Witchin’ in the Kitchen at the Bubbling Cauldron

a small piece of cinnamon
1 tbsp cloves
1 tbsp mace
1 tbsp grated nutmeg
1 tbsp coriander seeds
1 tbsp allspice berries

Grind all the spices to a fine powder. in an airtight jar, the mixture will keep for 3-4 months. For use in cookies, cakes and puddings.

2 thick slices of lemon
2 thick slices of orange
2 slices of peeled fresh ginger
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 small bay leaf
2 cups fresh cranberries
4 pounds boneless loin of venison, at room temperature
2 Tablespoons olive oil
1 teaspoon salt
1 1/4 teaspoons freshly ground pepper
3/4 teaspoon finely chopped juniper berries
2 cups dry red wine
2 cups beef or venison stock
2 Tablespoons cold butter, cut into pieces
Fresh thyme sprigs, for garnish

In a medium nonreactive saucepan, combine the lemon, orange, ginger, sugar and bay leaf with 1 cup of cold water. Bring to a boil over high heat, stirring to dissolve the sugar. Reduce the heat to moderate and boil, uncovered, until syrupy, 10 to 15 minutes. Stir in the cranberries, then remove from heat and cool.
Transfer the mixture to a glass container, coer and refrigerate for 1 to 2 days, stirring once or twice during that time.
Preheat the oven to 400F. Rub the venison with the olive oil, 3/4 teaspoon of the salt, 1 teaspoon of the pepper and 1/2 teaspoon of the chopped juniper berries, pressing the seasonings into the meat. Set the loin on a rack in a roasting pan and roast, basting frequently with the pan
juices, until medium-rare (about 135 degrees F on a meat thermometer), 25 to 30 minutes. Cover the venison loosely with foil and set aside for 10 to 15 minutes before carving.
Meanwhile, remove and discard the bay leaf and the lemon, orange and ginger slices from the cranberries. In a food processor or blender, puree half the cranberries and half the liquid until smooth. In a medium nonreactive saucepan, boil the wine over high heat until reduced to 1/2 cup, about 5 minutes. Add the stock and bring to a boil. Add the cranberry puree, reduce the heat to low and simmer, uncovered, until slightly thickened, about 10 minutes. Remove from heat.
Strain the remaining whole cranberries and add them to the sauce with the remaining 1/4 teaspoon each of salt, pepper and chopped juniper berries. Swirl in the cold butter.
Slice the venison thinly (stir any juices into the sauce) and serve with the sauce, reheated if necessary.

source: unknown

Each year I make 13 different types of cookies for the Yuletide season, this year’s selection is now up

2006 Yule Cookies

1 1/4c. flour
1/4 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1/2c. butter, at rm temp
3/4c sugar
1 tsp vanilla
1 large egg
1 square (1oz) unsweetened chocolate, melted

Mix flour, baking powder and salt.
In a large bowl, beat butter, vanilla, egg and sugar with electric mixer until pale and fluffy.
With mixer on low, gradually stir in flour mixture until blended.
Divide dough in half. Mix melted chocolate into one half.
Wrap each half in plastic and chill 2 hours or until firm enough to roll.
Dampen a flat surface with water and cover with 18in long sheet of plastic wrap.
Lightly flour the plastic wrap. On plastic wrap. roll plain dough out to form a 16 x 6in
rectangle. Repeat with chocolate dough.
Invert chocolate dough on top of the plain dough. Peel the plastic off top.
Press it down gently with rolling pin
Roll up from one long side, peeling the plastic away as you roll, into an even log, making sure centre is tight.
Cut log in half. Wrap halves in plastic and chill overnight.
Heat oven to 350*. Grease cookie sheets. Cut each log into 36 slices and place 1in apart on cookie sheets.
Bake, one sheet at a time 12 min or until lightly browned around edges. Remove to wire rack to cool.
Store in airtight container at room temp up to 2 weeks or freeze.

Yields: 72 cookies.

2 1/4c. flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp cream of tartar
1/8 tsp salt
1/2 c. butter, room temp
1c. packed light brown sugar
1 large egg
1/2 tsp vanilla
1/2c. almonds, finely chopped
1/2c. fresh or frozen cranberries, chopped
1 tsp. freshly grated lemon peel

For decoration: halved fresh cranberries, granulated sugar

In a medium sized bowl, mix flours, baking soda, cream of tartar and salt.
In a large bowl beat butter and sugar until fluffy. beat in egg and vanilla.
Gradually add in flour mixture until blended.
Gently stir in almonds, lemon peel and cranberries.

Divide dough in half, wrap each half separately and chill about 30 min or until
firm enough to handle. Shape each half into an 8in long roll.
Wrap and chill about 3 hours until hard. Heat oven to 350*.
Grease cookie sheets, with serrated knife cut 1 roll at a time (keep other half in refrigerator)
into 32 slices. Place 1 in apart on cookie sheet.
Press a cranberry half, cut side down, into each centre. Sprinkle with sugar.
Bake 12-14 min or until edges are golden.
Remove to wire rack to cool. Store in airtight container up to 1 week or freeze.

Yields 64

1/2 c. butter, softened
2/3c firmly packed light brown sugar
1 egg
1/4c unsulfured molasses
2 3/4c. flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp grated nutmeg
1/2 tsp ground ginger
1/2 tsp ground cloves
1 pkg (8oz) cream cheese, softened
1 pkg (10 oz) condensed mincemeat (this is drier than the jarred variety)

In a large bowl combine all ingredients and mix on low just until blended.
Increase speed to medium and beat 2 min until well-blended.
Sprinkle a sheet of wax paper with flour.
With a floured rolling pin, roll dough into an 18x11 rectangle.
Spread cream cheese onto dough. break mincemeat into small pieces and sprinkle over cheese.
Starting with the long side, using wax paper as a guide roll dough jellyroll style.
Cut into 1/2″ slices and reshape to form round spirals. Freeze, bake 325* for 15 min and cool.
Store in refrigerator.

Yields: 3 dozen

This is a recipe I have had for fifteen years or more, sadly part of the directions were eaten away by mice while packed away in my parent’s barn several years ago so I tried to recreate it from memory. These are moist, rich, dark cakes…stout is definitely the better choice of the two to use in this recipe.

Dublin Tea Cakes

1 jar (1lb) mixed candied fruits
1 pkg (10oz) currants or raisins
1 1/2c. chopped walnuts
2TB grated orange rind
4c. all purpose flour
2tsp. apple pie spice
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp salt
1c. butter
1 1/3c. firmly packed brown sugar
3 eggs
1c. stout or dark ale
heavey cream, whipped
candied cherries
walnut halves

Grease/dust with flour or line 24 muffin tins
Combine candied fruits, currants, nuts, orange rind in a very large bowl
Sift flour, apple pie spice, baking soda, salt onto wax paper.
Sprinkle 3/4 c. mixture over fruits and nuts, toss to coat.
Beat butter, brown sugar and eggs in a large bowl with mixer for three minutes or until fluffy.
Add stout and mix well.
Stir in remaining flour, 1 cup at a time alternating beating well after each addition.
Pour batter over fruits and nuts and mix well. pour into muffin tins.
Bake in a slow oven, 275* for 1 hour. Let sit and cool 10 min and turn out on rack to cool completely.

Wrap each cake tightly in plastic wrap then in aluminum foil. Store tightly covered at room temp.
Just before serving, pipe a circle of whipped cream on top.
Garnish with a candied red cherry and walnut if desired.

yields 24 cakes