Cranberry Walnut Blondies

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Are you doing any holiday baking today?

I can't believe that Christmas is one week away.  Where did all the time go this year?  Each year I make a tray of various holiday goodies for MGG and all his staff (about 100) and another for my staff at work.  It's something I look forward to each year because it reminds me of the excitement I used to get making our holiday cookies with my mom, and getting a tray of our neighbor's goodies as well.

Each year I try and mix it up with the type of goodies.  There is always fudge, and the rest is up for grabs.  This year since time kind of got away from me I decided to make things a little easier and make some bulk items that you can bake in 9x13 pans.  That way I'll get a large quantity of a scrumptious goodies with little effort.  Sound good?  That's a big "YES!" from me!

Being the avid cookbook collector that I am I recently purchased the cutest little book called, tiny book of Christmas Joy, by Phillis Hoffman Depiano.  This book is full of holiday goodies and gifts to give.  I was so excited when I got it I flagged a ton of recipes that I wanted to make!  As that wasn't realistic I narrowed it down to this great recipe for Cranberry Walnut Blondies.

I don't typically make blondies but with the addition of cranberries and walnuts I knew this would make a great festive addition.  Boy was I right!  You guys, these are the BEST blondies I've ever had.  The flavor is outstanding.  I had a hard time getting this in the gift containers because I had a sample, and then another, and then another!  Wow!  These just blew my socks off, so watch out...and prepare to have your socks blown off too!

CRANBERRY WALNUT BLONDIES

What I did differently:  I followed the recipe almost exactly except I didn't use sweetened cranberries as stated, but unsweetened cranberries I got from Trader Joe's.  The recipe also calls for using a stand mixer.  I chose to make these by hand in a large bowl instead.  They came out perfectly, so I wrote the directions that way, but you could use your mixer if you prefer.

Made in a 9x13 pan, these make a ton.  I decided to just cut them in traditional brownie squares, but you could make them appear really elegant by cutting them in triangles and placing them on a white platter. 

I hope you make these really soon.  They are perfect to give away to friends and family, and make sure to hide a couple for yourself.  They go that quick!

Enjoy!

Cranberry Walnut Blondies

slightly adapted from: tiny book of Christmas Joy

makes 32 pieces

1 c unsalted butter, melted

1 c firmly packed light brown sugar

1 c sugar

2 large eggs

2 tsp vanilla

2 1/2 c all purpose flour

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp baking soda

1 c dried cranberries

1/2 c chopped toasted walnuts

1 Tbls orange zest

Garnish:  1/2 c confectioners sugar

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Spray a 9x13 inch baking pan with nonstick baking spray with flour.

In a large bowl mix butter, brown sugar, and sugar until mixed and fluffy.  Add eggs, one at a time, mixing after each addition.  Add vanilla and stir to incorporate.

Add in salt, and baking soda.  Add in flour gradually, mixing after each addition.  Stir in cranberries, walnuts, and orange zest.  Place batter in prepared pan.  Bake for 30 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in the center of the blondies comes out clean.  Cool completely in pan on a wire rack.  Cut into squares and garnish with confectioners sugar if desired.

Citrus Rosemary Glazed Turkey Breast

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If you're sharing the holidays with a smaller group this year, I highly recommend cooking a full or half turkey breast. A turkey breast is easy to handle and a cinch to make, plus you'll still end up with plenty of leftovers!

My moist and flavorful Citrus Rosemary Glazed Turkey Breast is the perfect union of sweet and savory.

For 4 people I chose a half bone-in turkey breast that was about 3 pounds.  If you have 6 or more (or love lots of leftovers) to feed, go for a full turkey breast.  The glaze is the key to this recipe and I would double the glaze for a full breast.

You start out with a high oven temperature to get a great crispy skin on the outside and then reduce for the remaining time to ensure the juiciest turkey you will ever have!  No kidding this turkey was soooo moist. 

I also used a new "must have" thermometer.  You place the probe in the thickest portion of the breast up front, and it stays in the turkey in the oven during cooking time.  This ensures the perfect cooking temperature is reached.  No more guessing!  After tasting this turkey I think this thermometer was the best buy ever!

This Citrus Rosemary Glazed Turkey Breast never fails to impress in presentation and in taste.

Enjoy!

Citrus Rosemary Glazed Turkey Breast

serves 4-6

1/2 c apricot preserves
1/4 c orange juice
2 Tbls honey
1 Tbls Dijon mustard
2 tsp garlic, minced
2 sprigs fresh rosemary
1 c white wine
1/2 bone-in full turkey breast (about 3 -4 pounds)
Garnish:  rosemary sprigs, thyme sprigs, orange wedges, pomegranate arils

In a medium saucepan over medium heat add apricot preserves, orange juice, honey, Dijon, garlic, and rosemary sprigs.  Bring to a boil and then remove from heat and allow to cool.  Once cooled discard the rosemary.

Preheat oven to 425 degrees.  Pat turkey breast to dry the outside.  Place rack in a roasting pan and spray with non-stick spray.  Place turkey breast on rack.  Pour wine in the bottom of the roasting pan. 

Place in oven and roast for 30 minutes.  Reduce oven temperature to 325 degrees and brush breast with glaze.  Continue roasting until a thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the breast reaches 155 degrees. (depending on size of the turkey breast possibly 1 hour more)  Brush with glaze every 30 minutes. 

Transfer turkey breast to a cutting board and tent with foil.  Allow to rest  20 minutes before slicing.  Turkey will continue to cook during this time and reach the proper temperature.  Remove the breast in one piece from the bone and then slice the breast crosswise into slices.  Place slices on a platter and garnish with rosemary sprigs, thyme sprigs, orange wedges, and pomegranate arils.

Easy Food Processor Pie Crust

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My mom has been making pies all her life.  Every kind of cream pie you can imagine along with some excellent fruit pies thrown in the mix!

She's old school though.  She learned from her mom and went by feel when making the pie dough using a base recipe passed down from my Grandma.

Fast forward many years as an adult and I'm making the pies, and my mom is teaching me how to make the dough from scratch.  I know a lot of you are mystified by making homemade pie crust but trust me when I say, it is REALLY EASY.

Now I usually use my Grandma's recipe but this year I switched it up a bit.  I wanted something that had both butter (for flavor) and shortening (for flakiness) and is made using a food processor.  Off I go searching through my multitude of cookbooks where I found the perfect recipe that met all my wishes.  The King Arthur 200th Anniversary Cookbook is full of wonderful recipes.  I recommend you picking up a copy.  This cookbook is so fabulous and it has so many recipes in it that will fulfill ALL your baking needs.  They had a multitude of recipes for pie crust including the one I am showing you today. 

So I got out my handy dandy food processor (I use this one) and the ingredients, and made this in about 5 minutes.  No kidding.  It's so EASY in a food processor.  Dump and pulse, pulse, pulse.  Then in the frig goes the dough for 45 min to an hour and then you are ready to make pie!

Go for it!  Make your pie crust from scratch, and try this recipe.  The dough was so easy to work with, it rolled out like a dream, and held together really well when forming the edges.  The taste?  Heavenly!  The butter flavor stood out and the crust was flaky to boot!  You are sure to love this crust.

The pie you see here is my favorite Pumpkin Pie with Orange Marmalade.  I've been making this for years and the light citrusy flavor brings an extra special something to your dessert! 

Enjoy!

Easy Food Processor Pie Crust

source:  The King Arthur 200th Anniversary Cookbook

1 3/4 c All Purpose Flour
1/2 tsp salt
1 T sugar (optional)
1/2 c (1 stick) unsalted butter, cold or frozen, cut into 4 pieces
2 T solid shortening
about 6 Tablespoons ice water

Using the steel blade of the food processor, quickly blend flour, salt, sugar, butter and shortening.

Slowly pour in the ice water through the feed tube while pulsing the machine.  Process only until a mass of dough has formed on the side of the bowl.  Don't overdo it.  Wrap the dough in plastic and chill for at least an hour. (You can also freeze the dough at this point.)

Roll out and place inside pie dish.  Makes enough pastry for a 8 inch, double-crust pie or a single crust for a 9 - 11 inch pie.  This crust can be filled and baked at this point, or baked blind.