Alison's Dad's Fruitcake
This medium-dark fruitcake is full of nuts, fruit and lovely spices. If desired, unwrap occasionally and brush with more brandy.
This medium-dark fruitcake is full of nuts, fruit and lovely spices. If desired, unwrap occasionally and brush with more brandy.
Whether runny or firm, with raisins or nuts, butter tarts are treats that never go out of style. Because any sugar filling that overflows the pastry hardens quickly and sticks to the pan, be sure to remove the tarts as directed. Or count on family members to hang around the kitchen waiting to eat the tarts that stick and break.
Sweet and oh so cute, these little steamed desserts are anything but old-fashioned.
"When I was a kid, my mother cooked something different every night. She made a lot of great French and Mediterranean dishes." Graduate student Mark Warhaft has inherited a discriminating palate and love of food from his mother, Winnipeg Free Press restaurant critic Marion Warhaft. He entertains frequently, specializing in Thai food, and for the past two years has operated a very successful food booth at the Winnipeg Folk Festival. "I love her Imam Bayeldi. It's great, and I've been trying to get her to write down her recipe for years." Imam Bayeldi, a robust Turkish dish of tomatoes and eggplant, is a terrific accompaniment for barbecued chicken, burgers or kabobs. It's also a sensational and easy make-ahead starter to enjoy with pita or crusty bread.
Spicy and slightly sweet, these pretty morsels have a creamy consistency from the coconut milk.
Saffron is said to have arrived in England with the Phoenicians, who traded it for Cornish tin. In the past, when ingredients such as eggs were expensive, saffron was used to give rich yellow colour to this bread, once traditionally served at Easter.
A look through past recipes revealed that we have never developed a nut-free fruitcake – so here it is. A jewel-like topping and variety of fruits ensures that no one will even notice that the nuts are missing.
From the Arabic word for “something stuffed,” dolmas make a deliciously satisfying vegetarian meal. Choose Swiss chard with white stems, which usually mean thick leaves. Look for Puy lentils in specialty food stores.
These little cakes are a two-day project, but such a pleasant one, preparing fruit one day, the batter and baking the next.