Cranberry Bread

Cranberry Bread

2 C all-purpose flour
1 C sugar
1 1/2 t. baking powder
1/2 t. baking soda
1 t. salt
1/4 c. unsalted butter
1 egg
3/4 c. orange juice
1 T. grated fresh orange peel
1 C chopped fresh cranberries

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease a 9 x 5 inch loaf pan.
Sift the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt together in a bowl.

Add the butter in chunks and cut it into the dry ingredients with your fingers or a pastry blender.

In a second bowl, beat the egg, orange juice, and orange peel together until well blended. Add to the flour mixture and stir to blend ingredients. Fold in the cranberries. Pour the batter into the prepared pan.
Bake for 55-60 minutes or until a cake tester inserted into the center comes out clean.
Makes 1 loaf

How to Make the Best Chocolate Fondue

Chocolate Fondue

8 oz. Belgium Callebaut Foundue (Chocolate sold in gourmet shops)
1/2 C heavy cream
3 t Kirsch or Grande Marnier

Melt the chocolate with cream over medium heat until smooth. Stir in liqueur. Keep warm.

Dip bananas, strawberries, oranges, pineapples, graham crackers, pound cake, marshmallows into hot sauce!

When the nights get colder - Make Fondue! The Best Cheese Fondue Recipe

Cheese Fondue:

1 clove garlic
1 1/2 lbs. cheese - ideally 3/4 lbs. Swiss Emmenthal and 3/4 lbs. Gruyere.
The cheese should be shredded or cubed, not grated.
1 1/2 T cornstarch
2 C dry white Riesling, or (2 C California white wine with 2 T lemon juice added)
3-4 T Kirsch

Fondue is best made in an earthenware dish called a caquelon that can withstand the heat of the stove and is glazed on the inside only.

Cut the garlic clove in half and rub inside of the pot with the cut side. Dissolve the cornstarch in the Kirsch and set aside. Pour the wine into the pot and set it over moderately low heat. Once it begins to simmer, add the cheese shavings by handfuls, stirring constantly. As each handful melts, add another, stirring all the time.
The mixture will then form a large soft lump. Add the Kirsch-cornstarch mixture you have set aside and continue to stir until smooth.

Kepp the mixture buggling, set the fondue pot over a spirit burner and serve immediately with chunks of crusty French bread.

Spinach Quiche Recipe

Pastry:
1 1/2 C flour
1 t salt
9 T butter
2-4 T ice water

Put flour & salt in bowl; pulse in butter until butter looks like peas. Add enough water until it quick balls. Chill. When workable, roll out; place in 9 or 10" pan.
Bake 10 minutes in a 400F oven.

Filling: 1 small onion
1 box forzen spinach, steamed and thoroughly drained
1/4 - 1/2 lb. ham (processed with steel blade)
3 t butter
4 eggs
1 1/2 C medium cream
1/2 C grated cheese (Swiss, Gruyere, parmesan)
1 T Dijon mustard
Salt & pepper

Process cheese, then onion. Blend with ham and spinach. Process egg and cream briefly and blend with cheese, onion and ham mixture. Mix in mustard and salt/pepper. Pour half of mixture into shell and bake at 350 F for 15 minutes. Add the other half of mixture and bake at 350F for another 15-20 minutes.

Homemade Applesauce

Much better than what you buy in the jar!

Applesauce:

10 red apples
1/4 c water
Sugar and cinnamon to taste
Grated rind of 1 lemon (optional)

Core and halve the apples. Cook in heavy sauce pan with water over low heat.
Puree until it reaches the smooth or chunky consistency preferred. Add sugar and cinnamon to taste.