The Everything Family Christmas Book (62 page)

4. Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients. Add milk mixture to the well all at once, tossing with a fork until just moistened.

5. Toss blueberries in 1 tablespoon flour. Add blueberries to batter.

6. Spoon batter into prepared pan.

7. Bake until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, approximately 30 minutes.

8. Transfer to wire rack; let cool.

Cranberry Bread

A wholesome and delicious holiday treat—and easy to make, too!

2 cups all-purpose flour

1 cup granulated sugar

1½ teaspoons baking powder

½ teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon salt

1 cup fresh or frozen cranberries, chopped into halves

¼ cup shortening

½ cup orange juice

1 teaspoon grated orange peel

1 large egg, lightly beaten

½ cup chopped walnuts (optional)

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a 9” × 5” loaf pan.

2. Sift together flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.

3. Using a pastry blender or 2 knives held together, cut in shortening until coarse crumbs form.

4. In a separate bowl, combine orange juice, orange peel, and eggs.

5. Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients. Add egg mixture all at once, tossing with a fork until just moistened.

6. Stir in the nuts and cranberries. Spread batter in prepared pan. Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, approximately 1 hour.

7. Remove bread from pan; cool completely.

Cranberry Scones

Give these accompanied by a special jar of your favorite jam or jelly.

1 cup dairy sour cream

1½ teaspoons grated fresh orange peel

2 cups all-purpose flour, sifted

½ cup granulated sugar

2 teaspoons baking powder

½ teaspoon baking soda

½ teaspoon salt

¼ cup butter or margarine, softened

1 large egg, at room temperature

¼ cup dried cranberries

1. Preheat oven to 375°F.

2. In a small bowl, combine sour cream and grated orange peel. Set aside.

3. In a large bowl, mix together the flour, baking powder, granulated sugar, and salt.

4. Using a pastry blender or 2 knives held together, cut butter into the flour mixture until coarse crumbs form.

5. Break the egg in a small dish and beat well with a fork. Add the egg to the flour mixture and beat together until blended.

6. Add the sour cream and orange-peel mixture and heat until just well blended.

7. Prepare a smooth surface (the kitchen counter is fine) by sprinkling it lightly with flour. Turn the dough out of the bowl. Using floured hands, knead the dough for about 30 seconds, or until smooth.

8. Taking only half the dough at a time, roll it out with a floured rolling pin until it is about ½” thick. Using a 3” round cookie cutter, or even the opening to a similarly sized empty can, cut out rounds of dough.

9. Place the rounds 1” apart on a greased or nonstick cookie sheet. Before putting them in the oven, push 5 dried cranberries into the top of each one.

10. Bake until the tops are just barely browned, 12–18 minutes.

11. Let cool on wire racks. Makes 1 dozen scones.

German Coffee Cake

A classic favorite.

1 cup margarine, softened

2 cups granulated sugar

4 large eggs, at room temperature

1 pint sour cream

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

2 teaspoons baking soda

1½ cups all-purpose flour

3 teaspoons baking powder

½ cup walnuts (optional)

Topping:

½ cup granulated sugar and 2 teaspoons cinnamon, mixed together in small bowl

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a 9” × 13” baking pan.

2. In a large mixing bowl, cream together margarine and sugar.

3. Add eggs, sour cream, baking soda, and vanilla.

4. Beat in flour and baking powder. Stir in nuts.

5. Pour half of batter into the greased pan.

6. Sprinkle half of topping over batter; run a knife once through batter.

7. Pour remaining batter into the pan, then run a knife once through batter.

8. Bake until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, approximately 40–45 minutes.

9. Transfer baking pan to a wire rack. Cool for 30 minutes.

Holiday Lemon Nut Bread

A zesty change of pace for Christmas morning!

2½ cups all-purpose flour

1 cup granulated sugar

3½ teaspoons baking powder

½ teaspoon baking soda

½ teaspoon salt

½ teaspoon grated lemon peel

½ cup water

⅓ cup shortening, melted

2 large eggs, lightly beaten

½ cup fresh lemon juice

1 cup chopped walnuts (or ½ cup nuts and ½ cup raisins)

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease and flour a 9” × 5” × 3” loaf pan.

2. In a large bowl, sift together flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, lemon peel, and salt.

3. Combine water, shortening, eggs, and juice. Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients. Pour egg mixture into well, tossing with a fork until dry ingredients are just moistened. Stir in nuts and raisins.

4. Spread batter into prepared pan.

5. Bake bread until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, approximately 60–75 minutes.

6. Let cool for 10 minutes; remove from pan. Cool on wire rack for 5 minutes. Wrap in plastic and refrigerate until ready to serve.

Triple Lemon Butter

For gift-giving, wrap the butter roll in waxed paper and tie at the ends with holiday ribbons. Add an antique silver butter knife and the latest cookbook if you like. Other butters can also be made by mixing similar amounts of just about any herb to 1 stick of butter.

2 tablespoons fresh lemon balm leaves, chopped or 2 teaspoons dried lemon balm, crumbled

1 tablespoon fresh lemon verbena leaves, chopped or 1 teaspoon dried lemon verbena, crumbled

1 stick butter, softened

1 teaspoon lemon juice

1. Wash herbs and set them aside on paper towels until all excess water has evaporated.

2. Combine herbs in a small bowl, using a wooden spoon. Reserving 1 teaspoon of the fresh herb mixture, or ½ teaspoon of the dry, mix herbs into the butter.

3. Using your hands, shape the butter into a log, dipping each end into the herb mixture set aside in the previous step. Gently score the sides with a fork, using horizontal strokes.

4. Store in the refrigerator.

Brandy Rings

A festive and delicious braided pastry.

2½ cups all-purpose flour, sifted

1 cup butter or margarine

2 tablespoons brandy

1. Preheat oven to 350°F.

2. Grease 2 large baking sheets.

3. Combine flour, margarine, and brandy in a large mixing bowl and blend together to make dough.

4. On a lightly floured surface, roll the dough into ropes approximately ½” thick.

5. Cut the ropes into 5” strips.

6. Twist 2 pieces together; shape into a ring; pinch ends together to seal.

7. Repeat with remaining dough.

8. Place rings a good distance apart on prepared baking sheets. Bake rings until golden, approximately 12–15 minutes.

Chocolate Crinkles

Chocolate fans take note: This is a Christmas treat worth waiting for!

½ cup vegetable oil

4 ounces unsweetened chocolate, melted

2 cups granulated sugar

4 large eggs

2 teaspoons vanilla

2 cups all-purpose flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

½ teaspoon salt

1 cup confectioners’ sugar

1. In a large mixing bowl, mix oil, melted chocolate, and granulated sugar.

2. Beat in eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition.

3. Add vanilla. Beat in flour, baking powder, and salt.

4. Cover mixing bowl with plastic wrap. Chill for several hours.

5. When ready to cook, preheat oven to 350°F.

6. Grease 2 medium baking sheets.

7. Drop dough by teaspoonfuls into confectioners’ sugar. Roll dough in sugar and shape into balls.

8. Bake cookies on greased baking sheets until set, 10–12 minutes.

Christmas Cutout Cookies

Vary the shapes for lots of kid-friendly fun.

½ cup butter

½ cup granulated sugar

2 large eggs, lightly beaten

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

¼ cup sliced almonds

2 teaspoons baking powder

2¾ cups all-purpose flour

Red and green sugar crystals

Icing (commercially prepared, in tubes)

1. Preheat oven to 400°F.

2. In a large mixing bowl, beat together butter and sugar until light and fluffy.

3. Beat in eggs, vanilla, and almonds.

4. Beat in baking powder and flour ½ cup at a time, until blended.

5. Wrap dough in plastic wrap and chill for several hours.

6. On a floured surface, roll-out dough using a floured rolling pin.

7. Using several different-shaped cookie cutters, cut out cookies.

8. Decorate with colored sugar and icing.

9. Bake cookies until just golden, approximately 6–7 minutes.

Christmas-Theme Sugar Cookies

Remember; bake large cookies with large ones and small cookies with small ones for best results. Placing cookies of unlike sizes on the same sheet will result in uneven cooking.

1 cup granulated sugar

1 cup margarine

1 large egg

½ teaspoon almond or vanilla extract