Candy Cane Cake

Candy Cane Cake

Ingredients
Serves 8

1 cup sifted cake or pastry flour
1 3/4 cups sugar
12 egg whites, at room temperature
1 teaspoon cream of tartar
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon almond extract
8 ounces peppermint candy canes
2 cups heavy whipping cream

Preparation

1. Preheat oven to 325°. Sift together flour and 3/4 cup sugar. Sift again and set aside.
2. In a large bowl or standing mixer, beat egg whites until foamy. Add cream of tartar and salt. Beat until soft peaks form. Add 3/4 cup sugar and the vanilla and almond extracts. Continue beating until egg whites are firm but not dry.
3. Sift one-third of the flour-sugar mixture onto the egg whites and, with a rubber or silicone spatula, gently fold the mixture into the egg whites. Add remaining flour in two batches, folding gently after each addition. Turn batter into an ungreased 10-inch tube pan and bake until browned and firm to the touch, 50 to 60 minutes.
4. Invert cake (in pan) on a cooling rack for at least an hour. When completely cool, run a long, thin, sharp knife between cake and pan to loosen, and remove cake.
5. Put candy canes in a large sealable plastic bag. Crush them into small pieces with a meat pounder, rolling pin, or the bottom of a small frying pan. Sift crushed candy with a fine-mesh strainer and reserve candy dust for another use (see Notes). Set crushed candy aside.
6. In a large bowl, beat cream with remaining 1/4 cup granulated sugar until soft peaks form. Frost cake with whipped cream using a spatula to form swirls and peaks. Sprinkle frosted cake with crushed candy canes. (To get candy on the sides, hold your hand about 1 in. from the cake and gently toss crushed candy at the sides.) Serve immediately, using a serrated knife to cut slices.
Note: Nutritional analysis is per serving.
Note:
The very fine candy "dust" left over from crushing the candy canes is delicious sprinkled on vanilla ice cream or stirred into hot cocoa. Add the crushed candy just before serving; the moisture from the whipped cream makes the peppermint begin to "melt" after half an hour.

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Chocolate Cream Pie

Chocolate Cream Pie

Ingredients
Serves 4-5

1 (9 inch) pie crust, baked
3 egg yolks, beaten
1 1/2 cups white sugar
3 tablespoons cornstarch
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 cups milk
1 tablespoon butter
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 cup frozen whipped topping, thawed

Directions

In a large mixing bowl, cream together egg yolks and sugar. Mix in cornstarch, cocoa powder, and salt. Add milk and stir gently.
Pour mixture into a large saucepan and cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until boiling. Remove from heat. Stir in butter or margarine and vanilla extract. Cool slightly, then pour mixture into pastry shell. Chill before serving. Garnish with whipped topping.

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Mashed Potatoes

Mashed Potatoes

Ingredients
Serves 10-12

5 pounds Yukon Gold potatoes, cubed
2 (3 ounce) packages cream cheese
8 ounces sour cream
1/2 cup milk
2 teaspoons onion salt
ground black pepper to taste

Directions

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).
Place potatoes in a large pot of lightly salted water. Bring to a boil, and cook until tender, about 15 minutes. Drain, and mash.
In a large bowl, mix mashed potatoes, cream cheese, sour cream, milk, onion salt, and pepper. Transfer to a large casserole dish.
Cover, and bake for 50 minutes in the preheated oven.

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Sweet Butternut Squash & Sage Sorbet

Sweet Butternut Squash & Sage Sorbet

Ingredients

Serves 4-5

2/3 cups brown sugar

3 tablespoons butter

1 whole butternut squash

small piece of ginger

about 5 sage leaves

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon nutmeg

2 cups yogurt

Directions

Start off by peeling the butternut squash, cut it into small pieces. Bring water to a simmer, drop the squash in until soft In the meantime, in a small pan melt the brown sugar with the butter. 

Julienne the sage and chop the ginger into small pieces After the sugar has dissolved and melted in with the butter, add the sage and ginger until fragrance releases. Set aside and let it cool When the squash becomes soft, mash it with a spoon or potato masher then add in the cinnamon and nutmeg and let it cool completely Using a blender, mix the yogurt then one C of the squash and blend into a well mix. 

The consistency should be smooth. Make sure that the mix isn't gritty by tasting as you blend. Add the butter mixture in and blend for a few more seconds. The yogurt and squash measurement can be altered. 

It can be equal parts or more yogurt or more squash, but should be smooth, similar to a smoothie After this is well blended and mixed, transfer it to an ice cream maker (make sure your ice cream bowl is frozen otherwise it will not churn properly) and let it churn until it becomes a frozen yogurt consistency.

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Pumpkin Soufflé

Pumpkin Soufflé

Ingredients
Serves 6

1 cup whole milk
1/4 cup unsalted butter
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup granulated sugar
5 eggs, separated
1 tablespoon unsalted butter, softened
2 tablespoons granulated sugar
1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
2 tablespoons canned pumpkin
1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
Powdered sugar

Directions

For soufflé base, in small saucepan heat milk over medium heat. In medium saucepan, melt 1/4 cup butter over medium heat. Stir flour into melted butter; mix well to combine. Reduce heat to low; stir frequently. When milk simmers, add the 1/2 cup granulated sugar, stirring 2 minutes to dissolve. Add milk mixture to butter mixture; whisk to combine, cooking over medium heat until ball forms and mixture releases from sides of pan.

Immediately place mixture in bowl of stand mixer fitted with paddle (or place in a large mixing bowl and use a hand mixer); beat on medium-low speed for 10 minutes.
Add egg yolks to soufflé base, one at a time, beating until each yolk is incorporated before adding the next. Set aside; allow to cool (or cover and chill up to 3 days).
Generously butter six 10-ounce soufflé dishes or custard cups with the 1 tablespoon softened butter, covering entire surface including rim. Coat buttered dishes with 2 tablespoons granulated sugar, rotating dishes to coat them evenly. Tap out any excess sugar; set aside.
Stir pumpkin and pumpkin pie spice into soufflé base; mix well to combine.

Preheat oven to 350°F. Beat egg whites and cream of tartar with an electric mixer until stiff peaks form (tips stand straight). Gently fold half the egg whites into soufflé base. Fold in remaining egg whites. Gently pour batter into prepared soufflé dishes. Be careful not to drip batter on rims, or soufflés may not rise evenly.
Bake in center of preheated oven 35 minutes or until lightly browned and set on top. Remove from oven, place on small serving plate and dust with powdered sugar. Serves immediately.

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Quick Caramel Apples

Quick Caramel Apples


Ingredients
Serves 6

6 apples
1 (14 ounce) package individually wrapped caramels, unwrapped
2 tablespoons milk

Directions

Remove the stem from each apple and press a craft stick into the top. Butter a baking sheet.
Place caramels and milk in a microwave safe bowl, and microwave 2 minutes, stirring once. Allow to cool briefly.
Roll each apple quickly in caramel sauce until well coated. Place on prepared sheet to set.

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Tofu Turkey

Tofu Turkey

Ingredients
Serves 10

5 (16 ounce) packages extra firm tofu
2 tablespoons sesame oil
1 red onion, finely diced
1 1/3 cups diced celery
1 cup chopped mushrooms
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/8 cup dried sage
2 teaspoons dried thyme
salt and pepper to taste
1 1/2 teaspoons dried rosemary
1/4 cup tamari
3 cups prepared herb stuffing
1/2 cup sesame oil
1/4 cup tamari
2 tablespoons miso paste
5 tablespoons orange juice
1 teaspoon honey mustard
1/2 teaspoon orange zest
3 sprigs fresh rosemary

Directions

Line a medium sized, round colander with a cheese cloth or a clean dish towel. Place the crumbled tofu in the colander. Place another cheese cloth over the top of the tofu. Place the colander over the top of a bowl to catch the liquid. Place a heavy weight on top of tofu. Refrigerate the colander, tofu and weight for 2 to 3 hours.
Make the stuffing: In a large frying pan saute onion, celery and mushrooms in 2 tablespoons of the sesame oil until tender. Add the garlic, sage, thyme, salt and pepper, rosemary and 1/4 cup of the tamari. Stir well; cook for 5 minutes. Add prepared herb stuffing and mix well. Remove from heat.
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Grease a cookie sheet.
Combine 1/2 cup sesame oil, 1/4 cup tamari, miso, orange juice, mustard and orange zest in a small bowl; mix well.
Remove the weight from the tofu. Hollow out the tofu so that there is one inch of tofu still lining the colander. Place the scooped out tofu in a separate bowl. Brush the tofu lining with a small amount of the miso seasoning. Scoop the stuffing into the center of the tofu shell. Place the leftover tofu on top of the stuffing and press down firmly. Turn the stuffed tofu onto the prepared cookie sheet. Putting the leftover tofu side of the "turkey" (the flat side) down. Gently press on the sides of the "turkey" to form a more oval shape. Brush the tofu turkey with 1/2 of the oil-tamari mixture. Place the sprigs of rosemary on top of the tofu. Cover the "turkey" with foil.
Bake for one hour. After one hour, remove "turkey" from the oven and remove the foil. Baste the "turkey" with the remaining tamari-oil sauce (reserving 4 tablespoons of sauce). Return "turkey" to oven and bake another hour or until the tofu turkey is golden brown. Place the tofu turkey on a serving platter, brush with the remaining tamari-oil mixture and serve hot.

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The Best Vegetarian Gravy

The Best Vegetarian Gravy

Ingredients
Serves 4-6

2 tablespoons flour
2 tablespoons margarine
2 cups water or 2 cups vegetable broth
1 vegetable bouillon cube
1 tablespoon tamari
1 pinch thyme
fresh ground black pepper
1 1/2 tablespoons cornstarch
2 tablespoons cold water

Directions
Whisk the margarine and flour together over low heat in a small saucepan for a few minutes until the flour is cooked and golden.
Add the water and bouillon or broth, tamari, thyme, and pepper. Bring to a boil while whisking often to keep it smooth.
Lower heat and simmer a minute or so.
Combine cornstarch and water and stir well to get rid of lumps. Whisking gravy briskly, pour into saucepan. Continue whisking until gravy returns to a boil and has thickened.

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