Brandied Cherries

Brandied Cherries

Wash 2 pounds of cherries, you do not need to pit or remove stems, however you may if you like.
 In medium sauce pan heat over medium
4 c brandy
3/4 c sugar
Heat just until sugar is dissolved, stir in 1 Tbs almond extract.
Place cherries in two quart jars that have been cleaned and sterilized by boiling water bath or dishwasher.
Divide brandy between jars, seal, and refrigerate.

             Recipe from Mary Jane's Farm


Sun Brandied Cherries

  Fill a clean sterilized quart jar with cherries
 add 1/2 c sugar
1/2- 1 cup brandy (enough to fill jar and cover cherries)
Seal lid and place in sun for 4 weeks.
                        cooks.com

I have tasted the first cherries and lets say ooh lala  go easy on them!
Stay tuned for recipes using brandied cherries!

Snowman Cocoa

Snowmen in a jar!
An easy cute gift for the holidays!
Click HERE for more photos and this recipe
and click HERE for more recipes for cocoa

Home made Vanilla and Cranberry Liqueur

 Holiday gift giving or for your own cooking you can make your own vanilla and liqueur with ease.
Cranberry Liqueur
Heat 3/4 c sugar with 3/4 c water until dissolved, set aside to cool.
Finely chop 2 c whole fresh cranberries
Add sugar water and cranberries to 2 c vodka and place in jar or bottle, seal and store in cool dark cupboard shaking every other day. Allow at least 3 weeks until use.

 Vanilla
Split one large vanilla bean lengthwise and add to approx. 2 c vodka.
Shake a few times a week and allow 10-12 weeks. You will see the vanilla grow darker until it reaches a rich color. Photo below is about 4 weeks in for the vanilla and the very day liqueur was made.

Vanilla beans will be sold at better grocery stores or in a natural foods section. They are usually around $3.00 each. Bottles were purchased at TJ Max.
Here is an online source for bottles -Specialty Bottles.

Foodie Friday
Lamb around

Pumpkin Spice Cake in a Jar

Yummy cake...in small servings that you can store in your pantry!
Make ahead and take out jars as needed, each jar is 1-3 servings (depending on how much you love pumpkin cake)

1 c dried cranberries or raisins
1 c chopped walnuts
2 c all purpose flour
2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp ground cloves
2 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp ground ginger
4 eggs
2 c sugar
1 c oil
1 15oz can pumpkin
Preheat oven to 325 and sterilize 8 (12 oz) straight sided wide mouth canning  jars in water bath or dishwasher for 10 min. Set aside to cool.

While jars are cooling place rings and lids in pot and bring to gentle boil.
Sift together flour, spices, baking soda and powder, salt in a large bowl, stir in cranberries and walnuts.

In another bowl beat eggs until thick and yellow 2-3 minutes. Gradually add sugar, add oil and pumpkin at low speed, just until well blended.
Add in dry mixture, stir well.
Using a pastry brush, coat each jar with oil.
Divide batter between jars, wipe sides, do not leave any on outside of jar, it will burn.
Place jars on cookie sheet and bake 35-40 min. Use a skewer to test center. Remove cakes and immediately place hot lids and rings on, using heavy towel or oven mitts. Let rest until cool. Lids will seal.

ND Kitchen is joining these parties

Foodie Friday
Saturday Night Special

Scottish shortbread in a jar

1 1/2 c flour

3/4 c powdered sugar

1/4 tsp salt

Mix and place in jar.

 Attach instructions

Knead jar ingredients with 1 c butter, bake in molds, cut into shapes or bake in a 9 in pie tins, slicing into pie shaped wedges and drizzle with melted chocolate.

Note. this isn't as pretty as some more layered jar gifts, so place a piece of fabric on top of the jar and maybe tie on a cookie cutter or mini whisk or even a little baggie of chocolate to melt.

Peanut Butter Cookies In a Jar

3/4 c white sugar

1/2 c brown sugar

1 1/3 c flour

1 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp baking soda

pinch salt

8 peanut butter cups, cut in quarters

Mix flour,powder, soda and salt, layer in quart jar, next brown sugar, white sugar, place a piece of plastic wrap and add peanut butter cups. seal lid

Attach instructions

Remove peanut butter cups, set aside. Mix together Jar ingredients with 1/2 c butter, softened, 1 egg, 1 tsp vanilla. Mix well, may have to use your hands! Add pb cups, shape into balls and bake at 375 degrees 12-14 min.

Sand Art Brownies

5/8 c flour

3/4 tsp salt

1/3 c unsweetened cocoa powder

1/2 c flour

2/3 c brown sugar

2/3 c sugar

1/2 c chocolate chips

1/2 vanilla chips

1/2 c walnuts

Directions

Layer ingredients in order in a 1 quart wide mouth jar, tamping down firmly. Place lid on jar and you can add a little fabric between lid and rim for decoration if you like

Attach a tag with these directions:

   Brownies- preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease 9X9 pan

                  Pour contents of jar in mixing bowl and add 2/3 c oil, 3 eggs and 1 tsp vanilla.

                  Mix until combined, pour into pan and bake 25 min or until center tests done.
(photo to come)

Hot Chocolate in a Jar

Sift into a bowl

3 c powdered milk

1/2 c cocoa ( Hershey's or Nestle )

3/4 c sugar

dash salt

Pack into a quart jar. Mix 4 Tbs to 8 oz hot water.

Mexican Hot Chocolate

Mix together

1/3 c light brown sugar

3/4 tsp cinnamon

1 1/2 tsp powdered vanilla *

1/4 c cocoa

2 1/2 c powdered milk

Store and mix as above.

* can substitute powdered vanilla creamer or Cafe International coffee mix