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.

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.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.

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.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.

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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