Monthly Cooking Thread - November 2018

[Calvin Locke]

I use the gravy and the "stuffing" for the extra layer.

[cherry]

where you moving?

[cherry]

I grew up in a big family and holidays were big events with lots of family....

but many yrs ago I moved to my husbands locale and they are not one big happy family...I say they're dysfunctional....two of his brothers don't even live here and there are not a lot of relatives here anymore....

so holidays are not as happy as I would like them to be....even my two adult children live away and since my son is divorced its rare he can bring the kids here for holidays...

I wish we had stayed where my family lives, clear across the country but that didn't happen and one has to learn how to bloom where they are sowed....

so these holiday cooking threads are great for me....brings back memories about big holidays and lots of food and business.....

[Bellflower]

Ping

[Liz]

Nice quick recipe if your holiday cookie supply runs low. Simple to mix----a basic shortbread with chopped maraschino cherries,
almond extract. Mini chocolate chips into the batter might be good. Not too sweet--maybe up the sugar, maybe add a dribble of vanilla.
Kids will love these.

CHERRY CHOCOLATE KISSES / makes about 36

ING cup unsalted butter, softened but cool cup powdered sugar 1/8 teaspoon salt2 tsp bottled maraschino cherry “juice” 1/4 teaspoon almond extract 2 and 1/4 cups flour 1/2 cup maraschino cherries, chopped 36 milk chocolate kisses, unwrapped

METHOD stand mixer/paddle butter til creamy, a min on med. Reduce speed to lowest; slowly add conf and salt. Add cherry juice, almond extract, mix/combine. On low speed, slowly add flour, scraping down the sides.Increase to med; and add cherries.

FINAL Shape into 1-inch balls, and place the balls sheetpan 2" apart. Thumbprint gently in its center until the cookie is about 1/2-inch thick. Sprinkle with bit sugar. Bake 325 deg til bottoms lightly brown 14 minutes.

Remove to counter, immediately press chocolate kiss into each cookie’s center; wire rack to cool completely.

[Aliska]

Twice is unstandable but I've seen some posted up to 5 times or more. Yeah just flushed another one on yt about immigration. If I slip and hit some certain key, it goes poof.

It causes pages to scramble, and if I can find my way back, it's usually gone.

[boatbums]

Oyster Dressing was a holiday standard in our home since Mom was from New Orleans. I just never liked oysters so I skipped it on my plate. Another NOLA standard and one I liked a lot was called Stuffed Mirlitons. They are chayote squash boiled, scooped out and mixed in a casserole with shrimp and other creole staples. Yum!

https://www.nola.com/food/index.ssf/2013/07/stuffed_mirliton_recipe.html

[Liz]

Perfect holiday confection. Makes a lot for the work involved.

Pina Colada Truffles

METHOD BTB 2 oz h/cream, oz coconut milk, pinch k/s on med-high. Add tb dk rum;
immediately pour over 12 oz fine/chp tempered white/choc; Process 30 sec.
Scrape w/ heatproof spatula. Process a min completely smooth. Add 1/4 c fine-chp candied pineapple; process 15 sec.

Pour into saraned 8x8" pan; smooth top. Saran top; set overnight in cool room.

ASSEMBLY Set candy slab on cutting board; spread top w/ thin layer tempered white chocolate.
Let set; then flip onto parchment; spread thin layer of white chocolate on second side.
Before chocolate sets, score inch-squares w/ ruler. Cut row by row, then cut into 64 square truffles.

FINAL Dip into tempered white chocolate. Let set.

SERVE in striped paper cups garnished w/ fine-flaked coconut, candied cherry sliver.

[Liz]

PRIZE RECIPE--Luxury Hotel's Almond Macaroon recipe with amazing flavor.

HOTEL SERVES MACAROONS WITH NESTS OF FRESH BERRIES.

METHOD Elec/mixer smooth lb Almond Paste, ½ lb ea Conf, Sugar, some of 5 oz lightly whipt Egg Whites.
Reset to low; slowly add rest egg whites. Scrape sides well. Pipe nickel-sizes onto parchmented sheetpan.
Bake lightly browned 350 deg. Cool on counter.

[Jamestown1630]

LOL! Leave it to Liz.

[Jamestown1630]

I liked it too. I had never heard of the artist until I found it. Great technical detail and attention to human detail.

[Jamestown1630]

I first had that recipe at a beach house party about 30 years ago. It’s become a staple.

[Jamestown1630]

Congratulations on your move. Did you decide on Tennessee?

[Jamestown1630]

We bought the foodsaver to freeze meats when we buy them at a good price at Costco - but it sure comes in handy at holidays.

[Liz]

It’s delicious.....the flavor combo is inspired.

[Jamestown1630]

Sometimes I use pecans instead of walnuts.

[miss marmelstein]

No, we didn’t. I’m a little reluctant to disclose where the move is because some people are going to say “Oh, no! You’re moving next to me!!!”

[Jamestown1630]

LOL! Well, I wish you the best in your new environment.

[MomwithHope]

We use it for meat at Costco too, like the ground beef and the stew meat. And it’s great for steaming and freezing veggies from the garden.

[miss marmelstein]

Thank you! Moving long distance is one of the most stressful events of my life. And yet people do it every day!