Many family holiday traditions center on food. Out of all the dishes associated with the holiday season, desserts seem to bring about the most emotion. Pumpkin pie, fruitcake, and holiday cookies seem to represent home and family. Some of these dishes, however, are crying out for a fresh update. So why not try a few variations on the classics this holiday season?
I am a person who has never been that fond of pumpkin pie. I always found it a little heavy and kind of plain for my tastes. Then I found a great recipe that uses a pumpkin vanilla ice cream as the filling. It's easy to make and result is delicious. To keep it simple I start with a pre-made graham crust, then mix French vanilla ice cream with some canned pumpkin. Add a little spicing such as nutmeg, clove, and cinnamon and layer the mixture into the crust. Follow with a layer of whipped cream and put the pie into the freezer for 2 hours before serving. It's absolutely yummy and so simple to make.
Another classic that I find a little puzzling is the ever-present fruitcake. The fruitcake does have a bad reputation, and can be so sweet it's quite overpowering, yet they are always present during the holidays. This is one dessert overdue for a makeover. As a substitute for this heavy, sugary cake, why not try something new? You can create rich dessert bread with some added fruits. Or another variation is oatmeal bread with coconut shavings and pineapple baked inside. Spread scrumptious white chocolate cream cheese icing on top and serve with some fresh-brewed coffee.
Now here's a really creative fruitcake - it's actually a fruitcake sushi! Just buy some phyllo dough and chop up some of your favorite fresh fruits like strawberries, cherries, or grapes. Roll your fruits in the dough and place it on a baking sheet. Your dessert sushi should look like typical sushi with the phyllo substituted for seaweed and the fruit in place of fish. Place the baking sheet in a hot oven and bake for 10-15 minutes. Once it's cooled, slice the fruitcake sushi into rounds and add a white chocolate icing on top for a delightful decadent dessert that is sure to be a hit!
Can you ever have enough holiday cookie ideas? Not me! I like to bring a variety of cookies to different holiday events - whether it's the office party, the neighborhood gathering, or the family dinner. A friend shared this old style recipe with me that I was originally reluctant to try. First, mix up a batch of rolled oats, flour, butter, salt, allspice, and brown sugar. Layer this mixture into a baking pan or ceramic baking dish. Here's where it was odd for me - you then add a layer of mincemeat on top! Follow that with a layer of roasted pecans and bake for about forty minutes at 350 degrees. It turns out this is quite a tasty dessert treat! Once it cools, cut it into squares for individual servings.
So while everyone likes seeing their favorite desserts served at the holidays, it's also a lot of fun to add some new treats to try. It's possible that some of your new creations will become the new family favorites and start a whole new tradition. It's fun to experiment and you'll probably be surprised at the how much enjoyment your reinvented classics bring to your loved ones! - 16003
I am a person who has never been that fond of pumpkin pie. I always found it a little heavy and kind of plain for my tastes. Then I found a great recipe that uses a pumpkin vanilla ice cream as the filling. It's easy to make and result is delicious. To keep it simple I start with a pre-made graham crust, then mix French vanilla ice cream with some canned pumpkin. Add a little spicing such as nutmeg, clove, and cinnamon and layer the mixture into the crust. Follow with a layer of whipped cream and put the pie into the freezer for 2 hours before serving. It's absolutely yummy and so simple to make.
Another classic that I find a little puzzling is the ever-present fruitcake. The fruitcake does have a bad reputation, and can be so sweet it's quite overpowering, yet they are always present during the holidays. This is one dessert overdue for a makeover. As a substitute for this heavy, sugary cake, why not try something new? You can create rich dessert bread with some added fruits. Or another variation is oatmeal bread with coconut shavings and pineapple baked inside. Spread scrumptious white chocolate cream cheese icing on top and serve with some fresh-brewed coffee.
Now here's a really creative fruitcake - it's actually a fruitcake sushi! Just buy some phyllo dough and chop up some of your favorite fresh fruits like strawberries, cherries, or grapes. Roll your fruits in the dough and place it on a baking sheet. Your dessert sushi should look like typical sushi with the phyllo substituted for seaweed and the fruit in place of fish. Place the baking sheet in a hot oven and bake for 10-15 minutes. Once it's cooled, slice the fruitcake sushi into rounds and add a white chocolate icing on top for a delightful decadent dessert that is sure to be a hit!
Can you ever have enough holiday cookie ideas? Not me! I like to bring a variety of cookies to different holiday events - whether it's the office party, the neighborhood gathering, or the family dinner. A friend shared this old style recipe with me that I was originally reluctant to try. First, mix up a batch of rolled oats, flour, butter, salt, allspice, and brown sugar. Layer this mixture into a baking pan or ceramic baking dish. Here's where it was odd for me - you then add a layer of mincemeat on top! Follow that with a layer of roasted pecans and bake for about forty minutes at 350 degrees. It turns out this is quite a tasty dessert treat! Once it cools, cut it into squares for individual servings.
So while everyone likes seeing their favorite desserts served at the holidays, it's also a lot of fun to add some new treats to try. It's possible that some of your new creations will become the new family favorites and start a whole new tradition. It's fun to experiment and you'll probably be surprised at the how much enjoyment your reinvented classics bring to your loved ones! - 16003
About the Author:
Casseroles can be made in glass and ceramic bakeware, as well as clay, such as this Medium Clay Baker. It's just one of the great clay cookware items made by Romertopf.
