3 Fools

Dessert Fools have been around so long that it is difficult to pin down the origin date. Here is a recipe from 1658, straight from The Compleat Cook. 

"Take your Gooseberries, and put them in a Silver or Earthen Pot, and set it in a Skillet of boyling Water, and when they are coddled enough strain them, then make them hot again, when they are scalding hot, beat them very well with a good piece of fresh butter, Rose-water and Sugar, and put in the yolke of two or three Eggs; you may put Rose-water into them, and so stir it altogether, and serve it to the Table when it is cold."

Over time, using any sweetened custard for this superb "pudding" has been omitted for the simpler whipped cream. In fact, most of today's Fool recipes are simply mashed berries that have been mixed with whipped cream. To me, that may make for a quick fix in the summer, but to truly enjoy this classic takes just a tad extra effort, especially during the Holidays when people put their best, and most creative, foot forward to please themselves and others around them.
I am giving you 3 distinctly different Fool recipes. Notice I refrain from using entirely whipped cream in these recipes. I opt, instead, to give it a little "kick in the pants". If desired, substitute more whipped cream to any of these recipes. 

Tart Raspberry Fool

You are going to be very pleasantly surprised at the sweet tartness this Holiday dessert provides. All the flavors balance out perfectly and I have a funny feeling you will be doubling, tripling or even quadrupling this recipe to feed the masses this year as they gather around your table.


1(12-ounce)bag frozen raspberries(2 1/2 cups)
1 cup frozen, white grapefruit juice concentrate, thawed
1/2 cup sugar
1(1-ounce)envelope unflavored gelatin
1(8-ounce)container plain yogurt, whisked and divided
3 cups whipped topping, divided


Combine raspberries, grapefruit juice concentrate and sugar in a medium saucepan over medium heat, bringing to a boil. Once boiling, and with a potato masher or sturdy fork, mash raspberries just a couple times, leaving them chunky. Sprinkle gelatin over the top and continue cooking without stirring for 1 minute.

Remove from heat and transfer to bowl to chill in refrigerator, uncovered, for 30 minutes.
When ready, whisk half the yogurt with half the whipped topping until well combined in a large bowl. Fold in cooled(it will still be warm)raspberry mixture, folding until desired streaks are visible or fold in entirely.

Divide among 4 serving dishes, loosely cover with film wrap and chill at least 3 hours. When ready to serve, blend the remainder of yogurt with remainder of whipped topping and ladle over individual servings of Fool.

Sweet and Tangy Blueberry Fool

Mousse-like but much softer. An original recipe for this New England dessert goes all the way back to 15th century England, when it was made with crushed berries mixed with eggs and a sweetener, creating a berry-laden custard. It was made in this way even well into 19th century New England before being altered using whipped cream instead of custard. I think you will find this version less sweet and eggy, but "super delicious" as my kids say! Refer to note at the end for 2 other Fool recipes, one of which is the classic preparation.



1(12-ounce)bag frozen blueberries(2 1/2 cups)
1/4 cup corn syrup
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
Pinch dried ginger or allspice
1(1-ounce)envelope unflavored gelatin
1/2(8-ounce)container creme fraiche
1 1/2 cups whipped topping
Crushed gingersnaps or your favorite crisp Holiday cookies


Make blueberry filling by combining frozen blueberries, corn syrup, lemon juice and spices in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Bring to boil until blueberries are thawed. Once boiling, and with a potato masher or sturdy fork, mash the blueberries just a couple times, leaving them very chunky. Sprinkle gelatin over the top and continue cooking without stirring for 1 minute.

Remove from heat and transfer to bowl to chill in refrigerator, uncovered, for 30 minutes.

When ready, whisk creme fraiche and whipped topping until well combined in a large bowl. Fold in cooled(it will still be warm)blueberry mixture, folding until desired streaks are visible or fold in entirely.

Divide among 4 serving dishes, loosely cover with film wrap and chill at least 3 hours before serving with crushed cookies over the top.

NOTE: Follow this link for a great Raspberry Fool and to prepare this old time dessert the way it was intended, follow this link, English Cranberry Fool with Baked Meringue.

Ye Olde Cranberry Fool

Here is a Fool recipe that is truly classic....well, for the most part. I use the classic preparation for the overall texture, but Yanked it using canned cranberry sauce. For those of you who wish to prepare it using fresh cranberries, simply see asterisk. Regardless of how you make it, it is delightfully different and perfect for your table this season.

1(14-ounce)can whole-berry cranberry sauce *
2 cups milk
1/2 teaspoon allspice or cinnamon
1 cup sugar, divided
2 tablespoons cornstarch
4 eggs, separated
1 teaspoon vanilla
Nonstick cooking spray

Empty cranberry sauce into a bowl and stir until it is well broken up. Strain any liquid from it and discard, set aside cranberry sauce. Place milk, egg yolks, 1/2 cup sugar, cornstarch and allspice in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Bring to scalding while almost continuously stirring with a rubber spatula to prevent scorching. Continue cooking for 5 minutes, or until it has thickened to the consistency of thin gravy.

Remove from heat and stir in bowl of cranberry sauce and vanilla until well incorporated. Evenly divide among 3-4 serving dishes, loosely cover with film wrap and refrigerate until completely chilled and set, about 3 hours. You can also simply pour into a large bowl to cool, scooping out portions when ready to serve.

Meanwhile, make meringue toppings. Beat egg whites using an electric mixer until soft peaks form. Slowly add remaining sugar while beating to stiff peaks.

Preheat oven to 350-degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and lightly grease with nonstick cooking spray. Pipe chocolate kiss-like mounds(or rosettes) to desired sizes onto parchment paper, leaving an inch between mounds. (This amount of meringue will make about 14-15 good-sized meringues, so use only half the whites if desired.

Place in oven for 5 minutes, then turn off the heat, leaving the meringues in oven for at least one hour to dry out.

When ready to serve, add as many meringues on top of each serving as desired.

* Want to make your own chunky cranberry sauce? You will need to give yourself some time. Simply place 1(12-ounce)bag fresh cranberries in a medium saucepan with 1 cup frozen orange juice concentrate(thawed)and 1/3 cup water. Bring to a boil over medium heat. Continue boiling for about 8 minutes, or until most, if not all, the cranberries have popped open. Remove from heat, transfer to a large bowl, cool to room temperature and cover with film wrap. Refrigerate until completely chilled. It will thicken substantially when cooling. Use in place of the canned cranberry sauce above. 

Chess Pie, Cheese Pie, Jes' Pie, Chest Pie....Which is it?

This is one of those times when the name of a dish is directly associated with its' origination. One of my favorite name 'justifications' is that it all began with the fact that these pies were kept in a chest, or pie safe, in the early years, hence the alteration of chest to chess. Although this makes the most sense and I love the idea of it, this is quickly discounted because ALL pies and pastries were kept in either a pie chest, safe, buttery, shelf or where-ever there was room to set it.

The other, rather simplistic and comical, explanation is that when someone was asked what kind of pie was being made or eaten, the retort was a short "jes' pie", or Chess Pie over time. As we all know, names are changed for any number of reasons through the generations, but this is an all too easy of an answer when there is no obvious answer.

 

This is a very old front of a pie safe with holes punched out for ventilation.

 

So that leaves us with one remaining name, Cheese Pie. To preface what I am about to explain, let me just say that I adore Southern cooking and all the pomp that goes with any dish that originates there. I have frequently denoted dishes that are said to have started in New England, but have since been proven to be truly Southern. Chess Pie is just not one of those dishes, although we can thoroughly thank them for popularizing it.

Back in the Puritan era of New England, the 'rich' households often made cheesecakes, although far different than what we are accustomed to today. A Robert May, and English chef, printed a cookbook in England called The Accomplisht Cook, 1665. In it, he gives a cheesecake recipe using the same ingredients and preparation method housewives of New England used in the 17th century. And bearing in mind that most of the original settlers in New England were English, it goes without saying this dessert followed. Cakes of all types were commonly made as soon as the Puritans arrived on these shores, including cheesecakes.

It wasn't until the mid-1700s that Chess Pies are even mentioned down South in any printed material, journal or otherwise.

There is one misunderstood theory as well. There was no cheese in a cheesecake prepared during this time. Lemon cheesecakes, and thusly Lemon Chess Pies, were identical in all aspects, including the omission of cheese, which didn't come until the mid-1700s. So why were they called Cheese Cakes? That is for another article.

Now to play devils advocate. Most of the Southern colonies weren't populated until after the New England colonies, so this should be taken into consideration as well. But be that as it may, cheese cakes were made before Chess Pies, although both recipes were identical in preparation from the beginning.

To make a long story short, Chess Pie was so named because cheese cake was baked in a pie tin(or coffyn as originally named) with a single pasty crust. Over time, the name cheese became chess(be it through misspelling or mispronunciation), which is quite easily understood. And going from the designation cake to pie is understood just as easily. After all, one look at a cheesecake and you may even think it should be called a pie.

One thing I have found peculiar, with no explanation at all, is the must-have addition of cornmeal to all chess pies. Since the very beginning, cornmeal, in any amount, is a staple in these pies. Many recipes through the years only put a token amount while others overdo it. Sure, it may have helped to thicken it many generations ago when ingredients were a little different, but today it really isn't needed. But I do add cornmeal to keep this dessert classic. I do, however, change it up a little in the Chocolate Chess Pie, as you have noticed. I use it as a base for the crust instead of the filling.
New England is the birthplace of both cheesecakes AND chess pies, but(as mentioned)the South truly deserves recognition for making the pie famous.

Here are 3 recipes for Chess Pies that I am sure will win you over, regardless of what side of the Mason-Dixon line you reside.

　

Chocolate Peanut Butter Chess Pie

Such a moist and filling Southern favorite. An indulgent pie that mimics the texture of a fudgy brownie with the taste of chocolate pudding and all served in a crispy, peanut butter crust. Treat yourself!

Crust:

1/2 cup cornmeal

1/4 cup flour

1/4 teaspoon salt

2 tablespoons peanut butter

4 tablespoons milk

Filling:

1 cup chocolate chips

6 tablespoons butter or margarine

6 tablespoons sugar

1/4 cup cocoa

1 tablespoon constahch(haha, a little Yankee humor here-cornstarch rightfully)

4 egg whites

6 tablespoons milk

For the crust, combine cornmeal, flour and salt in a bowl and blend. Add peanut butter and mash it into the flour mixture with a fork. Add milk and continue blending with the fork until everything is blended. With you hands, gather dough into a ball that holds together. Place between 2 large sheets of film wrap and roll until it is large enough for your pie tin. After lining the pie tin, crimp edges if desired; set aside.

In a medium saucepan, add the chocolate chips and butter. Melt over low heat, stirring to combine. Remove from heat and set aside. Preheat oven to 325-degrees F. In a large bowl, mix sugar, cocoa and cornstarch together. Pour in the warm melted chocolate mixture and beat until thoroughly combined. Add egg whites and milk, beating on high speed until smooth. Pour into prepared crust and bake 30-32 minutes, or until firm when touched in the center. The pie will puff up when baking but settle down upon cooling. Remove from oven to cool slightly before serving warm or chill completely if desired.

　

Christmas Cranberry Chess Pie

Although this pie is perfectly fine without the addition of figs or dates, I wanted to add a little Christmas cheer with flavors we don't enjoy but once a year. This pie is the perfect "pantry pie", which is how they were kept many generations ago, sitting on the pantry shelf.

Crust:

2 cups crushed gingersnap cookies

3 tablespoons butter or margarine, melted

Filling:

4 tablespoons butter or margarine, room temperature

1/4 cup sugar

1 tablespoon cornmeal

1 tablespoon cornstarch

1 cup whole-berry cranberry sauce

1/2 cup chopped figs or dates

3 eggs

1/4 cup milk

In a small bowl, mix the crushed cookies with melted butter. Transfer to a pie tin and press firmly on the bottom and sides; set aside.

Preheat oven to 325-degrees F. In a large bowl, with an electric mixer, beat butter and sugar together until creamy. Add cornmeal, cornstarch, eggs and milk. Continue beating until well mixed. Stir in the cranberry sauce and figs. Pour into prepared crust and bake 36-38 minutes, or until firm to the touch in the center. Remove from oven to enjoy warm or cool completely before serving.

Tangy Lemon Chess Pie

Some say that Chess Pie was originally made with lemons. So I upped the ante and added the flavor of lemon with juice and curd. Lemon curd is an intensely flavored 'preserve' type spread that is available in all supermarkets.

Crust:

2 cups crushed vanilla wafer cookies

3 tablespoons butter or margarine, melted

Filling:

4 tablespoons butter or margarine, room temperature

1/4 cup sugar

1 tablespoon cornstarch

1 tablespoon cornmeal

1 1/4 cups lemon curd

1/2 cup chopped figs, dates or raisins

1 tablespoon lemon juice

4 egg whites

In a small bowl, mix the crushed cookies with melted butter. Transfer to a pie tin and press firmly on the bottom and sides; set aside.

Preheat oven to 325-degrees F. In a large bowl, with an electric mixer, beat butter and sugar together until creamy. Add cornmeal, cornstarch, eggs, milk and lemon juice. Continue beating until well mixed. Stir in the lemon curd and chopped figs. Pour into prepared crust and bake 36-38 minutes, or until firm to the touch in the center. Remove from oven to enjoy warm or cool completely before serving.

　

May's recipe for Lumber Pie

Take some grated bread, and beef-suet cut into bits like great dice, and some cloves and mace, then some veal or capon minced small with beef suet, sweet herbs, fair sugar, the yolks of six eggs boil'd hard and cut in quarters, put them to the other ingredients, with some barberries, some yolks of raw eggs, and a little cream, work up all together and put it in the caul of veal like little sausages; then bake them in a dish, and being half baked have a pie made and dried in the oven ; put these puddings into it with some butter, verjuyce sugar, some dates on them, large mace, grapes, or barberries, and marrow – being baked, serve it with a cut cover on it, and scrape sugar on it.

Robert May, The Accomplisht Cook, 1665.

YANKED.....Again!

This British Classic is normally steamed and was prepared as such for many generations at the beginning of New England colonization. Steamed puddings have fallen by the wayside since the 19th century, mainly because of the lack of proper equipment and time in modern family households. The recipe below is no different. It resembles a super moist muffin than anything else, but don't let that detract you from making it.

It is simply delicious, even with some alternative ingredients such as soaked raisins instead of dates, orange juice and the sauce. Toffee sauce is ordinarily used, but I decided to give it a New England feel by using molasses. After all, can you think of anything stickier than molasses?

I have also noted at the end of this recipe about the true origin. Although there are multiple theories, one thing is certain. Our Yankee ancestors, here on the East coast, love their rum and some have even speculated the word Toffee comes from Tafia, which means Rum.

So try this Yanked recipe for the Holidays and beyond for a flavor that has transcended time, tables and tastes.

New England Sticky 'Toffee' Pudding

3/4 cup raisins
1 1/2 cups frozen orange juice concentrate, thawed
1 cup water
1/2 cup sugar
1/3 cup butter or margarine
2 tablespoons molasses
2 teaspoons vanilla
Nonstick cooking spray
2 eggs, beaten
1 2/3 cup flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
Yankee 'Toffee' Sauce, recipe below*

　

Preheat oven to 350-degrees F. In a medium saucepan, add raisins and orange juice concentrate and water. bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring to combine. Boil for 10 minutes, remove from heat and drain all but 2 tablespoons liquid. Add sugar, butter, molasses and vanilla, stirring until butter has melted. Let cool for a few minutes before refrigerating for 60 minutes.

Spray 10 cups in one or two muffin tins with nonstick cooking spray; set aside. In a large bowl, combine flour with baking soda. Stir in the raisin mixture and eggs, mixing until just combined. Fill the prepared muffin cups with equal amounts of Pudding batter, each cup will be about 2/3-full. Bake 18-20 minutes, or until the center bounces back when touched. Remove from oven to serve hot with Yankee 'Toffee' Sauce.

To make the Yankee 'Toffee' Sauce, combine 1 cup molasses, 3 tablespoons thawed orange juice concentrate and 1 teaspoon lemon juice in a small saucepan. Gently heat until warm and spoon over warm Sticky Toffee Puddings.

　

*If you would like to stay true to the origin of Toffee Pudding, replace the orange juice concentrate with dark or flavored rum or replace the lemon juice with rum extract. 

Sweeeeeeet Cookies

With the same basic ingredients, you can create literally dozens of cookies. This Master cookie dough recipe is reminiscent of a sugar cookie, thereby enabling even the home cook to add, subtract and vary the preparation method to result in your own creation.

I have given you a couple of ideas below and, as usual, play with this recipe a little, with the recipe for Santa's Favorites being the Master recipe. Just remember that the more you alter the liquid, the more you will NEED to alter the dry. The dough, when finished, should hold together in a ball when you have finished stirring, or beating, it. It will resemble the preparation method of pizza dough, when it leaves the sides of the bowl and clings together.


　

　
　

　

Chocolate Crispy Quickies

Want crispy cookies with enough gooeyness to liken them to a fat, moist, freshly baked chocolate chip cookie? Here is the answer! Cooked in as little as 5 minutes with textures to please both palates. These cookies are also great thinned out with 1/2 cup corn syrup so that they flatten out even more, creating a crispy crust on top and bottom, and still maintaining that melted chocolate center.

6 tablespoons butter or margarine
Nonstick cooking spray
1/3 cup corn syrup
2 tablespoons sugar
2 teaspoons lemon juice
1 cup flour
2 teaspoons cinnamon
2/3 cup chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350-degrees F. Coat a baking or cookie pan with nonstick cooking spray. In a bowl, beat together the butter, corn syrup, sugar and lemon juice until smooth with an electric mixer on high. Reduce speed to low and beat in the flour and cinnamon until well combined. Fold in the chocolate chips. Drop by the rounded teaspoons onto prepared cookie sheet, leaving 3 inches between each mound. Bake 5-6 minutes, or until you notice the cookies starting to brown on the bottom edges. Immediately remove to cool for 2 minutes before transferring to a plate or rack to cool further.

　

Makes 28-30 crispy, gooey cookies.

　

　

'Tis The Season Mint Swirls

You certainly can make the red portion of this dough more vibrant by adding more red food coloring, but my daughter wanted a pink, so.....It IS the Holiday season after all.



1/2 cup(1 stick) butter or margarine, softened
1 1/4 cup sugar, divided
1 egg
3 tablespoons milk
1 1/2 cups flour
1 teaspoon cream of tartar
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
Red, green and blue food coloring(or any combination)
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
4 teaspoons peppermint extract, divided
Nonstick cooking spray
Film wrap

　

In a large bowl, and using an electric mixer on high, beat together butter, 1 cup sugar, egg and milk until creamy and smooth. In another bowl, mix together flour, cream or tartar and baking soda. Slowly add the dry to the wet and continue beating, on low, until well combined. Separate the dough into three separate bowls. With a wooden spoon, or continue using beater on low(cleaning between each bowl) add 2 drops red food coloring and vanilla extract, stirring well. Yes, I said 2, the taste is reflected beautifully once cooked. and stir well. In another bowl, beat in 6 drops blue food coloring and 2 teaspoons peppermint extract and stir well. In third bowl, beat in 4 drops green food coloring and 2 teaspoons peppermint extract, stir well.

On a large sheet of film wrap, or waxed paper, add whichever bowl of dough desired. Place another sheet of film wrap over the top and roll out to a half-inch thickness, in a rectangular shape. Do the same with the other two bowls of dough, trying to make them the same size. Now peel off the top sheet of wrap from each rectangle. Lay one rectangle on top of the other and trim to even out the sides. Carefully roll up this layered dough like you would a jelly roll, by the long end. You don't need to do it tightly and if it cracks, that isn't a biggie either. Once rolled, fold the plastic over the ends and refrigerate at least an hour.

Preheat oven to 350-degrees F. Spray a large cookie sheet or two with nonstick cooking spray. Remove the dough log from refrigerator and cut into 3/4-inch thick slices. Place on prepared baking sheets, leaving 1-inch between each cookie. Sprinkle with 1/4 cup sugar, evenly, and bake 12-14 minutes, or until you see the edges of the bottom of the cookies starting to brown. Immediately remove from oven to cool for 2 minutes before transferring to a rack or platter to cool completely.

Makes 10-12 cookies

　

Santa's Favorites

Crunchy candy canes in a soft cookie, spiced with orange and graham. What a treat! You choose which coating you want. Sugar for that Holiday rush or graham crackers for a less sweet, yet just as crunchy bite. Either way, these candy canes are a hit with children and adults alike.

1/2 cup(1 stick) butter or margarine, softened
1 1/2 cup sugar, separated
2 teaspoons orange extract
1 egg
1 1/2 cups flour
1 teaspoon cream of tartar
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
Nonstick cookie spray
4 candy canes, crushed
1/2 cup crushed graham crackers

　

In a large mixing bowl, with an electric mixer on high, beat butter and 1 cup sugar together until smooth and creamy. Reduce speed to low and beat in orange extract and egg until well combined. In another bowl, mix flour, cream of tartar and baking soda. Slowly beat the flour mixture to the wet, on low, until well incorporated. Stir in crushed candy canes. Place in refrigerator for 30 minutes.

Preheat oven to 350-degrees F. Spray a cookie sheet with nonstick cookie spray. By the rounded tablespoon, scoop out dough and roll in the palm of your hands. Roll in crushed graham crackers or remainder of sugar and place on prepared pan. Continue with remaining cookie dough, leaving 3 inches between cookies. Bake 10-12 minutes, or until they are crisp on bottom. Remove to cool slightly before transferring to rack or platter.

Makes 12-14 cookies

　

Cocoa Caramel Hideaways

A cross between a sugared cocoa crinkle and a caramel lava cookie, but with the benefits of each. These filled delights are easy to make and can be 'stuffed' with a variety of items, such as broken peanut butter cups, pulled taffy or even jelly of your choice. Get the kids involved in making these, just don't let 'em eat the cookie dough, it has raw egg.

1/2 cup(1 stick) butter or margarine, softened
1 1/2 cup sugar, separated
2 teaspoons vanilla extract, or 1 tablespoon imitation vanilla
1 egg
1 1/2 cups flour
1/2 cup Dutch cocoa
1 teaspoon cream of tartar
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
3 caramel candies, cut into thirds
Nonstick cookie spray

　

In a large mixing bowl, with an electric mixer on high, beat butter and 1 cup sugar together until smooth and creamy. Reduce speed to low and beat in vanilla and egg until well combined. In another bowl, mix flour, cocoa, cream of tartar and baking soda. Slowly beat the flour mixture to the wet, on low, until well incorporated. Refrigerate 30 minutes.

Preheat oven to 350-degrees F. Spray a cookie sheet with nonstick cookie spray. Remove a rounded tablespoon of dough and roll into a ball with your palms. Make a large indent in the middle, place a cut caramel in the center and reseal, rolling once again. Dip in either graham crumbs or remaining sugar, continuing to roll so crumbs adhere well. Place on prepared cookie sheet and repeat with remaining dough, leaving 3-inches between balls. Bake 10-12 minutes, or until the bottom is crisp. Remove to cool slightly before transferring to a rack or platter.

　

　

Gooey Chocolate Drippers

Blossom cookies...Look out! The melted chocolate dripping off the sides of these tangy, soft cookies can only be topped by washing them down with a rich, frothy, hot cocoa. I think what separates these cookies from others is the touch of fruit mixed throughout the dough. It is such a great way of offsetting pure sugar, don't you think?

　

1/2 cup(1 stick) butter or margarine, softened
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup apricot fruit spread*
1 egg
1 cup flour
3/4 cup crushed graham crackers
1 teaspoon cream of tartar
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 chocolate bar, broken along lines to form rectangles
Nonstick cooking spray

　

In a large mixing bowl, with an electric mixer on high, beat butter and sugar together until smooth and creamy. Reduce speed to low and beat in fruit spread and egg until well combined. In another bowl, mix flour, crushed grahams, cream of tartar and baking soda. Slowly beat the flour mixture to the wet, on low, until well incorporated. Refrigerate 30 minutes.

Preheat oven to 350-degrees F. Spray a cookie sheet with nonstick cookie spray. Remove a rounded tablespoon of dough and drop it on prepared baking pan and repeat with remaining dough, leaving 3-inches between balls. Bake 10-12 minutes, or until the bottom is crisp. Remove from oven and immediately stick a small rectangle of chocolate in the center of each cookie. Let cool for another minute before transferring to a rack or platter.

Makes about 12 cookies.

*Mint Apple Jelly would go well here, or your favorite fruit spread.

Sugar Plums

The Sugar Plum Tree
Have you ever heard of the Sugar-Plum Tree?

'T is a marvel of great renown!

It blooms on the shore of the Lollipop sea

In the garden of Shut-Eye Town;

The fruit that it bears is so wondrously sweet

As those who have tasted it say)

That good little children have only to eat

Of that fruit to be happy next day.

　

When you 've got to the tree, you would have a hard time

To capture the fruit which I sing;

The tree is so tall that no person could climb

To the boughs where the sugar-plums swing!

But up in that tree sits a chocolate cat,

And a gingerbread dog prowls below--

And this is the way you contrive to get at

Those sugar-plums tempting you so:

　

You say but the word to that gingerbread dog

And he barks with such terrible zest

That the chocolate cat is at once all agog,

As her swelling proportions attest.

And the chocolate cat goes cavorting around

From this leafy limb unto that,

And the sugar-plums tumble, of course, to the ground--



Hurrah for that chocolate cat!

There are marshmallows, gumdrops, and peppermint canes,

With stripings of scarlet or gold,

And you carry away of the treasure that rains

As much as your apron can hold!

So come, little child, cuddle closer to me

In your dainty white nightcap and gown,

And I 'll rock you away to that Sugar-Plum Tree

In the garden of Shut-Eye Town

　
Reprinted from Poems of Childhood. Eugene Field. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1904

What child hasn't heard of at least the beginning stanza of this classic poem? The numbers are dwindling, I am afraid, as well as the number or people who have actually had the enjoyment of the taste treat associated with this story.

True Sugar Plums were so-named because, although not actually 'sugared plums', the original recipes used raisins or dried plums, otherwise known as prunes. Raisins were held together with nuts of various types and other dried fruits and rolled into small truffle-like balls They were a hit with youngsters and oldsters alike many generations ago. Without altering the original too much, try The Yankee Chef's version of this Christmas sweet the way your forebears tasted them, with only a couple of extra touches to round off the textural experience.

Today's recipes use the food processor or blender to finely mince all the ingredients, but I think that method muddles the flavor too much and gives it a monotone texture.......Blah! By simply chopping the ingredients by hand, the taste is fantastic and you can actually distinguish the different flavors all "rolled up into one". Adding granola is a great touch as well, but if you happen to have some granola-type cereal on hand, even the nut-laden variety, by all means this is a nice alternative too. Refer to NOTE for extended list of various alternatives to use.

1/2 cup raisins, left whole or chopped

1/2 cup granola

1/2 cup dried banana chips, crushed

1/2 cup candied green cherries, chopped

1/2 cup dried plums(prunes), orange-scented, chopped

1/2 cup candied red cherries, chopped

1/2 cup orange marmalade

1/2 cup honey

　

In a large bowl, combine all ingredients well with damp hands or use gloves(latex that is-work gloves won't work so well here). This may be best accomplished if you have a standing mixer with a paddle attachment. With your hands still slightly wet from water, mold into small balls, pressing tightly to mold. Place on a large platter and let air dry for an hour to dry the outside and make less sticky. Cover and keep until needed at room temperature. For a 'sweet and salty' flavor, sprinkle some kosher or other large-grained salt on top of each Sugar Plum.

　

NOTE: You may also substitute the following or use some imagination to form that perfect Sugar Plum, I promise Santa will love it just the same. I use candied fruits here because it adds that special flavor and extra holding power. Use all dried ingredients if desired. Try dried apple slices, candied pineapple(both yellow and green), crushed walnut, pecans or slivered almonds, golden raisins, dried apricots, candied or grated lemon or lime peel, candied citron or shredded coconut.