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HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News-Record, 1984-12-05, Page 69Christmas cooking and baking can be spiced up just right Using spices in Christmas cooking and baking is one of the oldest traditions of our civilization. Archaeologists believe that the knowledge of seasoning extends back at least 50,000 years. Primitive man discovered the flavor added to food by wrap- ping meat in leaves before cooking. Christmas specialties enjoyed today wouldn't be possible without spices. If spices were left out, no one would be in- terested in plum pudding, turkey stuffing or gingerbread cookies. Through the centuries, it was the search for—spices that persuaded 'explorers to ven- ture to the far corners of the earth. In the late middle ages a handful of cardamon was worth as much as a poor man's yearly wages: To make this Christmas special, include spices in your gift giving and decorating as well as baking and cooking. That very special gift is always the one that you have made yourself! Package together your favorite recipe and bottles of spices used in the recipe. Your closest friend or relative will be thrilled. Try the following recipes for your own holiday entertaining or gift giving: Spice Batter 81/2 pound butter 1 cup brown sugar, packed 1 teaspoon nutmeg 1 teaspoon cinnamon 1/4 teaspoon dried lemon peel Pinch of cloves 1/4 teaspoon coconut extract Melt butterin heavy saucepan. When melted, add brown sugar, nutmeg, cin- namon, lemon peel, cloves and coconut ex- tract. Pour into hot sterilized jar. Seal. Keeps indefinitely in the refrigerator. Mikes approximately 1''2 cups. This batter is a delicious base for many recipes: Hot Buttered Rum Pour a jigger of rum into a coffee mug and fill mug with hot water. Top with a spoonful of Spice Batter and serve. Spiced Toast and Muffins Instead of butter, spread some of the Spice Batter over toast and muffins. Spiced Tea and Coffee Add a spoonful of Spice Batter to your tea or coffee. Top with whipped cream for a festive after dinner drink. Aromatic Pomander Ball Try making an Aromatic Pomander Ball! Select thin-skinned firm oranges, lemons or limes and stud them with whole cloves. Use a nail or skewer to start holes for the cloves. Add row after row of cloves until the fruit is covered. Mix 1 tablespoon each of cinnamon and arrowroot and roll clove -studded fruit in mixture. Set the pomander ball on a plate and allow it to dry for two weeks. Dust off the excess powder and create your own trim. _ Pomander balls were first used by "peo- ple of quality" ,in the seventeenth century. Today they are hung in closets or placed in drawers to add fragrance to clothing and linens. Christmas Gift Guide -21 Holiday fruitcake makes a nice gift for a friend. Would you consider using a gift before giv- ing it to a friend? Probably not, but here is a gift suggestion that requires using the gift before you give it away. The suggestion is for a holiday fruitcake given in its baking dish. The decorated Christmas fruitcake is something extra when given with a piece of versatile glass - ceramic cookware. It suggests that special thought was given for this particular gift. Once the cake is baked, remove it from the pan to cool and then wrap in plastic wrap. Return the wrapped cake to the pan and you have a gift to be enjoyed now and a handsome addition to someone's cookware collection. You might include the recipe, too. Holiday Fruitcake 1 package Betty Crocker Snackin' Cake Ap- plesauce Raisin Cake Mix 1 cup mixed candied fruit / cupchopped pecans Glaze (below ) Candied cherries Heat oven to 325 degrees F. Grease and flour two -quart glass-ceramicpan. Prepare cake mix in bowl as directed on package, ex- cept stir in candied fruit and pecans with the water. Pour into pan. Bake until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean, about 55 minutes. Immediately remove from saucepan; cool. Spread glaze over top of cake, allowing some to drizzle down sides. Decorate top of cake with candied cherries. After glaze has set, wrap cake in plastic wrap; return to pan. Glaze is made by blending 1/2 cup sugar and 1 tablespoon water until smooth. Cooks enj oy books as gifts If you have several gourmet cooks on your holiday shopping list, there's no need to rack your brain for gift ideas. Nowadays, specialty shops and housewares depart- ments of stores offer all kinds of gadgets to delight culinary artists. Opening clams is a cinch with a steel clam opener that does the job easily for your favorite cook, comes apart for cleaning. A cleaver set that includes boning and paring knives, cleaver and slicer will make the amateur chef feel like a ' real professional. Your favorite cook can read added compliments on his or her pasta, with a noodle maker forturning out home-made spaghetti or fettucini. a speci.aI ristmas 1�'1S}1 [ATERS by Magnolia, Parkhurst, Braemar, Jana, Ports, Marella, Jeanne Pierre and more, with styles available in Wool or Cotton. Cable Knits from $35:00 Shaker Knits from $38.00 Argyle Shetland Knitsfrom $42.00 Angora & Lambswoolfrom $42.00 Gitt c:ertiticates Available � LnIrg LADIES WEAR & GIFTS 36 North Street, Shoppers Square, Goderich ph: 524-8572