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?
Pumpkin pie has never been one of my favorites. That's part of the reason I was so happy to find a really different variation on the classic pumpkin pie that uses pumpkin ice cream as the filling. This dessert is super easy if you buy a pre-made graham cracker crust. Mix one pint of vanilla ice cream with one can of pumpkin, and 1/4 teaspoon each ground allspice, cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg. Spread the mixture into the piecrust, cover with fresh whipped cream (or store bought!) and place covered in the freezer. It is a fantastic lighter take on a heavy dessert for those who spend the holidays in warmer climates.
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.
Another creative variation on fruitcake is something to the effect of a fruitcake sushi. To start you'll need some phyllo dough and finely chopped fresh fruits. You then would roll your fresh fruits into the dough so that it looks just like sushi, with the phyllo dough representing the seaweed on the outside of sushi and the fruit on the inside like the fish. Quickly bake in a hot oven and cut the baked dessert into rounds. Drop white chocolate icing on the tops and there you have it - a very modern version of fruitcake!
No one ever has enough cookie recipes in the holiday seasons. We want cookies to swap, to have available for company, to take to parties, and for a host of other reasons. The first cookie I'll suggest is very old fashioned, but so unusual it definitely rates as a fresh take on the standard holiday cookie! Mix 1 cup rolled oats, 1 cup flour, 1 cup brown sugar, 3/4 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon all spice, and 1/2 cup butter. After mixing place in your favorite baking pan. Cover with one pound of mincemeat. Cover the mincemeat with a 1/4-cup of roasted nuts. Bake in a 350-degree oven for forty minutes. Mincemeat sounds scary, but these cookies have a complex taste that is unbelievable.
So while everyone likes seeing their favorite desserts served at the holidays, it's also a lot of fun to add some new treats to try. It's possible that some of your new creations will become the new family favorites and start a whole new tradition. It's fun to experiment and you'll probably be surprised at the how much enjoyment your reinvented classics bring to your loved ones!
Pumpkin pie has never been one of my favorites. That's part of the reason I was so happy to find a really different variation on the classic pumpkin pie that uses pumpkin ice cream as the filling. This dessert is super easy if you buy a pre-made graham cracker crust. Mix one pint of vanilla ice cream with one can of pumpkin, and 1/4 teaspoon each ground allspice, cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg. Spread the mixture into the piecrust, cover with fresh whipped cream (or store bought!) and place covered in the freezer. It is a fantastic lighter take on a heavy dessert for those who spend the holidays in warmer climates.
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.
Another creative variation on fruitcake is something to the effect of a fruitcake sushi. To start you'll need some phyllo dough and finely chopped fresh fruits. You then would roll your fresh fruits into the dough so that it looks just like sushi, with the phyllo dough representing the seaweed on the outside of sushi and the fruit on the inside like the fish. Quickly bake in a hot oven and cut the baked dessert into rounds. Drop white chocolate icing on the tops and there you have it - a very modern version of fruitcake!
No one ever has enough cookie recipes in the holiday seasons. We want cookies to swap, to have available for company, to take to parties, and for a host of other reasons. The first cookie I'll suggest is very old fashioned, but so unusual it definitely rates as a fresh take on the standard holiday cookie! Mix 1 cup rolled oats, 1 cup flour, 1 cup brown sugar, 3/4 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon all spice, and 1/2 cup butter. After mixing place in your favorite baking pan. Cover with one pound of mincemeat. Cover the mincemeat with a 1/4-cup of roasted nuts. Bake in a 350-degree oven for forty minutes. Mincemeat sounds scary, but these cookies have a complex taste that is unbelievable.
So while everyone likes seeing their favorite desserts served at the holidays, it's also a lot of fun to add some new treats to try. It's possible that some of your new creations will become the new family favorites and start a whole new tradition. It's fun to experiment and you'll probably be surprised at the how much enjoyment your reinvented classics bring to your loved ones!
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Complete your meal with a nice leafy green salad and serve it in an attractive looking Salad Serving Bowl. Whether it's for the holidays or a family meal, it's always good to make sure you have a good supply of top Quality Serveware in your kitchen.
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