THE VILLAGE VOICE

" May all your troubles last as long as your New Year's resolutions." ~ Joey Adams ~ Cheers! _________ TOURTIERE ~ Traditional French Canadian meat pie __________ TRADITIONAL PASTRY FOR TWO LARGE PIES 3 cups unbleached flour 1 cup vegetable shortening like Crisco (lard for the purest) 1 scant tsp. salt 1 large beaten egg 1 Tbsp. vinegar ice water Place flour, salt, and shortening in food processor or large bowl. Process with machine or pastry blender until mixture resembles course corn meal. In large glass measuring cup, beat the egg. Add vinegar and enough ice water to equal 1/2 cup. Pour over flour mixture. Blend only until dough holds together in a ball. Shape dough into thick, flat rounds. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until easy to handle (about 1 hour). Note: Skip the ABOVE and head for the refrigerated section at the market. Purchase Pillsbury Pie Crusts ... unroll (dust with 1 Tbsp. flour), spread into pie pan, flute, fill and bake. Not as good as above ...

"Cheers to a New Year and another chance for us to get it right." ~ Oprah Winfrey ~ White lily _________ HOLIDAY SEAFOOD STRUDEL ~ Around for nearly 30 years, a bit labor intensive but worth the effort ( adapted from a tattered Bon Appetit -Jan/1979) ____ White sauce: 3 Tbsp. unsalted butter 3 Tbsp. flour 3/4 cup milk 1 tsp. Dijon mustard pinch of coarse salt 1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper 2 Tbsp. heavy cream Melt butter in saucepan over low heat. Stir in flour to make smooth paste and heat gently, whisking constantly until roux begins to bubble. Remove from heat and add mustard, pinch of salt, and cayenne pepper. Slowly stir in milk. Over medium heat, cook stirring constantly until mixture bubbles and thickens. Add cream and taste for seasoning. Cover until ready to use. 1 cup breadcrumbs 1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese 1/4 tsp. dry mustard 1 - 1/1/2 lb. bite-sized cooked crab, shrimp & small scallops 1/2 lb. thawed phyllo pastry sheets 1/2 - 3/4 cup grated Swiss c...

"Something about and old-fashioned Christmas is hard to forget." ~ Hugh Downs "Like snowflakes, my Christmas memories gather and dance - each beautiful, unique and too soon gone." ~ Deborah Whipp (web designer)

"After today, I'll bet Santa takes a shovel to the reindeer stalls to fill your stocking." ~ Bill Watterson (Calvin & Hobbes author) SLEEP TIGHT ~ True to its name _________ 5 oz. milk 1/2 oz. honey 1 oz. Couvoisier V.S.O.P. (cognac) Warm a coffee cup with hot water and empty. Steam milk and honey using the wand of a home espresso machine until hot and slightly frothed (or use a hand frother). Pour cognac into warmed coffee mug and top with steamed milk and a dollop of foam. (1 serving)

"Keep your Christmas-heart open all the year round." ~Jessica Archmint CRAB & ARTICHOKE CASSEROLE ~ Rich 'but worth the calories' 30 year old favorite adapted from Bon Appetit /Nov 1977 ____________ 1/2 cup unsalted butter 3 Tbsp. minced onion 1/2 cup flour 1 quart cream 1/2 cup Madeira 1 tsp. white pepper coarse salt 2 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice 4 cups good lump crab meat 3 cups drained artichoke hearts 2 1/2 cups cooked penne pasta 2-3 cup grated Gruyere cheese fresh chopped parsley paprika Preheat oven to 350-degrees. In saucepan, heat cream to boiling point. Melt butter in large saute pan. Add onion to sizzling butter and saute until golden. Stir in flour and cook over low hear until flour is pale yellow. Remove from heat. Add cream and whisk vigorously. Return to moderate heat and stir until sauce comes to a boil. Reduce heat and add Madeira. Season with salt and white pepper. Pour lemon juice over crab meat and toss lightly. Combine crab, artichoke hearts, c...

"Never are voices so beautiful as on a winter's evening, when dusk almost hides the body, and they seem to issue from nothingness with a note of intimacy seldom heard by day." ~ Virginia Woolf (Night and Day) ~ WINTER SOLSTICE (Hubbard Lake) ~ 'FATHER CHRISTMAS' (dressed for Winter) ______________________ BRANDY-RUM MOCHACCINO ~ Warm yourself on frosty winter nights with this piping hot chocolate drink compliments of Mathew Tekulsky's Making Your Own Gourmet Coffee Drinks _______ cup of hot espresso 1 1/2 tsp. brandy 1 1/2 tsp. rum 1 12 tsp. creme de cacao 1 Tbsp. chocolate syrup 3 oz. steamed milk 1/4 cup heavy whipped cream ground cinnamon ground nutmeg thin wafer garnish Mix espresso , brandy, rum, creme de cacao, and chocolate syrup in a (warmed) glass. Add 1 1/2 oz. steamed milk and 1 1/2 oz. milk foam. Top with whipped cream, sprinkle with cinnamon and nutmeg. Garnish with thin wafer. ________ GRASSHOPPER CAPPUCCINO ~ For the minty coffee lover fro...

“Let Every Day Be Christmas” ~ Norman W. Brooks HOLIDAY CRAB CAKES ~ As an appetizer or entree, this family favorite is always a hit. _________ 1 lb. good lump crab meat 1 cup panko crumbs 2 large lightly beaten organic eggs 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro 4 finely chopped green onions 1/2 diced red bell pepper 1/2 diced yellow pepper 1 Tbs. chopped green chilies 2/3 cup mayonnaise coarse salt & freshly ground pepper to taste 2 Tbsp. melted unsalted butter Hungarian paprika chopped green onions or chives Combine all ingredients. Gently fold in crab. Preheat broiler. Using scoop, drop onto Pam sprayed baking sheet. Brush with melted butter. Sprinkle with chopped green onion or chives and a dusting of Hungarian paprika. Broil approximately 6 minutes or until golden.

Jolly Ol' St. Nicholas Jolly ol' Saint Nicholas' lean your ear this way! Don't you tell a single soul what I'm going to say: Christmas Eve is coming soon; now, you dear old man Whisper what you'll bring to me; tell me if you can. When the clock is striking twelve, when I'm fast asleep Down the chimney, broad and black, with your pack you'll creep All the stockings you will find hanging in a row Mine will be the shortest one, you'll be sure to know Bobby wants a pair of skates, Suzy wants a sled Nellie wants a picture book, yellow, blue, and red Now I think I'll leave to you what to give the rest Choose for me, dear Santa Claus; you will know the best.

" Champagne and orange juice is a great drink. The orange improves the champagne. The champagne definitely improves the orange." ~ Philip (Duke of Edinburgh) POINTSETTIA ~ Santa never says "NO" ... __________ 1/2 oz. Triple Sec or Cointreau 3 oz. Cranberry juice slash of orange juice 4-5 oz. champagne cranberries orange slices Add chilled Cointreau or Triple Sec to cranberry juice. Add splash of orange juice. Plop 3 cranberries in champagne glass. Fill 1/2 glass with cranberry juice mixture and slowly top with champagne. Serve with orange slice. (Can also be served over cracked ice). _______________ VILLA CREEK BLACK PEPPER SHORTBREAD ~ Delicious treat from Tom Fundaro, chef at Villa Creek . _________ 6 ounces unsalted butter (1 ½ sticks) ¼ cup sugar 1 teaspoon salt 1 ½ teaspoons cracked black pepper ¾ teaspoon dried thyme 2 1/3 cups flour 5 tablespoons whipping cream Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place the butter in a mixing bowl and let it stand until softened, the...

"They err who thinks Santa Claus comes down through the chimney; he really enters through the heart." ~ Mrs. Paul M. Ell ~ Cranberries on flow blue ______________ CRANBERRY CHEESECAKE with CRANBERRY ORANGE COMPOTE ~ One taste and you will know why this is Santa's favorite (adapted from Bon Appetit October 1992) _______________ CRANBERRY FILLING 1 pound fresh cranberries (4 2/3 cups) 1 1/3 cups sugar 1/3 cup fresh orange juice CHEESE FILLING 2 pounds room temperature cream cheese 1 1/3 cups sugar 4 large organic eggs CRUST 1 1/3 cups shortbread cookie crumbs (homemade or store bought like Lorna Doone ) 3 Tbsp. melted unsalted butter TOPPING 2 cups sour cream 1/3 cup sugar 1 tsp. vanilla extract Cranberry Filling: Combine cranberries, sugar and fresh orange juice in heavy saucepan. Bring to boil over medium-high heat , stirring until sugar dissolves. Reduce heat and simmer until berries opp and mixture thickens, stirring frequently to prevent sticking, about 10 minutes....

~ Record breaking December snowfall (Hubbard Lake)

"Whose woods these are I think I know. His house is in the village though; He will not see me stopping here To watch his woods fill up with snow. My little horse must think it queer To stop without a farmhouse near Between the woods and frozen lake The darkest evening of the year. He gives his harness bells a shake To ask if there is some mistake. The only other sound's the sweep Of easy wind and downy flake. The woods are lovely, dark and deep. But I have promises to keep, And miles to go before I sleep, And miles to go before I sleep." ____________ CHOCOLATE SNOWFLAKES 2 sticks softened butter 1 12 cups powdered sugar 3 tsp. vanilla 2 egg yolks 1 tsp. cream of tartar 1/2 cup finely ground almonds 1 tsp. baking soda 2 cups flour 8 oz. milk chocolate ~ additional powdered sugar Preheat oven to 325-degrees. In mixing bowl, combine butter & sugar; beat until creamy. Add vanilla & eggs; beat well. Add cream of tartar, almonds, and baking soda; beat w...

~ Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la.

" Blessed is the season which engages the whole world in a conspiracy of love." ~ Hamilton Wright Mabie (1845-1916) American author, essayist and critic ~ Christmas cymbidium orchid _______________ SPRITZGEBACKEN (Judy O's ) 1/2 pound (room temperature) unsalted butter 2 egg yolks 2 - 2 1/2 cups flour 3/4 cup sugar 1 Tbsp. vanilla Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix all ingredients together. Be sure the butter is soft. You must mix everything by hand all at once. Fill spritz gun right immediately. Bake about 10 minutes or until cookies turn light golden brown .

" Christmas is a time when you get homesick - even when you're home." ~ Carol Nelson CRANBERRY VODKA ~ Still time to 'steep' before Christmas _____ 2 cups cranberries 2 cups vodka lemon twist Pour vodka over washed cranberries in clean glass jar. Cover tightly and hide in cool, dark place at least 2 weeks before serving. Serve on the rocks with twist of lemon. ______________ CRANBERRY SPRITZER 2 cups cranberry juice 1 1/2 cup chilled Sauterne 1/2 cup Triple Sec 2 cups chilled club soda cranberries Combine cranberry juice, Sauterne and Triple Sec. Add club soda before serving. Pour over crushed ice and a few cranberries. ' BOURSIN ' PINECONE ~ Rich ' boursin cheese' topped with toasted pecans ________ Herb ' boursin ' cheese 1 lb. soft cream cheese 1 stick unsalted butter 6-8 cloves crushed garlic 2 tsp. parsley 1 tsp. basil 1/2 tsp tarragon 1/2 tsp. minced chives 1/2 tsp. thyme 1/2 tsp. sage 1 Tbsp. cream freshly ground cracked pepper 2...

"The only real blind person at Christmas-time is he who has not Christmas in his heart." ~ Helen Keller ~ 'Winter Rose' poinsettia

POINTSETTIA HISTORY & LORE The botanical name, Euphorbia pulcherrima , was assigned to the poinsettia by the German botanist, Wilenow . The plant grew through a crack in his greenhouse. Dazzled by its color, he gave it the botanical name, Euphorbia pulcherrima meaning "very beautiful." ~ Poinsettia _________________ BEEF TENDERLOIN with BLUE CHEESE-PEPPERCORN BUTTER ~ 20 year old holiday favorite adapted from Bon Appetit (Dec 1987) _________ 1 32-oz. center cut well-trimmed tenderloin 2 snipped fresh rosemary springs or 1 tsp. dried 4 snipped sprigs fresh thyme or 2 tsp. dried 2 bay leaves 2 cloves crushed garlic 1/4 cup dry red wine 3 Tbsp. Pickapeppa sauce 3 Tbsp. Tamari or soy sauce 1 tsp. crushed whole pink peppercorns 1 tsp. crushed whole white peppercorns 1 tsp. crushed whole black peppercorns 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil 2 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil Fresh Italian parsley sprigs Butter 1/2 cup room-temperature unsalted butter 1/4 pound crumbled blue c...

~ Gone fishin ' ____________ HERB CRUSTED CRANBERRY/CHERRY SALMON ~ Delicious meld of herbs, tart cranberries, lemon & sweet dried cherries make this crunchy festive salmon memorable. _____ 1 1/2 lbs. salmon fillet 1/2 cup chopped fresh cranberries 1/4 cup chopped dried cherries (or cranberries) 1/4 cup finely chopped red onion 1 Tbsp. chopped fresh thyme or 1 tsp. dried 1 Tbsp. chopped fresh rosemary 1/2 cup panko crumbs zest of 1 fresh lemon 3 Tbsp. melted butter sea salt & freshly cracked pepper Preheat oven to 375-degrees. Rinse and pat salmon dry. Place skin side down on foil lined baking sheet sprayed with Pam. Season with salt & pepper. Combine chopped cranberries, cherries, onion, thyme, rosemary, lemon zest, and panko crumbs. Blend in 2 Tbsp. melted butter. Pat mixture evenly over salmon. Drizzle with remaining butter. Pop in oven and bake for 20 minutes or until salmon is opaque in center. (4 servings) Delicious served with wedges of roasted rosemary po...

"I could give up chocolate but I'm not a quitter.' ~ Author Unknown ~ Chocolate Moose ________________ CHRISTMAS CAPPUCCINO MOUSSE ~ Decadent & delicious __ 1 1/2 cups whipping cream 4 large organic eggs 8 oz. chopped good bittersweet chocolate 4 tsp. instant espresso p owder 1/8 tsp. cream of tartar 1/4 cup sugar 1 tsp. vanilla extract Unsweetened whipped cream chopped chocolate covered espresso beans (Trader Joe's) fresh mint sprigs fresh cranberries Separate whites from egg yolks. Let stand at room temperature. Whisk 1/4 cup cream and eggs yolks in saucepan. Set over low heat and cook, whisking constantly for 2 minutes or until mixture thickens. Add chocolate & espresso powder; stir until smooth. Remove from heat. In large bowl, whisk egg whites until foamy. Add cream of tartar and continue to whisk until whites begin to mound. Gradually add sugar, whisking constantly until stiff peaks form. Fold c hocolate mixture into whites, blending well. In chilled...

~ Magical talking tree _______________ CREAM of WILD MUSHROOM & LEEK SOUP ~ Curl up by the fire and enjoy this earthy soup . * 3 cups fresh assorted sliced wild mushrooms ( shiitaki , portobello , baby portobello , chanterelles , cremini , oyster, morels, etc.) 1 cup sliced domestic mushrooms 1/2 lb. sweet butter 1 bunch cleaned, trimmed of tops, and julienned leeks 1 tsp. minced garlic 1 finely chopped red pepper 3 additional Tbsp. sweet butter 1/4 cup flour 6 cups organic chicken stock 2 cups heavy cream or half & half 3 Tbsp. sherry or Madeira 1 Tbsp. chopped thyme coarse salt & freshly ground pepper chopped green onion or fresh chives for garnish Melt butter in large stockpot and saute leeks and garlic until translucent. Add red pepper and mushrooms. Saute 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Melt remaining 3 Tbsp. butter in saucepan. Add flour and whisk constantly to achieve a light brown roux. Slowly add 2 cups chicken stock, stirring constantly until thickened. Add...

~ Virgin snow (Hubbard Lake) __________________ " Have you eaten a pomegranate? The fruit features in Greek mythology in the story of Persephone, daughter of the harvest goddess Demeter. Hades, the lord of the underworld, kidnapped the beautiful maiden. Because she ate a few pomegranate seeds before being rescued, she had to spend several months every year in the underworld with him. According to the myth, that?s when the earth was forced to endure winter ." DUCK BREAST FAISINJAN ~ Rich in antioxidants, pomegranates make this favorite classic Persian recipe from The Creative Cook well worth the effort. * 4 pomegranates juice of 1 large lemon 1 Tbsp. light brown sugar or honey coarse salt & freshly ground back pepper 4 boned duck breast halves 1 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil 1 minced onion 1/4 cup chopped walnuts Have the pomegranates and scoop the seeds into a food processor, reserving 2-3 Tbsp. Blend briefly and then press through a strainer. Put juice into a pan and ad...