Sunday, November 23, 2008

Cherry, Cranberry, and Nut Chutney

Not the same old Cranberry Relish!
As of 2007, this has become a real family favorite
(as long as we also have the jellied cranberry sauce available too!)

Cooking Light suggestions: Aside from making a stellar accompaniment to roast turkey, this chutney is great for gift giving; pack in a ribbon-tied jelly jar. It also goes well with roast chicken, pork tenderloin, or ham.

1 cup sugar
1 cup water
1/2 cup port or other sweet red wine (I also used 100% red grape juice as a sub)
1/4 teaspoon ground allspice (I prefer to use cinnamon alone)
1/2 cup dried tart cherries
1 (12-ounce) package fresh cranberries
2/3 cup chopped walnuts, toasted (being a true Texan, I've used pecans)
1/2 teaspoon grated orange rind
1/4 teaspoon almond extract
Orange rind strips (optional)

combine first 4 ingredients in a medium saucepan; bring to boil. Add cherries, and cook 1 minute. Stir in cranberries; bring to a boil. Reduce heat, and simmer 10 minutes or until cranberries pop. Remove from heat. Stir in nuts, grated rind, and extract. Garnish with orange rind strips, if desired.
cover and chill.
Yield: 16 servings of 1/4c

calories: 108, Fat 3g, protein, 1/5g, cholesterol 0.0g, calcium 11mg; sodium 2 mg; fiber 1.8g; iron .3mg, carbohydrate 19.7 g

Best Pumpkin Bread you ever ate!

Pumpkin Bread
(with cream cheese ribbon in center)
YUMMMMMMMMY!
I started looking for recipes to match the Starbuck's Pumpkin loaf that we served our guests at the cottages a couple of years ago.
I found this amazing recipe that outshines them all!
It just gets moister and better each day... believe me... you'll have it gone way before it could spoil! ENJOY!
1 LARGE loaf (or bundt pan)
Filling
1 8oz pack of cream cheese
1/3C sugar
1 egg
1 Tbsp. flour
2 tsp. grated orange peel
Batter:
1 1/2C canned pumpkin
1/2 C vegetable oil
1 1/2 C sugar
2 eggs
1/2 tsp. ground cloves
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1 2/3 C flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 C. chopped nuts (as desired)
Directions for filling:
Beat together cream cheese, sugar and flour. Add egg and orange peel. set aside.
Batter directions:
Combine pumpkin, oil and eggs. Stir in sugar, salt, cloves and cinnamon. Mix well. Stir in flour and baking soda. Blend in pecans.
Pour 1/2 batter in a greased and floured large loaf pan.
Carefully spread cream cheese mixture over the 1/2 pumpkin mixture.
Cover with the remaining pumpkin batter.
Bake 1 1/2 hours at 325 degrees until tooth pick in the center comes out clean.
cool on wire rack