Sarasotas Candy Cane Bread Food

CANDY CANE BREAD

Steps:

• Stir together flour, brown sugar, baking powder and salt.
• Cut in the butter or margarine until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Add nuts.
• Mix egg and milk. Stir into dry mixture just till moistened.
• On a lightly floured surface, pat dough to a 10 x 7-inch rectangle, 1/2 inch thick. Cut crosswise into 1-inch strips. Twist each strip by holding both ends. Bend 1 end to form a candy cane.
• Place several inches apart on greased baking sheet. Bake at 425 degrees for 10 minutes or till light brown.
• Carefully transfer to rack. Cool. Coat each cane with powdered Sugar Icing. Decorate, using decorator icing, cinnamon candies, or peppermint candies as desired. Makes 10.
• Powdered Sugar Icing: In bowl combine 2 cups sifted powdered sugar and enough milk to make of drizzling consistency.

CANDY CANE HOLIDAY BREAD

Steps:

• Combine cranberries, maraschino cherries, and raisins in a food processor, meat grinder, or baby food mill fitted with the blade. Process until finely chopped.
• Transfer the fruit mixture to a saucepan; add sugar and honey. Bring to a boil. Cook over medium heat until quite thick, 5 to 10 minutes. Let cool, about 15 minutes. Refrigerate filling; it should thicken to the consistency of thick jam.
• Combine water, yeast, and 1 teaspoon sugar in a 1-cup glass measuring cup. Let stand until foamy, about 5 minutes.
• Meanwhile, microwave 1 cup butter in a 4-cup glass measuring cup until melted, about 1 minute on high. Add milk and microwave on medium until steaming, about 3 minutes. Let cool slightly.
• Stir proofed yeast and eggs into the milk mixture. Mix flour and 3 tablespoons sugar in a large bowl; make a well in the center. Pour yeast mixture into the well. Stir until well combined. Cover bowl with greased plastic wrap or a lid and refrigerate, 3 hours to overnight.
• Line 2 baking sheet with foil and grease lightly with 1 teaspoon butter.
• Divide dough into 2 pieces. Roll a piece out into 18x14-inch rectangle on the foil. Cut eighteen 1-inch flaps down each long side like the legs of a centipede. Spread 1/2 of the filling down the center strip. Overlap the flaps of dough alternately over the filling, tucking the ends under. Repeat with the second piece of dough and remaining filling.
• Gently curve the tops of the loaves to form a candy cane shape. Leave at least a couple inches all around for dough to expand. Cover with dry towels and let rise until puffed and doubled in size, about 45 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
• Uncover loaves and bake in the preheated oven until golden brown, about 15 minutes.
• Mix icing sugar, melted butter, and milk in a small bowl or glass measuring cup to make icing. Spoon into a resealable plastic bag and snip off a bottom corner. Drizzle icing over candy cane loaves while still warm.

SARASOTA'S CANDY CANE BREAD

Steps:

• Bread -- Now, this is my method to make 2 candy canes.
• Method -- I like to cut the loaf in half - then I cut each half piece in half again but lengthwise.
• Now take 1 of the loaf halves you just cut in two lengthwise. This will make one of your candy canes.
• Fruit -- Lay them out flat and pull them to stretch them out a bit. I press them down a little, but not too much. Press the nuts and dried fruits on each of the pieces and make sure you press the fruit and nuts in good.
• Twist -- Put the two pieces together. Lay the second piece right on top of the first piece fruit side up. Pinch the ends together Then just twist the two together 4-5 twists.
• Bake -- Form the twisted bread like a candy cane and place on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper. Heat up the oven according to the package directions to 350 degrees.
• Glaze -- Melt the butter and honey in the microwave for just a few seconds 5-10 second, just so the butter melts a bit and then brush on the bread and sprinkle with the very fine chopped nuts. Baking time I really find varies on the oven and pan used. I check mine after 15 minutes. It can take anywhere from 20-25 minutes on average. Just check to see when golden brown. Remove and let cool.
• Icing -- Mix powdered sugar and add a little milk at a time until you get a nice icing consistency. Your bread should be cooled by now, just do this on warm bread. Drizzle the icing on with a spoon at an angle. The twists in the bread will give you an idea where the icing should go. I just do thin drizzles. It should resemble a candy cane.
• Wrap up in a cellophane bag and tie with a red and green ribbon and a small candy cane. What a nice simple gift which costs maybe 2 dollars. One year I made 40 of them to give to friends at work. I could make 10 at a time in the oven so, in just a couple of hours, I had made 40 gifts. Just a nice thought for the holiday season.

SARASOTA'S SPICY CORNBREAD SALAD

Steps:

• Corn Bread -- Rough chop the corn bread. Some will be in crumbles and some in chunks. That is perfect. Put the cornbread on a baking sheet or cookie sheet and bake at 250 degrees for 1 1/2 hours until dry and very crispy. Every 30 minutes I give it a quick toss.
• Vegetables -- In a large bowl, add the red and green peppers, onion, parsley, cilantro, scallions, garlic, jalapeno, salt and pepper and toss well. Then add in the corn bread and toss well to combine.
• Dressing -- In a small cup or measuring cup or small tupperware container, add the oil, vinegar, lime juice and chili powder. Add to the salad and lightly toss.
• Served room temperature ENJOY!

SARASOTA'S FAVORITE STUFFED BREAD

Steps:

• Prepare the bread -- I like to take a nice baguette and cut in half lengthwise. Then hollow out a bit by removing some of the inside breading. Not all just to make room for the stuffing or filling.
• Don't throw away the filling -- put in a baggie and freeze. Pull out any time and use for a stuffing. Makes perfect additions to meatloaf, meatballs, soup, pastas or salads.
• Brush the inside of the bread with olive oil and bake cut side down or you can grill just for 5-7 minutes to lightly brown. Just so the filling doesn't get the bread soggy. Not long.
• Filling -- Now this is my Greek one. But use your favorite. I like to add just a little of the oil that comes with the sundried tomatoes in the pan to start the dish, but olive oil or any oil work just fine. Diced tomatoes and cook just a minute. Now add the spinach, onion, and olives and cook until well combined. DONE!
• Stuff -- Just take your filling and stuff the bread.
• MY SECRET! -- always layer a small amount of whatever cheese you are using on the bottom and then top with your filling. Then top with cheese. This keeps the top and bottom of the bread from getting soggy. Once wrapped in foil and cooked you will have toasty tops and bottoms, NOT soggy ones. Works wonderful. I break up the feta and put on the bottom, add the filling. I do try to not add any of the liquid, top with cheese and then the top bread.
• Wrap the bread in foil and cook either on the grill 15-20 minutes -- or cook in the oven on 425 for 15-20 minutes as well. Make sure you turn it over 1 time during cooking to melt the cheese on the other side.
• NOTE: If it is a hot grill try to cook on a cooler portion of the grill.
• Just enjoy it. This goes with anything. Steak, pork, chicken or seafood. Besides -- your friends will never want garlic bread again!

SARASOTA'S STEAK & EGGS WITH PESTO BREAD AND TOMATO RELISH

Steps:

• This is so much easier than it looks. Make the relish and pesto sauce as the steaks marinate and then just grill the steak and bread and as the steak rests, make your eggs and serve.
• Steak -- In a large baggie or bowl, mix together the worcestershire, lemon juice, salt and pepper. Now for the steak, I cut mine in 3 pieces and then lightly pound each piece, not too much -- you still want it fairly thick. I pound mine with a meat mallet in between 2 pieces of plastic wrap. Place in the baggie or bowl and pour in the marinade. Marinade 30 minutes on the counter. You want them room temp to cook anyways, so no reason to refrigerate.
• Bread and Pesto Spread -- Cut your bread slices and set to the side. In a small bowl, mix the mayonnaise, pesto (store bought it fine), parmesan, salt and pepper. That is it - just set to the side.
• Tomato Relish -- In a small bowl, add the tomatoes, shallot, vinaigrette and fresh basil, just mix and set to the side. I like mine room temperature.
• Steak -- In a large non stick pan or even a grill pan which would be ideal, add 1 tablespoon of the butter and bring to high heat. Cook the steaks until crusty brown on the first side. They should take more than just 2-3 minutes. Flip, and cook the second side another 2-3 minutes until golden brown. You want the steaks medium to medium rare (my preference). Remove and cover with foil to let rest.
• Bread and Eggs -- As the steak rests, we are going to finish the bread and cook the eggs.
• First the bread - Place on a baking sheet and under the broiler middle shelf, broil until lightly golden brown and then flip. Again, broil until lightly golden on the second side. They will only take about 1 minute per side so make sure to keep an eye on them.
• Second, start your eggs. In the same pan as the steaks, add the remaining 1 tablespoon butter and turn the heat to medium / medium low. NOT too high, you want the eggs to cook slowly, not get brown edges. Add each of the eggs in and cover. Cook for about 4-5 minutes until set. The whites will be set but the yolks will still be soft and runny.
• Bread -- The bread is all crusty so now all you need to do is spread the pesto mayo on each piece of toasted bread and put back under the broiler for just a minute until golden brown.
• Serve -- The steak has rested, so cut each piece into 2 or 3 slices and put on top of 2 pieces of the pesto bread. Top with two fried eggs and a spoon of the tomato relish. This is a great dinner! Serve with a side of asparagus for a decadent dinner. A great way to stretch your dollar -- one steak, 3 people. ENJOY!

SARASOTA'S SIMPLE EAGLE BRAND FUDGE

Steps:

• Fudge -- First, line a 8x8" pan with either wax paper, parchment paper or foil (bottom and the sides). I happen to prefer parchment paper if possible.
• Microwave -- Add the Eagle Brand, flavored morsels on medium heat in the microwave for 3-6 minutes (the size bowl and your microwave can affect the cooking times). Half way through I stir and then continue cooking until creamy and smooth.
• Flavor -- Remove from the microwave and add in the flavoring and any other additions such as nuts or dried fruits, etc. Anything you want. Stir to combine.
• Add to your pan. At this point you can add some additional nuts or toppings it you want. Cover with plastic and cool in the refrigerator about 1 hour. Remove from the pan by just turning it over, it will come right out, pull off the foil, parchment paper or wax paper, and cut into squares. You can let it cool right on the counter, but I like to chill mine before cutting, it just makes it a bit easier.
• Favorites -- 1) Dark chocolate, vanilla flavor, walnuts; 2) White chocolate, amaretto flavor, almonds; 3) A layer of milk chocolate (1/2 recipe), vanilla flavor, a layer of peanut butter fudge (1/2 recipe) with 1/2 cup strawberry preserves and peanuts; 4) Milk chocolate, vanilla flavor, marshmallow cream, peanuts; 5) White chocolate, almond flavor, dried cherries; 6) Milk chocolate, peppermint flavor, mint chocolate cookies, walnuts; 7) Butterscotch, vanilla flavor, pecans; 8) White chocolate, mint flavor, candy cane pieces; 9) Mint chocolate, hazelnut flavor, white morsels to swirl in, hazelnuts; 10) White chocolate, almond flavor, PayDay candy bar crunched up; 11) White chocolate, rapsberry liquor, raspberry preserves, walnuts; 12) Dark chocolate, orange preserves, amaretto flavor, pecans.
• You get the idea. HAVE FUN!