Rum Raisin Cranberry Kugel Food

RUM RAISIN CREME BRULEE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325°. In a small bowl, toss raisins with rum; microwave for 30 seconds. Let stand 10 minutes., Meanwhile, in a small saucepan, heat cream until bubbles form around sides of pan; remove from heat. In a bowl, whisk egg yolks and 1/2 cup sugar until blended but not foamy. Slowly stir in hot cream. Strain raisin mixture into cream mixture, stirring in rum to combine; reserve raisins., Place six 6-oz. broiler-safe ramekins or custard cups in a baking pan large enough to hold them without touching. Divide reserved raisins among ramekins; pour egg mixture over top. Place pan on oven rack; add very hot water to pan within 3/4 in. of top of ramekins., Bake 30-35 minutes or until center is just set and top appears dull. Immediately remove ramekins from water bath to a wire rack; cool 10 minutes. Refrigerate until cold, about 4 hours., To caramelize topping with a kitchen torch, sprinkle custards evenly with remaining sugar. Hold torch flame about 2 in. above custard surface and rotate it slowly until sugar is evenly caramelized. Serve immediately or refrigerate up to 1 hour.

BOURBON (OR RUM) RAISINS

Steps:

• Find a mason jar or other glass container with a tight-fitting lid.
• Place the raisins in the jar.
• Pour the bourbon (I use Maker's Mark)over the raisins--enough to cover them.
• Give them a shake and close up the jar.
• Let it sit in your cupboard for a few days (although after just a few hours the raisins will begin to plump), inverting the jar occasionally to make sure all the raisins are getting coated.
• Voila!
• For bourbon or dark rum, I suggest dark raisins.
• For white rum, I suggest golden raisins.

RUM RAISIN CRANBERRY KUGEL

Steps:

• Place a rack in the middle of your oven and preheat to 350 degrees F. On the stovetop, place the raisins and cranberries in a small pot and cover with rum.
• Simmer the mixture over medium-low heat for about 20 minutes, until the fruit has plumped and all the liquid is absorbed. Keep an eye on it to make sure it doesn't burn. Remove from heat and reserve.
• Meanwhile, bring a large pot of water to a rolling boil. Add the noodles to the pot, bring back to a boil, and let the noodles cook till tender (not overly soft) for about 5 minutes. Drain, rinse briefly with cold water, and return to the pot.
• In a food processor or blender, mix together the eggs, sour cream, ricotta, cream cheese, sugar, brown sugar, melted butter, vanilla, spices, and salt.
• Pour the blended egg mixture over the cooked noodles in the pot and stir until well combined. Add the rum raisins, cranberries, and walnuts, and stir into the noodles.
• Spray a 9-by-13-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray. Pour the noodle mixture into the dish. Top the kugel by sprinkling generously with sugar and lightly with cinnamon. Alternatively, use your favorite kugel topping (streusel, crushed graham crackers, cornflakes, etc.). I like this kugel with a graham cracker topping, but many prefer the crunchy texture that forms when the noodles bake and brown on top. Either way works!
• Bake about 60 minutes, turning once halfway through, until the center is set and the tips of the noodles turn golden brown. Remove from the oven. Let rest for 15-20 minutes before slicing. For a cleaner slice, let the kugel cool to room temperature before cutting.