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Category Archives: wrks4me – Recipes

Any Occasion Dark Fruit Cake

20 Tuesday Dec 2022

Posted by wrks4me in Baking, Dessert, Home

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This is a very moist and easy fruit cake to make.

Ingredients

  • 1 1/4 cups dried prunes (6 oz), chopped
  • 1 1/4 cups chopped dates (6 oz), chopped
  • 1 1/2 cups dark raisins (8 oz)
  • 1 1/4 cups golden raisins (6 oz)
  • 1 1/4 cups currants (6 oz)
  • ¾ cup butter
  • 1 cup dark or golden brown sugar
  • ¾ cup molasses
  • ½ cup coffee liqueur, or ½ cup strong black coffee (You can also make an instant coffee)
  • Zest and juice of 2 oranges or a combination of oranges and lemons
  • 1 cup chopped glace cherries
  • 1 cup candied citrus peel or pineapple, mango or papaya (I use a combination of each)
  • 1 1/2 cups pecans (7 oz), roughly chopped
  • 2 tsp allspice
  • 2 tsp cinnamon
  • 2 tsp powdered ginger
  • 1/2 tsp cloves
  • 1 tsp nutmeg
  • 3 tbsp cocoa (Yes cocoa) it melds well with the coffee but doesn’t taste chocolatey)
  • 3 eggs
  • 1 1/3 cups all purpose flour
  • ½ cup ground hazelnuts or slivered almonds or walnuts
  • ½ tsp baking powder
  • ½ tsp baking soda

Note: This cake is a combination of all your favourite fruits and nuts, so substitute as you wish.

Prepare pans: I use 2 loaf pans. lightly butter the pans and then line with parchment paper. You can cut two pieces and line up then down then up the other side. Then use the remaining piece to line the bottom and up the sides in the other direction.

If you use a round springform pan, lightly butter sides and bottom. Line bottom with parchment paper then the sides with a strip of parchment paper.

Directions

  1. Melt butter over medium heat, add the dates, currents, prunes, raisins, molasses, brown sugar, spices, coffee or coffee liqueur, orange zest and orange juice in a large saucepan.
  2. Bring everything to a low boil and simmer for about 10 minutes.
  3. Remove from heat and allow to cool down (about an hour). This is so when you add the eggs they will not become cooked eggs
  4. When cool, add in beaten eggs
  5. Sift in cocoa, baking powder, baking soda and flour
  6. Add all the ground nuts and the cooled boiled mixture
  7. Fold in the cherries, citrus peel and candied fruit
  8. Pour into the prepared baking pans.
  9. Decorate with pecan halves and candied cherries.
  10. Bake at 300 degrees F. for about 1 1/2 hours. depending on the pan size.
  11. Test for doneness with a tooth pick. This is a challenge due to the fruit sticking to the tooth pick.
  12. Remove from oven and allow to completely cool.

Note: If your candied fruit are too dry, add them while cooking the prunes, raisins etc. This will add back the moisture.

Options:

You can spread some of your favourite marmalade over top when the cake is still warm.

Or poke small holes in the top and bottom and pour about 4 oz of your favourite alcohol such as a flavoured brandy, rum or whiskey. Half on top and half on the bottom. Wrap several layers of alcohol socked cheesecloth.

Or soak your fruit in alcohol instead. Here is a link to show you how. Use the fruit above and soak according to directions in video.

Wrap cake in several layers of plastic wrap and store in a cool place

Enjoy

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Pecan Pie/Tarts Please

11 Sunday Dec 2022

Posted by wrks4me in Baking, Dessert, wrks4me - Recipes

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Tags

Brown Sugar, Holidays, Pecan, Pie

This is an holiday favourite. The kids and family ask for it whenever we gather.

Ingredients

  • Unbaked pie crust or tarts
  • Shelled pecan halves (approx. 2 to 2 1/2 cups)
  • 3 large eggs
  • 1 cup of dark corn syrup (optional 3/4 cup dark corn syrup and 1/4 cup maple syrup)
  • 1/2 cup of your favourite packed brown sugar (light, medium or dark)
  • 1/4 cup of melted butter cooled to room temperature
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons of vanilla extract
  • 1/4 teaspoon of table salt

Directions:

  1. Place pie shell or tart shells on a baking sheet in case of spillage
  2. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
  3. Line bottoms of pie shells or tart shells with pecans
  4. Mix together all remaining ingredients
  5. Carefully pour to the top of shells

Bake:

  • Pie Crust:
    for 50-55 minutes in middle of oven (after first 20 minutes place a pie shield (silicon or aluminum foil) over edges of crust to prevent too much browning of edges
  • Tart Crust:
    for 20 minutes in middle of oven

Allow to cool as they are very hot. Serve at room temperature.

Enjoy

Based on Original recipe

Peanut Butter & Chunky Date Cookies

31 Thursday Mar 2022

Posted by wrks4me in Baking, Dessert

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Ingredients

  • 1 cup (100g) rolled oats
  • 1/2 cup (55g) almond flour
  • 1/2 tsp baking soda
  • 1/2 cup (125g) crunchy peanut butter
  • 1/4 cup (80g) maple syrup or sugarless table syrup
  • 1-2 tsp vanilla extract (optional)
  • 3/4 cup chopped dates

Directions

  1. Preheat the oven to 350ºF.
  2. Stir together the oats, almond flour, baking soda into a mixing bowl
  3. Add the peanut butter, maple syrup or sugarless table syrup, and vanilla.
  4. Add the chopped dates.
  5. Use a small cookie scoop and roll into balls
  6. Arrange balls on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper or silicon pad.
  7. Lightly press with a fork
  8. Bake for 10-12 minutes at 350ºF checking that the bottoms do not burn
  9. Place cookies on a cooling rack for at least 10 minutes.

Enjoy

Lemon, Garlic & Spinach Spaghetti

24 Thursday Mar 2022

Posted by wrks4me in Main Dishes

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Ingredients

  • 1 pound spaghetti
  • Kosher salt and freshly cracked black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
  • 4 Tablespoons salted butter
  • 4 Cloves garlic, sliced
  • 3 Cups baby spinach
  • 2 Cups grated Parmesan, plus extra for finishing
  • Juice of 2 lemons and zest of 1 lemon

Directions

  1. Prepare pasta according to package directions and save approx. 1 cup of pasta water
  2. Put butter, garlic and red pepper flakes into a large pan and cook over medium heat for approx. 2 minutes.
  3. Divide the spinach, parmesan cheese, lemon juice and lemon zest into 4 portions.
  4. Stir into pan one portion at a time and stir until spinach becomes wilted.
  5. Add a bit of pasta water to keep it moist.
  6. Continue to add each remaining portions one at time and continue to add pasta water
  7. Once everything is incorporated add extra parmesan cheese, salt and pepper to taste

Enjoy

Original recipe

Apple Pie Scones

11 Friday Mar 2022

Posted by wrks4me in Baking

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Ingredients

  • 2 cups flour
  • 1/3 cup sugar, plus extra for topping
  • 1 Tbs baking powder
  • 1/2 Tbs cinnamon, plus extra for topping
  • 1/2 cup cold butter, cubed
  • 2/3 cup apple pie filling, smashed
  • 3/4 cup milk

Instructions

  1. You can use a bowl or food processor
  2. If using a bowl: Mix together flour, sugar, baking powder, and cinnamon and work in butter until it resembles coarse crumbs.
  3. If using a food processor: Put flour, sugar, baking powder, and cinnamon and cold butter into processor and pulse until it resembles coarse crumbs.
  4. Take the apples out of the apple pie filling and smash them with a potato masher, fork or your fingers and mix into milk. Stir into the flour mixture until well combined.
  5. Pat into an 8″ circle on a lined or greased baking sheet, making sure the thickness is even throughout.
  6. Cut into 8 even wedges
  7. Sprinkle extra cinnamon and sugar over top
  8. Bake at 400 degrees for 18-20 minutes or until golden brown.

Enjoy

The Ultimate Turkey/Chicken Burger

11 Friday Mar 2022

Posted by wrks4me in Main Dishes

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Ingredients:

  • 1 pound ground turkey or chicken
  • ½ cup Italian-seasoned bread crumbs, divided
  • ½ small onion, finely grated and it’s liquid (That’s the secret)
  • 1 egg
  • 1-2 cloves garlic, minced
  • Salt and ground black pepper to taste
  • 2 teaspoons olive oil

Directions:

  1. Mix together with either ground turkey or chicken, 1/4 cup bread crumbs, egg, onion, garlic, salt, and black pepper in a bowl.
  2. Divide mixture into 4 patties
  3. Place remaining bread crumbs and put into a flat plate
  4. Roll patties in crumbs to coat them
  5. Heat oil in a pan and cook patties at medium-high heat for about 5-6 minutes
  6. Turn over patties and continue to cook for about 4 minutes

Serve either on a bun or by itself

Enjoy

Dutch Oven Roast Beef

23 Thursday Dec 2021

Posted by wrks4me in Main Dishes, wrks4me - Recipes

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Tags

Dutch Oven, Roast Beef

Here is a delicious twist on a classic recipe (family favourite)

Ingredients

  • 3 cups of beef broth
  • 1/4 cup of soya sauce
  • 1/4 cup of rice wine vinegar or apple cider vinegar or wine
  • 1 tsp garlic (sliced)
  • 1 large onion (sliced)
  • 2 washed carrots cut into 2 inch slices (peeling is optional)
  • Whole Peppercorns
  • 2 to 3 sprigs of fresh rosemary (optional), I don’t use them
  • 2 to 3 sprigs of fresh thyme (optional), I don’t use them
  • 2 to 3 Tbsp of olive oil (or canola, or vegetable oil)

Directions

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is roast-beef-1.jpg
  1. Preheat oven to 275 degrees F.
  2. Put a dutch oven onto of the stove at medium-high heat
  3. Add 2 Tbsp of olive oil into a dutch oven
  4. Add onions and toss til lightly brown and remove and reserve
  5. Add carrots and toss til lightly brown and remove and reserve
  6. If necessary add some more oil and put roast into pot to sear
  7. Sear all sides of roast (about 1-2 minutes per side)
  8. Remove roast beef and add 1 cup of broth to delaze pan by scraping the bottom of the pan
  9. Put the roast beef, onions and carrots back in along with garlic and add enough broth to cover halfway
  10. Sprinkle top of roast beef with peppercorns
  11. Optional: add your herbs at the point
  12. Cover and put into the oven for 2-3 hours
  13. Check the roast, it is ready when it is tender fall-appart

Use stock to make a delicous gravy. Simply add a little corn starch or a heaping Tbsp of flour and 1/2 cup of water mixed together added to stock and heat till thickened. If not thick enough add a little more thickening.

Enjoy

Cream Corn…So Easy, So Good

18 Wednesday Aug 2021

Posted by wrks4me in Side Dishes

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Tags

Cream Corn

Never buy canned creamed corn again!

Ingredients

  • 10 oz (280g) Frozen Corn
  • 2 TBSP flour
  • 2 TBSP butter
  • 1 cup milk or half/half
  • 2 TBSP sugar
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1/4 tsp pepper

Directions

  1. Over medium heat, put butter and flour into a pan and rapidly stir till combined
  2. When butter and flour are combined add milk
  3. When thickened, add sugar, salt pepper and finally the frozen corn

Cook till tender

Enjoy

Soft Dinner Rolls

26 Tuesday Jan 2021

Posted by wrks4me in Baking

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Tags

Bread, Dinner Rolls

Ingredients:

  • 4-5 cups of all purpose flour
  • 1/3 cup white sugar
  • 2 Tbsp rapid rise, instant yeast
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 1/2 cups of warm milk, 110 degrees F.
  • 1 egg
  • 5 Tbsp soft butter (for dough)
  • 2 Tbsp melted butter (to brush ontop)
  • Optional: Sesame Seeds

Directions:

  1. Put yeast & sugar in warm milk and put aside for about 5 minutes
  2. In a separate bowl add 3 cups of flour, salt, butter and egg
  3. Using a stand mixer with a hook set on low speed until the flour mixture is blended, then add milk mixture
  4. On medium speed add 1/2 cup of remaining flour until blended. Then add another 1/2 cup of flour. Repeat adding another 1/2 cup of flour until a ball of dough forms
  5. If necessary, add more flour, dough should pull away from sides and be soft and sticky
  6. Remove dough from mixer and put into a lightly greased bowl and cover with plastic wrap or plastic wrap.
  7. Allow to rise in a warm area for 30 minutes
  8. After 30 minutes, remove from bowl and lightly punch down
  9. Divide dough into 24 pieces (approx 2 ounces or 56 grams)
  10. Form into balls (sprinkle sesame seeds on tops if prefered)
  11. Put onto a 9×13 inch lightly greased baking sheet and cover with a towel or plastic wrap. Allow to rise another 30 minutes in a warm area
  12. Preheat an oven at 375 degrees F.
  13. Baked rolls for 12 to 15 minutes or until they are golden brown. (If they become too brown, cover tops with foil)
  14. Remove rolls from oven and brush with melted butter
  15. Serve warm or store cooled into a plastic bag.

Based on the original recipe

Terrific Tourtière/Casserole

16 Wednesday Dec 2020

Posted by wrks4me in Baking, Main Dishes

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Tags

Dough, Ground Beef, Ground Pork, onion, Pastry, Pie, Tourtiere

Ingredients

Pastry

  • 2 cups of all purpose flour
  • 1 cup shortening (Crisco)
  • 3/4 tsp salt
  • 1 egg
  • 2 Tbsp Cold Water (ice water works best)
  • 1 Tbsp White Vinegar

Spice Blend

  • 2 teaspoons kosher salt
  • 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried sage
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
  • 1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground allspice1/4 teaspoon ground mustard
  • 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
  • 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper

Filling

  • 1 large russet potato, peeled, quartered
  • 1 1/2 large onion, finely chopped
  • 4 cloves garlic, crushed
  • 1 pound ground pork
  • 1 pound ground beef
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 3/4 cup potato cooking water, plus more as needed
  • Optional: 2 cups frozen mixed vegetables (peas, carrots, lima beans)

Egg Wash

  • 1 large egg
  • 1 tablespoon water

DIRECTIONS

STEP 1 – Pastry

(If using a food processor or mixer with dough hook)

  1. Put flour, cold shortening, and salt into the processor
  2. Combine egg, water and vinegar together in a cup
  3. Pulse processor and gently pour liquid into the processor
  4. Stop when a dough ball forms (DO NOT OVERWORK DOUGH)
  5. Wrap with plastic wrap and put into refrigerator for about 15 minutes, until needed

(If making by hand)

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is pastry-blender.jpg
  1. Put flour, cold shortening, and salt into a bowl
  2. Combine egg, water and vinegar together in a cup
  3. Using a fork or pastry/dough cutter (see right) blend shortening into flour
  4. Add liquid mixture into dry ingredients until moist (DO NOT OVERWORK DOUGH)
  5. Form a dough ball
  6. Wrap with plastic wrap and put into refrigerator for about 15 minutes, until needed

STEP 2 – Mix Spices

  1. Blend together all the spices and put aside

STEP 3 – Filling

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is chow-chow.jpg
  1. Cut potato into quarters and put into a enough water to cover and bring to boil
  2. Cook potatoes for about 15 minutes or until a fork can be inserted
  3. Remove potatoes and mash, put aside until needed (KEEP POTATO WATER – DO NOT THROW OUT)
  4. Add some oil to pan and add the onions
  5. Cook until golden
  6. Add both meats and brown the meat
  7. Add spices and garlic, along with about 3/4 cup of “Potato Water” and continue to cook for about 40 minutes or until most of moisture has evaporated. If there is still alot of oil, remove with a spoon. Do not overcook as the meat should remain moist.
  8. Stir in the mashed potatoes and fold in the optional frozen vegetables
  9. Put aside and let cool for about 15-20 minutes before putting into pastry dish
  10. While mixture is cooling, take prepared dough from refrigerator and divide in two. Dust surface and top of dough ball with a little flour and roll out pastry using a rolling pin to fit a 9″ deep dish pie plate (you will need two pieces of rolled out pastry. One for the top and one for the bottom of the dish.
    (If you don’t like so much dough you can put meat mixture into a small casserole dish and just cover the top with a piece of rolled out dough. If you have any dough left over, put into the freezer for next time.)
  11. Spoon mixture into pie plate and cover plate with remaining rolled out pastry dough
  12. Crimp edges of dough together. Trim off excess dough
  13. Combine egg and water together and brush top with egg wash
  14. With a knife, poke a few holes into the top of the dough to let the steam out.
  15. Put into a preheated 375 degree F. or 190 degree C. oven and bake for about 1 hour.
  16. Can be served as is or with “Chow Chow”, tomato relish, ketchup or even beef gravy

Enjoy

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Recent Posts

  • Any Occasion Dark Fruit Cake
  • Pecan Pie/Tarts Please
  • Peanut Butter & Chunky Date Cookies
  • Lemon, Garlic & Spinach Spaghetti
  • Apple Pie Scones

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