Here’s a wonderful Christmas book compilation of recipes, tips, wrapping ideas, and holiday lore that will be a treat under the tree this year. The Gooseberry Patch 10th Anniversary Christmas book is new in the Gift Gallery this season. Filled with luscious photos of holiday decorations, directions for all sorts of Christmas crafts, baked gifts, and party ideas, chapters carry such titles as “Here We Come A-Caroling,” “Handmade Happiness to Share,” and “Simply Soothing.” In addition to the rich instructional content, it’s a visual feast for the eyes!
As I leaf through the book, I see plenty of tips and recipes that I could use for events and celebrations year round. I also see that it is much too close to dinner time for me to be picking out a recipe to share ~ they ALL sound fabulous…
Spiced Applesauce Cake with Caramel Sauce
1/3 C butter, softened
1-1.3 C sugar
2 eggs
1 C applesauce
1/3 C water
1-2/3 C all-purpose flour
1 t baking soda
1/2 t cinnamon
1/2 t ground cloves
1/4 t ground ginger
1/4 t baking powder
1/2 C walnuts, finely chopped
Beat butter and sugar together; beat in eggs, one at a time, until mixture is light and fluffy. Add applesauce and water; set aside. In another bowl, combine next 7 ingredients; blend into applesauce mixture. Fold in walnuts. Pour into a greased and floured 6-mold Bundt pan (each mold holds one cup).
Bake at 350 degrees for 20 to 25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in cakes comes out clean. Cool in pan 10 minutes; remove cakes from pan and cool on a wire rack. Place cakes on serving plates or mini cake stands and drizzle with Caramel Sauce.
Caramel Sauce
1 C brown sugar
1/2 C whipping cream
1/4 C corn syrup
1 T butter
2 t cinnamon
In a large saucepan, heat all ingredients to boiling, stirring constantly. Reduce heat and simmer, uncovered for about 5 minutes. Makes 1-1/2 cups. Tastes great on spice cake, pound cake, shortbread and ice cream!
Christmas even has knitting, embroidery, & quilting instructions for cozy winter projects, and several pages of patterns and templates are included. This is a very well-rounded holiday book that could be your complete guide to celebrating this Christmas.
We just unwrapped a beautiful new collection of Christmas trays, divided snack trays, and coordinated platters, napkin rings, salt & pepper shakers, and mugs. Our web photographer was taking pictures while I was, too, so they should be online shortly. Here is one style, a striking red platter and mug ~ this would really look swell, filled with mini Spiced Applesauce Cakes, wouldn’t it now? ~And a mug of Christmas coffee to go along with dessert.
Hope you enjoy a restful Labor Day weekend, and don’t forget to come on down to our clearance tent sale. Also, the buy-3-get-1-free ornament sale is ongoing – we haven’t talked about it recently, but even the new season’s ornaments are included in this deal.
~Janet @ Christmas Place
