Cape Breton "Pork Pies" (Date Tarts)

This is something I remember my mother making when I was very young. They usually meant company was coming. I've made them a few times, and they're really good and rich.

1 Cup butter
4 Tablespoons icing sugar
2 Cups white flour
Pinch of nutmeg
Mix well and press into tiny muffin tins.
Bake at 450 for 10 minutes. Cool and remove from tins.

On the stovetop cook the following until smooth:

2 Cups chopped dates
1 1/2 Cup brown sugar
1 Cup water
1 Teaspoon lemon juice
1 Teaspoon white vinegar

Add a spoonful of the date mixture onto each shell. Make a buttercream icing to top them with and flavor it with maple extract (or I might try black walnut)and top with half a walnut.

Recipe courtesy www.nataliemacmaster.com

Pork Pie (Tourtiere)

Makes 2 pies. Cut recipe in half for 1 pie.

2 lbs ground pork
1/2 lb ground hamburg
Small onion (chopped)

Place in a frying pan. Add a little water, salt and pepper. Brown until done, then drain (don't drain completely, but almost).

Instant potato- make five servings

Allspice - 1 1/2 tsp.

Add potatoes and allspice to meat mixture. Pour into pie shell, top with 2nd crust and vent.

Cook at 450 degrees for 20 - 30 minutes

Serve with applesauce

Cape Breton Pork Pies

Crust:

1/2 cup shortening
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 egg
1 1/4 cup flour
1 tsp baking powder
a pinch of salt

Filling:

1 1/2 cup dates
1/2 cup water
2 T brown sugar
a dash of vanilla

Cook filling ingredients until they make a paste. Combine shortening and sugar, add egg and then the sifted dry ingredients. Press the crust mixture into the bottom and sides of mini muffin cups, and bake until light brown in a moderate oven (350 degrees). Let cool.

Fill each tart crust with a spoonful of date filling. Top with a maple-flavored frosting and a half walnut.

Molasses Cookies

1/2 cup shortening (or applesauce, for low-fat cookies)
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup molasses
1 egg, unbeaten
1/2 cup sour milk
2 1/2 cups sifted flour
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp ginger
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp cloves
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1 3/4 tsp baking soda

Cream shortening, sugar and molasses. Add egg and beat until light. Sift together flour, salt and spices, and add alternately with milk to sugar mixture.

Let stand for an hour, or chill overnight.

Drop by teaspoon on greased cookie sheets. Bake at 375 degrees for 10-12 minutes.

Xmas Molasses Cookies

3/4 cup melted Crisco
3/4 cup sugar
1 egg
1 cup molasses
4 cups flour
1 tsp salt
1/4 tsp cloves
1 tsp ginger
1 tsp baking soda
1 1/2 tsp cinnamon

Combine Crisco, sugar, egg and molasses. Sift dry ingredients, and combine. Mix until well blended.

Divide the dough into balls of manageable size. Chill, then roll, cut and bake at 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes. 2024- made these, but had the oven at 400.  This DOES NOT work.  :(

In my opinion, these cookies are what Christmas tastes like.

Xmas Sugar Cookies

1/2 cup butter
1 cup sugar
1 egg
1 T heavy cream
1/2 tsp vanilla
1 3/4 cups sifted AP flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt

Cream butter until soft. Add sugar gradually, and beat until fluffy. Beat in egg, cream and vanilla. Sift dry ingredients together and add; mix until combined.

Roll out to 1/4" thick. Cut with floured cookie cutters.

Bake on lightly greased cookies sheets at 375 degrees for 5-8 minutes, depending on how crisp you like them.

Frozen Pineapple Squares

2 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs
1/2 cup butter

Mix well, press in 9x9 pan, and bake at 350 degrees for 12-15 minutes. Cool.

In a bowl, mix:

1/2 cup melted butter
1 1/2 cups confectioner's sugar
2 egg yolks

Spread over graham cracker crust.

Combine 1 pkg prepared Dream Whip with 1 can crushed pineapple, drained. Spread over top and sprinkle with graham cracker crumbs. Freeze for 2 hours, then refrigerate.

This may sound simple and very 1960's, but some kind of magical alchemy takes place between the buttery filling, the crust and the topping which elevates these far above the sum of the parts.  Try them.  Yummmm....

Mom's Old Fashioned Sugar Cookies ("Boys and Girls")

1/2 cup shortening
1 cup sugar
1 egg
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
2 cups flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup sour milk
Maraschino cherries, halved
Walnut halves

Cream together shortening, sugar, egg and vanilla. Add sour milk. Sift in flour, baking soda and salt.

Drop teaspoonfuls on greased cookie sheet. Top some with cherry halves ("girls") and the rest with walnut halves ("boys").

Blame my dad for the parenthetical names on this one.

Mom's Banana Bread

Butter, the size of an egg
1 cup brown sugar
1 egg
2 mashed bananas
1 1/2 cup flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt

Cream butter and brown sugar. Add egg and bananas, then add sifted dry ingredients.

Bake for 1 hour at 325 degrees.