Christmas Recipes: Edible Gifts. No.4 of 8 - Chocolate Truffles

Ho Ho Ho! Place Christmas candles everywhere even in the bathroom. Crank up those Christmas tunes and you have a party. Have each guest tell about the creation they have brought to contribute.

Christmas recipe makes: 2 dozen Calories per truffle: 65 Preparation time: 30 - 60 minutes Cooking time: 0 minutes Suitable for freezing

Christmas recipe ingredients:

Truffle Mixture:

• chocolate, bitter, plain or milk 225g (8 oz)
• double cream, 75 ml (3 fl oz)
• brandy, 75 ml (3 fl oz) or rum,orange liqueur, coffee liqueur, coconut liqueur

Rolled Truffles:

• cocoa powder
• chopped nuts
• coconut, dessicated or grated
• chocolate vermicelli or grated choclate for rolling

Dipped Truffles:

• chocolate, plain, milk or white (350 g (12 oz) or mixture of all three

Christmas recipe instructions:

1. Truffle Mixture: Add the cream to grated chocolate and melt in a bowl over water at boiling point, stirring until smooth. Allow to cool and thicken.
2. Add your alcohol of choice and whisk until the mixture is strong enough to stay 'up' when a strand of mixture is pulled up by the whisk. Then put the mixture into a shallow tin (covered) and cool till firm.
3. Rolled Truffles: Place teaspoonful size amounts of truffle mixture onto a tray sprinkled with cocoa powder and roll into ball shapes. Alternatively you can substitute the cocoa with grated chocolate, chopped nuts, coconut, or chocolate vermicelli. Cool in a refrigerator for at least two hours.
   Ho Ho Ho! With an increasing number of Christians, it can only be expected that more people will be celebrating the festive season in China each year. With little tradition and history, cooking for a Chinese Christmas dinner means you can cook any special occasion dish you choose.
4. Dipped Truffles: Roll the truffle mixture into 2.5 cm (1 inch) size balls and freeze overnight until rock hard. [If you wish you could push some edible decor into the balls before cooling, such as nuts, ginger or cherries.]
5. Prepare some melted chocolate over water at boiling point. If you can, check the temperature is in the range 46-49 degrees centigrade (115-120 F) or for white chocolate, 43 degrees centigrade.
6. Taking two or three truffles at a time, use cocktail sticks to dip them into the melted chocolate before placing them on non-stick paper. Transfer to a refrigerator for cooling for at least two hours to harden. Repeat for the remaining truffles.
7. Present the truffles in paper cases and store in boxes. Keep in a refrigerator for up to ten days.

(c) Paul Curran, CEO of Cuzcom Internet Publishing Group and webmaster at Gifts-for-Christmas.com, bringing you recipes and unique gifts for christmas including their online home collectibles and russian gifts stores.

This article may be published electronically or in print in its entirety as long as the author bylines in the resource box are included and urls kept live. A courtesy copy of your publication or web page URL would be appreciated.

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Christmas Recipes: Edible Gifts No.3 of 8 - Gingerbread Decorations

Ho Ho Ho! Whilst you won't find the hype and shopping madness of Western countries, in major cities you'll see lights, trees and Christmas decorations on the streets and in stores. Christmas Day is not even a bank holiday in China, although it is in Hong Kong and Macao.

Christmas recipe makes: 2 dozen Calories per biscuit: 125 Preparation time: 30 minutes Cooking time: 10 minutes Suitable for freezing at end of step 5.

Christmas recipe ingredients:

• flour, plain white 350 g (12 oz)
• bicarbonate of soda, 5 ml (1 tsp)
• ginger, ground 30 ml (2 tbsp)
• cinnamon, ground 15 ml (1 tbsp)
• cloves, ground 2.5 ml (0.5 tsp)
• butter, 125 g (4 oz)
• sugar, soft light brown 175 g (6 oz)
• golden syrup 60 ml (4 tbsp)
• egg, 1

icing:

• egg white, 1
• icing sugar, sifted
• food coloring

Ho Ho Ho! Whilst many of the recipes above are traditionally eaten for the Chinese New Year, they will serve just as well for a Christmas dinner.

Christmas recipe instructions:

1. Blend the butter with a mixture of the spices, bicarbonate of soda and flour. Do this until it is breadcrumb like and then mix in the sugar.
2. Beat an egg into slightly warmed syrup and pour into the mixture from step 1, mixing till it becomes a soft dough. Then knead until smooth.
3. Make a 5mm (¼ inch) thick dough layer on a floured surface and cut out biscuit shapes using vaious cutters. Pierce a hole in each one for putting ribbon through later on, for hanging.
4. Put two non-stick baking sheets on two baking trays.
5. Place the various shaped cut outs onto the baking sheets and bake at 190 degrees centigrade (375 F) until golden brown, about 10 minutes. Allow to cool and harden for about 10 m inutes before placing on a wire rack till cold.
   Ho Ho Ho! Cookie cutters - You should have a set of Christmas themed cookie cutters. Made of metal or plastic, you can find them at any grocery store or even dollar stores.
6. For the icing add sifted icing sugar to a beaten egg until stiff enough for piping. Add colorings if necessary to brighten up the decorations.
7. Put icing patterns of your choice on the biscuits. After allowing the biscuits to dry, put ribbons through the biscuit holes, ready for hanging on a christmas tree.

(c) Paul Curran, CEO of Cuzcom Internet Publishing Group and webmaster at Gifts-for-Christmas.com, bringing you recipes and unique gifts for christmas including their online home collectibles and russian gifts stores.

This article may be published electronically or in print in its entirety as long as the author bylines in the resource box are included and urls kept live. A courtesy copy of your publication or web page URL would be appreciated.

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Christmas Recipes: Edible Gifts No.1 of 8 - Florentines

Ho Ho Ho! Serve piping hot on the Christmas table with Swedish mustard (senap).

Christmas recipe makes: 12 Calories per biscuit: 170 Preparation time: 15 minutes Cooking time: 8-10 minutes Not suitable for freezing

Christmas recipe ingredients:

• cherries, 25 g (1 oz)
• almonds, flaked 40 g (1.5 oz)
• butter, unsalted 60 g (2.5 oz)
• sugar, caster 50 g (2 oz)
• cream, double 30 ml (2 tbsp)
• sunflower seeds, 25 g (1 oz)
• mixed peel, chopped 20 g (0.75 oz)
• sultanas, 20 g (0.75 oz)
• flour, plain white 15 g (0.5 oz)
• chocolate, dark plain pieces 125 g (4 oz)

Christmas recipe instructions:

1. Take the almonds and crush slightly. Prepare roughly cut pieces of cherries.
2. Prepare a solution of sugar in the butter and bring to the boil. Away from the heat, mix in flour, almonds, cherries, sultanas, mixed peel, sunflower seeds and cream.
   Ho Ho Ho! There are of course your traditional Christmas cookie shapes. These come in the form of candy canes, Santas, stars and just about any kind of shape that you can associate with the Christmas season.
3. Grease a sheet of baking paper and place heaped teaspoonful amounts of the mixture from step 2 onto it ensuring there is enough room for expansion during cooking.
4. Bake till the edges are golden brown. 180 degrees centigrade (gas mark 4, 350 F). About 7 minutes. Take out of the oven and use a plain large metal biscuit cutter to make rounds by pushing into the biscuits. Bake again until golden brown.
5. Cool for a couple of minutes before removing to a wire rack for complete cooling.
6. Repeat steps 3-5 for the remaining mixture from step 2.
7. Prepare melted chocolate by heating in a bowl over water at boiling point. Then take each biscuit and dip it into the choclate so all the edge is covered. Place on non-stick paper till cooled.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (c) Paul Curran, CEO of Cuzcom Internet Publishing Group and webmaster at Gifts-for-Christmas.com, bringing you recipes and unique gifts for christmas including their online home collectibles and russian gifts stores.

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Christmas Recipes: Cakes & Tarts. No's. 4 of 7 - Date & Ginger Cake

Ho Ho Ho! Although traditional children had to wait until January 6th, more families are allowing them to open their presents on Christmas Day. However, there are more celebrations to come.

Christmas recipe makes: 16 slices calories per serving: 210 preparation time: 20 minutes cooking time: 60 minutes suitable for freezing

Christmas recipe ingredients:

• oil
• dates, stoned 125 g (4 oz)
• stem ginger, in syrup 50 g (2 oz)
• bicarbonate of soda, 2.5 ml (half tsp)
• milk, 50 ml (2 fl oz)
• butter, 125 g (4 oz)
• sugar, soft brown 125 g (4 oz)
• eggs, 2
• syrup, golden 150 g (5 oz)
• treacle, black 150 g (5 oz)
• flour, plain 225 g (8 oz)
• ginger, ground 7.5 ml (1.5 tsp)
• salt

Christmas recipe instructions:

1. Take a square 9 inch cake tin, grease and line with non-stick baking paper. Mix the bicarbonate of soda with the milk and chop the stem ginger and dates into rough pieces.
2. Blend together the sugar and butter, then add the beaten eggs. Stir in the stem ginger, dates, milk, treacle and syrup.
3. Blend in a pinch of salt the ground ginger and the sifted flour. Place into the cake tin and bake at gas mark 2 (150 degrees centigrade, 300 F) for about 60 minutes. Another test is to put a skewer into the mixture and it should come out clean. After baking leave the cake in the tin for 1 hour, then remove fron the tin and place on a wire rack.
   Ho Ho Ho! With an increasing number of Christians, it can only be expected that more people will be celebrating the festive season in China each year. With little tradition and history, cooking for a Chinese Christmas dinner means you can cook any special occasion dish you choose.
4. Wrap in greaseproof paper when cool.

(c) Paul Curran, CEO of Cuzcom Internet Publishing Group and webmaster at Gifts-for-Christmas.com, bringing you recipes and unique gifts for christmas including their online home collectibles and russian gifts stores.

This article may be published electronically or in print in its entirety as long as the author bylines in the resource box are included and urls kept live. A courtesy copy of your publication or web page URL would be appreciated.

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Christmas Recipes: Cakes & Tarts, No.7 of 7 - Christmas Swiss Roll

Ho Ho Ho! There are a couple of favorite German Christmas Recipes that I make sure to add to our celebrations every year, and I've included variations of them here for you and your family to enjoy this holiday season.

Christmas recipe makes 8 slices calories per serving: 720 cals Preparation time: 45 minutes Cooking time: 10 minutes Not suitable for freezing

Christmas recipe ingredients:

• oil for greasing
• caster sugar, 125 g (4 oz)
• flour, plain 75 g (3 oz)
• eggs, 3
• cocoa powder, 30 ml (2 tbsp)
• chestnut paste, can of sweetened 440 g (15.5 oz)
• icing sugar
• decoration, holly sprigs

Christmas recipe instructions:

1. Prepare a swissroll cake tin, about 13 x 9 inch, inserting greaseproof paper into the greased tin and then greasing the paper itself. Shake a small amount of caster sugar around the tin, then do the same with some flour, finally shaking out the extra.
2. Whisk the eggs and sugar in a bowl placed over steam from water at just at boiling point. Be careful not to over heat the mixture. It should be just thick enough to make strands as you lift the whisk out of the ingredients.
   Ho Ho Ho! This goes way back and to most families is the main focal point of their Christmas. Waiting to see what that big juicy Turkey will taste like and how it will be presented on the table.
3. Take thr mixture away from the heat and continue whisking as it cools, (about 5 minutes). Blend in the cocoa powder and flour followed by hot water (15 ml, 1 tbsp).
4. Take the tin from step one and pour in the mixture. Bake at gas mark 6 (200 degrees centigrade, 400 F) until the cake has come away from the sides of the tin a bit (about 10 minutes).
5. Remove the cake from the tin and place on greaseproof paper, previously coated then shaken with caster sugar. Trim the hard edges off the cake, then bake the rolled up cake (with paper inside) for an additional 20 minutes.
6. Melt the chocolate with water (15 ml, 1 tbsp) in a bowl placed over water just at boiling point. Mix icing sugar into some softened butter and then add the melted chocolate.
7. Take the cold swiss roll, unroll it and add the chestnut paste, spreading over the complete surface. Remove the paper, roll up again and put on a plate.
8. Attach a slice of the roll to the side of the log with butter cream. Preferably a diagonal slice.
   Ho Ho Ho! With an increasing number of Christians, it can only be expected that more people will be celebrating the festive season in China each year. With little tradition and history, cooking for a Chinese Christmas dinner means you can cook any special occasion dish you choose.
9. Complete the presentation by using a piping bag with star shaped nozzle to run lines of butter cream along the swiss roll log. Finally, sprinkle with icing sugar and decorate with sprigs of holly.

(c) Paul Curran, CEO of Cuzcom Internet Publishing Group and webmaster at Gifts-for-Christmas.com, bringing you recipes and unique gifts for christmas including their online home collectibles and russian gifts stores.

This article may be published electronically or in print in its entirety as long as the author bylines in the resource box are included and urls kept live. A courtesy copy of your publication or web page URL would be appreciated.

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Christmas Recipes: Cakes & Tarts, No.6 of 7 - Chocolate & Orange Cake

Ho Ho Ho! This goes way back and to most families is the main focal point of their Christmas. Waiting to see what that big juicy Turkey will taste like and how it will be presented on the table.

Christmas recipe serves: 16 calories per serving: 495 preparation time: 25 minutes cooking time: 1 hour 40 minutes Suitable for freezing after step 5

Christmas recipe ingredients:

• oil for greasing
• white chocolate, 125 g (4 oz)
• milk chocolate, 125 g (4 oz)
• plain chocolate, 375 g (13 oz)
• softened butter, 175 g (6 oz)
• caster sugar, 175 g (6 oz)
• ground almonds, 175 g (6 oz)
• eggs, 6 separated
• breadcrumbs, fresh brown 75 g (3 oz)
• cocoa powder, 45 ml (3 tbsp)
• orange, grated rind & juice from 1
• salt, pinch
• double cream, 150 ml (5 fl oz)

Christmas recipe instructions:

1. Chop the milk and white chocolate into unequal pieces. Take an 8 inch (20.5 cm) diameter cake tin and grease and line.
2. Melt plain chocolate (225 g, 8 oz) over hot water and allow to coll for a bit.
3. Mix the sugar and butter until airy and add the orange rind, ornage juice, cocoa powder, breadcrumbs, egg yolks, ground almomds and the melted chocolate.
4. Make soft peaks with the salt and egg whites and blend a quarter into the mixture from step 3. Mix what is left with the chopped chocolate from step 1.
   Ho Ho Ho! On Christmas Eve it is traditional to eat fish dishes; certainly, no meat is eaten on Christmas Eve. Panettone, a traditionally light Milanese cake, also plays a part in this meal but can be eaten at any time with family and friends during the holiday season.
5. Place into the cake tin and bake at gas mark 4 (180 degrees centigrade, 350 F) for 1 hour 40 minutes. Allow to cool for about quarter of an hour before placing onto a wire rack.
6. Melt the remaining plain chocolate (150 g, 5 oz) with the cream over a bowl of hot water and allow to thicken slightly. Cover the cake with this mixture, cool and store.

(c) Paul Curran, CEO of Cuzcom Internet Publishing Group and webmaster at Gifts-for-Christmas.com, bringing you recipes and unique gifts for christmas including their online home collectibles and russian gifts stores.

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Christmas Recipes: Cakes & Tarts. No.5 of 7 - Old Mince Pies

Ho Ho Ho! Ask each guest to bring nine and a half dozen of their favorite Christmas goodies with recipe cards of the recipe. Here's how the Goodie Formula works: 9 guests = 9 dozen goodies, plus add an extra dozen for 9 dozen goodies.

Christmas recipe makes: 24 pies calories per serving: 105 preparation time: 30 minutes cooking time: 25 minutes suitable for freezing

Christmas recipe ingredients:

• butter, 125 g (4 oz)
• white flour, plain 225 g (8 oz)
• mincemeat, 225 g (8 oz)
• egg, lightly beaten 1
• caster sugar
• cream

Fruity Mincemeat:

• lemon, grated rind and juice from 1
• raisins/sultanas, 125 g (4 oz) of each
• currants & dried peaches (or apricots, pears),125 g (4 oz) of each
• mixed spice, 1.25 ml (quarter tsp)
• sugar, light brown 100 g (3.5 oz)
• brandy, 100 ml (4 fl oz)
• eating apples, 200 g (7 oz)
• white grapes, seedless 125 g (4 oz)

Christmas recipe instructions:

1. Mincemeat: Combine the brandy, brown sugar, mixed spice, dried fruit, and lemon rind with juice. Add cubed apple and halved grapes. Mix and keep at about 5 degrees centigrade for a minimum of a day.
2. Make a dough with water (60 ml, 4 tbsp), the butter and flour. Knead until smooth and roll out a layer of thin pastry. Cut out 48 round pieces of pastry using a cutter (5.5 cm, 2.25 inch).
   Ho Ho Ho! With an increasing number of Christians, it can only be expected that more people will be celebrating the festive season in China each year. With little tradition and history, cooking for a Chinese Christmas dinner means you can cook any special occasion dish you choose.
3. Place some mincemeat in the middle of each and seal with another round piece wetting the edges before closing. Pierce the top for ventilation purposes.
4. Bake the mincepies until set but not browned at gas mark 6 (200 degrees centigrade, 400 F).
5. When ready, remove from the oven, brush with beaten egg white and sprinkle withg caster sugar. Bake again for an additional 10 minutes or until well browned.
6. Serve warm with cream.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (c) Paul Curran, CEO of Cuzcom Internet Publishing Group and webmaster at Gifts-for-Christmas.com, bringing you recipes and unique gifts for christmas including their online home collectibles and russian gifts stores.

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Christmas Recipes: Cakes & Tarts. No.3 of 7 - Christmas Day Muffins

Ho Ho Ho! You can vary this basic dough to make a wide variety of Christmas cookie recipes. Add other flavorings like maple, ginger or cinnamon.

Christmas Recipe Makes 12 calories per muffin: 175 preparation time: 15 minutes cooking time: 20 minutes Not suitable for freezing

Christmas recipe instructions:

• cranberries, fresh 175 g (6 oz)
• icing sugar, sifted 50 g (2 oz)
• flour, plain wholemeal 150 g (5 oz)
• flour, plain white 150 g( 5 oz)
• baking powder, 15 ml (1 tbsp)
• mixed spice, ground 5 ml (1 tsp)
• salt, 2.5 ml (half tsp)
• sugar, light brown 50 g (2 oz)
• egg, 1
• milk, 250 ml (8 fl oz)
• vegetable oil, 50 ml (2 fl oz)

Christmas recipe instructions:

1. Mix the icing sugar with halved cranberries.
2. Take a twelve cup muffin tin and grease with butter or use paper cases. In a bowl mix the brown sugar, salt, mixed spice, baking powder and both flours. Make a hole in the middle.
3. Add a mixture of beaten egg/milk/oil into the hole and just blend. Then add the cranberries and quickly stir. The end product should be a rough mixture with lumps and air pockets visible. [Note: Instead of the cranberries you can use mincemeat (225 g, 8 oz) to put in the hole.]
   Ho Ho Ho! Then of course there's Christmas Day and the week following when we have about 6 tins of these treats to munch on. This is our excuse to have cookies at breakfast, lunch, dinner and at every chance we get during the day.
4. Take this mixture and fill the muffin cups to two thirds and bake at gas mark 4 (180 degfrees centigrade, 350 F) until they are golden brown and well risen. About 20 minutes.
5. Cool for a bit and serve warm.

(c) Paul Curran, CEO of Cuzcom Internet Publishing Group and webmaster at Gifts-for-Christmas.com, bringing you recipes and unique gifts for christmas including their online home collectibles and russian gifts stores.

This article may be published electronically or in print in its entirety as long as the author bylines in the resource box are included and urls kept live. A courtesy copy of your publication or web page URL would be appreciated.

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Christmas - Food and Drink

Christmas Recipes: Cakes & Tarts. No.2 of 7 - Prune, Apple & Calvados Tart

Ho Ho Ho! Although traditional children had to wait until January 6th, more families are allowing them to open their presents on Christmas Day. However, there are more celebrations to come.

Christmas recipe serves: 8 calories per serving: 685 preparation time: 30 minutes + chilling cooking time: 50 minutes Suitable for freezing

Christmas recipe ingredients:

• white flour, plain 175 g (6 oz)
• butter, 225 g (8oz)
• caster sugar, 124 g (4 oz)
• orange, grated rind and juice from 1
• egg yolk, 1
• prunes, no-soak pitted 225 g (8 oz)
• eating apple, 1
• calvados, 60 ml (4 tbsp)
• almonds, ground 25 g (8 oz)
• eggs, beaten 2
• almonds, slivered or flaked 25 g (1 oz)
• apricot jam, 125 g (4 oz)
• Greek yogurt or fresh cream

Christmas recipe instructions:

1. Food process grated orange rind, caster sugar (25 g, 1 oz), chilled diced butter (125 g, 4 oz). Continue until like breadcrumbs, then pour into a bowl.
2. Blend mixed egg yolk and water (30 ml, 2 tbsp) into the mixture from step 1 and form a ball. Cover and chill for about 30 minutes.
3. Pour grated apple and chopped prunes over the calvados. Mix the remaing caster sugar, beaten eggs, ground almonds with the remaining butter (melted).
4. Line a 9 inch tin (1.25 inch deep with loose base) with thin rolled pastry . Bake until set.
5. Take the almond mixture from step 3 and add the prunes and apples. Sprinkle with almonds and bake for 30 minutes at gas mark 5 (190 degrees centgrade, 375 F) or until a light brown color. Cool for about 20 minutes.
6. Sieve a mixture of melted jam and orange juice (15 ml, 1tbsp) and brush over the top of the cooked tart. Serve cold or warm with fresh cream or greek yogurt.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (c) Paul Curran, CEO of Cuzcom Internet Publishing Group and webmaster at Gifts-for-Christmas.com, bringing you recipes and unique gifts for christmas including their online home collectibles and russian gifts stores.

Ho Ho Ho! Then you have your not so traditional Christmas cookies. This is where people get to be a little more creative and yet still add that Christmas touch.

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Christmas Recipes: Cakes & Tarts. No.1 of 7 - Mincemeat & Marzipan Tart

Ho Ho Ho! Religion and faith plays an important part in the Christmas festivities, with families attending mass together and watching the Pope appear on his famous balcony on Christmas Day.

Christmas recipe serves: 8 calories per serving: 780 preparation time: 1 hour and chilling cooking time: 45 minutes suitable for freezing after step 4

Christmas recipe ingredients:

• salt, a pinch
• orange, grated rind and juice from a quarter
• butter, 150 g (5 oz)
• eggs, 2
• marzipan, white almond 250 g (9 oz)
• caster sugar
• double cream, 300 ml (10 fl oz)

Fruity Mincemeat:

• lemon, grated rind and juice from 1
• raisins/sultanas, 125 g (4 oz) of each
• currants & dried peaches (or apricots, pears),125 g (4 oz) of each
• mixed spice, 1.25 ml (quarter tsp)
• sugar, light brown 100 g (3.5 oz)
• brandy, 100 ml (4 fl oz)
• eating apples, 200 g (7 oz)
• white grapes, seedless 125 g (4 oz)

Ho Ho Ho! Although traditional children had to wait until January 6th, more families are allowing them to open their presents on Christmas Day. However, there are more celebrations to come.

Christmas recipe instructions:

1. Mincemeat: Combine the brandy, brown sugar, mixed spice, dried fruit, and lemon rind with juice. Add cubed apple and halved grapes. Mix and keep at about 5 degrees centigrade for a minimum of a day.
2. Tart: Use a food processor to mix the flour and salt for a few seconds. Throw in the butter and orange rind and produce a granular mixture. Add a mixture of beaten eggs (30 ml, 2 tbsp) and orange juice (30 ml, 2 tbsp) and process under a consitent mixture has formed. Remove and knead on a floured surface before colling for half an hour.
   Ho Ho Ho! You can vary this basic dough to make a wide variety of Christmas cookie recipes. Add other flavorings like maple, ginger or cinnamon.
3. Line a 9 inch tart tin with rolled pastry and heat (having line with greaseproof paper and baking beans) at gas mark 6 (200 degrees centigrade, 400 F) for quarter of an hour. Remove the paper and baking beans, heat for another 5 minutes, brush with beaten egg, heat for another 2 minutes.
4. Remove and keep the liquid from the mincemeat, add diced marzipan (50 g, 2 oz) and place in the pastry case. Add criss-cross strips of rolled marzipan on top, brush with beaten egg and coat with sugar. Cook until the marzipan is golden brown (abut 20 minutes). Leave for 10 minutes then cool.
5. To serve: Whip the kept mincemeat juice with the cream and serve with the warm tart.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (c) Paul Curran, CEO of Cuzcom Internet Publishing Group and webmaster at Gifts-for-Christmas.com, bringing you recipes and unique gifts for christmas including their online home collectibles and russian gifts stores.

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Christmas Recipes: Delicious Christmas Puddings

Ho Ho Ho! Advantages: You still get to use that beautiful Christmas tablecloth that you just purchased. You will be able to get to bed at a reasonable hour.

Pudding Recipes given here are easy to cook and absolutely delicious. Properly made Christmas puddings will be extremely tasty and make your Christmas celebrations a memorable experience. Enjoy these Puddings with your loved ones during this Christmas.

Christmas Pudding (1).

Ingredients of Christmas Pudding:-

1 lb. raisins (stoned), 1 lb. chopped apples, 1 lb. currants, 1 lb. breadcrumbs, 1/2 lb. mixed peel, chopped fine, 1 lb. shelled and ground Brazil nuts, 1/2 lb. chopped sweet almonds, 1 oz. bitter almonds (ground), 1 lb. sugar, 1/2 lb. butter, 1/2 oz. mixed spice and 6 eggs.

Instructions:-

Wash, pick, and dry the fruit, rub the butter into the breadcrumbs, beat up the eggs, and mix all the ingredients together; if the mixture is too dry, add a little milk. Fill some greased basins with the mixture, and boil the puddings from 3 to 4 hours.

Ho Ho Ho! Place Christmas candles everywhere even in the bathroom. Crank up those Christmas tunes and you have a party. Have each guest tell about the creation they have brought to contribute.

Christmas Pudding (2).

Ingredients:-

12 oz. breadcrumbs, 1/2 lb. currants, 1/2 lb. raisins, 1/2 lb. sweet almonds, 1 doz. bitter almonds, 3/4 lb. moist sugar, 3 oz. of butter, 2 oz. candied peel, 8 eggs, 1 teaspoonful of spice and 1 teacupful of apple sauce.

Instructions:-

Rub the butter into the breadcrumbs, wash, pick, and dry the fruit, stone the raisins, chop or grind the almonds, beat up the eggs, mixing all well together, at the last stir in the apple sauce. Boil the pudding in a buttered mould for 4 hours, and serve with white sauce.

Christmas Pudding (3).

Ingredients:-

1 lb. each of raisins, currants, sultanas, chopped apples, and Brazil nut kernels; 1/2 lb. each of moist sugar, wholemeal breadcrumbs, wheatmeal, and sweet almonds and butter; 1/4 lb. of mixed peel, 1/2 oz. of mixed spice, 6 eggs, and some milk.

Instructions:-

Wash and pick the currants and sultanas; wash and stone the raisins; chop fine the nut kernels, blanch and chop fine the almonds, and cut up fine the mixed peel. Rub the butter into the meal and breadcrumbs. First mix all the dry ingredients, then beat well the eggs and add them. Pour as much milk as is necessary to moisten the mixture sufficiently to work it with a wooden spoon. Have ready buttered pudding basins, nearly fill them with the mixture, cover with pieces of buttered paper, tie pudding cloths over the basins, and boil for 4 hours.

Ho Ho Ho! On Christmas Eve it is traditional to eat fish dishes; certainly, no meat is eaten on Christmas Eve. Panettone, a traditionally light Milanese cake, also plays a part in this meal but can be eaten at any time with family and friends during the holiday season.

Christmas Plum Pudding (1)

Ingredients of Christmas Plum Pudding:-

One cupful of finely-chopped beef suet, two cupfuls of fine bread crumbs, one heaping cupful of sugar, one cupful of seeded raisins, one cupful of well-washed currants, one cupful of chopped blanched almonds, half a cupful of citron, sliced thin, a teaspoonful of salt, one of cloves, two of cinnamon, half a grated nutmeg and four well-beaten eggs.

Making of Christmas Plum Pudding:-

Dissolve a level teaspoonful of soda in a tablespoonful of warm water. Flour the fruit thoroughly from a pint of flour; then mix the remainder as follows: In a large bowl put the well-beaten eggs, sugar, spices and salt in one cupful of milk. Stir in the fruit, chopped nuts, bread crumbs and suet, one after the other, until all are used, putting in the dissolved soda last and adding enough flour to make the fruit stick together, which will take all the pint. Boil or steam three to four hours. Serve with wine or any well-flavored sauce.

Christmas Plum Pudding (2)

Ingredients:-

2 cups ground suet, 2 cups bread crumbs, 2 cups flour, 2 teaspoons Baking Powder, 2 cups sugar. 2 cups seeded raisins. 2 cups currants, 1 cup finely cut citron, 1 cup finely cut figs, 1 tablespoon finely cut orange peel, 1 tablespoon finely cut lemon peel, 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, 1 teaspoon ground ginger, 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves, 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg, 1/4 teaspoon ground mace, 1 tablespoon salt, 1 cup water or prune juice and 1 cup grape or other fruit juice

Ho Ho Ho! Possibly the most traditional of all Christmas drinks is mulled wine, know in Germany and around the world as Gluhwein, this is a warm infusion of red wine, lemons, cloves, cinnamon and sugar. This traditional Christmas drink has a whole host of modifications, not only in the different regions of Germany but around the European continent.

Instructions:-

Mix thoroughly all dry ingredients and add fruit; stir in water and fruit juice and mix thoroughly. Add more water if necessary to make stiff dough. Fill greased molds 2/3 full, and steam two or three hours. This pudding should be prepared and cooked a week or more before used. Before serving steam one hour and serve with hard, lemon or foamy sauce.

About The Author Amy Tylor is recently appointed as the webmaster of Christmas Directory http://www.ecommercedealers.com/christmas/. They publish informative articles on unique christmas gift ideas. You have permission to publish this article as long as this section is included.

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Christmas Recipes: Main Dishes. No.1 of 12 - Crispy Fish Spaghetti

Ho Ho Ho! On Christmas Eve it is traditional to eat fish dishes; certainly, no meat is eaten on Christmas Eve. Panettone, a traditionally light Milanese cake, also plays a part in this meal but can be eaten at any time with family and friends during the holiday season.

Serves: 4 Preparation time: 15 minutes + soaking Cooking time: 35 minutes Calories per serving: 860 Not suitable for freezing

Ingredients:

• Sultanas (optional), 50 g (2 oz)
• Anchovy fillets, 50 g (2 oz)
• Haddock, cod or salmon fillet (skinned) 450 g (1 lb)
• Garlic cloves, 2
• Breadcrumbs, fresh
• Pine Nuts, 50 g (2 oz)
• Fennel Seeds, 5 ml (1 tsp)
• Olive Oil, 100 ml (4 fl oz)
• Parsley, flat-leaf chopped 600 ml (4 tsp)
• White wine, 100 ml (4 fl oz)
• Bay leaf, 1
• Peppercorns, 1
• Salt and Pepper
• Spaghetti, 350 g (12 oz)
• Garnish: lemon wedges and flat-leaf parsley

Instructions:

1. Anchovies should be drained and the oil kept. The fish should be cut into bite sizes. Take 45 ml of warm water and soak the sultanas for 10 minutes.
2. Prepare crushed garlic. Combine anchovies, garlic, fennel, pine nuts, olive oil and breadcrumbs.
3. Cook till crisp and brown turning occassionally. 200 deg C (400 F) for about 20 minutes. Add parsley and drained sultanas.
4. Combine bay leaf, peppercorns, fish, salt, white wine and water (300 ml, 10 fl oz). Cook in a shallow vessel below the breadcrumb mixture for about 15 minutes, till cooked. Separate the fish from the liquid.
5. Reduce the strained liquid in a pan to about 60 ml (4 tsp). AT the same time cook the spaghetti in salted water (boiling) till tender (10-12 minutes). Sieve the spaghetti and mix with the reduced liquid at high heat for a couple of minutes.
6. To present; Add the fish to the spaghetti. Add the breadcrumbs and garnish with lemon and parsley.

Ho Ho Ho! I think the fun recipes are desserts as these are a pleasure to create and everybody always loves a lovely Christmas pudding. The Christmas fruitcake is also a great choice and isn't too difficult to prepare.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (c) Paul Curran, CEO of Cuzcom Internet Publishing Group and webmaster at Gifts-for-Christmas.com, bringing you recipes and unique gifts for christmas including their online home collectibles and russian gifts stores.

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Easy Christmas Cookie Recipes - One Recipe with Many Variations

Ho Ho Ho! Put icing patterns of your choice on the biscuits. After allowing the biscuits to dry, put ribbons through the biscuit holes, ready for hanging on a christmas tree.

There are so many Christmas cookie recipes around but often so little time to bake during the busy holiday season.

The solution? A great tasting basic cookie recipe that quickly and easily turns into such a variety of easy to make Christmas treats, friends and family will think you poured over all your favorite Christmas cookie recipes.

Let's start with the basics.

Basic Cookie Dough Recipe

1/2 cup (or 1 stick) butter (or margarine) at room temperature 1/2 cup brown sugar, lightly packed 2 tablespoons sugar 1/2 teaspoon baking powder 1 large egg 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

In a large bowl, combine all the ingredients except the flour. Beat with an electric mixer, scraping the sides of the bowl several times, until the mixture is light and fluffy. With mixer at a low speed, add the flour gradually, beating just until everything is well blended.

Ho Ho Ho! Touron is a nougat of Arabic origin made with almonds and honey or sugar, without which it would just not be Christmas in Spain. There are innumerable variations - chocolate, coconut, praline, etc.

Place the mixture on a baking sheet using a tablespoon measure and press down with a spoon to flatten a bit. Or roll our and cut into shapes with a cookie cutter. Bake at 350�F for about 12 to 15 minutes, until golden.

This basic cookie mixture is also the base for the following cookie recipes (all baked in a preheated oven at 350�F).

Orange Cookies (Makes about 32)

Add 1 tablespoon of grated orange zest to the recipe. Shape into a log that is about 1 1/2" in diameter and refrigerate for 4 hours.

Slice dough into 1/4" thick slices. Place on cookie sheet. Cookies can be decorated with candies, rolled in colored sugar, or cut into pretty holiday shapes before baking. Bake in preheated oven for 12-15 minutes, until lightly browned.

Cherry Coconut Chocolate Squares (Makes about 54 squares)

In addition to the basic dough you will need: 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder 3 large eggs 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar 1 teaspoon almond extract 1/2 teaspoon baking powder 3 cups flaked coconut 1/2 cup maraschino cherries, well drained and coarsely chopped

Ho Ho Ho! The truth is, the kind of cookies you could make at Christmas time are limited only by your imagination. And if you've got a lot of little kids in the house, you're going to need quite a bit of that imagination.

Line a 13"x9" baking pan with foil.

Stir cocoa powder into basic dough mixture. Press evenly into the prepared pan. Bake for 10-15 minutes or until the crust looks dry.

In a medium bowl whisk together eggs, sugar, almond extract and baking powder until well blended. Stir in coconut and cherries. Pour over the baked crust.

Bake for 30-35 minutes, until top just begins to brown and a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool in the pan on a wire rack. Lift it out on to a cutting board using the foil ends and cut into 1 1/2" squares. Squares can be stored in an airtight container for up to 3 weeks.

Ho Ho Ho! Then you have your not so traditional Christmas cookies. This is where people get to be a little more creative and yet still add that Christmas touch.

Coconut Pineapple Cookies (Makes about 36)

In addition to the basic dough you will need: 1 1/2 cups sweetened flaked coconut 1/3 cup pineapple preserves (use raspberry or apricot if you prefer)

Add 1 cup of the flaked coconut to the basic dough mixture and mix well. Shape the dough into 1 1/2" balls and roll in the remaining coconut to coat them. Place the balls 1" apart on lightly greased cookie sheets. Make a deep indentation in the center of each cookie with your fingertip.

Bake for 12-15 minutes until the cookie is firm and the coconut is lightly toasted. When cooled, fill each hole in the center of the cookies with the preserves.

You can vary this basic dough to make a wide variety of Christmas cookie recipes. Add other flavorings like maple, ginger or cinnamon. Add chopped dried fruits like apricots or dates. Or bake them plain in holiday shapes and decorate with colored icing.

Ho Ho Ho! This goes way back and to most families is the main focal point of their Christmas. Waiting to see what that big juicy Turkey will taste like and how it will be presented on the table.

Christmas is such a wonderful time of year. Here's hoping these quick and easy Christmas cookie recipes help keep the pressure off the cook.

Karen Ciancio is a cook and lover of all things food and cooking related. Her website http://www.cookingnook.com contains easy dessert recipes, plus lots of other recipes, cooking tips, measurement conversions and kitchen ideas.

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Merry Christmas Cheesecakes

Ho Ho Ho! Touron is a nougat of Arabic origin made with almonds and honey or sugar, without which it would just not be Christmas in Spain. There are innumerable variations - chocolate, coconut, praline, etc.

Do you have a weakness for cheesecakes? There quite simply isn't a better time than Christmas to luxuriate in the irresistably sweet and satisfying creaminess of posh cheesecakes, for the cracking festive cheer is the perfect accompaniment to this luscious Yuletide treat. Merry Christmas folks!

MERRY CHRISTMAS CHEESECAKES

1 cup of flour

1/2 cup of margarine

1/2 cup of brown sugar, firmly packed

1/2 cup of nuts, chopped

--FILLING:--

1 (8 oz.) pkg. of cream cheese, soft

1/4 cup of sugar

1 egg

1/2 teaspoon of vanilla

2 tablespoons of milk

2 tablespoons of lemon juice

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In 3 quart bowl combine flour, margarine, and brown sugar. Blend with mixer. Stir in nuts. Reserve 1 cup of mixture for topping. Pat remaining in ungreased 8 inch square pan. Bake near center of oven 8 to 10 minutes.

Prepare filling. Spread over partially baked crust. Sprinkle reserve crumb mixture on top. Return to oven 23 to 30 minutes. Cool, cut and store in refrigerator.

About The Author Luke Indran is a professional food and recipe addict who actively balances his obsession with eating with his fanaticism for exercise and healthy living. If you're after delicious recipes that stir your senses, then head on over to Luke's mega website at http://www.recipemecca.com/ for the yummiest recipes anywhere presented in a step-by-step format anyone can follow easily!

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Host a Spectacular Christmas Brunch Party That Your Guests Will Remember

Ho Ho Ho! There are a couple of favorite German Christmas Recipes that I make sure to add to our celebrations every year, and I've included variations of them here for you and your family to enjoy this holiday season.

Did you have one too many Christmas or Holiday parties to attend last year? Is this year's calendar already filling up, but you still want to have a few people over? Perhaps you just want to do something different this year for your family. How about hosting a Christmas Brunch instead of an evening party? You can plan it for any of the weekends after Thanksgiving or possibly even Christmas morning or New Year's Day.

Advantages: You still get to use that beautiful Christmas tablecloth that you just purchased. You will be able to get to bed at a reasonable hour. The kids are generally in a better mood and more alert in the morning. Don't have to worry about guests drinking and driving or staying until all hours of the evening.

You get to eat some great breakfast and brunch items that you may only make occasionally. Easier to get together on a Saturday or Sunday morning with those busy people that you know. Shouldn't interfere with most football games.

Ideal number of total guests for a brunch party: 4-8

Ideal time of day for a brunch party: 10:00 am to 1:00 pm, but this can be flexible.

Brunch Ideas:

Belgian waffles and buttermilk pancakes are always a favorite in our house. Make it easy on yourself and keep it simple. It is perfectly okay to buy pre-made mixes, sauces, and toppings. In fact, this could be used as a great reason to have your guests over. Buy 3 different kinds of pancake mixes that you haven't tried before, make ½ batch of each, and have a tasting party.

Ho Ho Ho! When it comes to the Christmas meal there are a whole range of drinks to think about, from the appetizer to the digestive, if you want a truly memorable day. If you are on a strict budget, you can decide what to drink to meet your pocket, so if an appetiser is more important, drop the digestif or vice versa.

To make it special for the holidays here are a few ideas: Make real whipped cream using 1 pint of heavy whipping cream sweetened with powdered sugar and than add ½ tsp. of ground cinnamon while whipping the cream. Just delicious and it adds an extra special touch on pancakes and waffles. For the pancakes, make them small, not more than 4-5" in diameter. Serve with real butter.

Where you can get really creative is in the toppings. Real maple syrup is a must, but also consider blueberry syrup with plump whole blueberries, apple-cinnamon syrup with chunks of fresh apple, a raspberry sauce or any flavor of jams and jellies as excellent toppings for pancakes and waffles. Try to have a variety of 2-3 flavors available. Once your guests try some of the different flavors, the maple syrup may end up taking a back seat.

Light Accompaniments:

You really need to have a lighter accompaniment to offset a big meal of pancakes or waffles. Fresh fruit is a great choice and it can be served in many different ways.

Ho Ho Ho! Ask each guest to bring nine and a half dozen of their favorite Christmas goodies with recipe cards of the recipe. Here's how the Goodie Formula works: 9 guests = 9 dozen goodies, plus add an extra dozen for 9 dozen goodies.

Prepare ahead a fresh fruit platter or place fruit into individual serving bowls. A selection of red and green seedless grapes, sliced strawberries, blueberries, kiwifruit or any other seasonal fruit may be used. Adding a splash of a white carbonated soda to each fruit dish is very refreshing. You can also top off the fresh fruit with the cinnamon whipped cream noted earlier.

Festive Beverage Ideas:

Egg nog (only in small amounts as this is very filling)

Champagne and orange juice

Rich dark coffee with a splash of a flavored syrup such as vanilla or hazelnut

Add some candles and sparkle to your brunch table and make it festive. No need to wait for evening to get out the good china and centerpiece decorations.

Ho Ho Ho! Christmas Goodie Swap is the perfect way to begin your holiday festivities. Make it special from the start and create a free email invitation from the Internet

Laura Warnke is owner of an online gourmet retail store, The Topping Shoppe, LLC (http://stores.ebay.com/The-Topping-Shoppe-LLC). Here you will find a great selection of dessert sauces and ice cream sundae toppings to purchase. If you want to know more about how to use different types of dessert sauces in your recipes please visit my website at http://www.all-about-dessert-sauces.com.

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