Swedish Ice Box Cookies

With nearly everyone I know commenting on the chilly weather, it seemed an appropriate time to post this 'ice box' recipe.

"These cookies were a favorite of my Grandmother. We don't know where the recipe came from, but it's very old. Because of my Grandmother, our entire family loves these cookies. They are definitely an acquired taste but delicious! I am proud to be able to share this recipe with you, the world." Bret 261 (from AllRecipes.com)

Original Recipe Yield: 4 to 5 dozen

Ingredients

• 1 cup butter, softened  
• 2 eggs, beaten
• 4 tablespoons caraway seed
• 1 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 3 cups sifted all-purpose flour
• 2 cups chopped walnuts

Directions 

1. In a medium bowl, cream the butter and sugar together until light. Stir in the eggs and vanilla.  
2. In another medium bowl, combine the caraway seeds, flour and nuts. Add to the butter mixture and blend well.
3. Form dough into a long roll and wrap with plastic wrap or waxed paper. Chill for 2 hours.
4. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease baking sheet.
5. Thinly slice the chilled dough and bake for 10 to 12 minutes.

Nutritional Information 
Amount Per Serving  Calories: 66 | Total Fat: 3.4g | Cholesterol: 15mg

Dreidel Dreidel Hannukah Chocolate Brownie recipe

This enormous Hershey chocolatey dreidel brownie is sure to be the hit of the holiday season

Ingredients

• 1 cup (2 sticks) butter or margarine, softened 
• 2 cups sugar
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 4 eggs
• 3/4 cup HERSHEY'S Cocoa or HERSHEY'S SPECIAL DARK Cocoa
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 2 cups (12-oz. pkg.) HERSHEY'S Premier White Chips, divided
• 1 tablespoon shortening(do not use butter, margarine, spread or oil)
• 1 tube (4.25 oz.) royal blue decorating icing (optional)

Directions

1. Heat oven to 350°F. Line 13x9x2-inch baking pan completely with foil, leaving extra on sides for handles.
2. Place butter in large microwave-safe bowl. Microwave at HIGH (100%) 2 to 2-1/2 minutes or until melted. Stir in sugar and vanilla. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well with spoon after each addition. Add cocoa; beat until well blended. Add flour, baking powder and salt; beat well. Pour batter into prepared pan.
3. Bake 30 to 35 minutes or just until brownies begins to pull away from sides of pan. Cool completely in pan on wire rack. Invert brownie onto serving tray; peel off foil.
4. Shape into dreidel: About 3-inches from bottom of each long side, cut triangular pieces to bottom center, forming point of dreidel. Cut about 1-inch from top edge; cut in half and attach 1 piece as handle.
5. Place 1 cup white chips and shortening in small microwave-safe bowl. Microwave at MEDIUM (50%) 1 minute; stir until mixture is melted and smooth when stirred. Spread on dreidel, about 1-inch from top and 2 sides, forming 7-inch square. Decorate with remaining white chips and decorating icing, if desired. Cut into bars. About 3 dozen brownies.

Amount Per Serving
Total Calories: 190 
Saturated Fat - 6g
Cholesterol - 35mg
Sodium - 95mg
Total Carbohydrate - 23g
Sugars - 18g
Calcium - 0mg

Every Day is Apple Pie Day

February is National Pie Month.
And May 13 is National Apple Pie Day.
But the holidays seem to be the time we most associate with these comforting baked goods.  Here is a little twist on the grandmommy of all pies, apple.

Mom's Sassiest Apple Pie recipe - Apple, Maple, Cheddar 

Makes: 8 servings  
Prep: 30 minutes
Bake: 1 hour
Cool: 1 hour

Ingredients

• Pastry for a Double-Crust Pie
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 5 cups thinly sliced peeled apples (such as Jonathan or Macintosh) (5 medium)
• 1-1/2 cups shredded white cheddar cheese (6 ounces)
• 1/4 cup maple syrup
• 1 tablespoon whipping cream
• 2 tablespoons maple syrup
• 1/4 cup toasted chopped pecans (optional)

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Prepare Pastry for a Double-Crust Pie. On a lightly floured surface, slightly flatten one portion of dough. Roll dough from center to edge into a 12-inch circle. Wrap pastry circle around rolling pin; unroll into a 9-inch pie pan or plate. Ease pastry into pie pan without stretching it; set aside.
2. For filling, in a large bowl, stir together sugar, flour, cinnamon, and salt. Add apples; toss gently to coat. Add cheese and the 1/4 cup maple syrup; toss gently to combine. Transfer filling to pastry-lined pie pan. Drizzle with cream.
3. Trim pastry even with edge of pie pan. Roll the remaining dough into a 12-inch circle. Cut slits in pastry to allow steam to escape. Place pastry circle on filling; trim pastry to 1/2 inch beyond edge of pie pan. Fold top pastry edge under bottom pastry. Crimp edge as desired. Cover edge of pie with foil to prevent overbrowning.
4. Bake in the preheated oven for 40 minutes. Remove foil. Bake about 20 minutes more or until apples are tender and pastry is golden brown. Transfer to a wire rack. Brush with the 2 tablespoons maple syrup. If desired, sprinkle with pecans. Cool for 1 hour. Serve slightly warm. Makes 8 servings.

Pastry for a Double-Crust Pie: In a large bowl, stir together 2-1/2 cups all-purpose flour and 1 teaspoon salt. Using a pastry blender, cut in 1/2 cup shortening and 1/4 cup butter, cut up, or shortening until pieces are pea size. Sprinkle 1 tablespoon ice water over part of the flour mixture; toss gently with a fork. Push moistened dough to side of bowl. Repeat with additional ice water, 1 tablespoon at a time (1/2 to 2/3 cup total), until all of the flour mixture is moistened. Gather mixture into a ball, kneading gently until it holds together. Divide dough in half. Shape each portion into a ball.

(taken from a variety of sources including Better Homes & Gardens and Country Living)

Insuring the Perfect Carrot Loaf

In uncertain times it is natural to seek out things we can count on.  We often turn to nostalgia as it offers a level of comfort like no other.  Here is something that fits the bill to a "T."


In 1924 the Metropolitan Insurance Company of New York published its popular Metropolitan Cook Book.  Here is a recipe representative of that 'simpler time'.


Carrot Loaf

This 1924 ditty by Fred Waring & The Pennsylvanians
is entitled "Memory Lane"

• 1 1/2 c ground raw carrots
• 1 c boiled rice
• 1 c ground peanuts
• 1 egg
• salt, pepper
• 2 tbsp red or green peppers
• 3 tbsp minced bacon or other fat
• 1 tbsp onion juice
• 1/2 tsp mustard

Mix ingredients in order and bake the loaf in a moderate oven 1 hour. Serve with tomato sauce if desired.


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