Holiday Fruit And Nut Mold Food

FRUIT AND NUT HOLIDAY SHORTBREAD

Steps:

• Make the shortbread cookies: Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F. Cream the butter with the sugar in a medium bowl using a handheld mixer. In a small bowl, mix the salt and flour, and then mix into the butter, 1/4 cup at a time, just until uniform. Do not overmix. Gather the dough into a ball; chill for 15 minutes if the dough is beginning to soften or feel greasy. Roll the dough out to 1/2-inch and cut into rectangles about 1/2-inch by 2 inches. Place on a cold, ungreased baking sheet. Bake until the edges are just beginning to turn golden, 20 minutes.
• Meanwhile, make the fruit and nut topping: In a small bowl, mix the pecans, cranberries, and chocolate chips with the orange marmalade.
• After 20 minutes, remove the cookies from the oven and spread the fruit and nut topping on the tops of the shortbread. Return to bake for 7 to 8 more minutes. Allow to cool before serving. Best eaten within a day or two of making.

HOLIDAY FRUIT AND NUT MOLD

Steps:

• Stir boiling water into dry gelatin in large bowl at least 2 min. until completely dissolved. Stir in cold ginger ale and spices. Refrigerate about 1-1/2 hours or until thickened (spoon drawn through leaves a definite impression).
• Stir in fruits and pecans. Spoon into 5-cup mold sprayed with cooking spray.
• Refrigerate 4 hours or until firm. Unmold onto serving plate. Garnish as desired. Store leftover gelatin in refrigerator.

FESTIVE FRUIT GELATIN MOLD

Steps:

• Prepare the gelatin mix according to the package instructions, using the seltzer in place of the cold water. Allow to cool for 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, place a mandarin followed by a blackberry in the grooves of a 2.1-quart fluted bundt pan. Repeat to form a circle. Pour in just enough of the gelatin to cover the fruit (about 1 1/2 cups). Chill until set, about 1 1/2 hours, leaving the remainder of the gelatin mix on the counter.
• Sprinkle the blueberries in an even layer over the firm gelatin. Cover with the remaining mandarin oranges. Top with the remaining blackberries. Pour the remaining gelatin mixture over the fruit. Chill until firm, at least 8 hours and up to overnight.
• When ready to serve, place the gelatin mold in a bowl of warm water for 2 minutes to loosen. Invert onto a circular serving platter. Fill the center of the mold with fresh berries to serve.

SURE.JELL® HOLIDAY FRUIT AND NUT JAM

Steps:

• Bring boiling-water canner, half-full with water, to simmer. Wash jars and screw bands in hot, soapy water; rinse with warm water. Pour boiling water over flat lids in saucepan off the heat. Let stand in hot water until ready to use. Drain well before filling.
• Mix apricots, water, dates, pineapple, cherries, pecans, raisins and spices in 6- or 8-quart saucepot.
• Stir pectin into prepared fruit in saucepot. Add butter to reduce foaming, if desired. Bring mixture to full rolling boil (a boil that doesn't stop bubbling when stirred) on high heat, stirring constantly.
• Stir in all sugar quickly. Return to full rolling boil and boil exactly 1 minute, stirring constantly. Remove from heat. Skim off any foam with metal spoon.
• Ladle quickly into prepared jars, filling to within 1/4 inch of tops. Wipe jar rims and threads. Cover with two-piece lids. Screw bands tightly. Place jars on elevated rack in canner. Lower rack into canner. Water must cover jars by 1 to 2 inches; add boiling water if needed. Cover; bring water to gentle boil. Process 10 minutes. Remove jars and place upright on a towel to cool completely. After jars cool, check seals by pressing middle of lid with finger. (If lid springs back, lid is not sealed and refrigeration is necessary.)

FRESH CRANBERRY MOLD

Steps:

• In a large bolw, dissolve Jello in 1 1/4 cups of hot water. Add 1 1/4 cups cold water and stir. Chill until just beginning to set.
• Meanwhile, grind together cranberries and apples (I use a food processor). Add pineapple, oranges, sugar and nuts (if using). Mix.
• When Jell-O has begun to set, add fruit mixture. Fold in well. Pour into a large mold and refrigerate until set.

GREEK FRUIT AND NUT MOLD

Steps:

• Make first layer: Empty packet of lemon jello into a bowl and add 1 cup boiling water. Allow jello to soften a bit and then whisk until gelatin has completely melted. Add buttermilk and place in refrigerator to start setting. After about 1 hour, add diced peaches and mix. Pour into a bundt pan and place in refrigerator.
• Make second layer: Empty 1 1/2 packets of strawberry jello in a large bowl. Add 1 cup boiling water. Allow jello to soften a bit and then whisk until gelatin has completely melted. Add 1 cup orange juice and whisk in 2 cups greek yoghurt. Place bowl in refrigerator to start setting. After about 1 hour, gently mix in sliced bananas and toasted nuts. Pour over first layer in bundt pan and put into refrigerator for atleast 4 hours to set properly.
• Unmold by dipping bundt pan quickly into a larger container containing hot water, and then turning out onto a platter.

CREAMY FRUIT MOLD

Steps:

• In a bowl, beat cream cheese and gelatin. Add water, stir until gelatin is dissolved. Refrigerate until thickened, about 1 hour, stirring frequently. Add mayonnaise; whisk until smooth. Stir in fruit and pecans. Pour into a 1-qt. mold that has been coated with cooking spray. Chill until firm. Unmold onto a serving platter.

FRUIT MOLD

Steps:

• Dissolve Jello in hot juice.
• Stir in the lemon juice, cold ginger ale and fruit.
• Pour into mold.
• Refrigerate till firm.
• Unmold and fill center with fresh fruit.