Day 349 Spirited Chocolates

Spirited Chocolates

2 Tablespoons Earth Balance, softened
2 Tablespoons and 1 Teaspoon Chambord
2 - 3 Cups Powered Sugar
12 Ounces Dark Chocolate Chunks

1. Combine Earth Balance and chambord.  Stir in enough powdered sugar to make a dough you can shape with your hands.  Shape into small balls.  Chill.

2.  Melt the chocolate in a glass bowl over a pan of boiling water.  Stir constantly to make a sauce.

3.  Dip the sugar balls in the chocolate.  Place the balls on parchment paper and chill for 15 minutes.  Store in the refrigerator.

Soundtrack  Spotify Soulful Christmas Playlist.

Day 348 Cranberry Sauce

Cranberry Sauce

1 Cup Cranberry Juice Cocktail
1 Tablespoon Arrowroot
1/3 Cup Sugar
3 Tablespoon Dark Rum

Cranberry juice

Combine juice and arrowroot in a small saucepan, stirring until arrowroot is blended.  Stir in sugar; cook over medium heat until sugar dissolves and mixture thickens.  Remove from heat and stir in rum.  Let sauce cool before serving.

Goes well over fruit salad.

Soundtrack Spotify's Folksy Christmas Playlist

Day 347 Cranberry Pineapple Rolls

Cranberry Pineapple Rolls

1 Package Yeast
1/4 Cup Warm Water
1/2 Cup Almond Milk
1/4 Cup Earth Balance
1 1/2 Tablespoons Sugar
1/2 Teaspoon Salt
Equivalent of 1 Egg*
3 Cups All Purpose Flour
3/4 Cup Brandied Cranberries (Day 345)
1/4 Cup Pineapple, finely chopped
Grated Rind of 1 Orange

*1 Tablespoon ground flaxseeds, 1 teaspoon baking powder, 1 teaspoon potato starch, 1 tablespoon canola oil, 3 tablespoons water - mixed

Fresh pineapple

1.  Dissolve the yeast with the water in the bowl of a stand mixer.  Combine milk, Earth Balance, sugar and salt. Heat in the microwave until the Earth Balance melts.  Let cool to lukewarm and add to the yeast mixture with the egg equivalent.

2.  With the mixer running on a medium speed, add the flour a 1/2 cup at a time until it is mixed well and a soft dough forms.  Oil the bowl and let rise in a warm place for 1 hour.

Dough circles ready to rise

3.  Roll the dough into 1/4 inch thickness.  Using a 1 1/4 in round cookie cutter, cut out small circles.  Grease two muffin tins.  Arrange 5 circles around the sides of a muffin cup and put one circle in the middle. Repeat to make 15 - 18 rolls.  Let rise in a warm place for 30 minutes.

Cranberry filling

4.  Combine the cranberries, pineapple and orange rind.  Spoon a small amount of the fruit into the middle of each rise roll, lightly punching down the middle of the roll.  Bake at 400 for 15 - 20 minutes.

Ready to bake

Goes well with fruit salad.

Soundtrack Spotify's This is: The Christmas Tree playlist

Day 346 Hot Apple Juice

Hot Apple Juice

2 Quarts Apple Juice - I juice mine fresh
1/2 Cup Firmly Packed Brown Sugar
1 Stick Cinnamon
6 Whole Cloves
Strips of Rind from 1 Orange
Nutmeg Chunk

Mix all ingredients in a Dutch Oven.  Simmer 20 minutes.  Discard spices.

To serve, pour into individual mugs.

Goes well with the Catoctin Creek Reserve Brandy.

Soundtrack This is Mrs. Clause Spotify Playlist

Day 345 Brandied Cranberries

Brandied Cranberries

4 Cup Fresh Cranberries
2 Cups Sugar
1/4 Cup Brandy

Place cranberries in a shallow baking dish.  Sprinkle with sugar.  Bake at 350 F for 30 minutes.  Remove from oven mix well.  Stir in brandy. Place in glass jars.  Chill.

Goes well as a garnish in cocktails.

Soundtrack The Record Company - Give it Back to You

Day 344 Roasted Pepper Broccoli

Roasted Pepper Broccoli

3 Pounds Broccoli, cut into flowerets
1 Bunch Green Onions, chopped
1/2 Cup Earth Balance
1 Cup Roasted Red Peppers, chopped
1 1/2 Teaspoons Lemon Zest
1/2 Cup Lemon Juice
1/2 Teaspoon Salt
1/4 Teaspoon Pepper

1.  Steam broccoli in a small amount of boiling water until tender crisp. about 10 - 15 minutes.

Sauce ingredients

2.  Saute green onions in Earth Balance in a saucepan until tender.  Stir in peppers, zest, juice, salt and pepper.  Simmer 5 minutes.

Roasted pepper sauce

3.  Drain broccoli.  Pour sauce over.

Soundtrack  Almost People - Songs for Best Friends

Day 343 Country Style Pea Soup

Country Style Pea Soup

1 Pound Dried Split Peas
10 Cups Water
1 Onion, chopped
1 Stalk Celery, chopped
1 Clove Garlic, minced
Several Springs of Dill, chopped
1 Breast of Unchicken, chopped (Day 337)
1/4 Teaspoon Pepper
Salt to taste

Soup ingredients

1. Combine peas, water, onion, celery and garlic in a Dutch oven.  Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer uncovered until peas are tender, about 30 minutes.

2. Using an immersion blender, blend soup until creamy.  Add the unchicken, dill, salt and pepper.  Heat until the 'meat' is warmed through.

Goes well with rolls.

Pairs well with 2011 Hillsboro Carnelian Roussanne

Soundtrack The Bouncing Souls - The Good, the Bad and the Argyle