Monthly Cooking Thread, November 2020

[Jamestown1630]

They make them in short and long sizes. I bought the short one, because I think it will be easier to work a small amount of dough at one time, to keep it well-chilled.

[Liz]

Your cranberry pickle sounds good. Cranberries are so versatile, like this recipe.

CRANBERRY JALAPEÑO JAM APPY / spicy jalapeno and cranberry over cream cheese for the holidays.

A simple way to entertain, serve Cranberry Jalapeno Jam over cream cheese w/ gourmet crackers or veggies
for holiday parties. The jam can be made ahead and kept in your pantry for a quick appetizer.

ING 3 cups whole fresh cranberries (12 oz bag) 4 Jalapeños seeded and chopped 1 lime juiced 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar 1/2 cup water 1 package powdered pectin such as Sure-Jell 2 cups sugar Instructions

PREP Prepare 4 (1/2 pint) jelly jars with their lids by placing them in boiling water and allow to simmer while making the jam.

JAM Add cranberries, jalapeños, lime juice apple cider vinegar, and water in a medium saucepan bring to a boil Continue to boil until cranberries burst As the cranberries are cooking, crush with a potato masher and continue to boil. Add pectin and bring to rolling boil Add sugar and bring back to a full rolling boil, boil for 2 minutes and remove from heat. Ladle into prepared 1/2 pint mason jars (jars and lids that have been simmering in boiling water for at least 10 minutes)

Wipe jar rims and cover with two-piece lids. Process jars in a hot water bath in canner pot for 10 minutes. Remove and allow to cool completely. After jars are cool, check seals to make sure they are sealed (as per instructions in pectin box)

To serve, spoon jelly over an 8oz block of cream cheese and serve with gourmet crackers and veggies.

CHEF Notes---Recipe makes four jelly jars (1/2 pints) of spicy jalapeno jam.

[Liz]

Just when you need a lift, ingredients for this luscious frappe are always on hand.
Healthy drink uses pumpkin-infused ice cubes and cold brew coffee--a fall-friendly beverage.
Use 2% plus milk for extra creamy texture. Adjust sweetness and spiciness to your taste.

PUMPKIN FRAPPUCCINO

PREP COLD BREW COFFEE Steep/fridge overnight 2 cups strong coffee grounds, 4 c water. Strain out amt needed.

PREP PUMPKIN ICE CUBES mix cup milk, 1/4 c pumpkin, sweetener, tsp pumpkin pie spice. Freeze in saranned ice cube trays.

WHEN NEEDED Blender smooth cup coffee, 8-10 pumpkin ice cubes.
SERVE Topped w/ whipped cream and cinnamon sprinkle.

[ptsal]

Now, must try to incorporate the jalapeño in the next ferment. Thanks

[Liz]

Cranberry Sour Cream Pie

ING Refrigerated Pie Crust, pre-baked and cooled 2-8 oz pkg cream cheese, 8 oz sour cream
1 1/2 c sugar, 3 tbl orange or almond liqueur, or use OJ, 2 c fresh cranberries or use 15 oz can
whole berry cranberry sauce 1/2 tsp pumpkin pie spice.

METHOD

Drape pie dough round into 9" pie pan. Gently pinch the edges decoratively. Blind bake til golden.

FILLING beat cr/cheese smooth/creamy. Add sour cream, 3/4 cup sugar. Beat well. Spoon into pie crust. Chill.

TOPPING on med-high, stir 1/2-cup sugar, orange liqueur (or oj), fresh cranberries and pumpkin pie spice.
BTB; stir constantly; boil 1-2 min. Cool completely offheat. Then spread atop pie.

Cover/chill 1-2 hours (topping is set, filling is firm). Garnish w/ greenery, a few raspberries.

[Liz]

Turkey butter is adorable....and so are the bunnies.

[Jamestown1630]

The lamb is nice, but there wasn’t a pic of that. Maybe that came from a different company (?)

(I saw a video where one family has a ritual of ceremoniously decapitating the turkey at the Thanksgiving meal...)

[Liz]

[Jamestown1630]

That’s It! :-)

[Liz]

It’s just adorable the way Keller’s showcases the butter sculptures in seasonally designed boxes w/ cellophane windows.

[Jamestown1630]

The butter sculptures make a nice little tradition for holidays. (But they're so pretty, you don't want to cut into them...)

My grandmother always bought from the dimestore those turkey and pilgrim candles that I think the Vermont Country Store still sells. I think we burned them once - and it seemed wrong and sad; so after that we just saved them for decorations.

[Liz]

In case you get overly-cranberried, these versatile apricot scones, are ready to enjoy in 35 min.
Whipping cream eliminates need for butter and eggs; high fat content adds tenderness and richness.

Iced Apricot Cream Scones / Betty Crocker Kitchens

ING 2 c flour, 3 tbl sugar 3 tsp b/powder 2 tsp orange zest 1/2 tsp salt, 1/2 cup ea chp dried apricots,
1/2 c white vanilla baking chips 1 1/3 c whipping cream, cup conf, 2 to 3 tbl oj.

METHOD mix well flour, sugar, b/powder, orange zest, salt. Stir in apricots, chips. Add whipping cream all at once; stir/just moisten.

On lightly floured surface, knead dough smooth 6-7 times. Divide dough in half. Pat each half into 6" round;
cut each into 6 wedges. Place 2" apart on litely greased cookie sheet. Bake light golden brown 400 deg 10 to 13 min.
Cool 5 min. Drizzle icing over warm scones. Serve warm.

ICING mix conf, oj to drizzling consistency.

CHEF NOTES For light, tender scones, quickly mix and shape dough; handle as little as possible atop a sprinkle of flour on work surface.

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VARY Cranberry-Pecan Scones: Substitute dried sweetened cranberries for the apricots and add in 1/2 cup chopped pecans w/ cranberries.

Double Chocolate-Almond Scones: Omit orange peel and apricots. Stir in 1/2 cup semi/choc/chips w/ white chips.
Add 1/4 tsp almond extract with the cream.

For the icing, substitute water for oj; stir in 1/4 tsp almond extract. Sprinkle tops with 2 tbl sliced almonds.

[Jamestown1630]

I buy lots of cranberries this time of year, and freeze them in cupfulls, for muffin-making over the year.

I’ve barely used any of the ones from last year, and wonder if they’re still good. I was tempted to buy more this past weekend, but thought I should check out the state of the ones I have frozen.

[Liz]

Supposedly, they will freeze 10-12 months.

But I tend to think they’d lose some flavor and texture frozen all that time.

[Jamestown1630]

That’s ok. I just bake them into muffins and quick-bread loaves.

[Liz]

I love the natural botanical look of dried bouquets on a Thanksgiving table.
Wont break your budget..........and you never have to worry about wilting.

[Jamestown1630]

I would like some turkey feathers in there.

[Liz]

Try Hobby Lobby.

[Covenantor]

Did we somehow miss National Pickle Day, November 14?

OTH, the entire nation is in a bit of pickle at this time.

https://www.cnn.com/2020/11/14/us/national-pickle-day-facts-trnd/index.html

[Jamestown1630]

The part about ‘bouncing pickles’ is funny.

I’ve always wanted to try fried pickles; I’d only heard about them, but see today that they’re served in several nearby restaurants now:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CgF1jLMV9AY