From Jean Pare’s Company’s Coming Christmas Celebrations

Crust:

1/2 cup butter

1 3/4 cups graham cracker crumbs

1 tsp. grated orange zest

Cheesecake:

3/4 cup milk

1/4 cup dark rum

1 1/2 pkgs unflavoured gelatin (1 1/2 Tbsp.)

2 blocks (8 oz/each) cream cheese, softened

2 cups eggnog

1 box (4-serving size) instant vanilla pudding powder

1/4 tsp. EACH ground cinnamon and ground nutmeg

1 cup whipping cream

Whole cranberries, for garnish

Crust: In a medium saucepan, melt butter. Remove from heat. Add graham crumbs and orange zest. Mix well. Press firmly into bottom and 1 inch up side of greased 9-inch springform pan. Chill for 1 hour.

Cheesecake: In a small saucepan, combine milk and rum. Sprinkle gelatin over top. Let stand for 1 minute. Heat and stir on medium-low heat for about 1 minute until gelatin is dissolved. Remove from heat. Let stand for 5 minutes.

In a large bowl, beat cream cheese for about 3 minutes until smooth. Slowly add gelatin mixture, beating constantly until smooth. Add eggnog, vanilla pudding powder, cinnamon and nutmeg. Beat well.

In a medium bowl, beat whipping cream until soft peaks form. Fold into eggnog mixture. Spread evenly in crust. Chill for about 3 hours until set. Garnish with cranberries. Top with favourite citrus topping, if you like.

Serves 14-16. ]]> http://www.xmasradio.ca/christmas/music/decadent-dessert/feed/ 0 http://www.xmasradio.ca/christmas/music/christmas-cocktails/ http://www.xmasradio.ca/christmas/music/christmas-cocktails/#comments Wed, 10 Dec 2008 16:00:36 +0000 admin http://www.xmasradio.ca/?p=86

Candy Cane Martini

·                       1 1/2 ounces vanilla vodka

·                       1/2 ounce peppermint schnapps

·                       1 ounce club soda

·                       crushed candy canes for garnish

Rim a martini glass with crushed candy canes. Mix vodka, schnapps, and club soda with ice in a cocktail shaker; strain into prepared glass.

Ingredients
2-1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup molasses
1 egg
1-1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1/2 teaspoon grated or ground nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt

Makes about 2 dozen
Preparation time: 30 minutes
Chilling time: 1 hour
Baking time: 8 minutes

Step 1:
In a large bowl, with mixer at slow speed, beat flour, sugar, butter, molasses, egg, cinnamon, baking powder, ginger, cloves, nutmeg, baking soda, and salt until well mixed. Cover and refrigerate 1 hour.

Step 2:
Preheat oven to 350°F. On a lightly floured surface, working with half of the dough at a time, roll 1/8 inch thick. With floured cookie cutters, cut dough into shapes. Using a spatula, place cookies 1/2 inch apart on greased cookie sheets. Bake 8 minutes, or until very lightly browned. Transfer cookies to racks to cool before decorating with icing. ]]> http://www.xmasradio.ca/christmas/music/christmas-cookies-to-make-with-the-kids/feed/ 0