Serves: 12

• Ingredients

1 recipe sweet cookie dough
1/2 cup apricot preserves
4 1/2 ounces soft butter
4 1/2 ounces sugar
4 egg yolks
4 1/2 oz almond powder
2 teaspoons Kirsch
1 teaspoon cornstarch
Glaze

• preparation

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Roll cookie dough very thin.
Line tiny tartlet molds with the cookie dough.
Cover the bottom of each tartlet mold with 1/2 teaspoon apricot preserves.
In a mixing bowl, cream the butter and sugar until light in color. Beat in the egg yolks one at the time. Stir in almond powder, Kirsch, and cornstarch.
Spoon the mixture into the tartlet shells until half filled. Bake for about 20 minutes or until tartlets are golden brown. Glaze.

Serves: 16

• Ingredients

1 3/4 cups flour
2/3 cup sugar
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup coarsely chopped candied cherries
1/2 cup coarsely chopped glazed pineapple
1/2 cup chopped mixed peel
1/2 cup toasted slivered almonds
1 egg
1 cup milk
1/4 cup canola oil
3 tablespoons amaretto liqueur
1 teaspoon almond flavoring

• preparation

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Grease a 9 by 5-inch loaf pan. Measure flour, sugar, baking powder and salt into a bowl. Stir until blended.
Make a well in center. Chop and measure out cherries, pineapple, peel and almonds.
Beat egg with milk, oil, amaretto and flavoring until blended. Pour into center of flour mixture.
Immediately add cherries, pineapple, mixed peel and nuts. Stir just until dry ingredients are lumpy.
Spoon batter into pan. Smooth top.
Bake until knife inserted into loaf comes out quite clean, from 1 hour to 1 hour and 15 minutes.
Store, covered, at room temperature for up to 3 days, or freeze.

Serves: 6

• Ingredients

1/2 cup soft butter
1/4 cup sugar
1 egg yolk
2 teaspoons lemon juice
1 cup flour
1/3 cup raspberry jam

• preparation

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Cream butter and sugar. Add egg yolk and lemon juice. Beat. Mix in flour to form a ball.
Shape dough into small balls. Arrange on baking sheet. Using a teaspoon, make a small crater in each ball.
Bake for 12 to 15 minutes .Cool cookies on rack.
Fill holes with jam.
**An alternate method is to dip cookie dough balls into egg white and ground nut before baking.

Serves: 10

The bars have a base of shortbread and are filled with apricot jam with Grand Marnier, and almonds
Can be prepared ahead. Store in single layer in airtight container at room temperature up to 4 days or freeze up to 2 weeks.

• Ingredients

1 1/2 cups apricot preserves
3 tablespoons orange liqueur (such as Grand Marnier)
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
3/4 cup sugar
1 teaspoon almond extract
2 cups all purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 oz (1/4 cup) almond paste, crumbled
1/2 cup sliced almonds, divided

• preparation

Preheat oven to 325°F.
Butter a 9 by 9 by 2-inch metal baking pan; line bottom and sides of pan with parchment paper, extending over sides. Butter parchment. Mix preserves and orange liqueur in small bowl; set aside.
Using electric mixer, beat 1 cup butter and sugar in large bowl until well blended. Beat in almond extract. Add flour and salt; beat just until blended. Transfer 1 cup of dough to another small bowl; add crumbled almond paste and mix with fingertips until small clumps form. Mix in 1/4 cup sliced almonds; set aside for topping.
Press remaining dough evenly onto bottom of prepared pan. Spread preserves mixture evenly over. Using fingertips, coarsely crumble topping over preserves, then sprinkle 1/4 cup almonds over. Press topping lightly into preserves.
Bake shortbread until top and crust edges are golden brown, about 1 hour. Cool completely in pan on rack. Using parchment paper as aid, lift shortbread from pan. Cut shortbread into 4 equal strips, then cut each strip crosswise into 8 small bar cookies.

Serves: 8

• Ingredients

1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon Armagnac
1 cup heavy cream
1 1/2 cups milk
6 large egg yolks
2/3 cup sugar

• preparation

Have ready a large bowl of ice and cold water. In a 1 1/2-quart heavy saucepan simmer 1/2 cup Armagnac (being careful not to let ignite) until reduced by about half. Stir in cream and milk and bring mixture to a simmer.
In a bowl whisk together yolks and sugar. Add hot milk mixture to yolk mixture in a slow stream, whisking. Transfer mixture to cleaned saucepan and cook over moderate heat, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon, until slightly thickened and a thermometer registers 170°F (do not let boil). Pour custard through a fine sieve into a metal bowl set in ice water. Stir in remaining tablespoon Armagnac and cool custard completely.
Freeze custard in an ice-cream maker. Transfer ice cream to an airtight container and put in freezer to harden. Armagnac ice cream may be made 1 week ahead.

Serves: 8

This recipe originally accompanied
Prune Kumquat Sticky Pudding with Armagnac Toffee Sauce .

• Ingredients

1 1/2 cups heavy cream
1 1/2 sticks (3/4 cup) unsalted butter, softened
3/4 cup packed light brown sugar
3 tablespoons Armagnac

• preparation

In a heavy saucepan simmer cream with butter and brown sugar, stirring, 3 to 4 minutes, or until slightly thickened. Remove pan from heat and stir in Armagnac. Sauce keeps, covered and chilled, 1 week. Reheat sauce before serving.

Serves: 4

Recipe courtesy John Besh for Food Network Magazine

• Ingredients

For the Oysters
2 dozen oysters
For the Aioli:
2 cloves garlic, chopped
2 large egg yolks
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
Kosher salt
1 cup extra-virgin olive oil
For the Ragout:
1 cup diced thick-sliced hickory-smoked bacon
1 or 2 shallots, minced
1 cup wild mushrooms, cleaned and sliced
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 tablespoons cold butter, cut into small pieces
Leaves of 1 sprig fresh thyme
Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper

• preparation

Buy the oysters. When buying oysters, look for a tag with the harvest date and use them within a week of that date. Also, make sure the oysters are fresh and alive; the shells should be tightly closed or should close when tapped.
An hour before shucking, scrub the oysters with a stiff brush under cold running water to remove any grit. Set them aside to relax muscles in shell. They will open with more ease.

Shuck the oysters. Hold the oyster, curved-side down, in a towel on a cutting board. Insert an oyster knife between the shells at the narrow pointed end. (Use a real oyster knife-there is no substitute!) Press down firmly on the oyster to prevent slipping and twist the knife to pry the shells apart. Use the knife for leverage; do not use force. Cut the muscle that connects the oyster to the top shell with the knife, being careful not to pierce the meat. Remove the top shell. Slide your knife under the oyster to loosen it, keeping the meat and liquid in the shell. Use your knife to carefully scrape away any shards of shell.

Make the aioli. Blend the garlic, egg yolks, lemon juice and a pinch of salt in a food processor. Slowly drizzle in the olive oil with the motor running and process until thick. Use a rubber spatula to transfer the aioli to a bowl, then cover and refrigerate.

Prepare the ragout. Cook the bacon in a skillet over medium heat, stirring, until crisp. Add the shallots and mushrooms and cook 5 minutes, stirring. Add the garlic, cook 3 minutes, then add the butter and thyme. Season with salt and pepper.

Assemble the oysters. Preheat the broiler. Place the oysters, in their shells, in individual baking dishes or one large dish. (Put a crumpled sheet of foil underneath them to keep them steady, if necessary.) Top each with a spoonful of mushroom ragout.

Finish the dish. Top each oyster with a dollop of aeoli. Broil until the aeoli is golden, about 2 minutes, and serve immediately.

Serves: 8

This recipe is adapted from Fine Cooking

• Ingredients

2 ounces unsalted butter, cut into 4 pieces (4 tablespoons)
about 1 pound medium firm-ripe Bosc pears

For the Cake:
6 3/4 ounces unbleached all-purpose flour (1-1/2 cups)
1 3/4 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon table salt
1/2 cup whole milk
1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
4 ounces unsalted butter, softened (8 tablespoons)
1 cup packed light brown sugar
2 large eggs

Basic Caramel:
1 cup granulated sugar
1/4 teaspoon fresh lemon juice

• preparation

1. Position a rack in the center of the oven and heat the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter the bottom and sides of a 9x2-inch round cake pan (don't use a springform pan, as the caramel might leak out during baking). Line the bottom of the pan with a round of parchment and butter the top of the paper.
Make the Topping:

1. Peel, core, and cut the pears lengthwise into 1/4-inch-thick slices. Arrange the pear slices on the bottom of the pan in a circle around the edge, overlapping them slightly, with the pointed ends towards the center. If necessary, cut a little off the pointed ends to make the slices fit better. Or if the pear slices don't reach all the way to the middle, arrange a few of the shorter slices in the center to cover the bottom of the pan.
2. Make the Basic Caramel according to the directions. Immediately remove the pan from the heat and whisk in the 4 tablespoons of butter one piece at a time, until they are completely melted. Carefully pour the hot caramel evenly over the pears (it should spread over the pears and onto the bottom of the pan).

Make the Cake Batter:

1. Sift the flour, baking powder, ginger, cinnamon, and salt into a medium bowl. Stir to combine. In a small bowl, stir together the milk and vanilla.
2. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the butter on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 1 minute. Turn the mixer to medium and slowly add the brown sugar. Increase the speed to high and continue to mix until lightened in texture and color, 2 to 3 minutes total. Reduce the speed to medium and add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition and scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed.
3. Reduce the speed to low and alternate adding the flour mixture and milk mixture in five additions, beginning and ending with the flour. Mix each addition just enough to incorporate, as overmixing will lead to a tougher cake. Scrape down the sides of the bowl one last time and mix briefly to blend well.
Bake the cake:

1. Spoon the batter in large dollops over the pears and smooth it into an even layer with an offset spatula. Bake the cake until the top is golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, 35 to 45 minutes. Transfer the pan to a wire rack to cool for 10 minutes. Run a knife around the edge of the pan. Turn a cake plate upside down on top of the cake pan and, using pot holders, carefully invert the cake pan onto the plate.
Basic Caramel:

1. Fill a cup measure halfway with water and put a pastry brush in it; this will be used for washing down the sides of the pan to prevent crystallization. In a heavy-duty 2-quart saucepan, stir the sugar, lemon juice, and 1/4 cup cold water. Brush down the sides of the pan with water to wash away any sugar crystals.
2. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat and cook, occasionally brushing down the sides of the pan, until the mixture starts to color around the edges, 5 to 8 minutes.
3. Gently swirl the pan once to even out the color and prevent the sugar from burning in isolated spots. Continue to cook until the sugar turns medium amber, about 30 seconds more. (Once the mixture begins to color, it will darken very quickly, so keep an eye on it.)

Serves: 4

• Ingredients

2 tablespoons lemon juice
1 celery root (about 1 pound)
4 medium potatoes, peeled
4 cloves garlic, peeled
1/2 cup whipping cream
2 tablespoons butter
salt and pepper to taste
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley

• preparation

Fill a large bowl with ice water and add lemon juice. With sharp knife, peel celery root; cut into 2-in chunks, dropping them into the water and lemon juice as you go. (This stops the celery root from discoloring.)
Cut potatoes into 2-in chunks. Drain celery root. In large saucepan, combine celery root, potatoes, garlic and enough water to cover them. Bring to boil. Reduce heat to medium-low; cook, covered, 20 minutes or until celery root and potatoes are very tender. Drain well; return vegetables to saucepan. Place over low heat to dry out slightly, shaking saucepan occasionally.
Heat butter and cream in small saucepan; transfer to large bowl. Add vegetables to cream mixture and cream until smooth and creamy. Season with salt and pepper to taste; stir in parsley.
Transfer to heated serving dish; serve immediately.

Serves: 8

may also be served as hors d'oeuvres.

• Ingredients

1 cup water 1/2 cup butter, cut into pieces
1 cup flour
4 large eggs
1 cup grated Swiss cheese
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground white pepper
1/8 teaspoon grated nutmeg
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
2 cups parsley sprigs, cleaned and dried
2 cups tomato basil sauce
oil for deep frying

• preparation

In a medium saucepan, heat water and butter to a simmer. Add flour all at once and stir vigorously with a wooden spoon over low heat until mixture no longer sticks to pan and forms into a ball. Remove from heat.
Beat eggs in thoroughly, one by one until mixture is smooth. Mix in the cheese and seasonings.
Transfer cheese mixture to a mixing bowl.
Heat the oil in a deep fryer to 350 degrees. Carefully fry half of the dry parsley sprigs for about 10 to 12 seconds.
Transfer to a plate on a paper towel. Repeat with remaining parsley. Season with salt.
Spoon about 5 or 6 tablespoons of the cheese mixture into the oil. Do not crowd as they double in size and self rotate while cooking. Fry for 8 to 10 minutes until golden brown. Drain on absorbent paper.
Keep beignets in a warm oven while frying the remaining. Arrange the warm cheese beignets on a platter with the fried parsley.
Serve with hot tomato basil.
Note: If served as hors d'oeuvres, fry teaspoonfuls of the cheese mixture.

Serves: 12

• Ingredients

1/2 cup confectioners' sugar
1 2/3 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter, at room
temperature
1 1/4 cups sugar
2 eggs
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

• preparation

Note: Using a heaping teasspoon of the dough you get 48 cookies.

Preheat an oven to 350°F. Grease 2 baking sheets with butter.
Put the confectioners' sugar into a bowl and set aside.
In another bowl, using a wooden spoon, stir together the flour, cocoa, baking powder and salt. Set aside.
In a large bowl, using an electric mixer, beat the butter and sugar on medium speed until creamy, about 3 minutes. Turn off the mixer and scrape down the bowl with a rubber spatula. Add 1 egg and beat on medium speed until blended. Add the other egg and vanilla and beat until blended.

Turn off the mixer and add the flour mixture. Beat on low speed just until blended.
To form the cookies, using a teaspoon, scoop up a rounded spoonful of dough. Scrape the dough off the spoon into the palm of your hand. Roll the dough into a ball. Roll the ball in the confectioners' sugar until covered. Place 1 1/2 inches apart on prepared cookie sheets.
Bake about 12 minutes until tops are puffed and crackled.
(Do not over bake. Cookies are soft when hot but firm and chewy when cool. ) Remove to rack to cool. Store tightly covered up to 3 weeks with wax paper between layers.

Serves: 8

• Ingredients

1/2 cup (4 oz) unsalted butter, room temperature
1/3 cup confectioners' sugar
1 large egg yolk
2 tablespoons finely grated lemon zest plus 1/2 teaspoon lemon juice
1/8 teaspoon coarse salt
1/2 cup macadamia nuts, toasted and finely ground
1 cup all-purpose flour (spooned and leveled)
5 ounces bittersweet chocolate, chopped

• preparation

Preheat oven to 350 degrees with racks in upper and lower thirds.
In a large bowl, using an electric mixer, beat butter and sugar on medium-high until light and fluffy, 2 minutes.
Add egg yolk, lemon zest and juice, and salt and beat until combined; beat in nuts. With mixer on low, add flour and beat just until combined, 2 minutes.
Form dough into a 4 1/2-inch-long log, wrap in plastic, and freeze until firm, 30 minutes. Cut into 1/4-inch slices, transfer to two parchment-lined baking sheets, and freeze 5 minutes.
Bake until golden at edges, 14 minutes, rotating sheets halfway through. Let cookies cool completely on wire racks.
Melt chocolate. Dip half of each cookie into chocolate; transfer to parchment-lined baking sheets. Chill until set, 10 minutes.

Serves: 15

• Ingredients

6 oz (175 g) pitted prunes
6 oz (175 g) dried apricots
4 oz (125 g) dried pineapple
4 oz (125 g) dried black Mission figs,
hard stem ends removed
4 oz (125 g) dried cherries
4 oz (125 g) Thompson raisins
4 oz (125 g) golden raisins
3/4 cup (175 mL) port
1/2 cup (125 mL) dark rum
1/2 cup (125 mL) brandy
1 tbsp (15 mL) honey
1 cinnamon stick, 3 inches (8 cm) long
2 tsp (10 mL) grated lemon rind
1½ cups (375 mL) all-purpose flour
2 tsp (10 mL) baking powder
1¼ tsp (6 mL) salt
1/4 tsp (1 mL) ground nutmeg
1/4 tsp (1 mL) cinnamon
1/8 tsp (0.5 mL) ground cloves
1/8 tsp (0.5 mL) ground allspice
1 cup (250 mL) unsalted butter, softened
1½ cups (375 mL) demerara sugar, packed
4 large eggs, at room temperature

• preparation

Cut prunes,apricots, pineapple and figs into small pieces (smaller than ½ inch/1 cm). Put in a Dutch oven or large heavy pot along with cherries, raisins, port, rum, brandy, bitters, honey and cinnamon stick. Place pot over medium-low heat and bring to a gentle simmer, stirring occasionally, for 8 minutes or until fruit mixture is plump and most of the liquid has been absorbed. Stir in grated lemon rind. Scrape into a large glass or ceramic bowl, cover tightly with plastic wrap, and let stand for a few days, or ideally a week, stir ring every few days.
2 Preheat oven to 275°F (140°C). Grease 5mini loaf pans, 5 x 2 x 2 inches (13 x 5 x 5 cm) approx., and fully line with parchment paper.
3 Combine flour, baking powder, salt, nutmeg, cinnamon, cloves and all-spice in a small bowl and stir with a fork until uniform.
4 Beat butter and sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer until light and fluffy. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating really well between additions and scraping down sides as needed to keep batter from separating. Add flour mixtureand beat until just combined (batter will be on the thin side). Scrape in dried fruit mixture and any syrupy liquid and stir until just combined.
Divide batter between prepared pans and bake for 2 hours 20 minutes or until cakes are deeply golden and a cake tester comes out with crumbs clinging to it.
5 Let cakes cool in pans for 10 minutes, then carefully turn out ontowire racks, peel off parchment paper and let cool fully. Wrap cooled cakes well and keep in airtight containers until ready to eat or share. No aging necessary.

Serves: 12

These little maple logs are delicious and a great idea for Christmas. Children love dipping the ends in chocolate.

• Ingredients

1/2 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup shortening
1/2 cup confectioners' sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon maple flavoring
1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup quick-cooking oats
1/2 teaspoon salt
6 ounces semisweet chocolate, melted
3 tablespoons warm milk
3/4 cup ground walnuts

• preparation

In a large bowl, cream the butter, shortening and confectioners' sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in vanilla and maple flavoring.
Combine the flour, oats and salt; gradually add to creamed mixture and mix well.
On a lightly floured surface, shape dough into 1/2-in.-wide logs. Cut into 2-in. pieces. Place 1 in. apart on ungreased baking sheets.
Bake at 325° for 15-18 minutes or until set and very lightly browned. Remove to wire racks to cool.
Mix melted chocolate and milk; stir until smooth. Dip one end of each cookie into chocolate; allow excess to drip off. Roll in walnuts. Place on waxed paper until set.

Serves: 24

Mince pies can be made ahead, frozen and reheated as required.
Fruit mince will keep for months in an airtight container in refrigerator. The flavors will intensify the longer it is left before using.

• Ingredients

300g (2 cups) plain flour
1/4 tsp baking powder
6 1/2 oz 185g unsalted butter, chopped
55g (1/4 cup) sugar, plus extra for sprinkling
2 egg yolks
1-2 tbsp lemon juice
1 egg white, whisked

for the cranberry studded mince- makes about 600ml / 2½ cups

2 oz - 60 ml brandy, rum or ruby port
2 1/2 oz - 75 grams soft dark brown sugar
11 oz - 300 grams cranberries, chopped
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground ginger
½ teaspoon ground cloves
3 oz - 75 grams currants
3 oz - 75 grams raisins
1 oz -30 grams dried cranberries
finely grated zest and juice of 1 clementine
2 tbsp brandy
3 drops almond extract
½ teaspoon vanilla extract
2 tablespoons honey

• preparation

Preheat oven to 375 F - 190°C .
Sift flour and baking powder into a bowl. Rub in butter using fingertips until mixture resembles breadcrumbs. Stir in the sugar. Add egg yolks and enough lemon juice to bring ingredients together to form a dough.
Knead dough gently on a lightly floured surface until smooth. Halve, wrap in plastic wrap and chill for at least 30 minutes. Roll out one pastry half between 2 sheets of baking paper until 1/4 inch or less, 3-5mm thick. Using a 2 1/2 inch (6.5cm) fluted round cutter, cut out 12 rounds, reserving leftover pastry. Place rounds into one of the prepared pans. Spoon 2 teaspoons of fruit mince into each. Repeat with second pastry half and fruit mince.
Re-roll scraps of pastry and cut into small stars. Top each pie with a star. Brush with egg white and sprinkle with extra sugar. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until golden. Leave to cool completely in pans. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Make the mince fruit in advance.
In a large pan, dissolve the sugar in the brandy, rum or ruby port over a gentle heat. Add the chopped cranberries and stir. Add the cinnamon, ginger and cloves, currants, raisins, dried cranberries and the zest and juice of the clementine. Bring to a gentle simmer and cook for 20 minutes, or until the fruit has broken down and has absorbed most of the liquid in the pan.
Remove from the heat and allow to cool a little. Add the brandy, almond extract, vanilla extract and honey and stir well with a wooden spoon to mash the mixture down into a paste.

Serves: 10

This edible centerpiece is a great family project. Have each person decorate some of the cookies and then assemble into your own personalized masterpiece.

• Ingredients

3/4 cup slivered almonds
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup butter, softened
3/4 cup sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 teaspoon freshly grated lemon zest
1/4 teaspoon almond extract
Frosting
3 cups powdered sugar
1/3 cup butter, softened
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
1 to 2 tablespoons milk

• preparation

Place almonds into food processor bowl fitted with metal blade. Cover; process until finely ground. Combine almonds, flour and salt in bowl; set aside.

Combine 1 cup butter and sugar in bowl; beat until light and fluffy. Add egg, 1 teaspoon vanilla, lemon zest and almond extract. Continue beating, scraping bowl occasionally, until well mixed. Add flour mixture; beat at low speed until well mixed.

Divide dough in half. Shape each half into ball; flatten slightly. Wrap each in plastic food wrap, refrigerate at least 2 hours or until firm.

Heat oven to 350°F. Roll out dough, one-half at a time, on lightly floured surface (keeping remaining dough refrigerated) to 1/4 inch thickness. Cut out 3 each of 6 graduated sizes of star-shaped cookie cutters (18 cookies total). Bake similar sizes of cookies together on ungreased cookie sheet 8-12 minutes or until edges are just beginning to brown. Cool 1 minute on cookie sheet; remove to cooling rack. Cool completely.

Combine powdered sugar and 1/3 cup butter in bowl; beat at low speed until well mixed. Add 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla and enough milk for desired frosting consistency.

Frost and decorate 1 large cookie as desired. Secure decorated cookie to serving platter with 1 teaspoon frosting. Place about 1 teaspoon icing in center of cookie. Repeat frosting as desired, decorating and securing same size cookie on top, turning it slightly so points of star are offset from previous cookie. Repeat, continuing to stack cookies in graduated sizes, reserving 1 small cookie. Stand reserved small cookie up to form tree topper, securing with frosting.

Serves: 4

Adapted from Canadian Living Magazine April 2003

• Ingredients

1 7ounce package crabmeat
1 2 ounce lobster tail
2 eggs
2 tablespoons sour cream
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 1/4 cups fresh bread crumbs
3 tablespoons finely diced red onion
1 tablespoon chopped fresh dill
1/4 teaspoon Worcestershire and hot pepper sauce
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1 tablespoon canola oil

Roasted Pepper Coulis:
1 sweet red pepper
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 small onion, chopped
1 large clove garlic, minced
1/2 cup tomato juice
1 tablespoon white wine
2 teaspoons chopped fresh basil
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper

Dill Cream:
1/2 cup white wine
3/4 cup whipping cream
1 teaspoon butter
1 teaspoon flour
2 tablespoons chopped fresh dill
pinch each salt and pepper

• preparation

Place crab in sieve. Remove lobster from shell;dice and add to crab. Press out liquid and remove any visible cartilage or shell. Whisk eggs, sour cream and lemon juice until smooth. Stir in crumbs, onion, dill, Worcestershire and hot pepper sauces, salt and pepper. Mix in crab and lobster.
With damp hands, form by 1/4 cupfuls into 8 cakes, each scant 1/2 inch thick. Lightly brush large non-stick skillet with oil; place over medium heat.
Fry cakes, in batches if necessary and brushing lightly with oil if needed, until golden and crisp on both sides, about 4 minutes per side.
Roasted Pepper Coulis:
Meanwhile, grill or broil red pepper until blackened all over, about 20 minutes. Let cool. Peel, halve and seed; chop and set aside. In nonstick skillet, heat oil over medium heat; cook onion and garlic until golden, 5 minutes. Add lemon juice, wine, roasted pepper, basil, salt and pepper; bring to boil. Reduce heat; simmer for 3 minutes. Purée in blender or food processor.

Dill Cream:
In saucepan, boil wine until reduced to 1/4 cup. Pour in cream; boil for 3 minutes. Meanwhile, mash butter and flour until smooth; whisk into pan. Simmer, whisking, until smooth and slightly thickened, about 1 minute. Stir in dill, salt and pepper. Reheat coulis; pool generous 2 tablespoons each of the coulis and dill cream separately onto each warmed plate. Top with 2 crab-and-lobster cakes.

Serves: 12

Delicious, tender, buttery shortbread.

When storing a log of cookie dough in the fridge or freezer, put it in a plastic tube or the empty paper towel roll that you've cut down the middle. It helps to keep the round shape and prevents the flat side you might get after it rests for awhile.

• Ingredients

1 cup butter, room temperature
1 cup icing sugar, sifted
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup dried cranberries

• preparation

With an electric or stand mixer, beat butter, sugar, vanilla, and salt until smooth. With mixer on low speed, add flour, mixing just until a dough forms. Stir in cranberries
Divide dough in half; place each half on a sheet of foil plastic wrap. Gently roll each into a 1 1/2-inch-diameter log. It will be about 12 inches long. Wrap tightly in the plastic wrap, and refrigerate until firm, 1 to 1 1/2 hours.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Unwrap logs; with a serrated knife, slice dough 1/4 inch thick Arrange slices, about 1 inch apart, on baking sheets.
Bake until lightly golden around the edges, 6 to 8 minutes. Cool on baking sheets 1 to 2 minutes; transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

Serves: 12

Making cream puffs is easy. The dough comes together quickly on the stovetop, so be sure to have all of the ingredients ready before you start. For a splash of colour, you can garnish the wreath with fresh bay leaves and sugared cranberries (made by tossing fresh or frozen berries in egg white then granulated sugar).
Recipe adapted
from The Canadian Living Test Kitchen

• Ingredients

1 cup (250 mL) water
1 tsp (5 mL) granulated sugar
1/4 tsp (1 mL) salt
1/2 cup (125 mL) unsalted butter, cubed
1 cup (250 mL) all-purpose flour
4 eggs
2 tbsp (30 mL) icing sugar

Peppermint Filling:
1-1/3 cups (325 mL) whipping cream, (35%)
10 oz (283 g) white chocolate, chopped
1 tsp (5 mL) peppermint extract

• preparation

Peppermint Filling:
In small saucepan, bring cream to boil; pour over chocolate in heatproof bowl,
stirring until melted. Stir in peppermint extract. Loosely cover and refrigerate until chilled, about 2
hours. Using electric mixer, whisk until thickened and soft peaks form (do not overbeat).

Cream puffs:
In saucepan, bring water, granulated sugar and salt to boil over medium-high heat, stirring. Stir in
butter until melted. Reduce heat to medium-low; add flour all at once and beat with wooden spoon
until dough comes cleanly off side of pan but lightly films bottom of pan.
Transfer to stand mixer with paddle attachment; beat on medium speed for 30 seconds. Beat in
eggs, 1 at a time, beating each until thoroughly incorporated. (Or remove saucepan from heat; with
wooden spoon, beat in eggs, 1 at a time.)
Using piping bag fitted with 3/4-inch (2 cm) star tip, pipe dough, 2 inches (5 cm) apart, into 1-1/2-inch
(4 cm) circles, about 1/2 inch (1 cm) high and dragging tip toward you to create tip of leaf, onto 2
parchment paper-lined baking sheets.
Bake in top and bottom thirds of 400ºF (200ºC) oven, switching and rotating pans after 8 minutes,
until golden, 14 to 16 minutes.
Reduce heat to 350ºF (180ºC); bake until golden brown, 10 to 12 minutes. Turn off heat; open door
slightly and let dry in oven until cool enough to handle. Remove to racks; let cool completely.
Cut each leaf in half horizontally. Spoon filling into each bottom; replace top. To serve, arrange leaves
on large platter with points facing outward to resemble wreath. Dust with icing sugar.

Serves: 12

Cranberry bars are a festive and can be served year-round.
A variety of dried fruits, such as cherries, blueberries etc., can be substituted for the cranberries.

• Ingredients

Crust
1 1/2 cups uncooked quick cooking oats
1/2 cup sugar
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 teaspoon vanilla

Filling
1 cup sour cream
1/4 cup sugar
1 egg yolk
2 teaspoons freshly grated lemon zest
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup sweetened dried cranberries
Topping
1/3 cup coarsely chopped pecans

• preparation

Heat oven to 350°F. Spray 9-inch square baking pan with no-stick cooking spray; set aside.

Combine oats, 1/2 cup sugar, flour and salt in large bowl; stir until well mixed. Cut in butter and vanilla with pastry blender or fork until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Place 1 cup crust mixture into small bowl; set aside.

Press remaining crust mixture into prepared pan. Bake 15-18 minutes or until edges are just beginning to brown.

Meanwhile, combine sour cream, 1/4 cup sugar, egg yolk, lemon zest and vanilla in small bowl; stir until well mixed. Stir in cranberries. Spread filling mixture over hot, partially baked crust.

Stir pecans into reserved crust mixture; sprinkle over cranberry mixture, lightly pressing down onto filling. Bake 35-40 minutes or until edges are golden brown. Cool 30 minutes; refrigerate 2 hours. Cut into bars.

Serves: 8

• Ingredients

1 1/2 cups flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 1/2 cups oatmeal
1 1/2 cups brown sugar
1 cup butter

For filling:
1 1/2 pounds pitted dates
1 cup hot water
1/4 cup sugar pinch of salt
1 teaspoon vanilla

• preparation

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Prepare filling first. Combine dates, hot water, sugar and salt together in a saucepan.
Cook over medium heat until dates are soft and water is absorbed; add vanilla and let cool.
Stir flour and baking soda together; add to oatmeal and brown sugar and mix well.
Work in butter with fork until mixture is crumbly. Spread 1/2 the mixture in bottom of greased 9" square pan and pat down; cover with cooled date filling.
Pat 1/2 of remaining mixture on top; then sprinkle over lightly with remainder.
Bake for 35 minutes.

Serves: 12

• Ingredients

custard:
5 tablespoons sugar
3 tablespoons cornstarch
3 egg yolks
3 cups milk
1 teaspoon vanilla

trifle:
1 pound cake or equal amounts of genoise or sponge cake
2-4 tablespoons marsala, rum or brandy
1 cup strawberry jam
2 cups fresh raspberries
1 1/2 cups heavy cream
1 tablespoon sugar

• preparation

For the custard:
Mix together sugar and cornstarch in a large saucepan. Add egg yolks and whisk to combine; then gradually whisk in milk. Cook over medium-low heat, stirring constantly, until custards thickens to the consistency of thick cream, about 10 minutes. Transfer to a large bowl and add vanilla. Cover surface of custard with plastic wrap to prevent a skin forming, and refrigerate until completely chilled, about 2 hours.
For the trifle:
Cut cake into 2-inch by 1-inch pieces. Arrange a layer of cake in the bottom of a large trifle glass bowl. Sprinkle cake with some of the Marsala; then spread a layer of strawberry jam over the cake; then scatter some of the raspberries over the jam. Pour some of the custard over the berries. Repeat layering, ending with custard. Cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 3 hours. Remove trifle from refrigerator about 1 hour before serving. Just before serving, put heavy cream and sugar in a large bowl. Beat cream until it holds soft peaks. Do not over beat. Decorate trifle with large dollops of whipped cream.

Serves: 24

• Ingredients

1 cup molasses
1 cup shortening
1 tablespoon baking soda
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 egg
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup sugar
3 1/2 cups flour

• preparation

Combine molasses, shortening, and baking soda in saucepan. Bring to boil. Cool mixture.
Add the remaining ingredients. Knead well on a working surface. Chill dough for a few hours or more, or freeze dough in several small batches.
Roll very thin,(1/8-inch thick) with a rolling pin. Cut with a 2-inch round cutter. Bake in preheated oven at 350 degrees for 12 minutes.

Serves: 1

• Ingredients

1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, at room temperature
1/2 cup dark brown sugar
1/4 cup light molasses or dark corn syrup
1 tablespoon cinnamon
1 tablespoon ground ginger
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cloves
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons water
For assemblage and decoration:

Melted white chocolate or Royal Icing (recipe follows)
Gumdrops, licorice and peppermint, as desired
Directions
Gingerbread House:

• preparation

In a large mixing bowl, cream the butter, brown sugar, molasses, cinnamon, ginger, cloves and baking soda together until the mixture is smooth. Blend in the flour and water to make a stiff dough. Chill at least 30 minutes or until firm.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.

Cut paper patterns for the gingerbread house:

Two rectangles 3 by 5 inches, to make the front and back of the house. Two rectangles, 3 by 5 1/2 inches for the roof. Two pieces for the ends of the house, 3 inches wide at the base, 3 inches to the roof line, and slanted to a peak 5 1/2 inches from the bottom. Four smaller rectangles, 1 1/2 by 1 inch for the roof and sides of the entryway. And one piece 2 inches wide at the base, 1 1/2 inches to the roof line, and slanted to a peak 2 1/2 inches from the bottom for the front of the entryway.

Roll gingerbread dough out to edges on a large, rimless cookie sheet. Place paper patterns onto the rolled out dough. With a sharp, straight edged knife, cut around each of the pieces, but leave pieces in place.

Bake at 375 degrees F for about 15 minutes until dough feels firm.

Place patterns on top of the gingerbread again and trim shapes, cutting edges with a straight-edged sharp knife. Leave to cool on baking sheet.

Place royal icing into pastry bag with a writing tip and press out to decorate individual parts of house, piping on decorations, windows, door, etc., as desired. Let dry until hardened.

Glue sides, front and back of house together at corners using royal icing. Place an object against the pieces to prop up until icing is dry (it only takes a few minutes).

Glue the two roof pieces to the pitched roof line of the house. Then, similarly, glue the sides and roof of the entryway together with icing. Attach the entryway to the front of the house.
Continue decorating the house, glueing on gumdrops, licorice and peppermint, as desired.

Royal Icing:
1 pound (3-3/4 cups) powdered sugar, sifted if lumpy
2 large egg whites
1 teaspoon cream of tartar
1 teaspoon almond extract, vanilla or lemon juice
Mix all of the ingredients together using an electric hand mixer, until the icing is smooth and thin enough to be pressed through a pastry bag with a writing tip. Add more lemon juice, if necessary.

Serves: 8

• Ingredients

1 cup dates, pitted and coarsely chopped
1 cup water
1 1/4 cups flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ginger
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon cloves
1 stick butter, plus extra for greasing
3/4 cup dark brown sugar
2 eggs
3 tablespoons molasses
Zest of half an orange
For the sticky toffee sauce:

1 stick unsalted butter
1 cup dark brown sugar
1 cup heavy cream
1 cup heavy cream, whipped

• preparation

Preheat the oven to 350F and grease a 9 by 13 baking dish.

Combine the dates and water in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil and cook over medium-low heat until softened, about 5 minutes. Allow liquid to cool and puree the date mixture with its liquid in a blender or food processor. Reserve.

Mix together flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg and cloves. Set aside.

In the bowl of a stand mixer, cream butter and sugar until smooth at medium-high speed. Beat in eggs one at a time until just combined. Add molasses and mix until incorporated. Lower the speed and slowly add flour mixture in three parts. Stir in date puree and orange zest.

Transfer batter to prepared dish and bake until a skewer inserted into the middle comes out clean, about 20-25 minutes.

Meanwhile, make the sticky toffee sauce: Melt butter in a saucepan. Slowly add cream and dark brown sugar, whisking until mixture comes to a gentle boil and forms a smooth sauce. Set aside.

Remove pudding from the oven and immediately poke holes in the pudding every inch or so using a skewer or chopstick. Pour three quarters of the sauce over the cake and allow it to soak in for at least 30 minutes. Serve warm with a drizzle of extra sauce and a dollop of whipped cream.

Serves: 20

Drizzles of lemony icing and sprinklings of sanding sugar give these simple gingerbread triangles their Christmas tree appearance and holiday flair.

• Ingredients

2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour (spooned and leveled), plus more for rolling
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon coarse salt
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1 large egg
1/4 cup unsulfured molasses

FOR THE ICING:
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1 1/3 cups confectioners' sugar
Sanding or coarse sugar (optional)

• preparation

In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, ginger, cloves, cinnamon, and salt. In a large bowl, using an electric mixer, beat butter and granulated sugar on medium-high until creamy, 3 minutes. Add egg and beat to combine. Add molasses and beat to combine, scraping down bowl as needed. With mixer on low, gradually add flour mixture and beat until combined. Wrap dough in plastic and refrigerate until firm, 1 hour (or up to 3 days).

Preheat oven to 350 degrees, with racks in upper and lower thirds. On a lightly floured work surface, roll out dough to a 1/4-inch thickness. With a sharp knife or cookie cutter, cut dough into small 2-inch-wide triangles. Arrange triangles, 1 inch apart, on two parchment-lined baking sheets. Bake until cookies are firm and golden at edges, 10 to 12 minutes. Let cool completely on sheets on wire racks.

Make icing: In a small bowl, combine lemon juice and confectioners' sugar and whisk until smooth. Drizzle icing over cooled cookies and sprinkle with sanding sugar, if desired.

Serves: 4

• Ingredients

4 salmon fillets with skin on (6 ounce portions)
3/4 cup sun dried tomatoes, finely chopped
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
2 tablespoons grapeseed oil
1 tablespoon Mrs. Dash original blend seasoning
Pam cooking spray for high temp cooking
Aluminum foil

• preparation

Remove salmon fillets from refrigerator and allow them to reach room temperature.

Make topping: In a small bowl, combine sun dried tomatoes and butter. Mix thoroughly and set aside.

Preheat grill or cast iron griddle to medium heat. Brush fillets with grapeseed oil and season with Mrs. Dash seasoning.

Generously spray cooking surface with cooking spray. Place fillets on the grill, skin side up. Grill side without skin for approximately 2-3 minutes, watching carefully not to burn.

Flip to skin down side and grill for 3-4 minutes. Cover with foil until skin is crispy.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Place generous portion of sun dried tomato topping on top of fillets. Heat for another 6-7 minutes, until sun dried tomatoes begin to crisp.

Serve immediately.

Serves: 8

• Ingredients

1 cup white rice
2 cups boiling water
2 tablespoons chopped parsley
1 tablespoon butter
1 medium chopped onion
3 minced garlic cloves
1 large chopped carrot
1 cup chopped fennel or celery
1 tablespoon chopped dill
salt and pepper to taste
1 tablespoon butter
1 pound clean scallops
1 pound cleaned and deveined shrimp
1 pound cooked crabmeat or cooked mussels
2 ounces butter
1/4 cup flour
2 cups milk
1/2 pound cream cheese
1 tablespoon chopped dill
2 tablespoons chopped parsley

Topping:
2 tablespoons bread crumbs
1 tablespoon melted butter.
chopped parsley

• preparation

In a saucepan, combine white rice with salted boiled water.
Cover and simmer 20 minutes. Water should be absorbed. Stir in chopped parsley.
In a skillet, melt butter. Add and Saute chopped onion, minced garlic cloves, large chopped carrot, and chopped fennel or celery until tender. Stir in chopped dill, salt and pepper.
In a skillet, melt butter. Saute clean scallops until opaque. Transfer to a bowl. Saute clean and deveined shrimp until pink.
Add to bowl. Add clean cooked crabmeat to seafood.
In the same skillet, melt butter. Whisk in flour. Stir well. Add milk. Stir till thickened. Whisk in cream cheese, chopped dill, chopped parsley. Add seafood.
Line bottom of greased 13 by 9-inch baking dish with rice. Spoon seafood over. Spoon seafood mix over top.
Topping:
Mix bread crumbs with melted butter. Sprinkle over casserole.
Bake at 350 degrees about 40 minutes until golden brown and heated through. Garnish with chopped parsley.

Serves: 12

melt-in-your-mouth Christmas or St. Patrick's Day treat.

• Ingredients

1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon confectioners' sugar
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for work surface

• preparation

Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper; set aside.

In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream together butter and sugar. With the mixer on low, slowly add flour. Continue mixing until dough comes together to form a ball.

Transfer dough to a lightly floured work surface; roll out dough to about 1/4-inch thickness, dusting rolling pin with flour as necessary to prevent sticking.
Here are 2 methods to form the cookies:
Method 1
Using a 2 1/4-inch round, fluted cutter, cut out dough. Transfer to prepared baking sheet, spacing about 1 inch apart. Gather up any scraps, gently re-roll, and repeat cutting process. Take care not to overwork dough.
Transfer baking sheet to oven and bake until shortbread just begins to turn golden, about 30 minutes. Transfer cookies to a wire rack to cool. Shortbread may be stored in an airtight container for up to 3 days.

Method 2
Knead well and divide dough into 2 equal portions. Press into 2 ungreased 8-inch round tart pans with removable bottom.
Bake 30-40 minutes or until golden.
Remove from oven, sprinkle lightly with sugar; cut into pie-shaped wedges. Store in airtight containers.

Serves: 10 to 12

A colorful dish using fresh and smoked salmon, decorated in yellow, white and green.The recipe can be cut in half.

Sea asparagus, also known as Salicornia has a salty, crunchy brininess.
The plant grows in protected salt marshes on all continents except Antarctica.
To cook sea asparagus, blanch the plant in boiling water for 1 to 2 minutes,
then shock it in a bowl of ice water.
Once you have your blanched sea asparagus, all you really need to do is dress them with your best olive oil and add a little lemon juice, balsamic vinegar or other acidic component, plus a few grinds of black pepper.

• Ingredients

3 tablespoons butter
5 medium chopped scallions
2 cups sour cream
3 tablespoons curry powder
2 pounds salmon, poached
1 pound smoked salmon, diced
2 cups converted rice
4 cups chicken or vegetable broth
6 hard cooked eggs
1 tablespoon onion, chopped
2 tablespoons soft butter
2 tablespoons parsley, chopped
8 sprigs fresh parsley

1 cup lemon butter

• preparation

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
Melt the butter in a saute pan. Add the scallions and cook over low heat for 5 minutes. Add the sour cream and curry powder. Mix well.
Flake the boneless and skinless cooked salmon. Combine with the diced smoked salmon.
In a separate pot, stir the rice with the chicken broth. Bring to a boil. Cover and cook over medium heat until the liquid is almost absorbed.
While the rice is cooking, separate the egg yolks from the whites. Chop the egg whites.
Reserve. Chop the egg yolks and save for garnish.
Combine the rice and the salmon mixture. Mix in half of the egg whites. Butter a deep casserole dish large enough for the rice mixture. Spoon the salmon-rice mixture into the casserole dish. Bake at 400 degrees for 10 minutes. Lower the oven temperature to 350 degrees, and bake for 40 to 45 minutes.

PRESENTATION

Unmold the kedgeree unto a serving platter. Garnish the top with rows of the chopped egg yolks, chopped onion, and chopped parsley. Garnish the platter with sprigs of parsley.
Serve with the lemon butter.

Serves: 8

Anise seeds add a hint of licorice to these pretty lace crispy cookies made of ground almonds. Orange zest adds a citrus aroma.
Recipe adapted from Everyday Food.

• Ingredients

1/2 cup blanched slivered almonds
3/4 teaspoon anise or fennel seed
1/4 cup (1/2 stick) unsalted butter
1/4 cup sugar
3 tablespoons honey
1/2 teaspoon coarse salt
1/4 cup all-purpose flour (spooned and leveled)
1 tablespoon finely grated orange zest

• preparation

Preheat oven to 375 degrees, with racks in middle and lower thirds. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
In a food processor, pulse almonds and anise seed until coarsely ground. Transfer mixture to a small saucepan. Add butter, sugar, honey, and salt. Bring to a boil over medium-high, stirring once to combine ingredients as butter melts. Boil 1 minute; remove from heat. Stir in flour and zest. Working quickly, drop batter by teaspoonfuls, 2 1/2 inches apart, on sheets.
Bake until golden brown, 6 to 8 minutes, rotating sheets halfway through. Let cool completely on sheets on wire racks.

Serves: 12

Source : adapted from Martha Stewart.com

• Ingredients

2 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for surface
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
Salt
6 ounces (3/4 cup) unsalted butter, softened
1 cup packed light-brown sugar
1/2 cup finely chopped candied ginger
1 large egg
2 tablespoons pure vanilla extract
4 cups confectioners' sugar
2 tablespoons finely grated lemon zest
2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
2 tablespoons honey
1/3 cup water

• preparation

Sift flour, baking powder, and 3/4 teaspoon salt into a bowl. Cream butter and brown sugar with a mixer on medium speed until pale and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add ginger, and beat for 2 minutes.
Beat in egg and vanilla until well combined. Add flour mixture, and then beat on medium-low speed until dough just comes together.

Shape dough into two 1-inch-thick disks. Wrap tightly in plastic, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour (or up to 3 days).

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Roll out 1 disk on a lightly floured surface to inch thickness, and cut out 2-inch circles. Place the rounds 1/2 inch apart on parchment-lined baking sheets. Roll out and cut scraps. Refrigerate rounds for 10 minutes.

Bake, rotating sheets halfway through, until cookies are set and edges are light gold, 12 to 14 minutes. Transfer parchment with cookies to wire racks. Let cool completely. Repeat with remaining dough. (Cookies can be stored for up to 3 days.)

Whisk confectioners' sugar, lemon zest and juice, honey, water, and a pinch of salt in a bowl until smooth. Drizzle glaze over the cooled cookies. Let stand until glaze is set, at least 20 minutes. (Glazed cookies can be stored overnight.)

Serves: 12

These cookies are perfect with margaritas or with a cup of tea.

• Ingredients

3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter at room temperature
1 cup powdered sugar
Finely grated zest of 2 limes
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
1 3/4 cups plus 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons cornstarch
1/4 teaspoon salt

• preparation

Put butter and 1/3 cup confectioners’ sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, and mix on medium speed until pale and fluffy. Add lime zest and juice and vanilla, and mix until fluffy.

Whisk together flour, cornstarch, and salt in a bowl. Add to butter mixture, and mix on low speed until just combined.

Divide dough in half. Place each half on an 8-by-12-inch sheet of parchment paper. Roll in parchment to form a log 1 1/4 inches in diameter. Refrigerate logs until cold and firm, at least 1 hour.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Remove parchment from logs; cut into 1/4-inch-thick rounds. Space rounds 1 inch apart on baking sheets lined with parchment paper. Bake cookies until barely golden, about 13 minutes, rotating sheets halfway through. Transfer cookies to wire racks to cool slightly, 8 to 10 minutes. While still warm (but not piping hot), toss cookies with remaining 2/3 cup sugar in a resealable plastic bag. Cookies can be stored in airtight containers at room temperature up to 2 weeks.

Serves: 12

For Valentines' Day, Make heart-shaped
Linzer cookie

• Ingredients

1 cup (150 grams) whole almonds (blanched or natural)
2 cups (260 grams) all purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon (1 gram) ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon (2 grams) salt
Zest (outer yellow skin) of one small lemon
1 cup (226 grams) unsalted butter, room temperature
3/4 cup (150 grams) granulated white sugar, divided
1 teaspoon (5 grams) pure vanilla extract
2 large (40 grams) egg yolks
Topping:
1/2 cup (60 grams) confectioners' (Icing or Powdered) Sugar
1/2 cup (120 ml) Raspberry or Black Currant Jam, well stirred

• preparation

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F (180 degrees C) with the oven rack in the center of the oven. Place the almonds on a baking sheet and bake about 8-10 minutes, or until lightly browned and fragrant. Remove from oven and once the nuts have cooled, place in a food processor, along with 1/4 cup (50 grams) white sugar, and process until finely ground.
In a separate bowl, whisk or sift together the flour, cinnamon, salt, and lemon zest.
In the bowl of an electric mixer (or with a hand mixer), beat the butter and remaining 1/2 cup (100 grams) sugar until light and fluffy (about 2-3 minutes). Beat in the vanilla extract and egg yolks. Finally, beat in the ground almonds and then the flour mixture. Divide the dough in half, cover each half with plastic wrap, and refrigerate until firm (30-60 minutes, or up to two days).
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (180 degrees C). Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
Remove one ball of dough from the refrigerator. On a lightly floured surface roll out the dough until it is about 1/4 inch (.5 cm) thick. Using a 3 inch (7.5 cm) cookie cutter (round, square, heart, etc.) cut out the cookies. Place the cookies about 1 inch (2.5 cm) apart on the prepared baking sheet.
Use a smaller cookie cutter to cut out the centers of half of the cookies on the baking sheet. Reroll any scraps and cut out the remaining cookies. Repeat with the second ball of dough. (Note: If you find the cookies are soft, place the baking sheets with the unbaked cookies in the refrigerator for about 10 minutes to chill the dough. This will prevent the cookies from spreading and losing their shape when baked.) Bake the cookies for about 12 minutes or until lightly browned around the edges. Remove from oven and place on a wire rack to cool.
Assemble Cookies: Place the cut out cookies on a baking sheet and lightly dust the tops with powdered sugar. Spread a thin layer of jam on the bottom surface of the full cookie (top of cookie will face out). Place the cut-out cookie on top and gently sandwich them together. Using a small spoon or a piping bag, fill the cut-out with a little more jam.
The filled cookies will soften when stored. If you want the cookies to stay crisp, assemble the day of serving. The assembled cookies can be stored in the refrigerator, in an airtight container, for several days.

Serves: 6

Filled with intense tropical flavors, this light soufflé gives the best results with ripe mangoes.

• Ingredients

6 1 1/4-cup soufflé molds
For the molds
2 teaspoons butter
2 teaspoons sugar

2 medium mangos ( 1 1/2 cups puree)
1/2 cup sugar
1 teaspoon lemon juice
4 egg yolks
4 egg whites
1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar
3/4 cup confectioner's sugar

• preparation

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Butter the soufflé molds. Sprinkle the bottom and sides of molds with sugar; shake out excess. Place dishes on a baking sheet. Do not touch the inside.
Choose ripe mangos, full of flavor. Peel and slice all the pulp into a mixing bowl. discard the pits.
Puree the mango pulp in a food processor. Whisk in the sugar and lemon juice. Pour the mixture in a saucepan, and stew over medium heat until thick. Cool the mango and transfer to a mixing bowl. Cool for 10 minutes Stir in the egg yolks.
In an electric mixing bowl, whip the egg whites with the cream of tartar. When they reach a soft peaks, gradually add the confectioners sugar, and continue beating until the whites are firm and fluffy.
Fold the egg whites into the mango mixture.
Fill the mold with the soufflé mixture. Smooth the top with a spatula. Bake 12 to 15 minutes.
Sprinkle with powdered sugar. Serve at once. Serve with a coconut custard cream.

Serves: 8

Fun and easy to make with my kids Enjoy eating and baking them.

• Ingredients

2 cups white sugar
1/2 cup half and half or 15% cream
1/2 cup butter
1 teaspoon vanilla
pinch salt
1/2 cup cocoa powder
1 cup coconut flakes
2 cups quick oatmeal

• preparation

In a thick bottom saucepan, combine sugar, cream, butter, vanilla and salt. Bring to a boil. Let boil for 3 minutes.
Stir in the cocoa powder.
Remove from heat and mix in the coconut and oatmeal.
Line a buttered cookie sheet with spoonfuls of the mixture.
Refrigerate. Store cookies in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

Serves: 10

These crunchy cookies are wonderful on their own or when paired with your favorite ice cream.
Light and crisp oatmeal cookies make a pleasant alternative to heavier treats. Dip them in melted chocolate for a decadent, lacy crunch.
* see more comments below

• Ingredients

1/2 cup all-purpose flour 6 1/2 tablespoons or (2 oz or 60 gr by weight)
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. salt
1/2 cup quick oats (NOT old fashioned)
1/3 cup melted unsalted butter, at room temperature
2 tbsp. heavy cream
2 tbsp. light corn syrup
1 tbsp. vanilla extract

• preparation

1. Heat oven to 350°, 177 degrees C., gas 4.
Whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt in a bowl; add oats, butter, cream, corn syrup, and vanilla, and mix until evenly combined.
2. Using a 1⁄4-tsp. measuring spoon, drop balls of dough 4 inches apart onto parchment paper-lined baking sheets or a Non-Stick Silicone Baking Mat. Press the dough to a 1 1/2-inch round shape. Bake until spread and lightly browned, about 10 minutes. Let stand for a minute until firm enough to remove from baking sheet. Cool on rack.
*
The Oatmeal lace cookies recipe is one well researched by our team @wefacecook.com. The recipe is accurate. Be advised that many of the recipes 5 millions+ on google are mostly a guess evaluation and have not been tested giving disappointing results. For example, if you try those recipes made with ground almonds found on well-travelled sites, you will surely get “rock-tooth-braking” cookies. Others just do not produce the real lace cookies effect.
We have tracked the origin of the recipe. It is Scottish and arrived in Canada Gaspé Coast in Québec with the immigrants.
Follow the recipe as explained (accuracy in the measurement of flour is very important); and you will be happy with the results. Moreover, The cookies can be shaped into cups, and rolled into circular/round tubes.

Serves: 8

The sage oil or olive oil and chopped sage definitely add another level of flavor. Don't skip this step. Use half of a small bunch of sage leaves to make the paste rub.
Baste the ham every 30 minutes
Carrots and turnips may be cooked with the ham.

• Ingredients

1 (8 to 10-pound) smoked ham, bone-in, skin on
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 bunch fresh sage leaves
1/4 cup sage oil or virgin olive oil
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, cut in chunks
2 medium navel oranges, sliced thin, seeds removed
2 cups orange juice
1 cup light brown sugar, packed
1/2 cup water
1/4 teaspoon whole cloves
2 cinnamon sticks
1 1/2 pounds peeled baby carrots Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F.

• preparation

Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F.
Place the ham in a large roasting pan, fat side up. Using a sharp knife, score the ham with cuts across the skin, about 2-inches apart and 1/2-inch deep. Cut diagonally down the slashes to form a diamond pattern; season with salt and pepper.
Chop about 6 of the sage leaves and put in a bowl; mix with the oil to make a paste. Rub the oil all over the ham, being sure to get the flavor into all the slits. Bake the ham for 2 hours. Prepare the orange glaze while the ham cooks.
1. For the glaze: Place a saucepan over medium heat. Add cut up butter, oranges, orange juice, brown sugar, water, and spices. Slowly cook the liquid down to a syrupy glaze; this should take about 30 to 40 minutes.
2. After the ham has been cooking for about 2 hours, pour the orange glaze all over it, with the pieces of fruit and all. Scatter the remaining sage leaves on top and return the ham back in the oven. Continue to cook for 1 1/2 hours, basting with the juices every 30 minutes.
3. Scatter the carrots and turnips of used around the ham and coat in the orange glaze. Place the ham back in the oven and cook for a final 30 minutes, until the vegetables are tender, the ham is dark and crispy, and is glistening with a sugary glaze.
4. Set the ham on a cutting board to rest before carving. Serve the carrots and orange glaze on the side.

Serves: 8

• Ingredients

2 ounces dried porcini mushrooms
2 cups boiling water
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
3 large shallots, minced
2 garlic cloves, minced
4 scallions, minced
Salt and freshly ground pepper
One 3-pound center-cut trimmed beef tenderloin in 1 piece
3 1/2 tablespoons vegetable oil
7 ounces thinly sliced pancetta, chilled

• preparation

Preheat the oven to 450 degrees. Soak the porcini in the boiling water for 20 minutes. Rub the porcini in the soaking liquid to remove any grit; pat dry and coarsely chop. Transfer the porcini to a mini food processor and puree.

Melt the butter in a medium skillet. Add the shallots and cook over moderately low heat until softened. Add the garlic and cook for 2 minutes. Add the scallions and cook until softened, 2 minutes. Stir in the porcini puree. Season with salt and pepper. Let cool.

Season the roast with salt and pepper. Heat 2 tablespoons of the oil in a large skillet. Sear the roast over moderately high heat until browned all over; let cool.

On a work surface, slightly overlap three 16-inch pieces of wax paper. Arrange the pancetta on the paper in 4 overlapping rows to form a rectangle the length of the tenderloin. Spread the porcini puree over the pancetta. Set the tenderloin on the bottom edge of the pancetta. Using the wax paper as a guide, tightly roll up the roast in the pancetta. Carefully peel off the wax paper.

Tie the roast with kitchen string at 1-inch intervals. Transfer to a rimmed baking sheet and brush with the remaining 1 1/2 tablespoons of oil. Roast the beef for 25 minutes, or until the pancetta is crisp and an instant-read thermometer inserted in the center of the meat registers 120 degrees.

Let rest for 10 minutes. Cut off the strings and remove. Thickly slice the roast with a serrated knife and serve.

Serves: 10

This typical Italian dessert would have been the creation of a young baker whose name was Tony. To charm his Milanese girlfriend, he invented this dessert, that became "pan di Toni", the panettone

• Ingredients

1 package (1 tablespoon) dry yeast
1 teaspoon sugar
1/4 cup water
1 pound all-purpose flour
4 ounces sugar
6 ounces unsalted butter, softened
6 eggs
1/4 cup lemon peel, diced
1/4 cup orange peel, diced
1 cup raisins

• preparation

In a small mixing bowl, dissolve yeast in water and sugar. Stir well and allow to raise in a warm place. In the mixing bowl of an electric mixer, combine flour, yeast mixture, sugar, butter, eggs. Mix dough at low speed until it becomes elastic and smooth and does not stick to sides of bowl.
Shape dough into a ball. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise at room temperature until triple in volume. Punch the dough. Again shape into a ball.
Cover and refrigerate overnight.
To bake the panettone, I use an empty 2 pound coffee can lined with buttered brown paper.
On a floured surface, work the lemon and orange peel and raisins into the dough.
Drop dough in the prepared mold. Preheat oven at 350 degrees. Let dough rise at room temperature until triples in volume. Brush dough with warm milk.
Bake about 55 minutes to 1 hour.

Serves: 12

• Ingredients

1 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup confectioners' sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 cup finely chopped pecans or walnuts
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour confectioner's sugar to coat

• preparation

Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
Beat butter, sugar and vanilla in a large bowl with electric mixer until fluffy.
Add pecans and mix until blended. With mixer on low speed, gradually beat in flour just until blended.
Wrap dough and chill until firm enough to handle, at least 2 hours. Have cookie sheets ready.
Divide dough into 8 equal pieces. On lightly floured board, form each piece into a 1/2 -inch thick rope, then cut into 1 1/2 -inch lengths.
Taper ends. Then bend into crescent shapes. Place 1-inch apart on ungreased cookie sheets.
Bake 12-15 minutes until light golden and firm. While warm, roll in confectioners' sugar to coat.
Let cool on racks. Store tightly covered up to 3 weeks.

Serves: 10

You can make the meringue a week ahead and store in an airtight container in a cool, dry place (though not in the freezer or refrigerator). Any humidity or moisture will soften the meringue.

• Ingredients

3 large egg whites
3/4 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon pure peppermint extract
Red gel-paste food coloring
1 cup heavy cream
6 ounces good-quality semisweet chocolate, finely chopped

• preparation

Preheat oven to 175 degrees. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper; secure corners with masking tape. Fit a pastry bag with a small open-star tip (such as Ateco #22). Set aside.

Make meringues: Put egg whites and sugar and cream of tartar in the heatproof bowl of an electric mixer. Set bowl over a pan of simmering water, and stir gently until sugar has dissolved and mixture is warm to the touch, 2 to 3 minutes.
Transfer bowl to an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment. Mix on medium-high speed until stiff peaks form. Mix in peppermint extract.
Using a new small paintbrush, paint 2 or 3 stripes of red food coloring inside the pastry bag. Fill bag with 1 to 2 cups meringue. Pipe small (3/4-inch-high) star shapes onto prepared baking sheets. Refill bag as necessary, adding food coloring each time.

Bake cookies until crisp but not brown, about 1 hour 40 minutes. Let cool completely on sheets on wire racks.

Meanwhile, make ganache: Heat cream in a small saucepan over medium-low heat until just simmering. Pour over chocolate in a small bowl. Let stand 5 minutes. Gently stir until smooth, about 5 minutes. Let ganache cool at room temperature, stirring every 5 to 10 minutes, until thick enough to hold its shape, about 45 minutes. (If ganache sets before using, reheat in a heatproof bowl set over a pan of simmering water; repeat the cooling process.)

Before serving or mailing, fill a pastry bag fitted with a small plain round tip with ganache. Pipe a small amount onto bottom of 1 meringue. Sandwich with another. Repeat with remaining ganache and meringues. Transfer to wire racks; let set 30 minutes.

Serves: 12

These delicate cookies are great by themselves with a nice cup of tea or coffee. And can be shaped into cups while they are still hot and pliable and filled with fruit, mousses, etc.

• Ingredients

1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons finely chopped pecans
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
2 ounces (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, softened
1/4 cup packed dark brown sugar
1/4 cup light corn syrup

• preparation

In a small bowl, combine the pecans and flour. In a small saucepan, combine the butter, sugar, and corn syrup. Bring to a boil.
Remove from heat and stir the dry ingredients into a pan. Transfer the batter to a bowl and stir occasionally until it thickens into a dough and is cool enough to handle, about 25 minutes.

With moistened hands, roll the dough into various size balls, depending on whether you're making cookies, cups or coronets (see below). Place on ungreased baking sheets, 3 to 7 inches apart, depending on size-they spread quite a bit.
Bake about 12 minutes, or until the active bubbling subsides.
Place the baking sheet on rack and let cool until the cookies are firm enough to lift with a flexible metal spatula.

Serves: 10

The rich flavors in this moist cake intensify with a little bit of age. Though the Armagnac toffee sauce and Armagnac ice cream make festive partners, leftover cake is excellent served plain with tea or coffee.

• Ingredients

1 3/4 cups packed pitted prunes (about 14 ounces)
1/2 cup Armagnac
1 1/4 cups water
6 kumquats
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/4 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
3/4 teaspoon salt
2 sticks (1 cup) unsalted butter, softened
1 1/4 cups packed light brown sugar
4 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
Garnish: kumquats (preferably with leaves)

Accompaniments:
Armagnac toffee sauce
Armagnac ice cream

• preparation

Preheat oven to 350°F and generously butter an 11-cup Kugelhopf pan or 11-cup bundt pan.
Halve prunes and in a small saucepan simmer with Armagnac and 3/4 cup water, uncovered, 5 minutes. With a slotted spoon transfer prunes to a shallow dish to cool. Boil Armagnac mixture until reduced to about 1/2 cup and add to prunes.
Halve kumquats lengthwise and thinly slice crosswise. In a small saucepan bring remaining 1/2 cup water with 1/4 cup granulated sugar to a simmer, stirring until sugar is dissolved. Add kumquats and simmer 10 minutes. In a fine sieve drain kumquats and add to prunes.
Into a bowl sift together flour, baking soda, ginger, allspice, and salt. Resift mixture into another bowl.
In a large bowl with an electric mixer beat together butter, remaining 1 1/4 cups granulated sugar, and brown sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs 1 at a time, beating well after each addition, and beat in vanilla. Add flour mixture and prune mixture alternately in batches, beginning and ending with flour mixture and beating until just combined.
Spoon batter into pan (pan will be almost full) and bake in middle of oven 1 hour and 10 minutes, or until a tester comes out clean. Cool cake in pan on a rack 10 minutes and turn out onto rack to cool completely. Cake keeps, wrapped in plastic wrap, at room temperature 1 week.
Garnish cake with kumquats and serve with warm toffee sauce and Armagnac ice cream

Serves: 20

• Ingredients

11 ounces Valrhona chocolate (56% cacao)
2/3 cup heavy cream
Valrhona cocoa powder for dusting

• preparation

Finely chop 8 ounces of the chocolate and put in a bowl. Bring heavy cream to a boil in a small heavy saucepan.
Make sure your pan is small, so you'll lose the least amount of cream to evaporation, and heavy, which will keep the cream from scorching. Linxe boils his cream three times - he believes that makes the ganache last longer.
If you do this, compensate for the extra evaporation by starting with a little more cream.
Pour the cream over the chocolate, mashing any big pieces with a wooden spoon.
Then stir with a whisk in concentric circles (don't beat or you'll incorporate air), starting in the center and working your way to the edge, until the ganache is smooth.
Let stand at room temperature until thick enough to hold a shape, about 1 hour, then, using a pastry bag with a 3/8-inch opening or tip, pipe into mounds (about 3/4 inch high and 1 inch wide) on parchment-lined baking sheets.
When piping, finish off each mound with a flick of the wrist to soften and angle the point tip. Freeze until firm, about 15 minutes. Meanwhile, melt 3 more ounces of the same Valrhona and smear some on a gloved hand.
Gently rub each chilled truffle to coat lightly with chocolate. The secret to a delicate coating of chocolate is to roll each truffle in a smear of melted chocolate in your hand.
Linxe always uses gloves. Toss the truffles in unsweetened Valrhona cocoa powder so they look like their namesakes, freshly dug from the earth.
A fork is the best tool for tossing truffles in cacao. Shake truffles in a sieve to eliminate excess cacao.
Store truffles in the refrigerator.

Serves: 16

From a history perspective, the connection to Russia is unclear. It seems they may have originated in Europe as a popular snack with tea, hence “tea cake”, then they migrated to Mexico with European nuns where they became a popular wedding cookie. They are now also very popular in the U.S. at Christmas time
the cookies come in a variety of names:
Mexican Wedding< Cookies
wedding cookies
Mexican Cookies
Italian cookies
Pecan balls
Anginetti
Polvorones
Snowball Cookies
Pecan snowball Cookies
Noel Nut Balls


These buttery melt-in-your-mouth cookie balls go by many names in recipe collections, including Mexican Wedding Cakes. They always contain finely chopped nuts and are twice rolled in powdered sugar. A holiday favorite.
Toasted coconut can also be added to the dough.

• Ingredients

1 cup butter softened
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup finely chopped nuts (pecans, walnuts, macadiam)
1/4 teaspoon salt
Powdered sugar

• preparation

Heat oven to 400ºF.
Mix butter, 1/2 cup powdered sugar and the vanilla in large bowl. Stir in flour, nuts and salt until dough holds together.
Shape dough into 1-inch balls. Place about 1 inch apart on ungreased cookie sheet.
Bake 10 to 12 minutes or until set but not brown. Remove from cookie sheet. Cool slightly on wire rack.
Roll warm cookies in powdered sugar; cool on wire rack. Roll in powdered sugar again.

Serves: 8

By: Lucy Waverman
An update of the old favourite Beef Wellington, this memorable main course can be prepared a day ahead and refrigerated until one hour before baking. I have served this cold on a buffet table and it is sensational because it slices so beautifully when cold. The hollandaise is made by a quick-and-easy-no-fail method. Serve with garlic green beans or a tartly dressed green salad.

• Ingredients

6 to 8 leaves of chard
2 tbsp butter
3 cups sliced leeks, white and light green portions only
½ cup (125 mL) cream
6 cups spinach
Salt and freshly ground pepper
8 oz (250 g) scallops, chopped
2 tsp paprika
1 tsp ground ginger
Pinch cayenne
1 tsp cinnamon
2 pieces (1½ lbs/750 g each) skinned salmon, preferably centre cut
1 pkg (450 g) pre-rolled puff pastry, thawed
1 egg, lightly beaten

ARUGULA HOLLANDAISE
½ cup (125 mL) butter
2 egg yolks
11/2 cups (375 mL) packed baby arugula
1/4 cup (60 mL) Greek yogurt
Salt and freshly ground pepper

• preparation

1 Bring a pot of water to a boil and immerse chard leaves. Boil for 1 minute, then drain. Refresh with cold water and drain again. Dry leaves with a paper towel. Remove and discard stems.

2 Heat butter in a skillet over medium-low heat. Add leeks and sauté until soft but not brown, about 6 minutes. Add cream and simmer until thickened, 1 to 2 minutes. Add spinach and cook for 2 more minutes or until spinach has wilted. Season with salt and pepper. Mix in scallops. Cool to room temperature.

3 Combine paprika, ginger, cayenne and cinnamon. Season both sides of salmon with salt, then sprinkle with spice mixture.

4 Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C).

5 Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Place one 10-inch (25 cm) square piece of puff pastry on a lined baking sheet. Arrange 3 pieces of chard in center of pastry, leaving a 1/2 inch (1 cm) border. Brush edges with egg wash. Sprinkle chard with salt.

6 Place 1 piece of salmon on chard. Spread scallop mixture evenly over salmon. Top with second portion of salmon. Lay remaining chard leaves over fish, tucking in around the edges to wrap.

7 Roll second portion of pastry into a larger square, about 12 inches (30 cm). Lay over top, enclosing salmon. Cut away any excess pastry and pinch pastry edges to form a package. Brush with remaining egg wash and cut slits into top of pastry.

8 Bake for 30 to 35 minutes or until pastry is golden and salmon is cooked.

9 For Hollandaise, place butter in pot on medium heat and bring to boil. Meanwhile, place egg yolks, arugula and yogurt in food processor. Process until well combined. Pour bubbling butter slowly down through feeder tube while machine runs, scraping down the sides. Sauce will thicken. Season with salt and pepper. Serve warm.

Serves: 4

The salmon is smoked, which adds an interesting layer of flavor to a basic crab cake. Wasabi makes the sauce spicy.

• Ingredients

1 pound fresh lump crabmeat, drained
1/4 cup finely chopped green onions
1/4 cup finely diced roasted red peppers
2 tablespoons mayonnaise
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
1/2 teaspoon white pepper
3 slices smoked salmon, 1/4 inch thick
1 cup panko (Japanese breadcrumbs)
1/4 cup canola oil
Spicy Avocado Tartar Sauce (recipe below)
Garnish: fresh cilantro sprigs

• preparation

Stir together first 6 ingredients in a large bowl. Divide mixture into 8 balls.

Flatten each ball into a 3-inch patty. Divide smoked salmon into 4 pieces, and place in center of 4 patties. Place remaining patties over salmon, pressing edges to seal; coat cakes in breadcrumbs.

Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat; add cakes, and cook, in batches, 3 to 4 minutes on each side or until golden. Drain on paper towels. Serve immediately with Spicy Avocado Tartar Sauce. Garnish with fresh cilantro sprigs, if desired.


Spicy Avocado Tartar Sauce

1 tablespoon wasabi powder
1 tablespoon water
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1 ripe avocado
1 1/2 tablespoons dill pickle relish
1 1/2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
1 tablespoon lime juice
Preparation

Combine wasabi powder and water in a small bowl to form a paste. Add mayonnaise; stir until smooth.

Cut avocado in half; discard seed. Scoop avocado pulp into wasabi mixture, and mash to desired consistency. Add remaining ingredients; stir until combined.

Serves: 10

The filling for the shorbread cookies may be other than Nutella and small pieces of chocolate, soft chopped dates, or chopped prunes.

• Ingredients

1 1/2 cups (150 g) all purpose flour
1/2 cup (50g) cornstarch
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
4 oz (125g) unsalted butter, softened
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup confectioners' sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

3 tablespoons Nutella or semi sweet chocolate bits
1/2 cup ground coconut flakes
1/3 cup melted seedless raspberry jam

• preparation

Preheat oven to 350°F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
Combine the flour, cornstarch, baking powder, salt, butter, sugar, egg and vanilla extract in the bowl of a food processor. Mix for a minute to form a ball. Transfer to a work surface to gather all the dough. Place in a covered bowl and refrigerate 30 minutes.
(You may also use a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment to accomplish the same results).
Divide the chilled dough into 20 equal pieces. Shape into balls. Make an indentation in each ball and spoon about 1 teaspoon of Nutella or chocolate bits inside. Close the dough over the filling, making sure dough is covering the filling on all sides, and pinch the top to seal the cookie. Roll to shape evenly into round or oval shapes.
Place cookies on cookie sheet. Bake for 18-20 minutes. Let cool on the pans. Brush cookies with jam and sprinkle with coconut.

Serves: 6

• Ingredients

2 tbsp butter
2 celery stalks, chopped
2 medium carrots, chopped
1 onion, chopped
2 tbsp all-purpose flour
1 tsp salt
3 medium Yukon Gold potatoes, cut into 1/2 inch cubes
1/4 cup dry white wine
3 cups vegetable broth
1 1/2 cups milk
1 tsp herbes de Provence
1/2 cup cream
200 g smoked trout or salmon fillet, skin discarded, flaked
2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped

• preparation

Melt butter in a large pot over medium heat. Add celery, carrots and onion stirring frequently until carrots start to soften, about 5 min. Sprinkle with flour and salt. Mix well.
Add potatoes, wine, broth, milk and herbes de Provence. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to medium-low. Simmer, partially covered, until potatoes are tender, about 15 min. Stir in cream and trout. Continue simmering for 2 min. Ladle into bowls and top with parsley
just before serving.

Serves: 15

• Ingredients

1 1/2 cups sugar
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 teaspoons vanilla
2 eggs
2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon cream of tartar
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons sugar
2 teaspoons cinnamon

• preparation

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
In a large bowl, beat sugar and butter until light and fluffy. Add vanilla and eggs; beat well. Lightly spoon flour into measuring cup; level off.
Add flour, cream of tartar, baking soda, and salt; mix well. In small bowl, combine sugar and cinnamon.
Shape dough into 1-inch balls; roll balls in sugar-cinnamon mixture. Place 2 inches apart onto greased cookie sheets.
Bake for 8 to 10 minutes.
Immediately remove from cookie sheets.

Chocolate snickerdoodles
One-half cup unsweetened cocoa can be substituted for 1/2 cup of all purpose flour.
Bake at 400 degrees for 6 to 9 minutes.

Serves: 6

This recipe is also delicious served cold with a lemon-caper mayonnaise. The stuffing can be prepared up to a day ahead.

• Ingredients

2 pounds fillet of salmon
Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
1 cup fresh breadcrumbs
1 cup slivered almonds
1 cup parsley sprigs
1 teaspoon dry tarragon
3 tablespoons grated lemon zest
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
4 ounces soft unsalted butter
Ground cayenne pepper to taste
2 tablespoons lemon juice
2 tablespoons melted butter
1 cup dry white wine

• preparation

Preheat oven to 350 degrees
Skin the salmon fillet. Remove all bones. Rinse fillet under cold water, and pat dry.
Cut the fillet in half across. Season with salt and pepper.
To make the stuffing:
Combine the fresh breadcrumbs, almonds and parsley in a food processor.
Process to a coarse texture until well mixed. Blend in the tarragon, grated lemon zest, lemon juice, and butter. Season to taste with salt, pepper, and cayenne pepper.
Spoon the stuffing over the surface of one fillet. Top with the other salmon fillet, pressing the fillet to adhere to the stuffing. Tie the stuffed fillets with butcher twine to keep the shape
of the fish.
Place the fish on a baking sheet. Measure the thickness of the stuffed salmon at the thickest part. Pour lemon juice, melted butter and wine over surface of fish.
Bake about 15 minutes per inch of thickness, until the flesh is barely opaque throughout.

To serve:
Cut the fish crosswise into 1 to 11/2 -inch-thick slices.
Arrange in center of warm plates. Spoon the cooking liquid over each portion.
Garnish with steamed asparagus or other green vegetables. Serve hot.

Serves: 20

• Ingredients

1 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar
1 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon almond extract
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon cream of tartar
white sugar or colored sugar decors

• preparation

Mix confectioners' sugar, butter or margarine, egg, vanilla and almond extract.
Stir in flour, baking soda and cream of tartar. Roll into big ball and wrap in plastic wrap and let chill for at least 3 hours.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (190 degrees C).
Divide dough into halves.
Roll each half 3/16 inch thick on lightly floured board. Cut desired shapes with 2 to 2 1/2 inch cookie cutters.
Sprinkle with granulated sugar.
Place on lightly greased cookie sheets. Bake until edges are a light brown, 6 - 8 minutes.

Serves: 12

These cookies are truly the stars for the holidays. They are simply delicious.

• Ingredients

1 cup (1/2 pound) butter, softened
1/2 cup confectioner's sugar
2 teaspoons oil
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 3/4 cups (8 ounces by weight) all-purpose flour

• preparation

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Cream butter and sugar in an electric mixer. Add the remaining ingredients and beat at medium speed for 2 minutes.
Spoon the mixture into a pastry bag fitted with a star pastry tube.
Pipe the equivalent of a teaspoon onto cookie sheets. Bake 18 20 minutes.
Transfer cookies to racks. Cool. Store in an airtight container

Serves: 12

• Ingredients

1 large egg yolk
6 oz super fine sugar
3 oz whole milk
9 oz salted butter, softened
14 oz flour by weight
1/2 teaspoon baking powder

• preparation

Mix the butter and sugar in a mixer until creamy .
Combine egg yolk and milk and mix in the butter-sugar.
Add flour , baking powder and butter; mix and knead the dough for 5 minutes by hand but without excess.
Cover the dough and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
Place the dough between two sheets of parchment paper and spread to a thickness of 1/4 inch
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
Cut the dough with greased 2 1/4-inch circles.
Arrange the circles with the dough on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
Bake 12minutes, then unmold the cake .
Cool on a wire rack and store in an airtight container !
In the Biscuit manufacturing Company of Traou Mad in Pont Aven they mark each cake with a stamp before baking.

Serves: 8

• Ingredients

12 ounces pound cake
2 tablespoons raspberry jam, melted
1 cup sliced almonds, toasted
1 cup dry sherry
1/4 cup brandy
2 cups heavy cream
2 teaspoons super fine sugar
3 cups Custard crean

2 cups fresh raspberries

• preparation

Cut the pound cake into 1 inch cubes, and combine with the melted raspberry.
In a round serving glass bowl, alternate layers of pound cake and custard sauce. Sprinkle with 1/2 of the almonds. Pour the sherry and brandy over and let steep for 30 minutes.
Whip the cream until stiff, gradually adding the sugar. Save a dozen raspberries for garnish. Scatter the rest over the cake, then spread 1/2 of the cream.
Using a pastry bag fitted with a large decorative tip, decorate the cake with the remainder cream. Garnish with raspberries and sprinkle with almonds. Serve chilled.

Serves: 12

• Ingredients

3 ounces unsweetened chocolate
1/2 cup soft butter or shortening
3 eggs
1 1/2 cups sugar, granulated
1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup all purpose flour
1 1/2 cups walnuts, chopped
1/3 cup raspberry jam

chocolate glaze:
1 ounce unsweetened chocolate
2 teaspoons butter
2 teaspoons light corn syrup
1 cup powdered sugar
1 teaspoon milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

• preparation

Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
Melt chocolate with shortening over warm water; Cool. Blend together eggs, sugar, vanilla and salt; stir in chocolate mixture. Stir in flour. Fold in walnuts.
Turn into well greased 8 inch square pan. Bake for about 40 minutes. Spoon jam over hot brownies; spread carefully. Let cool.
Spread chocolate glaze over brownies and top with chocolate dipped walnuts, if desired.
Cut into 12 bars.
Chocolate glaze:
Melt unsweetened chocolate. Blend in butter and corn syrup. stir in powdered sugar, milk and vanilla. Mix well.