Simple Yet Elegant Babylonian Apricot Jewels Food

SIMPLE YET ELEGANT BABYLONIAN APRICOT JEWELS

Steps:

• Mix the cashews, raisins, white wine, lemon zest and cream cheese and powdered sugar until it forms a paste.
• You can do this in the food processor to really mix everything together.
• Take one apricot, and spread some of the cheese on it, nice and thick.
• Cover with a second apricot.
• Do this to make a total of 16 "sandwiches".
• Sprinkle or roll in powdered sugar.

HABANERO APRICOT JELLY

Steps:

• Using a food processor, finely mince the diced apricots.
• Place the apricots in a large stainless steel stockpot, add the vinegar and cover. Let the apricots soak in the vinegar for at least 4 hours (can be left to sit overnight if you'd like, but 4 hours will do the trick).
• Using a food processor, finely mince the red bell pepper and habanero peppers.
• Place the apricots, vinegar, peppers, and sugar in a large stainless steel stockpot. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring to make sure all the sugar dissolves.
• Once the mixture has reached a full rolling boil (a boil you can not stir down), it will double in size. Stirring constantly, keep at a full boil for one minute.
• Remove from heat and whisk in pectin and continue to stir for 3 minutes - this helps to evenly distribute the apricot and pepper pieces throughout the jelly.
• Ladle the jelly into sterilized canning jars, leaving 1/4" headspace. Wipe the rims of the jars with damp paper towels to remove any jelly which got on the rims or the threads. Place the lids and the bands on the jars, just tightening the bands fingertip tight.
• Process in a boiling water bath for 5 minutes, then remove and let sit, undisturbed, for at least 12 hours before checking seals. It is important to let them sit undisturbed for 12 hours because the sealing compound on the lids is still cooling and hardening, completing the seal. While the jars cool, you will hear a "plink" type sound from each jar - this is the jars completing the vacuum seal as the final air escapes the jar. After 12 hours have passed, remove the bands and check the lids - press down in the center of the lid. If you cannot push the lid down any further, the jar is sealed. If the lid "gives" a bit, and you can push it down, the jar did not seal. You can either put the band back on the jar, and reprocess it for another 5 minutes, or you can just put it in the fridge and use it within 3 months.

APRICOT JEWELS

Steps:

• Sift the dry ingredients in order as listed. Cut in butter and cream cheese until fine. Then add coconut and apricot preserve; blend well.
• Drop on parchment paper on cookie sheet - about 2 inches apart. Bake at 350°F for 15 to 18 min. Let cool.
• Frosting: Combine 1 cup sifted powdered sugar, 1 Tablespoon soft butter and 1/4 cup apricot preserves; mix until smooth. Frost cool cookies and enjoy with a friend and tea.