RECIPES: Stuffed dates; "Monkey Tails"; Applesauce brownies; Fudge-Nut Butter Marbled Brownies; Sour cream pastries RECIPES

Tasty Ideas for snacks and parties




STUFFED DATES OR FRESH FIGS
These are great to make when either fruit is fresh and in season

25 pitted dates or  halved ripe figs

1/2 cup chopped walnuts or pecans mixed with  the zest and juice of 1 large or 2 medium oranges.

8ozs cream cheese at room temp
2 tbsp honey or agave syrup
1 tsp ground cinnamon
3 tbsp chopped crystallized ginger
Mix the cream cheese and other ingredients and then add the walnuts and orange zest and juice, to make a stiff paste.
using a tsp/piping bag fill the dates.
arrange side by side on platter and serve at room temp.

This is also great as a dip for strawberries or to top halved peaches, plums etc in season.

Monkey tails..these can also be served frozen (see top photo)

Children of all ages love these

10 firm ripe bananas

 Popsicle sticks
1 pound dark chocolate (may also use milk chocolate).. roughly chopped
2 tbsp oil
2 cups chopped nuts

Melt the chocolate over hot water and stir in the oil 
lay the chopped nuts on a cookie sheet
insert a Popsicle stick into each peeled banana and dip into the chocolate mix, allow excess to drip off before coating into chopped nuts. Place on a parchment/wax paper cover tray/plate and refrigerate or freeze

SPICY APPLESAUCE BROWNIES
 
1/2 cup butter
1 3/4 cups sugar
2 large eggs
1/2 cup apple sauce
4 ozs dark chocolate..melted and cooled
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 cup plain/all purpose flour
1 tsp  baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 cup chopped nuts

topping 
3/4 cup powdered sugar
nut milk
cinnamon

Pre-heat oven 350f
Cream butter and sugar and beat in the eggs.
Stir in the apple sauce, chocolate, and extract.
Sift all dry ingredients together and add.
Add the chopped nuts and stir well.

Spread into a greased 13 x9x2inch pan.

bake middle shelf 25 mins.
remove and cool in pan on wire rack.
Drizzle with topping I add enough milk, approx. 4 tsp to make a drizzly sauce) oer slightly warm, not hot brownies.

Cut when cold

Fudge-nutbutter Marbled Brownies (the nut butter is your choice)
makes a very gooey nutty brownie great with ice cream

3/4 cup /6 ozs butter
1 cup sugar
3 large eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 cup all purpose/plain flour
3/4 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 cup nut butter pre heat oven 350f
Cream sugar and shortening and add the eggs, beaten.
add the vanilla and fold in all the dry ingredients, and just  mix.
separate the batter into 2
into one half add 1/2 cup room temp.  nut butter
into the other add:
1 tbsp instant coffee
1 tbsp water
4 ozs melted chocolate, cooled

Into a greased 9x13x2 inch pan, layer the fillings then swirl them to marble the layers, do not over mix though.
Bake for  25 mins
remove from oven and immediately cover with 1 cup milk chocolate chips..allow them to melt then spread top of the brownies and top the chocolate with chopped toasted almonds.

Allow to almost cool before cutting into pieces makes 24-32 depending on size

  Sour cream pastries..these are VERY 1960's and very delicious..time for a revival I think
all ingredients at room temp.

1 cup butter
2 cups all purpose flour /plain flour
1 egg yolk beaten
1/2 cup sour cream
1/2 cup apricot jam..warmed
1/2 cup unsweetened coconut flakes
1/4 cup chopped walnuts

sugar

Pre-heat oven 350f
Cut the butter into the flour until it resembles breadcrumbs ( I use 2 knives).
Mix the egg yolk into the flour and fold this into the flour mix, mix well then refrigerate overnight.

Divide the dough into 4 and roll each out into a 10 inch circle.
Spread each circle with 2 tbsp apricot jam  and 2 tbsp coconut, 1 tbsp chopped nuts.
using a pizza wheel, cut each circle into 12 wedges and begin rolling each wedge from wide end to point.
Sprinkle with a little sugar and place on  an ungreased cookie sheet, and bake for approx. 20 mins until lightly browned.
remove and cool on a wire.

makes 4 doz.