If you have the time to experiment a little, less sugar may suit your taste more…

3 cups cranberries
1 water
1 cup sugar

Wash and pick over cranberries. In a medium pan, gently simmer the cranberries with 1/2 cup of water until very soft. Press through a sieve. (more…)

The classic, French, accompaniment for oysters

1/2 cup dry white wine
1 tablespoon sherry vinegar
1 shallot, finely chopped
white pepper to taste
salt as needed
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This roast chicken makes a change from the turkey that everyone has at least once over Christmas.

1/2 cup + 1 Tbsp flour (divided)
1 + 1/4 teaspoon salt (divided)
Dash pepper
3 pounds chicken, skinless, boneless breast
2 Tbsps butter
2 Tbsps cooking oil
3/4 cup water
1 cup brown sugar, firmly packed
1 Tbsp wine vinegar
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp ground cloves
1/4 tsp ground allspice
1 1/2 cups fresh or frozen cranberries
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1 egg
1 Tablespoon sugar
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup milk
1 teaspoon vanilla essence
Oil for deep-fat frying
Powdered sugar
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1 recipe Pizza Dough
3/4 cup olive oil
6 Tbsps balsamic vinegar
3 Tbsps minced garlic
2 Tbsps chopped fresh rosemary
2 yellow or red bell peppers, cored and sliced lengthwise
1 large red onion, cut into 1/2-inch wedges
1 lb. spicy Italian sausage links
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 cups grated mozzarella
1/2 C. freshly grated Parmesan
4 plum tomatoes, halved, seeded and chopped
3/4 C. chopped green onion
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Substitute seltzer or club soda for the ginger ale - less sweet, and we probably have enough sweet things, this time of year.

2 cups cranberry juice
2 cups pineapple juice
1 cup orange juice
1 pint strawberries, hulled and sliced
1 lime, thinly sliced
4 cups ginger ale, chilled
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At first it will seem that this dough will not go together, but after a lot of kneading, the butter will hold this dough together. You will get the greatest English shortbread that you have ever made.

2 cups butter
1 cup brown sugar
5 cups sifted all-purpose flour
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Appetizers with no cooking involved…

2 (8 oz. each) pkgs. cream cheese, softened
2 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
1/8 tsp. garlic powder
2 cans smoked oysters, drained and finely chopped
1/2 small onion, grated
3 T. mayonnaise
1/8 tsp. salt
1/4 c. fresh parsley, chopped
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These cupcakes are delightful for a Christmas gathering. You can serve them on Christmas Eve (when the kids are tucked into bed, they get quite enough good things this time of year…).

225 g (8 oz) unsalted butter, softened
225 g (8 oz) caster sugar
225 g (8 oz) self-raising flour
4 eggs
1 tsp vanilla essence
for the icing
115 g (4 oz) unsalted butter, softened
225 g (8 oz) icing sugar, sieved
1 tsp vanilla essence
2 tsp pale dry sherry
4 tbsp dessicated coconut
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Decorate with with powdered sugar and maybe some cherries or candied fruit.

1 1/4 cups warm water (110-115 degrees)
1 pkg. active dry yeast
2 Tbsp. soft shortening
2 tsp. salt
2 Tbsp. sugar
3 cups flour
1/4 cup raisins
1/4 cup cut-up candied fruit
1/4 cup chopped nuts
1/2 tsp. each cinnamon and cloves
1/4 tsp. vanilla
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