Ingredients

2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 loaf Challah bread, hardened, cut into 1-inch cubes
3 granny smith apples, peeled, cored and cut into ½-inch pieces
1 cup (6 ounces) golden raisins, plumped in hot water, for 15 minutes
3 large eggs
¾ cup sugar
¼ teaspoon cinnamon
¹⁄₈ teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
¹⁄₈ teaspoon ground ginger
¼ teaspoon pure vanilla extract
¼ teaspoon salt
3 cups whole milk
2 tablespoons unsulfured molasses
¼ cup sliced almonds

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Generously butter a deep 9×13-inch baking dish and set aside. Spread the bread cubes on a baking sheet and toast in the oven for 6 minutes, until crisp. Transfer to a bowl and add the apple and raisins. In a medium bowl, using a handheld electric mixer or whisk, beat the eggs with sugar. Beat in the ground spices, vanilla and salt. In a medium saucepan, heat the milk with the molasses until just warm to the touch. Gradually beat the warm milk into the egg mixture, scraping the bottom and side of the bowl. Spread bread mixture out in your large baking dish, or distribute it among ramekins. Pour the custard over the bread mixture, nudging the bread around a bit to make sure it soaks all of the pieces. Let stand for 5 minutes. Sprinkle the almonds on top. Bake in the center of the oven for about 40 minutes, until puffed and set, with the tops lightly browned. Let the bread pudding rest for at least 15 minutes before serving.

Ingredients

½ cup dried apricots, chopped
½ cup dried figs, chopped
½ cup dried dates, chopped
½ cup almonds
1 teaspoon cinnamon, freshly grated
1 tablespoon orange zest
1 tablespoon traditional ros el hanout recipe
1 cup turbinado sugar
¼ cup water
3 tablespoons orange juice
½ stick butter
¼ tablespoon heavy cream
½ teaspoon vanilla
Vanilla ice cream

Directions

In a medium mixing bowl mix together the dried fruit, nuts, cinnamon, zest and ros al hanout until well mixed. In a small sauce pan on medium heat place the sugar, water and orange juice and stir until the sugar dissolves. Increased the heat to high and boil, stirring constantly until the sugar turns a deep amber color. Brush the sides down with a wet pastry brush to ensure that caramel doesn’t form on the side of the pan. This should take approximately five minutes. Whisk in the butter and then once the butter is melted and whisked in, whisk in the heavy cream and vanilla. Add the dried fruit and nut mixture and take off heat. Let stand a few minutes to cool and drizzle over ice cream!

Ingredients

1 butter cookie recipe with orange zest in it
½ tablespoon traditional Ros El Hanout
½ tablespoon brown sugar
½ tablespoon poppyseeds
Rose Petals (optional)

Directions

Prepare the butter cookie dough according to the directions, adding 1 tablespoon orange zest into the mixture. Prepare the butter cookies as per directions. In a small mixing bowl, mix together the rose el hanout, sugar and poppy seeds and mix well. Sprinkle the mixture on the prepared butter cookies. Place one rose petal in the center of the cookie and bake according to directions!

This simple low calorie snack is perfect for kids and adults. Creativity is the key in this recipe, mixing and matching flavors to create an amazing chocolate experience!

Ingredients

16 ounces semi sweet of bittersweet dark chocolate, chopped or chips
Dried fruit of choice: cranberries, cherries, apricots, blueberries, chopped
Nuts of choice: almonds, pistachios, walnuts, peanuts roasted and chopped
Seeds of choice: pumpkin, sesame
Sea salt flakes

Directions

In a double boiler, melt the chocolate. Spoon the melted chocolate over a baking sheet with parchment paper or wax paper making sure it is about at least ¼ inch thing. Sprinkle your bark items thoroughly evenly. Sprinkle with salt. Let stand in a cool place for at least an hour, alternatively you can place in the refrigerator to harden faster. Break into pieces and enjoy!

Here are a few of our favorite junk bark combinations:

Almond and dried cherry
Peanuts, pumpkin seeds and dried cranberries
Pretzels and dried cherries
Almond and blueberry
Almonds, pumpkin seeds, cherries, walnuts and sesame seeds

*Recipe from AllREcipes.com

Ingredients

2 cups graham crackers, crushed
3 tablespoons butter, melted
2-8 ounce packages of cream cheese, softened
¾ cup white sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Strawberry Preserve Sauce (recipe follows)

Directions

Preheat oven to 350°F. Line one 12 cup mini muffin tins with paper liners. In a small bowl, mix the graham cracker crumbs with melted butter, stir with a fork until just moistened. Spoon about 1 tablespoon of crumbs into each liner and pack down (a shot glass in a useful tool for this!). Bake the crusts for about 8 minutes. Meanwhile, cream together cream cheese, sugar, eggs, and vanilla until well combined. Top each crust with the mixture, filling the cups almost to the top. Bake for 20 minutes. Transfer to wire racks to cool completely. Top each cheesecake with about ½ teaspoon for the berry topping. Chill in the refrigerator for an hour before serving. Store leftovers covered in the fridge.

Strawberry Preserve Sauce

Makes 1 cup sauce

Ingredients

½ cup strawberry preserves
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 teaspoon lemon zest
½ cup rose wine or water

Directions

Bring all ingredients to aboil in a small sauce pan, continue to boil a few minutes, and then reduce heat to a simmer and let reduce by about ¼ or until desired consistency, stirring often. Cool and store in an airtight jar in the refrigerator.

Ingredients

2 cups Medjool dates, chopped fine
1 teaspoon fresh ginger, chopped fine
1 tablespoon orange zest
¼ cup fresh orange juice
¼ cup hot water
2 tablespoons honey
1 cinnamon stock
2 star anise

Directions

Place all ingredients in a medium saucepan and bring to a boil. Stir and place tempeature on a low simmer for about 15 minutes, stirring frequently until the mixture is a soft compote. Serve with cheeses, cakes, or on warm sweet breads.

Ingredients

1 cup farro, cooked
2 tablespoons butter, plus more for greasing pie dish
2 tablespoons fresh rosemary, chopped
4 medium plums, chopped
2 teaspoons cinnamon
3 cups ricotta cheese
2 eggs
Pinch of salt
Freshly grated nutmeg
Plums & Rosemary for decorating the top
Honey creme fresh

Directions

Cook farro until tender, following package instructions, about 30 to 40 minutes. Set aside. Preheat oven to 375°F. Prepare a glass pie dish by greasing it with butter. In a large saute pan over medium heat, add butter. Cook plums and rosemary until soft, about 3 to 5 minutes. Add cinnamon, stir and remove from heat. Set aside. In a separate  bowl, mix ricotta cheese, eggs, salt, and freshly grated nutmeg. Add plum mixture and cooked farro, and combine thoroughly. Pour into glass pie dish. Arrange plums and rosemary leaves on top. Bake 35 to 45 minutes or until set. Serve warm or at room temperature. Garnish with honey creme fresh.

¹/₂ cup butter or margarine, softened
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup sour cream
2 cups all purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
¹/₂ teaspoon baking soda
¹/₂ teaspoon ground nutmeg
¹/₄ teaspoon salt
³/₄ cup coarsely chopped fresh or frozen cranberries
¹/₂ cup chopped pecans  (optional)
1 tablespoon orange zest

Topping:

2 tablespoons sugar
¹/₈ teaspoon ground nutmeg

Directions

In a mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add vanilla. Fold in sour cream. Combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda, nutmeg and salt; stir into creamed mixture just until moistened. Fold in orange zest, cranberries and pecans. Fill greased or paper lined muffin cups two thirds full. Combine topping ingredients; sprinkle over batter. Bake at 400°F for 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool for 5 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks.

Recipe Property of Shawona Jones.

For the filling:

8 oz cream cheese, softened
¹/₄ cup granulated sugar
1 large egg yolk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
¹/₄ teaspoon salt
2 teaspoon freshly grated orange zest
1 teaspoon freshly grated lemon zest
2 tablespoons all purpose flour
1 cup crushed blueberries

For the glaze:

1¹/₄ cups confectioners’ sugar
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
Quick puff pastry
2 boxes quick puff pastry

Directions

Make the filling: In a bowl beat together the cream cheese, the sugar, the yolk, the vanilla, the salt, the zests, and the flour until the mixture is smooth and chill the filling, covered, for at least 1 hour and up to 24 hours.
Unroll 1 defrosted box of puff pastry onto a lightly floured work surface. Cut into even squares. Each square will be cut at the corners. Add a tablespoon of filling and 1 teaspoon blueberries to enter. Cross the left side of each slit made onto the top of the filling, overlapping dough. Continue around until pastry resembles a pin-wheel. Brush with egg wash.
Bake at 350° for 25-30 minutes, or until they are crisp and golden. Keep an eye on pastry as extra filling may change baking time.
Make the glaze while the Danish pastries are baking: In a bowl whisk together the confectioners’ sugar, sifted, and enough of the lemon juice to make a thick but pourable glaze.
Transfer the Danish pastries to a rack and drizzle some of the glaze over each pastry. The Danish pastriies may be cooled to room temperature, wrapped in plastic wrap and foil, and frozen for 1 month. Transfer the Danish pastries to a baking sheet and bake them in the middle of a preheated 400°F oven for 5 minutes, or until they are heated through.

Recipe Property of Shawona Jones.

4 cups all purpose flour
1 package active dry yeast
1 cup warm milk, scalded and skimmed
¹/₂ cup granulated sugar
¹/₃ cup butter, melted
1 teaspoon salt
2 eggs

Filling:

1 cup brown sugar, firmly packed
2¹/₂ tablespoon cinnamon
¹/₃ cup butter, softened

Icing:

8 tablespoons butter, softened (1 stick)
1¹/₂ cups confectioners’ sugar
¹/₄ cup cream cheese
¹/₂ tablespoon vanilla extract
¹/₈ teaspoon salt

Directions

Dissolve the yeast in warm milk and set aside for 5 minutes to proof (foam). Combine sugar, butter, eggs and salt. Stir in flour and yeast mixture. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured board and knead until smooth. Sprinkle lightly with flour, as needed, to keep dough from sticking  (dough should be slightly sticky). Add as little flour as possible; the more flour that is added, the heavier the bread will be, and the goal is to have very light bread, so if the dough is sticking rub a little oil on your hands. Place in a lightly greased bowl and turn once to grease top. Cover, let rise in a warm place free from draft about one hour or until dough has nearly doubled in size. Punch down, and roll the dough on a clean surface lightly dusted with flour. Roll out to a rectangle shape until it is approximately 21 inches long and 16 inches wide by ¹/₄” thick. If dough begins to resist, stop working and allow it to rest for 15 minutes. Preheat oven to 400°F. While oven is preheating, mix ingredients for filling. Mix brown sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl. Spread the softened butter evenly over the surface of the dough, then sprinkle with the cinnamon sugar mixture. Starting from the long side, begin rolling the dough down to the bottom edge, jelly roll style. Cut the rolled dough into 1³/₄” slices and place and place into a lightly greased baking pan, allowing about 1 inch space between each.
Put the rolls into a warm place and allow to rise again until nearly double in size (approximately 30 minutes). Bake for 10 to 15 minutes or until lightly golden. While the rolls are baking, mix ingredients for icing.
Beat well with a rotary mixer until light and fluffy.
When the rolls are done, drizzle generously with the icing while still warm.

Recipe property of Shawona Jones.