Wassail

I have already posted this recipe but it is mixed with some other ones. After serving it for a baby shower and neighborhood gathering I had enough requests for the recipe that I decided to repost it so here it is.

Wassail

2 c. water
1-2 cinnamon sticks
1/2 t. whole cloves

Heat one half hour but don't bring to a boil. Remove the cinnamon and cloves.
Add:
1 c. sugar
1 6 oz. can orange juice concentrate
juice of 1 lemon
6 c. water

Heat thoroughly and serve warm.

(Thanks to my sister Rosemarie for introducing this one to me!)

Butterbeer

Servings: 4

1 cup light or dark brown sugar
2 tablespoons water
6 tablespoon butter
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon cider vinegar
3/4 cup heavy cream, divided
1/2 teaspoon rum extract
Four 12-ounce bottles cream soda

In a small saucepan over medium, combine the brown sugar and water. Bring to a gentle boil and cook, stirring often, until the mixture reads 240 F on a candy thermometer.

Stir in the butter, salt, vinegar and 1/4 cup heavy cream. Set aside to cool to room temperature.

Once the mixture has cooled, stir in the rum extract.

In a medium bowl, combine 2 tablespoons of the brown sugar mixture and the remaining 1/2 cup of heavy cream. Use an electric mixer to beat until just thickened, but not completely whipped, about 2 to 3 minutes.

To serve, divide the brown sugar mixture between 4 tall glasses (about 1/4 cup for each glass). Add 1/4 cup of cream soda to each glass, then stir to combine. Fill each glass nearly to the top with additional cream soda, then spoon the whipped topping over each.

Wassail and Hot Chocolate/ Warm Drinks to HELP With Swine Flu

I received this email the other day and found it helpful and thought that I would pass it along with a couple of recipes that I use during cold and flu season.

"H1N1, like other Influenza A viruses, only infects the upper respiratory tract and proliferates only there. The only portals of entry are the nostrils and mouth/ throat. In a global epidemic of this nature, it’s almost impossible not coming into contact with H1N1 in spite of all precautions.
Contact with H1N1 is not so much of a problem as proliferation is.
What most N95 respirators (face masks) are designed to filter is about 95% particulates of 0.3, while the size of H1N1 virus is about 0.1. Hence, dependence on N95 to protect against H1N1 is like protecting against rain with an umbrella made of mosquito net.
Tamiflu drug does not kill the virus, but it prevents H1N1 from further proliferation till the virus limits itself in about 1-2 weeks during the virus’ natural cycle.
While you are still healthy and not showing any symptoms of H1N1 infection, in order to prevent proliferation, aggravation of symptoms and development of secondary infections, some very simple steps not fully highlighted in most official communications – can be practiced:
Frequent hand-washing.
“Hands-off-the-face” approach except to eat, bathe, etc.
Gargle twice a day with warm salt water (use Listerine if you don’t trust salt). H1N1 takes 2-3 days after initial infection in the throat/ nasal cavity to proliferate and show characteristic symptoms. Simple gargling prevents proliferation. In a way, gargling with salt water has the same effect on a healthy individual that Tamiflu has on an infected person. Don’t underestimate this simple, inexpensive and powerful preventative method.
Clean your nostrils at least once every day with warm salt water, swabbing both nostrils with cotton buds dipped in warm salt water is very effective in bringing down viral population.
Boost your natural immunity with foods that are rich in Vitamin C, or Vitamin C tablets that contain Zinc to boost absorption.
Drink as much of warm liquids as you can. Drinking warm liquids has the same effect as gargling, but in the reverse direction. They wash off proliferating viruses from the throat into the stomach where they cannot survive."

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Last weekend my sister brought me a pitcher of Wassail (half empty pitcher above) because I was feeling a little under the weather. This drink not only excites me for the holiday season but makes me feel better at the same time. The warm drink and soothing scents help to clear a stuffy nose.

Wassail

2 c. water
1-2 cinnamon sticks
1/2 t. whole cloves

Heat one half hour but don't bring to a boil. Remove that cinnamon and cloves.
Add:
1 c. sugar
1 6 oz. can orange juice concentrate
juice of 1 lemon
6 c. water

Heat thoroughly and serve warm.


Hot Cocoa Mix (I keep this in storage all of the time)

2 c. non dairy creamer
3 c. powdered sugar
3/4-1 c. cocoa
1/2 c. non fat dry milk
1/4 t. salt
Mix all ingredients and store in an airtight container. To serve, spoon 2-3 heaping teaspoons mix into mug, add 1 c. boiling water and stir. (Makes 4 c. mix)

"Strawberry Fields Forever" we hope!

The colors and flavors of spring are wonderful. I love seeing the fresh strawberries in the grocery stores now.

We love to slice them, add a little sugar to make a juice, and serve with half and half, or milk.

Spinach Salad with Strawberries and Strawberry Vinaigrette

Spinach, washed and cleaned
Bacon, cooked and crumbled
Mushrooms, washed and sliced
Strawberries, washed, hulled, and sliced
Red onion, sliced into thin rounds


Strawberry Vinaigrette

1 c. fresh sliced strawberries
2 Tbsp balsamic vinegar
1 tsp sugar, or to taste
¼ tsp ground black pepper
¼ c. olive oil

In food processor puree strawberries until smooth. Add vinegar and pepper until combined. Gradually add olive oil and mix until well blended. Chill until ready to serve. Refrigerate any leftover dressing.

Serve over spinach salad or vanilla ice cream.

Strawberry Pie

9 inch baked pie shell
6 c. strawberries (about 1 1/2 quarts)
1 c. sugar
3 T. cornstarch
1/2 c. water

Bake pie shell. Mash enough strawberries to measure 1 cup. Mix sugar and cornstarch in 2 quart saucepan. Stir in water and mashed berries gradually. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until mixture thickens and boils. Boil and stir one minute; cool.

Fill shell with remaining strawberries;whole (I aways slice the strawberries rather than leave them whole like many restaurants do because the sauce or filling surrounds the strawberries more evenly and it isn't such a mouthful) pour cooked strawberry mixture over top. Refrigerate until set, at least three hours.
Serve with whipped cream on top.

Peach Glace Pie (my favorite fresh pie)
Substitute 5 cups sliced peaches for the strawberries (about 9 medium and 3 for filling)

Raspberry Glace Pie
Substitute raspberries for the strawberries


Pie Crust

1/3 c. plus 1 T. shortening
1 c. flour
1/2 t. salt
2-3 T .cold water
(Double for two crust)



Virgin Strawberry Daiquiris

18 ice cubes
12 strawberries, sliced
6 tsp sugar
3 tsp lime juice

Blend and serve


Strawberry Agua Fresca

4 c. water
1/3 c. sugar
6 c. hulled strawberries
¼ c. fresh lime juice ( about 2 limes)

Combine water and sugar, stirring until sugar dissolves. Place strawberries in a blender, and process until smooth. Combine the sugar mixture, strawberry puree, and juice; stir well. Yield 8 cups

Strawberry Panna Cotta with Strawberry Compote

For Panna Cotta
3 c. sliced strawberries
1 ¾ cup buttermilk
6 Tbsp sugar
2 ½ tsp unflavored gelatin (less than two envelopes)
¼ c. whole milk
½ heavy cream

· Blend strawberries, buttermilk, and sugar in blender until smooth. (very smooth) Then pour through a very fine sieve into a medium bowl, pressing hard on the solids. Discard solids.
· Sprinkle gelatin over milk in a small bowl, let stand to thicken.
· Bring cream to a boil in small saucepan. Remove from heat and add gelatin mixture, stirring until dissolved.
· Whisk cream mixture into strawberry puree and pour into molds.
Chill molds, covered, until firm, at east 8 hours.

To unmold , dip molds into bowl of hot water 2-3 seconds, then invert panna cotta’s onto dessert plates and remove molds.

For compote
2 ½ c. strawberries-trimmed
¼ c. fresh orange juice
2 Tbsp superfine granulated sugar

Halve strawberries lengthwise if small or quarter if larger. Whisk together orange juice and superfine sugar in a bowl until sugar is dissolved and add strawberries tossing to coat. Serve panna cotta’s with compote. (Panna cotta’s can he chilled in molds covered up to 2 days.)