready to bake, form dough into 1 inch balls, then place them 2 1/2 inches apart on a non-greased baking sheet and bake for 10 to 12 minutes at 400 degrees. Roll in confectioners sugar while still warm, then roll again in sugar after cooled.
Homemaker's Hint: If you dust your cake very lightly with cornstarch before icing, it will prevent the icing from running off your cake.
A touch of levity: At a department store, my mother and I waited in a long line at the check-out register. When we finally reached the cashier, my mother handed her an item from the cart. There was no price tag on it. Exasperated, my Mother exclaimed, "Why do I always pick the one without a price!" "And why am I always waiting behind you?" the next customer moaned.
Date Squares
1/2 cup flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup Crisco
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 egg, beaten
1 cup chopped dates
1/4 cup chopped walnuts
confectioners sugar
Sift the flour, measure then sift with the salt and baking powder. Cream the Crisco together with the sugar, then add the egg and beat well. Add the flour in three portions, mixing well after each addition. Add the dates and nuts. Spread evenly in a greased pan, then bake for 30 minutes in an oven of 325 degrees. Cool completely, cut into one inch squares and roll in confectioners sugar.
A touch of levity: The car needs a new radiator recovery tank," my husband told me. When I offered to order one, he explained what the part looked like. "Oh! You mean that little jug." I explained. "That's not what it's called," my husband replied and had me write down the proper name. I called the car dealership and told a man in the parts department exactly what we needed. There was silence. Then he asked hesitantly, "Would that be the little jug?"
Homemaker's Hint: Did you know that using your electric knife to cut chilled cookie dough works perfectly?
Fudgy Chocolate Balls
4 ounces semi-sweet chocolate, grated
6 tablespoons confectioners sugar
1/3 cup toasted almonds
1 tablespoon butter
1 tablespoon double strength coffee
Mix these six ingredients, then form the mixture into balls. Roll these balls in nut meats or granulated sugar.
Homemaker's Hint: Rather than making individual meat balls, simply spread the meat mixture in a jelly roll pan and bake. Once baked, then cut the meat into squares.
A touch of levity: In an effort to prevent the players on his young soccer team from swarming around the ball from one end of the field to the other, my husband called for a huddle. Okay fellas, we're going to learn how to pass the ball back and forth across the field. There was complete silence! In order to illustrate the point, he stated, "See how your shoelaces go back and forth?" Eleven puzzled pairs of eyes glanced downward. All of the sneakers were fastened with Velcro straps.
Kolacka
1 pound Crisco
4 cups all purpose flour
1 teaspoon nutmeg
2 1/2 teaspoons salt
1 small can condensed milk
2 eggs
1 cake yeast
1 pound dates
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup water
nuts as desired
Sift the flour, nutmeg and salt together. Cut the Crisco as you would for a pie dough. Dissolve the yeast cake in the condensed milk, then add the eggs. Now, add this mixture to the flour mixture and mix well. Chill in the refrigerator overnight, then roll out thin and cut into two inch squares. Fill with fruit filling. Fold the corners to make squares and bake for 12 minutes in an oven of 400 degrees.
Filling: Cook the one pound of dates together with one quarter cup of water and one quarter cup of sugar. Add the nuts if desired. You may substitute apricots or prunes for the dates if desired.
Homemaker's Hint: Before measuring honey, molasses or syrup, spray the measuring container with nonstick cooking spray.
A touch of levity: My new husband and I almost missed our honeymoon flight and were unable to obtain seats together. When we were airborne, I wrote my new spouse a flirty note reading: "To the man seated in 16C, I find you very attractive. Would you care to join me for an unforgettable evening? The lady in 4C" A flight attendant delivered it. A few moments later, she returned with a cocktail. The man in 16C was flattered, she told me, but said he must decline my offer since he was on his honeymoon. I was still laughing when we landed. "Thank you for the drink," I said to my groom. "But I didn't send you one," he replied. He had been sitting in 14C.
Chocolate Sticks
1/4 cup butter
2 squares chocolate
2 eggs
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 cup granulated sugar
1 1/4 cups sifted flour
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
nuts as needed
Cream the butter and sugar together, then add the eggs and melted chocolate. Now, add the flour and baking powder sifted together. Last of all, mix in the extract. Spread this mixture into your greased 8×12 inch pan. Nuts may be sprinkled on the top if desired. Bake in a 300 degree oven until done. Cut into strips, then when just partly cooled, roll in confectioners sugar.
Homemaker's Hint: Although many metal polishes make very broad claims, it is very unlikely that any one product will be labeled for use on all of the following surfaces such as: silver, copper, brass, aluminum, chrome and stainless steel … so be wary!
"A peaceful man does more good than a learned one." – Pope John XXIII
Philadelphia Cheese Cookies
3 ounces Philadelphia cheese
3 cups flour
1 pound butter
Combine ingredients then allow them to stand overnight. The next morning, roll the dough out quite thin, cut into squares then fill with either apricot or prune filling. Bake for 20 minutes in a 350 degree oven. Filling: boil dry apricots or prunes until they become soft, then add sugar to make a thick paste.
Creamed Caramels
2 cups granulated sugar
2 cups corn syrup
1/2 cup butter
1 tablespoon chocolate
2 cups evaporated milk
1 teaspoon vanilla
dash salt
Combine sugar, corn syrup, salt and butter in your saucepan, then place on burner. Stir until it boils to a clear, thick consistency. Then gradually, so as to not stop the boiling, stir in the evaporated milk. Stir this mixture constantly until it reaches a temperature of 248 degrees or until it reaches the firm ball stage. Now, add the extract. Pour into a greased pan. Cut. When cooled, wrap in waxed paper.
Homemaker's Hint: Homemaker, take care! For any glass cleaner, even plain water, can soften latex paint on mullions and walls around a window. Therefore, wipe any spilled window cleaner off painted surfaces without hard rubbing. The paint should then reharden once it has dried.
Despite all the hoopla and hurrahs, America still needs a new policy to cut our dependence on foreign oil. According to the latest statistics, we are using more and more and soon we will be importing nearly 50 per cent of all the oil we use.
Saucepan brownies
2/3 cup vegetable shortening
4 squares chocolate
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups granulated sugar
4 eggs
1 1/2 cups flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup nuts
Melt the shortening together with the chocolate in a saucepan over a very low heat. Stir occasionally, then let cool. Beat in the flavoring and sugar. Add the eggs, but just one at a time and beating well after each. Sift the flour and salt, add nuts. Combine this with the first mixture then spread in a greased and floured 11×16 inch cookie sheet. Bake 25 minutes at 325 degrees. Cut into two inch squares.
Do you know that of all home remedies, a good wife rates as the very best!
Butterscotch Cookies
2 cups brown sugar
1 cup butter
4 cups flour
2 eggs
1 teaspoon soda
1 teaspoon cream of tartar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup chopped nuts
Cream the sugar, butter and eggs thoroughly. Add the sifted dried ingredients, the extract and the nuts. This mixture should be stiff. Form the dough into balls and place on a buttered cookie sheet. Bake in a moderate oven until they test done.
Economists are people who earn their living by predicting that it will be hot in August, cold in January …. But not necessarily.
Breakfast is golden, dinner is silver, and supper can be lead if you over indulge.
Cranberry-Oat Bread
3/4 cup honey
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1/2 cup skim milk
2 eggs
2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup quick rolled oats
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 cups fresh or frozen cranberries
1 cup chopped nuts
Combine the milk, eggs, honey and oil and mix together well. Next, combine the flour, oats, soda, baking powder, salt and cinnamon and mix well. Stir the liquid mixture into the dry mixture and mix well, then fold in both the cranberries and the nuts. Spoon this batter into two 8x4x2 inch greased and floured loaf pans. Bake this bread for 40 to 45 minutes at 350 degrees. Test it by inserting a toothpick and the pick should come out clean. Cool the bread in the pans on top of wire racks for 15 minutes; then remove the bread from the pan and cool completely on the wire racks.
Timely Trivia: Don't forget that cranberries are a good source of vitamin C as well as fiber. The only drawback is that cranberries cannot be eaten alone. They're not palatable without a considerable amount of sugar.
Food Facts: Did you know that savvy chefs often use prunes as fat substitutes in the kitchen? Just five prunes contain three grams of fiber.
I don't know how many of you are familiar with the tasty little sweets made of chocolate, nutmeats, sugar coated corn flakes and coffee brew. They were quite popular a number of years ago and they were so simple to make.
Frosties
6 ounces semi-sweet chocolate pieces
5 cups sugar coated cornflakes
1 cup finely chopped nuts
3 tablespoons light corn syrup
1-3 cups cold coffee brew
3 cups sifted confectioners sugar
Melt the chocolate over hot, not boiling, water, then remove it from the heat. Crush your sugar coated cornflakes into fine crumbs. Combine the chocolate, flake crumbs, corn syrup, nutmeats, coffee brew and sugar; then knead this mixture together well. Form the mixture into one inch balls, then roll these balls in granulated sugar and place them into a well covered container. Allow them to ripen at least overnight or preferably for several days.
For G.M. who phoned me requesting a recipe for coating chocolate as well as some information and pointers on the procedures of dipping chocolates.
Coating Chocolate
1 pound chocolate
2 cups granulated sugar
2 ounces cocoa butter
vanilla extract to taste
Melt chocolate in the top of your double boiler, then add sugar and mix it all together well. Melt your cocoa butter, then begin stirring it in gradually with the extract. Remove from the heat. Dip each center in the mixture, turn it around and drop on a baking sheet. You can decorate the top with a twisted strand of chocolate. Nut meats, candied fruits, coconut, or silver dragees may be added if you want even more of a decoration. Let stand until set.
How to Dip Chocolate
The temperature of the room must be between 60-65 degrees. There is a very inexpensive dipping fork (probably available at the store at our mall). If not, try just one of your two tined forks, but remember to not attempt dipping any more than one piece at a time. If you doubt whether your dipping mixture is correct, the first piece should be dry by the time the fourth or fifth center has been dipped. Should the chocolate tend to thicken before the dipping is finished, then place a bit more water in the lower portion of the double boiler. These dipped chocolates should be kept out of any steam as well as cold air. When they are set, pack the chocolates into wax paper-lined boxes, for they never dare to be exposed to air for any length of time.
Coconut Fudge
3 cups brown sugar
8 tablespoons golden syrup
2 tablespoons butter
pinch salt
3 cups shredded coconut, chopped
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon almond extract
melted coating chocolate
Cook the sugar, syrup and butter to the 240 degree stage, or to the soft ball stage. Add the salt and then immediately remove from the heat. Stir in the coconut and the extracts, then spread into a pan which has been lined with waxed paper. Cut into small pieces, then when it gets cold … you can dip it into the melted coating chocolate.
Chocolate Marshmallows
melted coating chocolate
4 ounces Gum Arabic
1 cup water
1 cup sugar
1 teaspoon almond extract
3 egg whites
You will need to soak the gum arabic in the water overnight, then strain it into the top of a double boiler. Add the sugar and cook it until the mixture thickens, then remove it from the heat and add the extract along with the stiffly beaten egg whites. Proceed to beat the mixture until stiff, then pour into a pan which has been dusted with equal amounts of cornstarch and confectioners sugar. Dust the top with the cornstarch mixture. Allow these to stand overnight, before you cut them into rounds and dip in the chocolate.
If you have condensed milk and candied pineapple on hand, you can make this next recipe.
Condensed Milk Candy
1 can condensed milk
2 tablespoons butter
2 teaspoons golden syrup
1 cup cream
2 cups granulated sugar
1 tablespoon candied pineapple, chopped
pinch cream of tartar
few drops red food coloring
Place the butter, syrup, cream and the condensed milk into your saucepan and cook it very slowly. Keep stirring it until well blended. Now, add the sugar and stir and stir until it is completely dissolved, then add the cream of tartar. Cook at 240 degrees, or to the soft ball stage. Then, add the pineapple and red food coloring and continue cooking to 252 degrees … which is the hard ball stage. Quickly remove it from the heat and stir and stir until the mixture begins to grain; then pour it quickly into a well-buttered pan. Once cooled completely, break it apart.
In this day of modern technology, have you considered making a video tape of your family gathering and sending it to a loved one?
Malted Milk Squares
2 cups dry malted milk
4 cups water
5 cups granulated sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3/4 cup broken nut meats
1/2 cup raisins
Dissolve the malted milk in one cup of the water. Add the sugar, and the remainder of the water which has been heated to boiling. Cook to a temperature of 240 degrees, or until the soft ball stage. Now, add the vanilla extract, nutmeats and raisins and beat until the mixture begins to grain. Pour into a buttered pan. Once cooled, you can cut it into squares.
All of these recipes of sweets reminds me of my years as a teenager. I soon leaned that if I was fleet of foot and kept a close eye on my new Bulova, I could make it to the candy store down the block and back before I punched the time clock at my place of employment. Of course, this was in the years before I became responsible for my own dental bills.