Category Archives: 12. Holidays

Apr19

Mayflower Pumpkin Cookies & Raisin or Currant Sauce

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Pumpkin Cookies straight from the Mayflower

Makes about 5 dozen cookies

 This recipe supposedly came over with the Pilgrims on the Mayflower.  Supposedly, they lasted so well because of the rum in them.

 ½ C. unsalted butter at room temp or slightly softened in micro

1 C. brown sugar

2 eggs (not necessary to pre-beat)

1 ¼ C. pumpkin puree

2 C. flour

1 TBLSP (yes that much) baking powder

1 tsp. cinnamon

¼ tsp. nutmeg

¼ tsp. salt

2/3 C. currants or raisins

1 teaspoon vanilla and ½ teaspoon brandy and ½ teaspoon rum or any combination of the three to add up to 2 teaspoons full.

  1. Cream butter and sugar with electric beater.
  2. Add eggs, pumpkin, vanilla, brandy, rum, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. Beat more with beater.
  3. Sift the flour and baking powder into mixture and beat till well combined and smooth.
  4. Stir in the raisins or currants till evenly distributed.

Drop by spoonfuls on greased or parchment papered cookie sheet. (I love the parchment paper.)

Bake at 350 for 10-12 minutes (I baked at 375 for 10-12 minutes in our altitude). The bottoms should be SLIGHTLY brown. Even if they feel and look soft, take them out and let them rest on the cookie sheet for about 1 or 2 minutes.  Remove them to a rack or to laid out paper towels and let them cool.  You can freeze them. They taste great at any time, how ever, I find that they are even more flavorful the next day.

These are wonderful at anytime of the year because amazingly enough, the pumpkin is not overwhelming.  However, they definitely have a spicy taste.

 

Raisin or Currant Sauce

For a lovely desert, these cookies can be served with a very good vanilla ice cream with a bit of the following sauce to be placed on top of the ice cream.  The sauce recipe comes from my barely surviving 1953 edition of my beloved Rombauer’s Joy of Cooking cookbook. Oh my gosh, that book is almost 60 years old.  I received it as a wedding present.

Raisin or Currant Sauce

About 1 2/3 Cupfuls

Boil for 15 minutes:

1 ½ C. water

1/3 C. raisins or currants

¼ C. sugar

1/8 tsp. salt

Melt:

2 Tablespoons butter

Stir into that until blended:

1 tsp. flour

Add the hot sauce slowly.  Stir and cook until it boils.

Add:

A ¼ tsp. or more of rum and a touch of ground or grated nutmeg or some grated lemon rind.

 

Apr19

Gingerbread Pudding Cake

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A Recipe……………from my table to yours

And I had but one penny in the world, thou should’st have it to buy gingerbread.

— William Shakespeare, “Love’s Labor’s Lost”

 

Having good yummy smells coming from the kitchen is always a delight at any time of the year, however, during holiday times, because everyone’s senses seem keener with the anticipation of good things to arrive, this is just a perfect recipe to make. I have found that the easiest thing to do with this type of recipe is to put all of your spices out on one side of your mixing bowl and as soon as you have added it, to place the spice on the other side.  That way there won’t be any confusion.  I also use the ¼ sized measuring teaspoon for all of the spices and for the salt and soda.  So, for instance, for the 1 teaspoon of ginger, I used 4 of the ¼ teaspoons.  For me that is the simplest way, but do whatever is best for you.

 

As a side note, an early form of gingerbread can be traced to the ancient Greeks and Egyptians who used it for ceremonial purposes.  It appeared in Europe with the 11th-century crusaders who brought the spice back from the Middle East for the well to do to experiment with.  Gingerbread became so popular in Europe that there were even gingerbread fairs.

 

Gingerbread Pudding Cake (a breakfast delight!)

8 servings

Step One

1 ¼ C. flour

1 tsp. ground ginger

¾ tsp. baking soda

½ tsp. ground cinnamon

¼ tsp. ground nutmeg

¼ tsp. ground allspice

¼  tsp. ground cloves

¼ tsp. salt

Step Two

¼ C. (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, room temp.

¼ C. sugar

 

2 Tblsp. beaten egg (from 1 egg)

 

½ C. light molasses

½ C. water

 

¾  C. brown sugar

 

 

Step Three

1 ½ C. hot water

5 Tblsp. unsalted butter, melted

 

SERVE WITH

Whipped Cream or Yogurt

Pre-directions

*Preheat oven to 350.

*Butter 8 X 8 X 2 inch inch glass baking dish

Step 1

*Whisk flour, ginger, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, cloves and soda in medium bowl.

Step 2

*Using electric mixer, beat the ¼ C. room temp. butter and the ¼ C. sugar in a large bowl until blended.

* Beat in the 2 Tblsp. egg.

*Stir the ½ C. molasses and the ½ C. water in 1-cup glass measuring cup.

*Add flour mixture to butter mixture in 3 additions alternately with molasses mixture, beating to blend between additions.

*Transfer to prepared dish.

*Sprinkle the ¾ C. brown sugar over all.

Step 3

*Stir the 1 ½ C. hot water and 5 tblsp. melted butter in a 2-cup glass measuring cup.

*Carefully pour over top of batter (there will be lots of liquid on top of cake).

Baking directions

*Bake until gingerbread is cracked on top and toothpick inserted into center comes out clean, about 45 minutes.

Serving hints

*Scoop warm pudding cake into shallow bowls.

*Serve with whipped cream or yogurt.

 

(It may be a bit tedious to make, but it’s worth it as you will see.) 

 

Bon Appetit

Margot Van Horn

http://www.inn-ovation.info

inn-ovation@earthlink.net

 

Apr19

Panettone Bread Pudding

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Panettone Bread Pudding with Amaretto Sauce

Serves 8 to 10 serving

I hope that everyone had a wonderful Christmas.  Now, run out and get that panettone so that you can make this for your special New Year Day breakfast or brunch.  Don’t start the year out counting the calories—give yourself the first day of the year permission to make this delectable dish for you and everyone else to enjoy.  Then go on your diet.  Happy, Joyous and Healthy New Year to one and all.

Ingredients

  1. 1 pound loaf panettone bread,( crusts trimmed if you wish however I don’t do that), bread cut into 1-inch cubes.
  2. 8 eggs
  3. 1 ½ C. whipping cream
  4. 2 ½ C. whole milk
  5. 1 ¼ C. sugar

Directions for Bread Pudding:

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees
  2. Lightly butter a 13X9X2-inch baking dish
  3. Arrange the bread cubes in the prepared dish
  4. In a large bowl, whisk the eggs, cream, milk and sugar to blend.
  5. Pour the custard over the bread cubes, and press the bread cubes gently to submerge.
  6. Let stand for 30 minutes, occasionally pressing the bread cubes into the custard mixture.
  7. Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours up to overnight.
  8. After 2 or more hours, remove dish from frig. and bring up to room temp.
  9. Bake until the pudding puffs and is set in the center, about 45 minutes. (Remember we are at altitude so possibly a bit longer.) Cool slightly.

Ingredients for Amaretto Sauce:

  1. ½ cup whipping cream
  2. ½ cup whole milk
  3. 3 tablespoons sugar
  4. ¼ cup amaretto or some sort of coffee liqueur
  5. 2 teaspoons cornstarch

Directions for the Amaretto sauce:

  1. Bring the cream, milk, and sugar to a boil in a heavy small saucepan over medium heat, STIRRING FREQUENTLY.
  2. In a small bowl, mix the amaretto and cornstarch to blend and then whisk into the cream mixture.
  3. Simmer over medium-low heat until the sauce thickens, STIRRING CONSTANTLY, about 2 minutes.
  4. Set aside and keep warm.
  5.  This sauce can be made 3 days ahead. Cover and refrigerate and re-warm before serving.

End result:

Spoon the bread pudding into bowls, drizzle with the warm amaretto sauce, serve, and don’t plan for any left-overs.

Bon Appetit

   For easy access and printing of this and past recipes, visit Margot’s blog http://blog.tempinnkeeper.com  Call Margot for personal cooking help @ 721-3551.

Margot is a self-taught enthusiastic & passionate cook. Having been an inn-keeper for 5 years at her own inn, she accumulated a lot of good recipes which she loves to share.