Recipe: Exquisite Eggnog

Here's my secret family recipe for eggnog. (Warning-- contains raw eggs)

Lena Austin

http://www.LenaAust in.com

Holiday Cocktails: Cherry Splash

Cherry Splash

Recipe courtesy Jill Davie

Cherry Splash

RELATED LINKS12 Days of Cookie Cocktails

Holiday Cocktail Party Guide

Top 10 Holiday Cocktails

Fine Giving Holiday Gift Guides

Food Network's 12 Days of Cookies

Ingredients:2 oz. Silver rum

1/2 oz. amaretto, almond-flavored liqueur

1/2 oz. Luxardo maraschino cherry liqueur

Ice

Wedge of lime

Splash of maraschino cherry juice

Maraschino cherry for garnish

Preparation:Pour rum, amaretto and cherry liqueur in a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake until ingredients are well combined and chilled. Pour into a highball glass filled with ice. Squeeze a lime wedge over drink and drop into glass. Add a pour of cherry juice and garnish with a maraschino cherry.

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(¸.·*  Lena Austin
http://www.LenaAustin.com
http://depravedduchess.blogspot.com

Recipe: Candy Crunch

Candy Crunch

• Yield: About 1 3/4 pounds
• Nutrition: See Below
• Prep Time: 10 Minutes
• Cook Time: 5 Minutes

Recipe Tools

Ingredients

• 4 cups (half of 15 oz. bag) pretzel sticks or pretzel twists
• 4 cups (24 oz.) white chocolate chips
• 1 (14 oz.) can Eagle Brand® Sweetened Condensed Milk
• 1 cup dried fruit (dried cranberries, raisins or mixed dried fruit bits)

Instructions

• LINE a 15 x 10-inch jellyroll pan with foil. Place pretzels in large bowl.
• MELT chips with sweetened condensed milk in large saucepan over low heat. Cook and stir constantly until smooth. Pour over pretzels, stirring to coat.
• SPREAD mixture immediately into prepared pan. Sprinkle with dried fruit; press down lightly with back of spoon. Chill 1 to 2 hours or until set. Break into chunks.

Lena Austin
http://www.lenaaustin.com/
http://depravedduchess.blogspot.com/

Holiday Recipe: Impossible Hot Toddy Pie

Who can resist a Hot Toddy on a cold night? Not me!

Impossible Hot Toddy Pie

1 1/2 c. canned eggnog

1/2 c. sugar

1/2 c. Bisquick

4 eggs

2 T rum OR 1 tsp rum flavoring

ground nutmeg

Spiced Whipped Cream (optional)

Heat oven to 350F. Spray a pie plate with non-stick cooking spray, butter flavored is best. Place all ingredients except nutmeg in blender or food processor. Cover and blend on high 15 seconds. Pour into prepared pie plate. Sprinkle with nutmeg. Bake until knife inserted in center comes out clean, about 40 minutes. Cool at least 5 minutes. Serve with Spiced Whipped Cream if desired.

Spiced Whipped Cream: Beat 1/2 cup chilled whipping cream in a chilled bowl, adding 1 T. sugar and 1/4 tsp. ground nutmeg until stiff peaks form. Do not over beat.

Note from Lena: I'm not kidding on the chilled bowl for the whipped cream. Place your mixer bowl in the refrigerator before you even make the pie. The colder your bowl is, the easier the whipping of the cream becomes and you're less likely to have it "break" if you're unfamiliar with beating whipped cream to stiff peaks.  

As an alternate, please feel free to use Cool Whip Free or other product of a similar nature.  

Lena Austin

http://www.LenaAustin.com

Writing blog: http://depravedduchess.blogspot.com

Recipe and Pagan blog: http://third-infinity.blogspot.com

Low Carb Diet blog: http://fatfrogdiary.blogspot.com

Recipe: Tres Leches Cake

Tres Leches Cake

Makes 12 to 15 servings

One package (about 18 oz.) white cake mix, plus ingredients to prepare mix

one can (14 ounces) sweetened condensed milk

one cup milk

one cup (1/2 pint) whipping cream

one container (8 oz.) whipped topping, thawed

fresh fruit

1.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Spray a 13 by 9 by 2 inch baking pan with nonstick cooking spray.

2.  Prepare cake mix according to package directions.  Bake about 35 to 40 minutes or until cake is firm to the touch.  Remove cake from oven; cool five minutes.

3.  Meanwhile, combine sweetened condensed milk, milk and whipping cream in a four cup measure.  Poke holes all around the warm cake, using a wooden skewer or toothpick.  Slowly pour milk mixture evenly over top of holes on cake.  Let cake cool 10 to 15 minutes more to absorb all liquid.  Cover and refrigerate cake in pan at least one hour.

4.  When cake is completely cool, spread whipped topping evenly on top.  Cut into pieces and serve with fresh fruit.  Keep cake covered and refrigerated.

  *´¨)
¸.· ´¸.·*´¨)
(¸.·*  Lena Austin
http://www.LenaAustin.com
http://depravedduchess.blogspot.com

Hot Spiced Cider

Hot Spiced Cider

8 cups apple cider or apple juice
1/4-1/2 cup brown sugar
6 inches stick cinnamon
1 tsp whole allspice
1 tsp whole cloves
8 thin orange wedges or slices (optional)
8 whole cloves (optional)

In a large saucepan combine apple cider and brown sugar. For a spice bag, place
cinnamon, allspice, and 1 tsp whole cloves in a double thickness of cheesecloth.
Bring up corners of cheesecloth and tie with string. add spice bag to cider
mixture.

Bring to boiling; reduce heat. Cover and simmer at least 10 minutes. Meanwhile,
stud orange wedges with whole cloves. Remove and discard the spice bag. Serve
the cider in mugs with a studded orange wedge in each. Makes 8 (1 cup) servings.

Note from Lena-- Use the crock pot and don't bother with the boiling. Set it all
up and let it simmer on Low at least 4 hours. No peeking! Serve it up with the
orange wedges.

Source: 1989 BHG cookbook
Lena Austin
http://www.lenaaustin.com/
http://depravedduchess.blogspot.com/

The Control Journal saved me!

The week before Christmas, my DH Randy became deathly ill. What started out as a cold-like flu morphed horribly into a very bad case of pneumonia, though I didn't know it at the time. When Randy asked to see a doctor, I knew then he was very sick. I took him to Solantic and they called an ambulance!

I had minutes to make the necessary phone calls, grab up our roomie, and drive to the hospital. I knew better than to break speed laws, much as I wanted to. While at the house picking up our roomie, I also quickly packed a few necessities for my husband's comfort. Then, I remembered one thing I'd need-- my Control Journal.

In my Control Journal was many of the things that kept me organized and --as the name implied-- in control. While our roomie drove us to the hospital, I updated the journal and made a few notes to myself as to who to call. The emergency section wasn't as filled out as I'd like, but you live and learn. That minor problem has been corrected.

As my husband was transferred from the ER of one hospital to a bed in another hospital and finally the ICU, my Control Journal and my FlyLady routines kept me from chaos both at home and while sitting at my DH's side. Now my DH is recovering, yet my house is clean and my sink is shiny.

I highly recommend the Control Journals. There's one for almost everyone and every need-- the housewife, the student, the teacher, the working woman, the financial problems, losing weight (called Body Clutter), and even one just for keeping control during the holidays.

www.flylady.net/images/OCJ.pdf is my personal control journal choice because I work at home, but if you Google "FlyLady Control Journal" you'll find a nice selection. You can also go to http://www.flylady.net/ to see and learn how to finally love yourself (FLY) and gain control over CHAOS (Can't Have Anyone Over Syndrome.) You'll be glad you did.

Lena Austin
http://www.lenaaustin.com/
http://depravedduchess.blogspot.com/

Recipe: Easy Fudge

Reduced Fat Chocolate Fudge
3 cups (18 oz) semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 14-oz can fat-free sweetened condensed milk
dash salt
1-1/2 tsp vanilla extract

1. In a heavy saucepan over low heat, melt the chips, milk, and salt. Stir
constantly. Your patience will be rewarded.

2. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla.
3. Spread evenly into a wax paper lined square pan.
4. Chill 2 hours or until firm. Turn fudge out on a cutting board and peel the
paper off. Cut into 28 squares. Store chilled.


Website URL: http://www.LenaAustin.com/
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Catitude

Recipe: Friendship Tea to Give as a Gift

When I was a kid, this was the gift to get from my mother.

Friendship Tea

18 oz Tang orange drink mix

1 cup instant iced tea

2 cups granulated sugar or Splenda

1 package lemonade Kool-aid mix

1-1/2 tsp ground cinnamon

3/4 tsp ground cloves

Mix and place in a well-sealed jar or other decorative container. For hot tea, mix 2/3 T of mix and 1 cup hot water.

Lena Austin
http://www.lenaaustin.com/
http://depravedduchess.blogspot.com/

RECIPE: Tres Leches Cake from Lena Austin

I'm lazy! Using a cake mix to save time suits me. This turns out delish! Because it's white, it lends itself to a holiday celebration.

Lena

Tres Leches Cake

Makes 12 to 15 servings

One package (about 18 oz.) white cake mix, plus ingredients to prepare mix

one can (14 ounces) sweetened condensed milk

one cup milk

one cup (1/2 pint) whipping cream

one container (8 oz.) whipped topping, thawed

fresh fruit

1.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Spray a 13 by 9 by 2 inch baking pan with nonstick cooking spray.

2.  Prepare cake mix according to package directions.  Bake about 35 to 40 minutes or until cake is firm to the touch.  Remove cake from oven; cool five minutes.

3.  Meanwhile, combine sweetened condensed milk, milk and whipping cream in a four cup measure.  Poke holes all around the warm cake, using a wooden skewer or toothpick.  Slowly pour milk mixture evenly over top of holes on cake.  Let cake cool 10 to 15 minutes more to absorb all liquid.  Cover and refrigerate cake in pan at least one hour.

4.  When cake is completely cool, spread whipped topping evenly on top.  Cut into pieces and serve with fresh fruit.  Keep cake covered and refrigerated.

.

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Recipe: Snowballs

I've been making these since I was seventeen. That's over 30 years.

Snowballs

1/2 c. confectioner's 10x sugar

1/4 tsp salt

1 cup butter, softened

1 tsp vanilla

2-1/4 c all purpose flour

1/2 c chopped pecans

More 10x sugar (an extra bag is wise)

Makes 5 dozen, so set up a lot of cookie sheets while the dough chills. You may use silicon mats, if desired.

Mix the first three ingredients together well. Stir in the vanilla. Now gradually add the flour. Be patient. When all the flour is gone, now work in the nuts. Cover the bowl with foil and chill it well, at least an hour or two.

Pour the extra confectioner's sugar into a shallow bowl or pie plate. If you have helpers, give them each their own pie plate and storage container. From here on, everything moves pretty quickly, so being set up in advance makes the process go more smoothly.

Turn your oven on to 400F now and allow it to warm up. Use a melon baller, teaspoon measure, or a small child's hands to form the dough into 1-inch balls. Don't be tempted to make them larger. Place them on ungreased cookie sheets. Bake at 400F for 8-10 minutes until set but not brown. As soon as you can pick them up, roll them in the powdered sugar and put them on a rack to cool. Roll them again in the sugar, then put in storage containers.  You may use any leftover sugar to pack around the cookies for storage, if they make it to the pantry at all.

Lena Austin
http://www.lenaaustin.com/
http://depravedduchess.blogspot.com/

Decisions, Decisions...Will you help?

Please email me at: voiceomt2002@gmail.com

I need help deciding what to take with me to a Christmas party. Here are my choices:

1. Creamy Coffee Eggnog made with coffee, eggnog, whipped topping, and cinnamon (Really high carb, and easily served cold)

2. Crock Pot Chai-- a hot chai tea mix kept warm in the crock pot (Easy, hot, but difficult to transport)

3. Freezer Canapes-- meat spreads served on small bread squares. (Convenient, but I can't eat any because of the bread.)

Lena Austin
http://www.lenaaustin.com/
http://depravedduchess.blogspot.com/

Recipe: Christmas Blondies

Christmas Blondies

Ingredients

• 2/3  cup  butter, softened
• 2  cups  packed brown sugar
• 2  large  eggs
• 1  Tbsp.  cherry brandy or cherry juice (optional)
• 1-1/2  tsp.  baking powder
• 2  tsp.  vanilla
• 1/4  tsp.  salt
• 2-1/4  cups  all-purpose flour
• 1  cup  chopped walnuts, toasted*
• 3/4  cup  chopped white or dark sweet chocolate
• 1/2  cup  coarsely chopped candied cherries

Directions

1. Heat oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly grease a 13x9-inch baking pan.
2. In large mixing bowl beat butter on medium speed 30 seconds. Add brown sugar; beat until well-combined. Beat in eggs, brandy, baking powder, vanilla, and salt. Add flour; beat just until blended. Stir in nuts, chocolate, and cherries. Spread in prepared pan.
3. Bake 30 minutes or until golden. Cool completely in pan on wire rack. Cut in bars. Makes 24 bars.
4. *Spread nuts in shallow baking pan. Toast in 350 degree F oven for 5 minutes.

Nutrition Facts

• Calories240,
• Total Fat (g)10,
• Saturated Fat (g)5,
• Monounsaturated Fat (g)2,
• Polyunsaturated Fat (g)3,
• Cholesterol (mg)32,
• Sodium (mg)125,
• Carbohydrate (g)34,
• Total Sugar (g)24,
• Fiber (g)1,
• Protein (g)3,
• Calcium (DV%)5,
• Iron (DV%)5,
• Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet

Lena Austin
http://www.lenaaustin.com/
http://depravedduchess.blogspot.com/

Recipe: Cherry Almond Balls

 

http://www.LenaAust in.comhttp://depravedduch ess.blogspot. comhttp://third- infinity. blogspot. comhttp://fatfrogdiary .blogspot. com

I made these the other day. OMG, they are candy...don' t treat them like anything else. Oh, and keep the dough chilled. Do not neglect the sprinkles. You need a coating.

  

 
Writing blog:
Craft and Pagan blog:
Low Carb Diet blog:

Lena Austin

.

Recipe: Exquisite Eggnog

 So, here's my secret family recipe for eggnog. (Warning-- contains raw eggs)

  http://www.LenaAust in.com
Writing blog: http://depravedduch ess.blogspot. com
Craft and Pagan blog: http://third- infinity. blogspot. com
Low Carb Diet blog: http://fatfrogdiary .blogspot. com

Lena Austin

.

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Recipe: Crock Pot Chai Tea (Make ahead)

Crock Pot Chai Tea

2 quarts (8 cups) water
8 bags black tea
3/4 cup sugar or Splenda **
16 whole cloves
16 whole cardamom seeds, pods removed
5 cinnamon sticks
8 slices fresh ginger
1 cup milk
Optional: more cinnamon sticks

** Chai is generally a sweet drink, but you may reduce the sweetener to taste

If whole spices are not easily available, you may use powders. However, you will

wish to strain through several layers of cheesecloth or a coffee filter before
serving.**

1. Combine water, tea bags, sugar, cloves, cardamom, cinnamon sticks and ginger
in your slow cooker. Cover and cook on HIGH 2-2.5 hours.

2. Strain mixture and discard solids. (At this point, the chai tea may be
covered and refrigerated up to 3 days.)

3. Just before serving, stir in the milk. Serve warm or chilled with additional
cinnamon sticks for garnishes, if desired.

Makes 8-10 servings.

Thanksgiving Leftovers 1-- Thanksgiving Pie

From http://www.savingdinner.com/

Alice Johnston's Thanksgiving Pie
Serves 4 to 6

Leftover gravy, heated
Leftover turkey, chopped
Leftover stuffing/dressing (whatever you call it at your house)
Leftover mashed potatoes
Leftover veggies
Leftover cranberries

Preheat 375 degrees.

In an 8 to 9 inch pie pan, press the leftover stuffing into a bottom to make a pie shell of sorts. Next, make a layer of potatoes, then veggies. Add the chopped turkey to the heated gravy and mix well. Pour that turkey mixture into the middle of your pie and put it in the oven. Bake for 20 minutes or so until completely heated through. Serve with leftover cranberries.

Note from Lena: Yeah, yeah! I know, you're not sure this will taste good. Trust me. The dressing/stuffing makes a fantastic crusty pie shell. In fact, you may want to make this in a casserole dish. The guys were disappointed there was "so little."

 Lena Austin

http://www.lenaaustin.com/
http://depravedduchess.blogspot.com/

Recipe: Roast Turkey with Sage Butter

Lena Austin
http://www.lenaaustin.com/
http://depravedduchess.blogspot.com/

--
http://www.isabellajordan.com
http://twitter.com/isyjordan

Recipe: Praline Yams

This recipe has been in my stash for the past twenty-plus years. I got it off a can of yams, and it's been the best recipe I've found to date. If you serve a lot of folks with a sweet tooth, double or triple this. You've been warned.

 

Can't see it? Go here: http://depravedduchess.blogspot.com/2009/11/praline-yams.html

Majesty Mysteries: Silver Spider-- Coming in December

Http://www.changeli ngpress.com

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Recipe: Apple Caramel Pie in the Crock Pot

Apple Carmel Pie

Fix-It and Forget-It Cookbook Revised and Updated, p. 248

Sue Hamilton, Minooka, IL

Makes 8-10 servings

Prep. Time: 5 minutes

Cooking Time: 3 hours

Ideal slow-cooker size: 4- to 5-qt.

2-crust refrigerated pie dough pkg.

2 22-oz. cans apple pie filling

1 tsp. cinnamon

12 caramel candies

1. Press one crust into half the bottom of a cold slow cooker, and an inch or so up half its interior side. Overlap by ¼ inch the second crust with the first crust in center of slow cooker bottom. Press remainder of second crust an inch or so up the remaining side of the cooker. Press seams flat where two crusts meet.

2. Cover. Cook on High 1½ hours.

3. In a bowl, mix together pie filling, cinnamon, and caramels.

4. Pour mixture into hot crust.

5. Cover. Cook on High an additional 1½ hours.

Coming Soon!
A Haunted Halloween Blog Tour
Lena Austin
http://www.lenaaustin.com/
http://depravedduchess.blogspot.com/

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Posted By Lena Austin to Duchess of Depravity at 9/26/2010 07:13:00 AM