Berry Merry Glazed Coffee Cake

A red cake filled with cranberries and nuts is the perfect addition to our Christmas offerings. It is so festive and a great way to use up extra homemade cranberry sauce. This is my kind of “fruit cake.”

Berry Merry Glazed Coffee Cake

2 cups all purpose flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, softened

1 egg

1 teaspoon vanilla

1/3 cup fruit juice (such as apple, orange or even cranberry)

1 1/4 cups leftover cranberry sauce or use canned whole berry sauce

1/2 cup roughly chopped pecans

 

Glaze:

1 cup powdered sugar

1 to 2 tablespoons juice 

1. Preheat oven to 350°. Line a 9 ″ x 5″ loaf pan with parchment paper cut to size; spray paper and sides of pan with pan release. 
2. Combine flour, baking powder, nutmeg and cinnamon in small bowl; set aside.
3. Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in egg. Add vanilla, juice, cranberry sauce and nut. Mix well. 
   
4. Add dry ingredients to wet mixture just until moistened. Spread mixture in a prepared loaf pan.
   
5. Bake about 45 to 50 minutes hour or until golden brown and toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.
6. Cool on a rack.
7. Glaze: Mix powdered sugar and juice. Drizzle over cooled cake.

Recipe without photos . . . Berry Merry Glazed Coffee Cake

2 cups all purpose flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, softened

1 egg

1 teaspoon vanilla

1/3 cup fruit juice (such as apple, orange or even cranberry)

1 1/4 cups leftover cranberry sauce or use canned whole berry sauce

1/2 cup roughly chopped pecans

 

Glaze:

1 cup powdered sugar

1 to 2 tablespoons juice 

1. Preheat oven to 350°.  Line a 9 ″ x 5″ loaf pan with parchment paper cut to size; spray paper and sides of pan with pan release. 
2. Combine flour, baking powder, nutmeg and cinnamon in small bowl; set aside.
3. Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in egg. Add vanilla, juice, cranberry sauce and nut. Mix well.  
4. Add dry ingredients to wet mixture just until moistened. Spread mixture in a prepared loaf pan.
5. Bake about 45 to 50 minutes hour or until golden brown and toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.
6. Cool on a rack.
7. Glaze: Mix powdered sugar and juice. Drizzle over cooled cake.

Going Nutty for the Holidays — Rosemary Toasted Nut Blend

Yet another healthy-style snack for the holidays  . . . a savory blend of nuts blended with sweet cranberries! 

Rosemary Toasted Nut Blend

3 tablespoons olive oil

2 to 3+ stalks fresh rosemary 

1 clove garlic, smashed 

1/2 cup almonds 

1 cup pecan halves 

1 cup
walnut halves 

1/2 cup cashews

1/2 cup dried cranberries 

Kosher or finishing salt 

1. Flavor the oil: In a large pan on medium-low heat, add the olive oil, rosemary and garlic. Cook until the oil is fragrant and the rosemary is crispy, about 5 minutes. Remove the rosemary to a paper towel-lined plate. Remove and discard the garlic.
   
2. Toast the nuts:  First, add the almonds to the pan and stir to coat in the oil, then toss to heat them until a taste of one reveals a tender creamy almond, 4 to 5 minutes. Add the pecans and them cook for 4 to 5 minutes. Add the walnuts and let cook for 5 additional minutes; add the cashews after the walnuts have cooked for about a minute. Each nut takes a different amount of time to toast, so this order is crucial.
   
3. Finish: Add the cranberries to the nut mixture and season with salt and pepper. Add  rosemary leaves. Dump mixture onto a paper towel lined tray and blot with additional paper towels; let set so some of the excess oil is absorbed. When cool, add to a serving bowl or a decorative storage container. 
   

Recipe without photos . . . Rosemary Toasted Nut Blend

3 tablespoons olive oil

2 to 3+ stalks fresh rosemary 

1 clove garlic, smashed 

1/2 cup almonds 

1 cup pecan halves 

1 cup walnut halves 

1/2 cup cashews

1/2 cup dried cranberries 

Kosher or finishing salt 

1. Flavor the oil: In a large pan on medium-low heat, add the olive oil, rosemary and garlic. Cook until the oil is fragrant and the rosemary is crispy, about 5 minutes. Remove the rosemary to a paper towel-lined plate. Remove and discard the garlic.
2. Toast the nuts:  First, add the almonds to the pan and stir to coat in the oil, then toss to heat them until a taste of one reveals a tender creamy almond, 4 to 5 minutes. Add the pecans and them cook for 4 to 5 minutes. Add the walnuts and let cook for 5 additional minutes; add the cashews after the walnuts have cooked for about a minute. Each nut takes a different amount of time to toast, so this order is crucial.
3. Finish: Add the cranberries to the nut mixture and season with salt and pepper. Add  rosemary leaves. Dump mixture onto a paper towel lined tray and blot with additional paper towels; let set so some of the excess oil is absorbed. When cool, add to a serving bowl or a decorative storage container. 

Naturally Sweet Treats - Chocolate Covered Dates

Tasty, easy, festive and healthy, too! Chocolate Covered Dates (stuffed with nuts) met this year's criteria for adding some healthy holiday treats to our usual fare.

Chocolate Covered Dates stuffed with nuts

Medjool dates

Nut butter

Nuts – I used almonds and peanuts

Dark chocolate – tempered and warm

1. Using kitchen scissors, cut down one side of the date, stopping before you are all the way to the end; remove pit.
   
2. Fill the cavity with a small spoonful of nut butter.
   
3. Add an almond (or two, depending on size of date) or several peanuts.
4. Spoon warm chocolate over the top, and let stand at room temperature until chocolate is set.
5. To garnish - sprinkle with chopped nuts before the chocolate is set.

Recipe without photos . . . Chocolate Covered Dates stuffed with nuts

Medjool dates

Nut butter

Nuts – I used almonds and peanuts

Dark chocolate – tempered and warm

1. Using kitchen scissors, cut down one side of the date, stopping before you are all the way to the end; remove pit.
2. Fill the cavity with a small spoonful of nut butter.
3. Add an almond (or two, depending on size of date) or several peanuts.
4. Spoon warm chocolate over the top, and let stand at room temperature until chocolate is set
5. To garnish - sprinkle with chopped nuts before the chocolate is set.

Honeyed Baked Pears with Walnuts

An easy, healthy dessert for the holidays . . . or anytime! 

Honeyed Baked Pears with Walnuts 

For each serving:

1 ripe pear (I used Bartlett)

1 tablespoon honey

Ground cinnamon, allspice & nutmeg

2 tablespoons roughly chopped walnuts

A pat of butter (cut into small cubes) 

Our Toppings of Choice: honeyed yogurt and pomegranate seeds 

1. Cut pear in half. Use a melon baller to remove seed center + remove stem.
2. Add pear halves to a single serving dish that has been sprayed with pan release. 
3. Drizzle with honey and sprinkle lightly with cinnamon, allspice and nutmeg.
4. Top with walnuts and dot with butter.
5. Bake in preheated 375° oven for about 20 minutes or until pears can be easily pieces with a sharp knife.
6. Serve warm or chill and serve cold. Top with honeyed yogurt and pomegranate seeds or other toppings of your choice. 

   

   Ready to go into the oven! 

Butternut Squash with Brussels Sprouts, Pecans and Cranberries

Used butternut from our garden to create this colorful, festive side dish that is packed with flavor.  

We served the squash medley with Roasted Chicken & Homemade Applesauce. 

Butternut Squash with Brussels Sprouts, Pecans and Cranberries   6 to 8 servings

Butternut Squash: 

1 ½ lb butternut squash peeled, seeded, and cubed into 1-inch cubes (Yields about 4 cups of uncooked cubed butternut squash

About 3 tablespoons olive oil

Salt and pepper to taste

Balsamic vinegar

Brussels Sprouts:

3 cups Brussels sprouts ends trimmed, yellow leaves removed, cut in half

About 3 tablespoons olive oil

Salt and pepper to taste

Other Ingredients:

About 1 cup toasted pecan halves (bake at 350° for 5 minutes)

About 1/2 cup dried cranberries

Additional balsamic vinegar and olive oil for finishing – as desired. 

Butternut Squash: Preheat oven to 400 F. 

1. In a medium bowl, combine cubed butternut squash with oil, salt and pepper; toss to evenly coat the pieces.







2. Place butternut squash in a single layer on the baking sheet; drizzle liberally with balsamic vinegar. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, turning once halfway through baking, until softened.
3. Brussels Sprouts: Preheat oven to 400 F.  
4. In a medium bowl, combine halved Brussels sprouts with olive oil,  salt and pepper; toss to evenly coat the pieces. 
5. Place onto a foil-lined baking sheet, cut side down, and roast in the oven at 400 F for about 20 to 25 minutes. During the last 5 to10 minutes of roasting, turn them over for even browning, the cut sides should be nicely and partially charred but not blackened. Note: You can roast both Brussels sprouts and butternut squash on 2 separate baking sheets at the same time, on the same rack in the oven – that’s what I did. Or, even roast them on the same sheet pan if it’s large enough to allow veggies to roast in a single layer.

6. Assembly: In a large bowl, combine roasted Brussels sprouts, roasted butternut squash, pecans, and cranberries, and mix to combine. Drizzle with additional 
balsamic vinegar and olive oil for finishing.