Sue's Fabulous French Toast

We had a wonderful Christmas morning brunch complete with mimosas, ham, cheesy potato bake, and Sue's special french toast. Sue has made this french toast for several morning events including a few camping events. For outdoor eating, she precooked it at home, and then at the event we reheated it on the brazier. Excellent meal at home or in camp, try it yourself.

½ cup butter, melted
¼ cup honey
2 tsp cinnamon
Combine first three ingredients.
Pour ½ into each of two 15 X 10 X 1 baking pans

6-8 eggs
1 ¼ cup milk
1 ½ cup orange Juice
½ cup sugar
2-3 tsp orange grind (marmalade)
1 tsp cinnamon
16 – 20 slices of French Bread

- in medium bowl beat next six ingredients. Dip bread into egg mixture and place into pan. Pour any remaining ingredients over bread (can refrigerate overnight) Bake at 400 degrees for 20-30 minutes, or until golden brown, turning halfway.

Granny's Blueberry Buckle

I  recall having blueberry buckle with Granny* SO many times. When I moved away from the farm I mentioned blueberry buckle to friends... and I was surprised at how many people (almost everyone) who had never heard of such a thing. So, for those who have never had it - and for the family who miss it - here's Granny's recipe:

3/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup shortening
1 egg
1/2 cup milk
2 cups flour
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
2 cups well-drained blueberries

Mix together first 3 ingredients. Stir in milk. Sift together flour, baking powder, and salt. Blend in blueberries and then fold the dry mixture into the wet mixture.

Sprinkle top with crumb mixture made from:
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/3 cup flour
1/4 cup soft butter

Bake in a 9 X 9 pan at 375 degrees for 45- 50 minutes.

*Granny, for those who aren't aware, was Velma Ellis Dykeman, my great-grandmother.

Cinnamon - Chocolate Cutouts

2 (1 ounce) squares unsweetened chocolate
1/2 cup butter
1 cup sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla
3 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup sour cream

Melt chocolate in double boiler over hot not boiling water. Remove from heat and let cool. Cream butter, melted chocolate, sugar, egg and vanilla in large bowl until light. Combine flour, cinnamon, baking soda and salt in small bowl. Stir small bowl into creamed mixture with sour cream until smooth. Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.

Preheat oven at 400 degrees. lightly grease cookie sheets or line  with parchment paper. Roll out dough 1/4 at a time, a quarter inch thick on lightly floured surface, Cut out with cookie cutters. Place 2 inches apart on prepared cookie sheets. Bake 10 minutes or until lightly browned but not dark. Remove to wire racks to cool.  Frost with decorator icing.

Decorator Icing
1 egg white
3&1/3cups powedred sugar
1 teaspoon almond or lemon extract
2 to 3 tablespoons water

Beat egg white in large bowl until frothy. Gradually beat in powdered sugar until blended. Add almond extract and enough water to moisten. Beat until smooth and glossy.

Rum Balls

This recipe is from Aunt Nancy's cookbook. Actually she was my Great-grandmother's sister, so that means she was a great-grand aunt.  I never knew Aunt Nancy Bouffard, she died back in 1957. Born Nancy Osborn in 1897, she was one of 17 children in a blended family. She kept a little recipe book that I now have. When I can decipher her writing I'll post a few recipes here.

Rum Balls - the ones Alice Colman makes. (marked  very good)

1 cup crushed vanilla wafers
1 cup confectionary sugar
1 & 1/2 cups chopped pecans
2 tablespoons cocoa
2 tablespoons light corn syrup
1/4 cup brandy or sherry

Mix all ingredients together. Roll into small balls. Roll in granulated sugar.

Fondue

Fondue to most people is a fad that is long over, something you dabble with at a small party or one of many appetizers at a buffet. To my family it is more than that. We believe fondue is a meal - not an occasional, twice a year kind of thing, but something reoccurring on the menu. We love fondue.  Having a Fondue pot  (or two or four) is not unusual at all. Was I ever surprised when I moved away that people in general do not have a fondue pot. Many haven't even experienced any kind of fondue.

There are a few different kinds of fondue. A meat fondue, where oil or chicken broth is boiled so different meats can be cooked in it to the individuals taste. For this, the sauces you serve with the meal will determine the success of the meal. A cheese fondue which is some sort of blend of cheeses melted in wine, in which you dip bread cubes. This is the type of meal my family means when they say fondue for dinner. The last type is dessert fondue, usually made of melted chocolate with dippers of fruit or cake.  If you're feeling adventerous, you can serve a dinner of all three, but be aware there's considerable prep work.

Below some Fondue recipes  to enjoy.

Meat Fondue:

Use either a pot 2/3 cup of oil or condensed chicken stock. You'll want a thermometer to check the temp unless you have an electric fondue pot to maintain the temp at about 350. The oil cooks quicker and is more common, but I have tried the stock/bouliion approach and had reasonable success. The meat takes much longer to cook in the broth though, so keep that in mind.

I take some lean beef, a pork chop or two, some boneless chicken breast, some shrimp & some bread and chop it into small pieces, about 1 inch square (bite sized.) If you're feeling ambitious, you can cut small squares of mozzerella,  dip in egg and breadcrumbs twice to make a firm coating, and use them as Cheese boites with the meat. Then you want sauces for everyone to try.

Sauces I have used straight from the bottle are BBQ sauce, Teryaki Sauce, Ranch Dressing, spagetti sauce and Honey. I make a garlic butter sauce from scratch. I also combine lime juice with dijon mustard with a  bit of scallion in it for my lime-mustard sauce. Pretty much anything yoou like to top meat with is good for a sauce.

Classic Cheese Fondue:

12 ounces Swiss cheese,  and 4 ounces Gruyere cheese, shredded
1 and 1/2 tsp cornstarch
1 clove garlic
1 TBSP Lemon Juice
1 cup vermouth or white wine (champagne or chablis are both good)
Loaf of french bread (Baguettes are best)
I have also served small cooked ham cubes for dippers.**
Combine Cheeses and cornstarch in bowl. Cut bread into 1 inch cubes, with a crust on every piece.

Rub cut clove of garlic on inside of pot. Combine Vermouth & lemon juice in pot over medium heat til bubbles form on bottom of pot. Do NOT allow to boil.  Slowly add handful of cheeses to pot. Stir continuously until cheese is completely melted, then add another handful of cheeses. After all the cheese has been incorporated and is melted, transfer to fondue pot and place over sterno heat. Spear bread cubes with fondue fork, piercing crust last. Dip bread in cheese (a figure 8 is best to keep the pot stirred) and enjoy.

Chocolate Fondue:

Dippers cut into Bite sized pieces such as: Strawberries, cherries, bannas, oranges, pound cake, marshmallows, angel cake, melon, apples and even pretzels.

6 1-ounce squares of unsweetened chocolate
1 1/2 cups of sugar
1 cup of light cream
1/2 cup of butter
1/8 teaspoon of salt
3 tablespoons of creme de cacao or orange flavored liqueur

In saucepan, melt chocolate over low heat. Add sugar, cream, butter, and salt. Cook, stirring constantly, about 5 minutes or until thickened. stir in Liqueur. pour into fondue pot and place over burner. Spear you choice of goody on fork and dip away in sauce.