Favourite Xmas treats!

I will bring you a salt-cured kentucky ham, and a cloth-stuffed smoked breakfast sausage.  I assume you can provide bagels and fresh eggs?!

....and Sable at a mere $12 per lb. by the time I'm done talkin'

ann peeples


Yes, Jim, remember, the date cookies!

Thanks, Ann! 
 
You jogged another detail - Grandmother called them "date pin wheels".
 
Any recipes out there?

Here is a  Bûche de Noël avec des champignons de meringue by Jacques Torres NYC...
 
                          

CCinNJ
So we usually have Bûche de Noël in bakeries. Many times with meringue mushrooms as decorations.

Meringue mushrooms would indeed look great on a Yule log!
 

Little snowmen work when people don't want the mushrooms.
 
I like the mushrooms. It's supposed to be in the forest. 

MetroplexJim


My paternal grandmother used to make a moist, soft, rolled-up date cookie that was truly wonderful.

("Rolled-up" in the sense that she would spread the date stuffing over the cookie dough, roll it up, refrigerate, then slice for baking).

Anybody remember these, or better yet, have a recipe? 

Mrs. Metro has become quite the little baker and she gets the world's best dates air-freighted by her family from their ranch in Diriyah.

DATE ROLLED PINWHEEL COOKIES

Printed from COOKS.COM

---

2 c. brown sugar
1 c. shortening
2 eggs
1 tsp. soda dissolved in 1 tbsp. water
1 tsp. vanilla
4 c. flour
1/2 tsp. salt
Mix in order given and roll like jelly roll. Makes 2.
FILLING:
1 1/2 lbs. dates
1/2 c. water
1/2 c. brown sugar
1/2 c. nuts
Cook filling until thick, cool and spread on rolls. Put in refrigerator until cool. Slice and bake at 350 degrees about 12 minutes or until brown.




 

3. Handcrafted chocolate by Al Richard's. Especially nonpareils.

There were some dark (in a bad way) chocolate days when the Brothers decided it was time to go. It was our Roadfood chocolate holiday destination.

People come from far and wide for Al Richard's and we are thankful to have happy chocolate holidays...once again.

http://hudsonreporter.com...te-so-sweet-Al-Richard’s-chocolates-delves-into-new-ventures-

Fudge! Mincemeat pie!

Don't forget the cheese curds for Santa!

You hear a squeak...and you got presents!!

The chocolate strawberries are usually student of the month. Not for Christmas...
 

 
In this class photo of Al Richard's chocolate the pretty little nonpareil stands out...seated in row 3 (or 4 maybe) seat 1...
 

ann peeples
Mincemeat pie!

 
Mmmmmm! I love mincemeat pies and tarts!
 

 
They're generally widely available in Canada, but my brother-in-law in London journeys the twenty miles or so to Spicer's Bakery in Aylmer for oatmeal cookies (the way his mother made them) and his mincemeat tarts:

Spicer's Bakery
 

4. Smelling the chestnuts from the vendors...on the streets of NYC.
Especially on the way to Santaland.

For me it will always be Russian Tea Cakes. My mom made these every holiday season and they're just linked to the season for me. Also, chocolate fudge, even though I can't eat it anymore. Mmm...walnuts and chocolate fudge. What a combo!

Ms OC is cooking Panettone french toast as I type!!

Hepcat

ann peeples
Mincemeat pie!

Mmmmmm! I love mincemeat pies and tarts!



They're generally widely available in Canada, but my brother-in-law in London journeys the twenty miles or so to Spicer's Bakery in Aylmer for oatmeal cookies (the way his mother made them) and his mincemeat tarts:

Spicer's Bakery

Those look delicious!!!

I bake pecanless pecan pies because many of my family does not care for nuts.  I brown the crust and add oatmeal to the mix of syrup, eggs, vanilla and it comes out super with a crust of oatmeal.  Very good.
 
Paul E. Smith
Knoxville, TN

So I picked up this massive 21" X 14" kringle at Hansen's Danish Bakery yesterday:
 

 

 
It's the same kringle in both shots. Amazing how altering the camera angle made the kringle look so different.
 

 

Looks like a great Kringle both ways.

Excellent looking Kringle. It may sound odd to some but my Mother always makes multiple sweets for the Holidays one of which is peanut patties. They are the best in the world and something I always look forward to.

Are peanut patties similar to peanut brittle?

Bourbon-infused marschino cherries with stems. 
Drain the liquid out of a jar of stemmed marschino's.
Replace with bourbon whiskey.
Recap and place in refrigerator for a month or more.
Great on their own or excellent in cocktails....  the juice makes a heck of an addition to a drink as well, just make sure to label the cherries or your kiddie cocktails will be a little "strong" for the youngsters.

The Holiday Spirit.

*Peanut Butter Blossoms
*Rosettes (Linda's Bakery in West Salem, WI)
Also my wife's version of what she calls "Munchy Crunchy" a take off of Chex Mix.

I love Poppycock but this is basically the only time of year that I buy it:
 

 
Since I'm so cheap I usually wait until it's on sale after Xmas to buy a tin or two!
 

I forget what number but...
 
                    
 
More for good luck & fortune for a New Year than Christmas.
 
Cassata is cannoli filling...surrounded by highly intoxicating spirited sponge...draped with marzipan...adorned with glace "jewels"
 
A little goes for miles. Cassatina is an individual version to satisfy the good luck exercise of the holiday.

Pot of Gold chocolates are another treat that I typically buy only at Xmas although they're available all year round:
 

 

My lovely Sister just got back from Chicago and brought me back a ROADFOOD Christmas treat...
 
http://www.roadfood.com/R.../garretts-popcorn-shop
 
     
 
 
She made me take pictures before I even tasted it. Such  a good Roadfood Sister.

I love that stuff--especially the Chicago mix!!  Whoa, you're lucky.

I've never been a big fan of regular popcorn...but this really is wonderful.

Make me stop!