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.
Fruitcake is a strange phenomenon in the hierarchy of holiday desserts. They have a terrible reputation, most of them are sweet enough to cause diabetic shock in healthy people, and yet they are a beloved symbol of the holiday season. Fruitcake is a dessert in desperate need of a makeover! So instead of a heavy, overly sweet cake made with candied fruits why not something really different? How about a heavy, chewy, dark bread studded with fresh fruits? Or denser oatmeal bread baked with caramelized fresh cherries, coconut shavings, and pineapple would be delicious. It could be covered in white chocolate cream cheese icing. True, it won't have the staying power of traditional fruitcake but people will actually eat it.
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!
Do you ever have enough holiday cookie recipes? I know my family loves to swap ideas so we have new cookies for work, or to take to holiday parties, or just to enjoy at home. One cookie that's quite unique is an oldie but a goodie. You mix a cup of rolled oats, with flour, brown sugar, allspice, butter, and a dash of salt. Layer your mixture into a baking pan and cover with mincemeat. Add a layer of your favorite roasted nuts and bake for 30 to 45 minutes. It might sound like an odd dessert but it's actually quite delicious!
We all want to see our favorite holiday desserts on the table. It's only natural! Tastes (not to mention nutritional standards) do evolve over time, though, and it is important to let our favorite desserts evolve with them. These are some suggestions for easy ways to reinvent holiday desserts, so use some of these ideas (fresh ingredients for canned, different methods of preparation) to update your family must-have holiday desserts. - 15634
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.
Fruitcake is a strange phenomenon in the hierarchy of holiday desserts. They have a terrible reputation, most of them are sweet enough to cause diabetic shock in healthy people, and yet they are a beloved symbol of the holiday season. Fruitcake is a dessert in desperate need of a makeover! So instead of a heavy, overly sweet cake made with candied fruits why not something really different? How about a heavy, chewy, dark bread studded with fresh fruits? Or denser oatmeal bread baked with caramelized fresh cherries, coconut shavings, and pineapple would be delicious. It could be covered in white chocolate cream cheese icing. True, it won't have the staying power of traditional fruitcake but people will actually eat it.
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!
Do you ever have enough holiday cookie recipes? I know my family loves to swap ideas so we have new cookies for work, or to take to holiday parties, or just to enjoy at home. One cookie that's quite unique is an oldie but a goodie. You mix a cup of rolled oats, with flour, brown sugar, allspice, butter, and a dash of salt. Layer your mixture into a baking pan and cover with mincemeat. Add a layer of your favorite roasted nuts and bake for 30 to 45 minutes. It might sound like an odd dessert but it's actually quite delicious!
We all want to see our favorite holiday desserts on the table. It's only natural! Tastes (not to mention nutritional standards) do evolve over time, though, and it is important to let our favorite desserts evolve with them. These are some suggestions for easy ways to reinvent holiday desserts, so use some of these ideas (fresh ingredients for canned, different methods of preparation) to update your family must-have holiday desserts. - 15634
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Ceramic Weave Serving Bowls add the perfect finishing touch to your home cooked meals. Whether it's a family meal or a holiday dinner, why not serve all of your meal in attractive Kitchen Serveware.
