Monday, December 17, 2007

Cathy's Famous Bits n Bites

My grandfather's wife must have started her Christmas baking in August every year, as there was always enough to feed an army! Not only at the table, but there were food-related gifts in everyone's stockings as well. This will be our first Christmas without her, and I'm attempting to keep her tradition alive (albeit on a much smaller scale) by making and distributing my favourite of her holiday recipes.

1/2 box Crispix
1/2 box small Ritz crackers
1 1/2 - 2 cups mini pretzels
2 cups mixed nuts
1 pkg ranch style dressing powder
1/8 tsp cumin
1 tsp garlic powder
1/4 cup vegetable oil
3-5 tsp dill weed

Preheat oven to 400°F.
Mix together cereal, crackers, pretzels, and nuts.
Add dressing powder, cumin, garlic powder, vegetable oil, and dill. Mix well.
Put in 9X13 baking pan, put pan into oven. Turn oven off, and leave until mixture is cold.

Chocolate Orange Biscotti

I can't believe I haven't posted this one yet, it's a definite favourite! Delicious, easy to make, and perfect for holiday potlucks. Source is here, at Epicurious.com.

2 cups plus 2 tablespoons all purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature
2 large eggs
2 tablespoons Grand Marnier or other orange liqueur
1 tablespoon grated orange peel
1 cup pecans, lightly toasted, coarsely chopped
6 ounces bittersweet (not unsweetened) chocolate, chopped

Line large baking sheet with parchment paper. Whisk flour, baking powder, and salt in medium bowl to blend. Using electric mixer, beat sugar and butter in large bowl to blend. Beat in eggs 1 at a time, then Grand Marnier and orange peel. Add flour mixture and beat until blended. Stir in pecans and chocolate. Gather dough together; divide in half. Wrap in plastic and freeze 20 minutes to firm.

Position rack in center of oven; preheat to 350°F. Using floured hands, form each dough piece into 14-inch-long, 2 1/2-inch-wide log. Transfer logs to prepared baking sheet, spacing 2 inches apart. Bake until light golden, about 30 minutes. Transfer parchment with logs to rack. Cool 20 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 300°F.

Place 1 log on cutting board. Using serrated knife, cut log on diagonal into 1/2-inch-thick slices. Stand slices upright on baking sheet. Repeat with remaining log.

Bake biscotti until dry to touch and pale golden, about 30 minutes. Cool completely on rack. (Can be made 1 week ahead. Store in airtight container.)