HERMITS

HERMITS
recipe by Linda Turner White

CREAM TOGETHER:
3 sticks margarine
2 cups sugar
1/4 cup molasses
1/4 cup honey

ADD:
2 eggs

ADD:
1/2 tsp salt
4 tsp baking soda
1 tsp ground ginger
1 tsp ground cloves
1 tsp ground cinnamon

ADD:
1 cup chopped walnuts
1 cup raisins

ADD:
2 1/2 cups flour
2 1/2 cups wheat flour

Form dough into 1 inch logs on un-greased cookie sheet. You may put up to 3 logs on one pan.
Bake at 375 for 15 minutes (cookies will have soft cracks)
cut into bars and cool on racks Makes about 2 1/2 dozen cookies

Lemon Basil Cake

Lemon Basil Layer Cake with Lemon Cream Frosting

 Based on a recipe by the Redd party


 For the cake: 2 c flour, 1 tsp baking soda, 1 tsp baking powder, 1 tsp salt, 1/2 c whole milk, 2 ½ TBS fresh lemon juice, 1/2 c sour cream, 1/2 c butter, softened, 1 c granulated sugar, 2 large eggs, 1/3 c chopped fresh basil

 For the frosting: 1 1/4 c heavy whipping cream, 1/2 c confectioner's sugar, 1 jar of Lemon curd (8-12 oz)

Cakes: Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Coat two 8-inch round cake pans with Pam. Sift together flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Stir together lemon juice and milk (milk will curdle). Beat butter in bowl of electric mixer until creamy. Gradually add sugar and beat till pale and fluffy. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Alternating, add flour mixture, milk mixture, and sour cream in batches, mixing at low speed. Begin and end with flour mixture. Add basil and mix on low till incorporated. Divide batter between pans. Bake for 19 to 22 minutes or until tester comes out clean. Cool in pans on rack for 5 minutes, then invert onto racks.

Frosting: Beat cream and confectioner's sugar until stiff peaks form. Fold one third of whipped cream into lemon curd to lighten, then add the remaining cream and fold in gently.

Assembly: Put one layer, rounded side up, on a cake plate and spread 1/4 of the frosting and spread. Top with second layer, rounded side down, and spread frosting on top and sides. Garnish with lemon wedges and basil leaves.

This is also a terrific vanilla cake – omit the basil, add 1 ½ tsp vanilla and use whatever flavor frosting you’d like to top it off. I like it with strawberry cream cheese frosting…

BREAD PUDDING

Bread Pudding Mix in a large bowl until the sugar dissolves: 3/4 cup melted butter 2 1/4 cups white sugar 3 3/4 cups WARM milk Then add: 12 beaten eggs 1 TBS Vanilla Now add: 6-8 cups of bread torn into chunks (about 2 loaves)* Best to use old bread. I throw old bread in the freezer and save it up until I have enough. I mix white and wheat - just use whatever I have. This mixture will be VERY WET. Pour into a greased 13x9 pan and bake for 55 minutes at 350. Inserted knife will come out clean when it is done. Cool - the pudding will deflate a little bit. Mix the following in a microwave proof bowl: 1/2 cup white sugar 1/2 cup packed brown sugar 1/2 cup butter 1/2 cup heavy cream Microwave for 3 minutes, stirring at least once. Pour over the bread pudding and let set for several hours - preferably over night. The bread pudding will absorb most of the sauce. Can serve at room temperature, or warmed up.

COCONUT FRUITCAKE BITES

Coconut FruitCake Bites In a large bowl toss together: 7 oz shredded coconut 2 tbs corn starch Stir well to coat the coconut Then add: 1/2 cup sweetened condensed milk 1 cup candied fruit 1 cup chopped walnuts 1 tsp vanilla Spoon mixture into well-greased muffin pan. Wet your fingers with water and gently press the mixture into the muffin wells. Bake at 325 for 13-15 minutes until the bites start to turn golden brown. Cool in the tins for 5 minutes. Then using a round-edged knife gently remove bites from pans and finish cooling on rack. Makes about 30 bites

TURKEY BREAD PUDDING

TURKEY BREAD PUDDING In a large bowl combine: 4-6 cups left over stuffing or equivalent fresh stuffing mix (1 large bag cooked according to package directions)broken up into pieces 2-3 cups of turkey cut into bite-sized pieces 6 large eggs - beaten with a fork 1 stick of butter - melted 2 cups milk 1/2 cup shredded Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese (or other sharp white cheese) 1 tsp salt 1 tsp sage 1 tsp onion powder 1/2 tsp ground pepper Mix together - will be soupy Pour into a greased 9x13 pan Bake at 350 for about 50-60 minutes or until mixture is golden brown and set in the middle. Serve hot and with turkey gravy (if you have any leftover)