Festive Sugar Plums Old Fashioned Sweetmeats Food

FESTIVE SUGAR PLUMS - OLD FASHIONED SWEETMEATS

Steps:

• Put all of the dried fruit, ground almonds and glace ginger into a food processor and pulse until finely chopped. Add the grated orange zest and mix well. Then add the brandy or orange juice and pulse briefly until the mixture comes together.
• Mix the sugar and mixed spice together.
• Divide the sugar plum fruit mixture into 12 pieces and then roll into small balls, before rolling them in the spiced sugar to coat them all thoroughly.
• Cut the pistachios into slivers and cut the cherries into quarters, then push the pistachio slivers and cherry pieces into the top of the sugar plums, to imitate leaves and berries.
• Place them into small paper cases if you wish and store them in an airtight tin for up to 4 weeks if made with brandy, or up to 2 weeks in the fridge if made with orange juice.
• You may be able to perform the Nutcracker ballet now - or not!

NO-BAKE SUGAR PLUMS

Steps:

• In a food processor or by hand, finely chop apricots, pecans, figs or dates, raisins and coconut.
• Add liqueur or orange juice and almond flavoring.
• Stir until well blended.
• Roll into 36 balls, about 1-inch, by placing a small amount of the mixture between the palms of your hands.
• Roll each ball in granulated sugar.
• Layer in an airtight container, placing waxed paper or plastic wrap between each layer to prevent sticking.
• Store in the refrigerator until ready to serve.
• Serve on a glass plate lined with a paper doily.

SWEETMEATS

Steps:

• Crust: Preheat oven to 350*.
• Grease a 9x12 inch baking pan.
• Cream butter and brown sugar together.
• Add flour and mix well.
• Pat mixture into the prepared baking pan.
• Bake for 15 to 20 minutes.
• Remove from oven.
• Topping: Mix sugar and eggs.
• Add flour; stir well.
• Fold in walnuts and coconut.
• Pour topping onto crust.
• Bake for 20 to 25 minutes longer, until topping is set.
• Cool in pan and cut into squares.
• Makes 30 squares.

FESTIVE FRUIT PLATTER

Steps:

• Whisk limeade and honey until blended.
• Slowly whisk in oil until thick and smooth.
• Dip bananas, apples and pears in mixture.
• Line platter with leaves.
• Arrange red and green grapes, apricot and starfruit in alternating groups in a circle around outside edge of platter.
• Alternate orange slices and more star fruit with apple and pear slices in a smaller circle.
• In the next circle, arrange kiwi, pineapple, bananas and strawberries.
• Sprinkle raspberries over all.