Holiday Egg Nog

 6 eggs, separated

In a large bowl whisk together 6 egg yolks with sugar & liquor. 

1 cup Sugar

1 cup Brandy or Rum

1 Pint (2cups) Whiskey

Add to large bowl of egg yolks & whiskey:

5 cups Half & Half

3 cups Light Whip Cream

In another large mixing bowl beat/whip/blend on high speed:

6 egg whites with 1/4 cup confectioners (powdered) sugar

Fold beaten egg whites and sugar into original large bowl of yolks, liquor & Dairy

Top with Nutmeg or Cinnamon

Pastry Wrapped Brie with Pecans & Raspberry jam

1 Round Brie Cheese

1/2 sheet Puff pastry Dough

1 Egg

2 Tbls Water

1/2 c Chopped Pecans

1/2 c Raspberry Jam

Place Brie Cheese in freezer for about 30 minutes. Slice in half vertically and add raspberry jam and pecans. Whisk together the water and egg. Brush egg water onto pastry. Place Brie Cheese in center of dough, making a circle cut of the dough around the Brie. Then wrap pastry tightly around the cheese. Make leaves and holly berry balls for garnish from extra pastry and place on top of Brie. Brush more egg water onto pastry. Place back in freezer for 1 hour. Bake at 400 degrees for about 20-25 minutes or until golden brown. Serve warm. with bread or crackers.

Maple Cranberry Sweet Potatoes

6 medium Sweet Potatoes, cut into chunks
Pinch of Salt
Boil sweet potatoes in salt water till tender. Place in greased 9x13 pan.

1 cup Maple Syrup
1 1/2 cups whole uncooked Cranberries
3 T Butter
On low heat, bring syrup to a boil reduce, stir in cranberries and butter cook about 5 minutes.
Pour mixture over sweet potatoes. Bake 400 degrees for 20 minutes.
Topped with chopped Walnuts if desired.

Christmas Eve Egg Nog

6 egg yolks
1 cup sugar
1 cup brandy/rum
1 pint whiskey
Blend 6 egg yolks with sugar and liquor in a large bowl mix.

5 cups half & half
3 cups light whip cream
Add half & half and whip cream into egg, sugar & liquor mixture.

6 egg whites
¼ confectioner’s sugar
Whip egg whites and confectioner’s sugar to soft peaks in separate bowl..
Fold beaten egg whites into half & half, whip cream, and egg/liquor mixture..

Nutmeg or cinnamon
Sprinkle with nutmeg/cinnamon.
Serve cautiously!

Spinach Cranberry Salad

Salad Mix
6 cups (10 oz) spinach leaves
1 can (11 oz) mandarin orange segments, drained
1/2 cup dried cranberries
1/3 cup red onion thinly sliced
Mix ingredients in a large salad bowl. Add vinaigrette and pecans before serving.

Toasted Pecans
1/2 cup pecan halves (2 oz)
2 T sugar
Heat in nonstick skillet over medium heat about 5 minutes, stirring constantly, until sugar begins to caramelize. Transfer to waxed paper. Let cool; break apart. Sprinkle over salad.

Cranberry Vinaigrette
1/3 c olive oil
3 T cranberry-flavored/white wine vinegar
2 T sugar
1 t Dijon Mustard
1/4 t salt
Shake ingredients in tightly cover container. Toss dressing with salad ingredients.