Wednesday, December 26, 2012

Numbingly Sweet



Yes, I do not ordinarily cook but sometimes I make/bake things. Especially those things that can be done in easily spaced apart steps.
I did have a little help with my Christmas menu yesterday when my DDIL asked if she could help I put her on the task of chopping up tomato and avocados for the guacamole. I had already got some of the other ingredients togaether. She helped get a few other things on the table, too.
Most everything was just food purchased and set out but I did make two desserts. One was an New York slice or a sort of Nanaimo Bar candy the other a nod to Cal's Quaker roots - a Shaker lemon pie.
I'll include the menu and the candy slice recipe here and maybe tackle the lemon pie in another post.
For the foodies in the crowd, do not expect much in the way of recipes here. You'll notice that my menu, while tasty was low on work.

Our Christmas Dinner:

Veggies and dip tray from the supermarket
White and wheat rolls from Whole Foods
Guacamole (home made) with tortilla chips
sliced meats (beef, prosciutto, mortadella, salami, turkey)
Sliced Swiss and pepper jack cheeses
Sandwich toppings (tomato slices, French and Dijonnaise mustard, mayo, lettuce from the garden,butter)
Pimento stuffed olives from Whole Foods (may I repeated say YUM!)
Cranberry chutney on cream cheese with multi-grain crackers
Shaker lemon pie
New York Slice
Cookies from Ettore's and Selland's
Fruitcake from Ettore's (someday I'll part with my recipe that makes a cake that tastes like drunken candy but for now it remains a secret and unmade unless I have lots of help from a young person, for that is quite a job!)
See's chocolates
Salted nuts
Un-shelled nuts
Assorted candy
Mimosa's, sparkling cider, coffee and hot chocolate

Now for the New York Slice Recipe

Ingredients:
1 oz unsweetened chocolate
4 tablespoons butter
1/4 cup sugar
equivalent of one beaten egg's worth of pasteurized egg product or egg substitute
13 graham wafer rectangles (26 squares)
1 cup coconut
1/4 cup chopped walnuts
2 cups confectioners (icing) sugar
3 tablespoons instant vanilla pudding mix
3-4 tablespoons milk
(vanilla extract optional)
1/4 cup butter
2 squares semi-sweet chocolate

Base:
Melt 4 tablespoons butter with 1 oz unsweetened chocolate
Remove from heat and add 1/4 cup sugar, 26 crushed up honey graham wafer squares ( that is 13 rectangular biscuits.) I put about 5 at a time in a fold of parchment paper and run it over with a rolling pin), equivalent of one egg's worth of pasteurized egg product OR egg substitute, one cup coconut, 1/4 cup finely chopped nuts. Do NOT use a beaten egg, this mix is not cooked sufficiently by the heated butter/chocolate to protect from Salmonella.
Mix these items together and press into a 8-9 inch square pan. Set n refrigerator.

Filling:
Mix 2 cups confectioners sugar, 3 tablespoons Instant vanilla pudding (I like the Jello French Vanilla)
into 1/3 cup butter. Moisten with 3-4 tablespoons of milk to make it the consistency of a butter icing. Vanilla flavoring may be added if more intense vanilla flavoring desired. Spread this on top of base and set again in refrigerator.

Topping:
Melt together 1/4 cup butter with 2 squares semi-sweet chocolate and pour over filling layer, spread evenly. Return to refrigerator.
When topping firm cut into very small squares and enjoy.
Share generously!

Speaking of sharing the prize for the Fourth Day of Christmas will be a $10 gift certificate to Scrapbook.com. Just leave a comment below. BE ABSOLUTELY CERTAIN THAT ACCESS IS EASY TO YOUR EMAIL OR YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO WIN A PRIZE. (Sorry about this requirement but it is sometimes soooo difficult to hunt down prize winners.)


13 comments:

Susan said...

your comment about an easily findable email address makes me wonder if mine is. I assume you click on my name and it takes you someplace.....maybe I should figure that out??! anyway, thanks for the offer of leftovers yesterday. I have never been so hungry while sick.

Margie said...

those looks yummy! Thanks for the chance to win!

Cindy deRosier said...

I've never heard of those bars before, but they sound really good. Thanks for the recipe- I may give them a try sometime soon!

Gail said...

I may have to try your recipe.
Since I can't make Nanaimo bars, I'm thinking epic fail!

Marianne B in AZ said...

Your recipe sounds delicious! However, I think I bake less than I cook these days! I stand in the kitchen only when absolutely necessary - probably for the same reason as you. I used to love to bake and went crazy making goodies for family and friends at Christmas. Still, thank you for sharing, it is fun tri read about traditions.

Karen Poirier-Brode said...

Marianne, you have won this prize!

Sandy #1781 said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Sandy #1781 said...

Ohhhh.... these cookies sound yummy! I could eat the whole pan by myself, so I'm glad I am just seeing a picture and imagining the taste. LOL! Thanks for the chance to win.
Sandy
fiskateer1781 at gmail dot com

Nadigrl said...

Wow, that's it...we are coming to your house for dinner next Christmas. lol Sounds like you had lots of yumminess! And Jerry wants me to try and make these next. :)

sandyh50 said...

Yummy! I have New Year's resolutions though. sigh...
SAndy Fiskateer 4165

Teresa Godines #6857 said...

Sounds like you had a wonderful dinner. A nice and easy meal gives you more time with family. Your recipe sounds yummy. I'll have to give it a try.

resatwo (at) sbcglobal.net

Marianne B in AZ said...

Thank you, Karen! I will send you my information.

Marianne B in AZ said...

Karen,

I left you a PM on FB. Thank you again!

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