Serves: 4

• Ingredients

4 large baking apples
2 teaspoons raisins
2 teaspoons soft butter
2 teaspoons sliced almonds
4 teaspoons melted red currant jelly
2 tablespoons sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 cup dark rum

• preparation

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Cut apples in halves horizontally, remove core.
Combine raisins, butter, sliced almonds, and melted red currant jelly.
Spoon in core of apple halves.
Sprinkle a mixture of sugar and cinnamon over apples.
Pour a splash of dark rum over apples.
Bake till tender.

Serves: 12

• Ingredients

Topping:
1/3 cup packed brown sugar
3 tablespoons chopped pecans
1 1/2 tablespoons flour
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
2 teaspoons butter
Cake:
2 cups chopped peeled apples
1/2 cup raisins
1 tablespoon sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
2/3 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup sugar
1/3 cup canola oil
3 eggs
1 tablespoon grated orange rind
2 teaspoons vanilla
1 2/3 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 cup light sour cream
1/3 cup orange juice

• preparation

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Butter a 10-inch springform pan.
Topping:
Mix together brown sugar, pecans, flour and cinnamon; blend in butter.
Cake:
Mix together apples, raisins, 1 tablespoon sugar and cinnamon. Beat together brown sugar, sugar and oil. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each. Beat in orange rind and vanilla. Mix together flour, baking powder and soda. Mix together sour cream and orange juice. Add flour mixture and sour cream mixture alternately to egg mixture, mixing just until blended. Stir in half of apple mixture.
Spread batter into pan.
Top with remaining apple mixture and sprinkle with Topping. Bake for 45 to 50 minutes or until tester inserted in centre comes out clean. Let cool on wire rack. Cake can be frozen.

Serves: 8

• Ingredients

1/2 cup butter, softened
1 egg
1 cup molasses
2 1/4 cups flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 cup apple sauce
3/4 cup raisins

• preparation

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Cream butter and egg. Add molasses. Stir in dry ingredients, apple sauce, and raisins.
Bake in a buttered-floured 8-inch square dish 40 to 45 minutes.

Serves: 8

• Ingredients

6 phyllo sheets
1/2 cup melted butter
3 cups diced apples, peeled and cored
1/2 cup raisins
3 tablespoons dark rum
1/2 cup dry bread crumbs
2 ounces melted butter
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 tablespoon melted butter
confectioners's sugar
vanilla ice cream

• preparation

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
Brush phyllo leaves with melted butted.
Stack together to fit in a baking sheet.
Soak raisins in dark rum.
Brown dry bread crumbs with melted butter.
In a mixing bowl, combine apples, raisins, crumbs, brown sugar,
chopped walnuts, ground cinnamon, and lemon juice.
Mix ingredients well.
Spoon filling on the lower end of phyllo in a heap, lengthwise.
Roll strudel like a jelly roll. Brush top with 1 tablespoon melted butter.
Bake 40 to 45 minutes or until apples are soft.

Serves: 6

• Ingredients

For sauce:
2 cups cranberries
1 cup sugar
1 cup water
3 tablespoons kirsch

For strudel:
1/4 cup raisins
1 1/2 tablespoons kirsch
3 medium granny smith apples, peeled, cored, cut 1/3-inch pieces
1/2 cup + 3 tablespoons gingersnap cookie crumbs
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
9 sheets phyllo
powdered sugar

• preparation

Sauce:
Combine Cranberries, sugar, water and kirsch in heavy medium saucepan.
Bring to boil, stirring until sugar dissolves.
Reduce heat and cook until most berries burst, about 10 minutes.
Cool slightly. Transfer to processor and purée.
Strudel:
Combine raisins and kirsch in small bowl. Let stand 1 hour.
Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
Combine apples, 1/2 cup crumbs, sugar and raisin mixture in bowl.
Brush large baking sheet with some of melted butter.
Place 1 phyllo sheet on work surface with 1 long side parallel to edge of work surface.
Sprinkle 1 teaspoon of cookie crumbs over.
Top with second phyllo.
Brush with butter, sprinkle with 1 teaspoon of crumbs.
Repeat with remaining phyllo sheets, melted butter and gingersnap crumbs.
Spoon apple mixture in 3-inch wide log along 1 long side of phyllo,
leaving 2-inch border at long and short edges.
Fold bottom long side over filling, then fold in short sides and roll up jelly roll style.
Transfer strudel to baking sheet, seam side down. Brush top with butter.
Bake strudel 15 minutes. Brush with remaining butter.
Bake until golden, about 30 minutes more.
Cool on baking sheet. Lightly sift powdered sugar over.
Cut into portions. Arrange on serving plates.
Spoon sauce around strudel.

Serves: 6

• Ingredients

1/2 cup raisins
1/4 cup rum
1 tablespoon yeast
1/3 cup warm milk
1 cup flour
2 eggs
5 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
pinch salt
1 teaspoon sugar

SYRUP:
1 cup sugar
3/4 cup water
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/4 cup dark rum
3/4 cup apricot glaze
2 kiwis, peeled and sliced
1 cup strawberries, cleaned and sliced
1 cup whipped cream

• preparation

In a small bowl, soak raisins with 1/4 cup rum and set aside.
In a large bowl, dissolve yeast with milk. Let rise in a warm place for 10 minutes.
Mix in the flour and eggs, beating well until dough is smooth. Cover the bowl, and let rise at room temperature for 45 minutes. Mix the softened butter, salt and sugar in the dough, slapping it against the sides of the bowl. Mix in the rum-soaked raisins.
Fill individual buttered molds 2.5 inch high by 1.75 inch diameter about half full. Let rise until molds are full. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 to 25 minutes.
For syrup: Combine the sugar and water in a saucepan. Bring to a boil, stirring to dissolve the sugar. Remove from heat, and cool until lukewarm. Add the vanilla and rum.
Soak the babas in the syrup to absorb as much of the syrup as possible. Heat the apricot glaze, and brush over the babas. Place the soaked babas on plates. Pipe rosettes of whipped cream on plates. Decorate with kiwis and strawberries.
SAVARIN is a ring-shaped cake made with the above recipe.

Serves: 12

• Ingredients

1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup brown sugar
2/3 cup mashed bananas
1 tablespoon molasses
1 1/4 cups flour
1/2 cup natural bran
1/4 cup wheat germ
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 pinch salt
1 egg
1/2 cup buttermilk
1/4 cup raisins

• preparation

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
Cream butter, sugar, molasses then add bananas.
Add all dry ingredients with egg and buttermilk. Whisk until batter is smooth. Pour batter in greased muffin tins.
Bake for 20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

Serves: 12

• Ingredients

3 cups all bran cereal
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 cup raisins
1 cup boiling water
2 1/4 cups whole wheat flour
1 cup brown sugar
2 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 eggs
2 cups buttermilk *

• preparation

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
Mix together the bran cereal, oil and raisins. Pour on the boiling water and let stand while preparing remaining ingredients.
Combine the flour, sugar, soda and salt. Lightly beat the eggs and mix with the buttermilk.
Add to cereal mixture and mix well. Add flour mixture and mix only until combined.
Pour batter in greased muffin tins.
Let stand at least 15 minutes before baking. Do not stir. Bake for about 20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Remove muffins from cups while hot.
* You can replace the 2 cups buttermilk with 2 teaspoons vinegar or lemon juice and milk.

Serves: 8

• Ingredients

FOR BREAD PUDDING:
6 cups raisin bread, cubed
4 ounces melted butter
5 eggs
5 cups milk
3/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup raisins
1 teaspoon vanilla

FOR VANILLA SAUCE:
1/2 cup heavy cream
1/4 cup sugar
2 egg yolks
1 tablespoon flour
1/4 teaspoon vanilla
2 scoops vanilla ice cream

• preparation

BREAD PUDDING
Cut bread slices into one inch squares and toast in a hot oven. Place in the bottom of a casserole dish and drizzle with melted butter. Combine remaining ingredients and pour over bread. Bake at 350
degrees until custard is firm, approximately 45 minutes.

VANILLA SAUCE:
Combine cream and sugar in a two quart saucepan and bring just to a boil. Remove from heat. In a mixing bowl, beat egg yolks, flour, vanilla and salt; stir in a little of the hot cream. Add this mixture to the rest of the hot cream. Cook, stirring constantly until just thickened. Remove from heat and add ice cream, stirring until melted. Strain. Serve with Bread Pudding.

Serves: 6

• Ingredients

5 cups broccoli florets ( from 1 large head)
1/2 pound bacon, cooked crisp and crumbled
1/2 cup raisins
1 cup unsalted sunflower seeds, toasted
Dressing:
2/3 cup olive oil
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
1 cup chopped red onion
salt and pepper to taste

• preparation

Cook broccoli in medium pot of boiling salted water until crisp-tender, about 4 minutes. Drain. Immerse in ice cold water. Drain well.

Dressing:
Whisk oil and vinegar in medium bowl to blend. Mix in chopped red onion. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Combine broccoli, bacon and raisins in large bowl. Toss with dressing to coat.
Garnish with sunflower seeds. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

Serves: 12

• Ingredients

1 1/4 cups whole wheat flour
1 1/4 cups high fiber bran cereal
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
2 eggs
1 cup grated carrots
3/4 cup buttermilk
1/3 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1/2 cup raisins

• preparation

In a large bowl, stir flour, cereal, baking powder, baking soda and seasonings.
In a separate bowl, beat eggs thoroughly. Stir in carrots, buttermilk, brown sugar and oil.
Add to dry ingredients just until moistened. Stir in raisins. Spoon into greased muffin cups 3/4 full and bake at 400 degrees F. for 15 to 18 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Transfer muffins on a rack to cool.

Serves: 4

• Ingredients

1/2 cup pine nuts
1/2 cup golden raisins
3 tablespoons olive oil
4 cloves garlic, peeled and minced
1 medium head cauliflower, rinsed and trimmed to 1-inch pieces
1/2 teaspoon red-pepper flakes
7 anchovy fillets, minced
3 tablespoons capers
1 cup white wine
coarse salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
1 pound dried rigatoni
10 fresh basil leaves, very thinly sliced
roasted pepper, for garnish (recipe follows)

• preparation

1. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat.
Add pine nuts, and toast, stirring frequently until golden brown, about 5 minutes. Set aside in a small bowl.
2. Place raisins in a small bowl. Cover with 1 cup warm water. Set aside to plump, about 10 minutes.
3. Heat olive oil in the same large skillet over medium-low heat. Sauté garlic and cauliflower until golden, about 5 minutes. Add pepper flakes, anchovies, capers, and wine. Simmer 2 to 3 minutes. Meanwhile, drain raisins, discarding water. Add raisins; season with salt and black pepper. Cook, covered, 10 to 12 minutes, until cauliflower is fork-tender. Uncover, and let liquid reduce slightly over high heat, 1 to 2 minutes.
4. Meanwhile, cook rigatoni in salted boiling water until just tender, about 10 minutes or following label instructions. Drain; toss into warm cauliflower mixture. Just before serving, toss pasta with basil and pine nuts. Garnish with roasted pepper.

ROASTED PEPPER
1 yellow or red bell pepper.
Heat a gas burner to high. Place pepper over flame. Roast until blackened all over, turning as necessary. Wrap pepper in a paper towel, enclosing completely. Let steam for 2 minutes. Unwrap, and peel blackened skin from pepper, using a paper towel. Discard skin. Stem and seed pepper.

Serves: 10

• Ingredients

3/4 cup butter
1 1/4 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
1 egg
1/3 cup milk
1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
3 cup quick oats
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1 cup raisins
1 cup chopped walnuts

• preparation

Heat oven to 375 degrees F.
Grease baking sheet.
Combine shortening, light brown sugar, egg, milk and vanilla in large bowl and beat with an electric mixer at medium speed until well blended.
Combine oats, flour, baking soda, salt and cinnamon and cream together with mixer at low speed until just blended.
Stir in raisins and nuts.
Drop rounded tablespoonfuls of dough 2" apart onto baking sheet.
Bake at 375'F. for 10-12 minutes, or until lightly browned.
Cool 2 minutes on baking sheet. Remove to foil on counter top.

Serves: 15

• Ingredients

6 oz (175 g) pitted prunes
6 oz (175 g) dried apricots
4 oz (125 g) dried pineapple
4 oz (125 g) dried black Mission figs,
hard stem ends removed
4 oz (125 g) dried cherries
4 oz (125 g) Thompson raisins
4 oz (125 g) golden raisins
3/4 cup (175 mL) port
1/2 cup (125 mL) dark rum
1/2 cup (125 mL) brandy
1 tbsp (15 mL) honey
1 cinnamon stick, 3 inches (8 cm) long
2 tsp (10 mL) grated lemon rind
1½ cups (375 mL) all-purpose flour
2 tsp (10 mL) baking powder
1¼ tsp (6 mL) salt
1/4 tsp (1 mL) ground nutmeg
1/4 tsp (1 mL) cinnamon
1/8 tsp (0.5 mL) ground cloves
1/8 tsp (0.5 mL) ground allspice
1 cup (250 mL) unsalted butter, softened
1½ cups (375 mL) demerara sugar, packed
4 large eggs, at room temperature

• preparation

Cut prunes,apricots, pineapple and figs into small pieces (smaller than ½ inch/1 cm). Put in a Dutch oven or large heavy pot along with cherries, raisins, port, rum, brandy, bitters, honey and cinnamon stick. Place pot over medium-low heat and bring to a gentle simmer, stirring occasionally, for 8 minutes or until fruit mixture is plump and most of the liquid has been absorbed. Stir in grated lemon rind. Scrape into a large glass or ceramic bowl, cover tightly with plastic wrap, and let stand for a few days, or ideally a week, stir ring every few days.
2 Preheat oven to 275°F (140°C). Grease 5mini loaf pans, 5 x 2 x 2 inches (13 x 5 x 5 cm) approx., and fully line with parchment paper.
3 Combine flour, baking powder, salt, nutmeg, cinnamon, cloves and all-spice in a small bowl and stir with a fork until uniform.
4 Beat butter and sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer until light and fluffy. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating really well between additions and scraping down sides as needed to keep batter from separating. Add flour mixtureand beat until just combined (batter will be on the thin side). Scrape in dried fruit mixture and any syrupy liquid and stir until just combined.
Divide batter between prepared pans and bake for 2 hours 20 minutes or until cakes are deeply golden and a cake tester comes out with crumbs clinging to it.
5 Let cakes cool in pans for 10 minutes, then carefully turn out ontowire racks, peel off parchment paper and let cool fully. Wrap cooled cakes well and keep in airtight containers until ready to eat or share. No aging necessary.

Serves: 24

Mince pies can be made ahead, frozen and reheated as required.
Fruit mince will keep for months in an airtight container in refrigerator. The flavors will intensify the longer it is left before using.

• Ingredients

300g (2 cups) plain flour
1/4 tsp baking powder
6 1/2 oz 185g unsalted butter, chopped
55g (1/4 cup) sugar, plus extra for sprinkling
2 egg yolks
1-2 tbsp lemon juice
1 egg white, whisked

for the cranberry studded mince- makes about 600ml / 2½ cups

2 oz - 60 ml brandy, rum or ruby port
2 1/2 oz - 75 grams soft dark brown sugar
11 oz - 300 grams cranberries, chopped
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground ginger
½ teaspoon ground cloves
3 oz - 75 grams currants
3 oz - 75 grams raisins
1 oz -30 grams dried cranberries
finely grated zest and juice of 1 clementine
2 tbsp brandy
3 drops almond extract
½ teaspoon vanilla extract
2 tablespoons honey

• preparation

Preheat oven to 375 F - 190°C .
Sift flour and baking powder into a bowl. Rub in butter using fingertips until mixture resembles breadcrumbs. Stir in the sugar. Add egg yolks and enough lemon juice to bring ingredients together to form a dough.
Knead dough gently on a lightly floured surface until smooth. Halve, wrap in plastic wrap and chill for at least 30 minutes. Roll out one pastry half between 2 sheets of baking paper until 1/4 inch or less, 3-5mm thick. Using a 2 1/2 inch (6.5cm) fluted round cutter, cut out 12 rounds, reserving leftover pastry. Place rounds into one of the prepared pans. Spoon 2 teaspoons of fruit mince into each. Repeat with second pastry half and fruit mince.
Re-roll scraps of pastry and cut into small stars. Top each pie with a star. Brush with egg white and sprinkle with extra sugar. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until golden. Leave to cool completely in pans. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Make the mince fruit in advance.
In a large pan, dissolve the sugar in the brandy, rum or ruby port over a gentle heat. Add the chopped cranberries and stir. Add the cinnamon, ginger and cloves, currants, raisins, dried cranberries and the zest and juice of the clementine. Bring to a gentle simmer and cook for 20 minutes, or until the fruit has broken down and has absorbed most of the liquid in the pan.
Remove from the heat and allow to cool a little. Add the brandy, almond extract, vanilla extract and honey and stir well with a wooden spoon to mash the mixture down into a paste.

Serves: 12

• Ingredients

1 1/4 cups 100% bran cereal
1 can crushed pineapple (14 oz) in juice
1/4 cup milk
1 egg
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/3 cup vegetablesetable oil
1 cup shredded carrots
2 cups flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
2 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup raisins

• preparation

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
Combine cereal, undrained pineapple, and milk. Let stand 5 minutes. Stir in egg, brown sugar, oil and carrots.
In large bowl, mix flour, baking powder, cinnamon, ginger and salt.
Add cereal mix and raisins to dry ingredients stirring just until moist. Fill each muffin cup generously to the top.
Bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
Transfer muffins on a rack to cool.

Serves: 6

A Belgian speciality, this raisin bread is ideal for breakfast or as a snack, cold or toasted,

• Ingredients

530g strong white flour
85g sugar
12g salt
1 x 11g sachet of dry yeast
50ml milk
5 eggs
210g softened butter
140g raisins

• preparation

In a bowl, mix the flour, salt and sugar.

Mix the yeast into the warm milk, pour into the bowl then add the eggs and the softened butter.

Knead until the dough comes away from the sides of the bowl. Add the raisins. Mix again until you have an even consistency.

Bring the dough into a ball, put it back in the bowl and cover with a cloth. Leave to rest in a warm place for one hour until the dough has doubled in volume.

Divide the ball into equal parts and shape them into small balls, then put them in a cake tin or on a baking sheet, cover and leave to rest for two hours.

Bake for about 40 minutes in an oven preheated to 180°C (350F) and keep an eye on them towards the end of the cooking time.

Serves: 12

• Ingredients

9 sheets phyllo
1/2 cup melted butter
1/3 cup sugar

Filling:
3 cups cranberries
4 pears, peeled, cored and diced
1 cup golden raisins
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup orange juice
1 teaspoon cornstarch
1 teaspoon grated orange rind

For garnish:
phyllo flowers and frosted cranberries

• preparation

Filling:
Set aside 1/4 cup of the cranberries for garnish. Combine cranberries, pears, raisins, sugar and orange juice. Bring to boil; cook, covered, over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until pears are almost tender and cranberries pop.
Combine cornstarch with 1 tablespoon cold water; stir into fruit mixture. Cook for about 1 minute. or until thickened. Remove from heat; stir in orange rind. Let cool.
Arrange 1 sheet phyllo on work surface. Brush lightly with butter.
Place in lightly butter 10-inch tart pan with removable bottom, letting excess hang over edge. Sprinkle with 2 teaspoons of the sugar. Brush second sheet with butter, place on first, rotating a quarter turn.
Sprinkle with another 2 teaspoons sugar.
Layer with 2 more sheets, brushing each sheet with butter, sprinkling with sugar and rotating so not aligned with layers below.
Spread filing over phyllo crust. Fold pastry edges over top.
Layer remaining phyllo on top, rotating, buttering and sprinkling with sugar.
Gently fold top pastry under bottom.
Using knife, cut vents in top of pastry.
Tart can be prepared up to this point and refrigerated covered for up to 4 hours.
Bake in 400 degree oven 30-35 minutes until pastry is crisp and golden. Remove from oven; let stand for 10 minutes in pan on rack.
Remove from pan; slide onto serving platter.
Garnish:
Top with phyllo flowers. Scatter Frosted Cranberries on top and around side.
Top with orange rind, and mint (if using) Serve warm. For garnish: Phyllo flowers:
Arrange 2 stacks of phyllo pastry on work surface. cut out six-4 inch circles; wet center of 1 circle with water; top with second circle. Pinch centres together to make flower shapes. Spray with non-stick cooking spray; place in small muffin cups.
Sprinkle with 1/2 teaspoons sugar.
Repeat with remaining circles.
Bake in 400 degree oven until golden.
Frosted Cranberries:
In bowl, lightly beat 1 egg white until frothy. Pour 1/4 cup sugar in shallow bowl. Dip reserved cranberries, a few at a time, in egg white; remove with slotted spoon.
Roll in sugar until coated. Place on paper towel; let dry at room temperature for 1 hour.

Serves: 8

• Ingredients

½ cup plain white rice
1 cup water
½ cup sugar
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1 pinch salt
2 eggs, separated
2 ½ cups milk
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1/2 cup raisins
1/4 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

• preparation

In a heavy bottom pot, combine rice and water. Heat to boiling, stirring once or twice. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 14 minutes, or until all water has been absorbed.
Heat oven to 350 degrees. Blend ½ cup sugar, cornstarch and salt. Beat egg yolks slightly. Add egg yolks and milk to sugar-cornstarch mixture. Whisk to blend. Stir in rice, lemon Juice and raisins. Pour into a 1 ½ quart casserole or baking dish. Place dish in a pan containing boiling water about 1-inch deep.
Bake about 1 ½ hours, stirring occasionally, or until pudding is creamy and most of the liquid is absorbed. Remove pudding from oven, leaving it in the pan of hot water. Sprinkle with cinnamon. Remove from pan when cool. Serve at room temperature.
To make Meringue rice pudding:
Beat egg whites with ½ teaspoon cream of tartar until stiff and glossy. Add 1/4 cup icing sugar. Continue beating for a minute. Spoon Meringue over surface of rice pudding. Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until meringue is golden brown.

Serves: 16

• Ingredients

1 large egg plus
2 whites
2 cups sugar
3/4 cup canola oil plus extra for preparing pan
2 cups all purpose white flour
2/3 cup whole-wheat pastry flour
3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground allspice
3 cups fresh apples, peeled
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 cup raisins
1/2 cup chopped pecans
Granulated or confectioners sugar for dusting cake (optional) Caramel Sauce. Recipe follows.

Caramel Sauce

Makes 1 1/2 cups

1 cup sugar
1 tablespoon butter
3/4 cup evaporated skim milk
1 teaspoon molasses
1/2 teaspoon vanilla

• preparation

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Brush oil over the inside of a 10-inch bundt pan. Dust with flour and tap out the excess.
In a mixing bowl, whish together eggs, sugar and oil. In another bowl, stir together flours, cocoa, salt, cinnamon and allspice.
Using a rubber spatula or a wooden spoon, add the dry ingredients to the oil mixture alternately with the grated apples. Dissolve baking soda 1/4 cup hot water and stir into the batter. Stir in the raisins and nuts. The batter will be thick.
Spoon the batter into the prepared pan and bake for about 1 hour 10 minutes, or until the top springs back when touched lightly and a cake tester inserted in the center comes out clean.
Cool on a wire rack for 10 minutes before unmolding from the pan. Let cool. Sprinkle with sugar or serve with caramel sauce.
Caramel sauce:
In small heavy-bottomed pot, combine sugar and 1/2 cup water. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally. Cook, without stirring, for about 15 minutes, or until the syrup turns amber. (Take care not to burn it.)
Remove from heat and cool 2 minutes. Using a wooden spoon, stir in butter. Gradually stir in milk. Return to the heat and cook, stirring, for about 1 minute, or until caramel has dissolved. Stir in molasses and vanilla.
Serve warm. ( The sauce can be cooled, then stored, covered, in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Warm slightly before serving.)

Serves: 8

The origins of the empanada are not entirely clear, but it seems most likely that they first appeared in Argentina in the kitchens of immigrants from northern Spain, where the dish’s forebear was a larger, double-crusted pie cut into slices.
Once in South America, the empanada — meaning bread-wrapped — continued to evolve from a pie made with dough to individual pockets of pastry crust, often made with animal fat in beef-loving Argentina. The hand-held pies were baked or fried after being filled with whatever was available in the region at the time.


Unbaked empanadas can be made 3 months ahead and kept frozen

• Ingredients

2 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil, divide
1 lb. ground beef (25% fat)
1 medium onion, chopped
1 small red bell peppers, seeded, chopped
Salt, freshly ground pepper
1 Tbsp. ground cumin
1 Tbsp. sweet paprika
1/2 Tbsp. dried oregano
1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper
3/4 cups low-sodium vegetable stock
1 tsp. sugar
½ cup raisins
1 recipe PIE CRUST (Recipe included)
½ cup pitted green olives (Picholine or Spanish), rinsed well, cut in half lengthwise, divided

• preparation

Heat 1 Tbsp. oil in a large pot over high. Cook ground beef, breaking up with a spoon, until browned but not completely cooked through, 6–8 minutes. Transfer to a medium bowl with a slotted spoon, leaving as much fat in pan as possible.
Reduce heat to medium and cook onions, chopped, red bell peppers, seeded, chopped, and remaining 1 Tbsp. oil, stirring, until tender but not browned, 6–8 minutes; season with salt and black pepper. Add ground cumin, sweet paprika, dried oregano, and cayenne pepper and cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add low-sodium chicken stock or broth and reserved beef along with any accumulated juices to pot. Stir in sugar, salt, and black pepper. Bring to a simmer and cook, stirring and scraping up any brown bits, until most of the liquid is evaporated, 15–20 minutes; taste and season with salt and black pepper, if needed. Stir in raisins. Transfer to a medium bowl, cover, and chill at least 3 hours.
Preheat oven to 375°.
Roll the pie crust to 1/4-inch thickness. Cut dough into 5-inch circles. Place 2 Tbsp. filling in the center of each round.
Top with 2 olive halves. Brush water around half of outer edge of each round. Pinch edges to seal.
Using a fork, crimp edges. Transfer empanada to a parchment-lined sheet tray, spacing 1" apart. Repeat with remaining rounds.
Bake empanadas until golden brown and slightly darker around the edges, 25–35 minutes.


Pie crust:

1 pound (3 1/4 cups) all purpose flour
1/2 pound (11/2 cups) shortening
1 teaspoon light brown sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon white vinegar
1 beaten egg
4 tablespoons cold water
In a large bowl, mix together flour, and shortening.
In a small bowl, combine the sugar, salt, vinegar, egg, and water.
Blend all ingredients to form a ball. Add more water if necessary.
Chill dough and use as needed.

Serves: 12

• Ingredients

3/4 cup wheat bran
2 cups whole wheat flour
1/4 cup flax meal
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup golden raisins
1/2 cup chopped dates
1/2 cup chopped dried apricots
1 cup skim-milk buttermilk
1/3 cup molasses
1/3 cup apple butter
1 large egg white
3 tablespoons canola oil
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1 1/2 teaspoons grated lemon zest
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

• preparation

Set rack in upper third of the oven; preheat to 425 degrees.
Coat 12 muffin cups with nonstick cooking spray. Stir together bran, flour, flax, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Stir in raisins, dates and dried apricots.
Whisk together buttermilk, molasses, apple butter, egg white, oil, lemon juice, lemon zest and vanilla. Stir into the dry ingredients just until moistened; do not over mix.
Divide the batter among the prepared muffin cups. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes or until cake tester inserted in the centre comes out clean.
Turn the muffins out onto a rack and let cool before serving.

Serves: 6

Serve with naan and Afghan green sauce and garlic yogurt sauce. This will balance the richness of the dish.

• Ingredients

2–4 tbs char masala
2 teaspoons cumin seeds
1.5 lb lamb
350 grams julienned carrots
250 grams of raisins
1/4 C sesame oil
2 sliced onions
4 chopped garlic cloves
salt
2 Tablespoons of sugar
3 Cups Rice

• preparation

1. Rinse your rice. You want to make sure the water runs clear. This cloud water is the starch you that don’t want. Makes for sticky rice. (Good for other dishes, not this one) Let the rice soak.

2. Next, we are going to prepare the lamb. Break out your instapot, pressure cooker, or regular pot. Add your sesame oil and heat. Add your onions. Add your roughly cut garlic. Cook for 30 seconds and then add cumin.

3. Next we will add our lamb. Then add tablespoon of salt. Finally, add 3 Cups of water. I cook in my instapot for 25 minutes on high pressure. If you cook in a regular pot it will probably take about an hour. You want the meat to be fork tender.

4. While your meat is cooking, next cook your carrots and raisins. Add to pan some vegetable oil. Then, add your shredded carrots. This will not take long, cook until soft. Place on your foil.

5. Next, your raisins. I soak mine in hot water for about 5 minutes. Then, you will drain and add to the same pan you cooked the carrots in. This will go quick. Only cook for about 30 seconds. Then add them to the foil with your carrots and wrap into your foil packet to add to rice later.

6. Boil a large pot of salted water. Take your rice that you have rinsed and soaked and add to the boiling water. This is a step you have to watch. I can’t give you an exact amount of time to cook the rice. But, you are only partially cooking your rice. If you fully cook it you will have mushy pulao. On average 4 minutes should get you there. If you can break the rice in your finger you are done. Then, drain your rice.

7. Next, we are going to make our sugar solution to add a caramel color to our rice. In a pan add quarter cup of vegetable oil. Add your sugar. Let the sugar darken. Add 1/2 Cup of water, set aside.

8. Take your meat out of the broth when done cooking. Now it is time to assemble everything. Take a big pot and add half of your rice to the bottom. Then, add your lamb. Then add last of the rice. After that, use a few scoops of the lamb broth, add the sugar mixture, and char masala.

9. Poke some holes in the rice with the handle of a spoon. This will allow steam to release better. Take your packet of raisins and carrots and place in pan on top of your rice. I cover mine with more foil then put lid on rice.

10. Cook on stove top on medium-low heat for about 25 minutes.

Serves: 4

Malt is germinated cereal grain that has been dried in a process known as "malting". The grain is made to germinate by soaking in water and is then halted from germinating further by drying with hot air. Malting grain develops the enzymes required for modifying the grain's starches into various types of sugar, including monosaccharide glucose, disaccharide maltose, trisaccharide maltotriose, and higher sugars called maltodextrines. It also develops other enzymes, such as proteases, which break down the proteins in the grain into forms that can be used by yeast.

• Ingredients

1 Tablespoon (15 mL) Brown sugar
3 Tablespoon (45 mL) Malt extract
2 Tablespoons (30 mL) Molasses
25 Gram (1 oz) Butter
250 Milliliter (1 cup) Milk
100 Grammes (3 1/2 oz) Whole wheat flour
350 Grammes (plus extra for bench) Bread flour
Salt To Taste
14 Grammes (1 Tbsp) Active dry yeast
225 Grammes (1 1/2 cups) Seedless raisins

• preparation

1. Place the sugar, malt extract, molasses, butter, and milk in a pot and heat gently until the butter has just melted.
2. Set aside to cool, below 95ºF.
Mix the flours, salt, yeast and raisins in a mixing bowl. Pour in the malt/milk mixture.
3. Mix thoroughly; the mixture will be soft and a little sticky. Turn the mixture onto a floured surface and knead gently for 5-6 minutes.
4. Divide the dough in two, and shape into a loaf. Place the shaped dough into two greased 450g/1lb loaf pans or loaf dishes.
5. Shape into the dishes so that the top is smooth and level.
6. Cover loosely with plastic wrap.
7. Let rise for a couple of hours, or until the dough has risen to the top of the dishes. Preheat your oven to 190ºC (375ºF).
8. Remove the plastic wrap and bake for 30-40 minutes.
9. The loaves are done when they reach an internal temperature of 195º.F. Cool on a wire rack.

Serves: 12

• Ingredients

2/3 cup raisins
2 cups Whole Wheat Flour, spooned and leveled
1 cup plus 2 tablespoons light brown sugar, packed
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 cups peeled and grated carrots
1 large tart apple, such as Granny Smith, peeled, cored and grated
1/2 cup shredded coconut, unsweetened
2/3 cup chopped walnuts
1/3 cup wheat germ
3 large eggs
2/3 cup vegetable oil
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/4 cup orange juice

• preparation

Preheat the oven to 375°F. Lightly grease a 12-cup muffin tin or line the 12-cup muffin tin with paper cups.
In a small bowl, cover the raisins with hot water. Set them aside to soak while you assemble the rest of the recipe.
In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, brown sugar, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger and salt.
Stir in the carrots, apple, coconut, walnuts, and wheat germ.
In a separate bowl, beat together the eggs, oil, vanilla, and orange juice. Add to the flour mixture, and stir until evenly moistened.
Drain the raisins, squeezing out any excess water with your hands, and stir them in.
Divide the batter among the wells of the prepared pan. They will be very full.
Bake the muffins for 25 to 28 minutes, until they're nicely domed and a cake tester inserted in the center of one of the inner muffins comes out clean.
Remove the muffins from the oven and let cool in the pan on a rack for about 5 minutes. Turn the muffins out onto the rack to cool completely. Cover and store at room temperature for several days, or freeze for longer storage.

Serves: 8

• Ingredients

1 large orange, unpeeled
3/4 cup boiling water
1 large egg
1/2 cup canola oil
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup light brown sugar
3/4 cup raisins
1/2 cup nuts, chopped (walnuts or pecans)

• preparation

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Cut orange into pieces. Remove seeds.
Put in blender with boiling water. Blend until smooth. Add egg and oil. Blend a few minutes more.
Combine remaining ingredients in a bowl and stir well.
Add liquid from blender to the dry ingredients. Stir until just blended.
Pour into greased 9-inch by 5-inch by 3-inch loaf pan or into 3 mini loaf pans. Bake about 50 minutes. Unmold on cake rack.

Serves: 10

This typical Italian dessert would have been the creation of a young baker whose name was Tony. To charm his Milanese girlfriend, he invented this dessert, that became "pan di Toni", the panettone

• Ingredients

1 package (1 tablespoon) dry yeast
1 teaspoon sugar
1/4 cup water
1 pound all-purpose flour
4 ounces sugar
6 ounces unsalted butter, softened
6 eggs
1/4 cup lemon peel, diced
1/4 cup orange peel, diced
1 cup raisins

• preparation

In a small mixing bowl, dissolve yeast in water and sugar. Stir well and allow to raise in a warm place. In the mixing bowl of an electric mixer, combine flour, yeast mixture, sugar, butter, eggs. Mix dough at low speed until it becomes elastic and smooth and does not stick to sides of bowl.
Shape dough into a ball. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise at room temperature until triple in volume. Punch the dough. Again shape into a ball.
Cover and refrigerate overnight.
To bake the panettone, I use an empty 2 pound coffee can lined with buttered brown paper.
On a floured surface, work the lemon and orange peel and raisins into the dough.
Drop dough in the prepared mold. Preheat oven at 350 degrees. Let dough rise at room temperature until triples in volume. Brush dough with warm milk.
Bake about 55 minutes to 1 hour.

Serves: 6

• Ingredients

1/2 cup raisins
1 cup dry red wine
3 tablespoons dark brown sugar
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
1 1/2 cups low salt chicken broth
3 tablespoons olive oil
3 8- to 10-ounce pork tenderloins
1 cup chopped onion
6 shallots, peeled and minced
1 tablespoon chopped fresh rosemary
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 tablespoons butter

• preparation

Place raisins in wine in a small saucepan and let stand for 1 hour or refrigerated overnight.
Add brown sugar and 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar to raisin mixture. Boil over high heat until liquid is reduced to 1 tablespoon. Add chicken broth and continue to boil until mixture is reduced by half. (Can be prepared up to 2 days ahead of time.)
Preheat oven to 450 degrees.
Heat olive oil in a heavy, large oven-proof skillet over medium heat. Add tenderloins, and cook until browned on bottom. Add onions and shallots and continue to cook until pork is brown on all sides ans onions are tender. (About 6-8 minutes). Next add garlic. Place skillet in oven and cook pork until meat is done, about 5 minutes.
Transfer pork to platter. Add the raisin mixture to skillet. Boil, scraping up any brown bits in the skillet. Add remaining balsamic vinegar. Boil sauce for a minute.
Remove from heat and whisk in the butter. Season with salt and pepper. Slice pork and serve with sauce.

Serves: 12

Prekmurska gibanica a layered pastry that contains poppy seeds, walnuts, apples, raisins and quark fillings. Although native to Prekmurje, it has achieved the status of a national specialty of Slovenia.It's so popular that it appears on one of the country's stamps!

• Ingredients

For the strudel dough:

300 g flour
3 tablespoons lukewarm water
2 tablespoons wine
1 tablespoon sugar.
salt to taste
2 tablespoons oil
2 tablespoons melted butter for brushing dough

(You can also substitute store-bought filo pastry or strudel dough.)

For the fillings:

The poppy seed filling:

400 g poppy seeds, ground with a mortar and pestle or very briefly whizzed in a food processor with the steel blade
200 g sugar
cinnamon to taste
1 cup hot milk

The apple filling:

500 g apples, grated
200 g sugar
cinnamon to taste
1 lemon rind, grated
1 tablespoon lemon juice

The cottage cheese filling:

500 g cottage cheese
3 dl (deciliters) sour cream: about 1 1/2 US cups
1 egg
200 g sugar
2 tablespoons raisins, soaked in rum
vanilla to taste

The walnut filling:

500 g ground walnuts
200 g sugar
cinnamon to taste

Optional topping: 1 cup sour cream

• preparation

Separately for each filling, mix the ingredients well. Grease well (butter is best) a square or oblong ovenproof baking dish or pan.

For the strudel dough: Mix the ingredients in a bowl, knead thoroughly (ten minutes at least) and let stand to relax for one hour. Then roll out and cut into thin sheets the size of the baking container. (Alternately, purchase large sheets of strudel dough or filo pastry to suit your baking dish.)

Place a layer of strudel dough / filo pastry in the bottom of the baked dish. Brush lightly with melted butter. Spread half the poppy seed filling evenly over it. Cover this layer with another sheet of strudel dough and brush the dough with melted butter. Spread this layer with half the apple filling. Cover with another sheet of dough: brush with melted butter. Spread with half the cottage cheese filling: cover with a sheet of dough, brushing with melted butter. Spread with half the walnut filling: cover with dough and brush dough with melted butter.

Repeat this process with the remaining poppyseed filling, apple filling, cottage cheese filling and walnut filling, making sure to brush each layer of strudel dough with the melted butter as you proceed.

Top with a final layer of strudel dough: brush with melted butter. If you like, spread this last layer with 1 cup sour cream (thinned a little with milk, if necessary, to make it easier to spread).

Bake for about 1 hour in a medium oven (350F / 175C). Cut into squares and serve.

Serves: 4

Source: Canada Living Magazine: December 2013

• Ingredients

4 portobello mushrooms, trimmed
Pinch each salt and pepper
2 tsp (10 mL) olive oil
2 shallots, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 tsp (2 mL) fresh thyme
10 cups (2.4 L) packed baby spinach, chopped
2 tbsp (30 mL) golden raisins
1/4 cup (60 mL) crumbled Light feta cheese
3 tbsp (45 mL) shreddded part-skim mozzarella cheese
2 tbsp (30 mL) sliced natural almonds

Mixed Lemony Rice:
1 cup (250 mL) 15-minute rice, blend
1/4 tsp (1 mL) salt
2 tbsp (30 mL) chopped fresh chives
4 tsp (18 mL) lemon juice

Lemon Yogurt Sauce:
1 tbsp (15 mL) chopped fresh mint
1/2 tsp (2 mL) grated lemon zest

• preparation

Mixed Lemony Rice: In large saucepan, cook rice with salt according to package directions. Stir in chives and lemon juice.

Meanwhile, arrange mushrooms, stemside up, on lightly greased rimmed baking sheet. Bake in 450 F (230 C) oven until browned and tender, about 15 minutes. Using tongs, tip mushrooms to discard any liquid; pat dry with paper towels. Sprinkle with salt and pepper.

Meanwhile, in skillet, heat oil over medium heat; cook shallots, garlic and thyme until garlic is fragrant, 1 minute. Add spinach; cook, stirring occasionally, until wilted, 3 minutes. Add raisins; cook, stirring, until no liquid remains, about 2 minutes. Remove from heat. Stir in feta cheese. Spoon into mushrooms. Sprinkle with mozzarella cheese and almonds. Bake until cheese is melted and almonds are browned.

Lemon Yogurt Sauce: In bowl, stir together yogurt, mint and lemon zest. Serve with stuffed mushrooms and rice.

Serves: 16

• Ingredients

1 1/2 cups sugar
1/2 cup oil
3 ounces water
2 eggs
1 cup canned pumpkin
1 3/4 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon cloves
1/4 cup chopped walnuts
1/4 cup raisins

TOPPING:
1/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/4 cup finely chopped nuts
2 tablespoons flour
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
2 tablespoons butter, softened.

• preparation

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour bottom only of one 9x5 inch loaf pan. In a large bowl, combine sugar, oil, water, eggs and pumpkin; beat 1minute at low speed. Add flour, soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves; blend at low speed until moistened then beat a minute at medium speed. Stir in nuts and raisins. Pour into prepared pan.
In small bowl, combine all topping ingredients until crumbly; sprinkle over batter. Bake for about one hour. Cool 5 minutes; remove from pan.
Cool completely on wire rack.

Serves: 12

• Ingredients

1 1/2 cups natural bran
3/4 cup flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1 egg
3/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup oil
1 cup buttermilk or sour milk*
2 tablespoon molasses
1/2 cup raisins
1/2 cup dried apricots, sliced

• preparation

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
Combine bran, flour, baking soda, salt and baking powder in mixing bowl.
Beat egg, brown sugar, oil, buttermilk, molasses, together.
Add liquid ingredients to dry and stir just until moistened. Fold in the raisins and apricots.
Fill greased a 12-muffin tin 3/4 full.
Bake for 18 to 23 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
Remove muffins from cups while hot. Transfer muffins on a rack to cool.
* add 1 tablespoon vinegar to regular milk