Good Reason For Fruit Cake

 

Still holding on to that fruitcake your neighbor gave you over the holiday season? Maybe they are re-gifting a fruitcake from their neighbor; and so on and so on.

This recipe may have you rethink next years' fruitcake.  TALLblonde uses hers to make a fabulous bread pudding and it only takes a few basic pantry items.

Numero Uno Easter Spiral Ham

 

                                          

Dammit, I forgot to take a glamor-shot of the whole roasted ham as it exited the oven. The pictured "before" and "after" of cooked ham will make a juicier and smokey holiday ham with simple pantry ingredients. It is lightly charred, juicy, sweet, fragrant, holiday spicy, smoky and tender. Take a spiral sliced ham, or with a steady hand and a very sharp knife do it yourself, then make a flavorful and aromatic paste. Perfect for next morning breakfast, added to soup or if you lack culinary imagination...a really tasty sammy and that it okay too!

Decadent Beef Wellington - Bouef en Croute

MMMMmmmmmmm, Beef Wellington; aka 'Bouef en Croute'. A wonderful combination of buttery crust blanket wrapped around a beautiful medium rare Filet Mignon roast lovingly bathed in a cognac fois gras and shallot vest. Although some folks believe this is a classic French dish because of its undyeable richness of flavor and depth of aromatic sauce it's origin is actually from New Zealand.  Evidence of a British Kingdom producing elegant food. HA!

This recipe is not for the faint of heart, it takes some planning, there are four major steps in its creation and it is expensive due to the cut of meat, but oh so worth it.  10 years ago I made this dish in a 5-course dinner for 10 friends and it was quite an effort but they still talk about it to this day. Perfect for a holiday dinner or very special occasion, perhaps replacing your November turkey or December ham.

I have made this recipe using home-made Puff Pastry and it tasted fabulous (as pictured), but this recipe is tricky enough where I opt in for the ready made stuff and minimize the extra steps.

Raspberry Almond Crunch

 

This is a four layer cookie that is rich, creamy and luxurious. It is more high end pastry where only a small sliver will leave you totally satisfied. Clearly I have been binge watching "British Baking Show" and was inspired to create this recipe.  I will not write a step-by-step recipe or this would be a mile long tome on cookie baking so this is for the advanced baker.  The ingredients and measurements are listed with minimal instruction as needed for clarification. There is nothing difficult if you take each of the four steps as one process. It would be wise to ensure you have all ingredients and lay them out mis en place.  This is a wonderful December holiday cookie recipe as the almond flavor of the marzipan is reminiscent of German Stollen. So lets get started.

Gin Tonic Cake

 

Perfect for a New Year's Eve party. This Gin & Tonic cake is very easy and wonderfully refreshing when served chilled just like your favorite classic libation.  In this recipe you may use a box cake mix. (I said it would be easy)

Beverages

Food has always been the way to someone's heart.

A cocktail in hand with a great meal can only make it better.

Click Recipes Below 

Jollof Rice for KWANZAA

Jollof Rice to celebrate Kwanzaa

Thanksgiving Dinner-How To Prepare

I write a blog with weekly articles related to Fashion, Food and Travel. I thought it appropriate to include my "How To Prepare A Thanksgiving Dinner" from my blog article to this TALL Blonde's Cookbook collection of my recipes.

I typically feed 20 to 25 people at our home on Thanksgiving Day to friends and family, many fly in for the day just to eat. I guess folks really like my food; so here you have my entire menu that you too can prepare or borrow a recipe or two.  I love to share all of my very, very best, so all I ask is that you share your love, your friendship and these recipes to everyone who has a passion for eating good food and cooking.