Home Cooking for the Holidays

For many people the Holidays are a time for family to gather and share a meal together. Here are a collection of holiday recipes from the Staff at Allan Block Insurance.

Goat Cheese and Spinach Mini Quiche

These warm mini quiches are a perfect sharing appetizer and can be safely frozen and reheated to save time when the holidays get busy.

4       Eggs

4       oz Crumbled Goat Cheese

1       Tsp Olive Oil

¼       Cup Milk

1        Shallot, diced

2        Cups Fresh Baby Spinach

1        Package Filo Dough or Puffed Pastry

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees and grease a muffin tin. Cut Filo Dough or Puffed pastry into squares and place into each muffin section and set aside.
• Warm Olive Oil in a pan over medium heat and cook shallot for 3 minutes, add spinach and cook 5 additional minutes or until spinach is wilted. Remove from heat and set aside
• In a large bowl whisk together eggs, milk and crumbled goat cheese. Add the spinach mixture once it has cooled.
• Divide egg mixture between muffin cups or until these are about 2/3 full and bake in oven for 20 minutes or until lightly golden.

Bruschetta

Traditional Italian appetizer of toasted bread with savory toppings.

1 Loaf            Italian Bread or Baguette Cut into slices

2 ½ Cups       Roma Tomatoes, minced

1/3 Cup         Fresh Basil thinly sliced

¼ Cup            Grated Parmesan Cheese

2 Tsp             Minced Garlic

3 Tbs             Extra Virgin Olive Oil

2 Tbs             Balsamic Vinegar

½ Tsp            Salt

Fresh Ground Pepper to Taste

• Preheat oven to 350. Toast bread lightly in oven.
• In medium mixing bowl, combine tomatoes, garlic, basil, cheese, olive oil, salt and pepper. Let mixture sit at room temperate for at least 15 minutes to allow flavors to develop.
• Spoon mixture on bread and put in oven for 10 minutes to lightly melt cheese and further crisp bread.  Remove from oven and drizzle balsamic vinegar over toast.

Hummingbird Cake

3 Cups         All Purpose Flour

2 Cups         White Sugar

1 ½               Canola Oil

3                   Eggs

2  Cups        Mashed Bananas

1 Cup           Chopped Walnuts

1 (8oz)         Can Crushed Pineapple

1 Tsp            Baking Soda

1                   Tsp Salt

Frosting

8 oz .              Cream cheese (softened)

¼ Pound        Unsalted Butter

1 Pound         Confectioners’ Sugar

1 Tsp              Vanilla Extract

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour two 9-inch cake pans.
• Sift together the flour, sugar, baking soda and salt. Set aside.
• In a large bowl, combine the oil, eggs, pineapple, bananas and nuts. Add flour mixture, and mix together by hand.
• Pour batter into prepared pans. Bake in preheated oven until a toothpick inserted in center of each pan comes out clean, about 1 hour.
• Remove from oven and allow to cool on racks.
• Prepare the frosting by blending together the cream cheese, butter, sugar and vanilla until smooth. Evenly spread frosting on middle, sides and top of cake. For decoration press chopped walnuts onto frosting.