Charles Dickens ’ s Sherry Cobbler
Gluten-Free Fruitcake With Sugar Glaze
Roast Duckling With Apples and Red Onions
Serves 1 Serves 4 Serves 6
Ingredients :
• 2 Orange slices
• 1 Tablespoon sugar
• 4 Ounces amontillado sherry
• Berries ( in season ) for garnishing
• Maraschino cherries for garnishing
• 1 Lemon wheel for garnishing
Directions :
1 . Muddle orange slices and sugar at the bottom of a cocktail shaker .
2 . Add sherry and ice and shake
3 . Strain ingredients into a Collins glass filled with crushed ice .
4 . Garnish with seasonal berries , maraschino cherries and a lemon wheel . Serve with a generosity of spirit .
Reading familiar stories and watching classic Christmas movies also are part and parcel of many celebrations . For example , “ A Christmas Carol ,” a novella by Charles Dickens that was published in 1843 , is a must-read and mustsee for many people each holiday season . The story is the tale of the miserly Ebenezer Scrooge , who is visited by various ghosts , each of whom teaches Scrooge an important lesson about living life to its fullest . Many local theater companies put on productions of the classic Dickens tale around the holiday season .
Holiday celebrants and fans of “ A Christmas Carol ” can raise a toast to Charles Dickens by enjoying one of his favorite cocktails , the “ Sherry Cobbler .”
Ingredients :
• 4 Ounces golden raisins
• 2 Ounces candied orange peel
• 8 Ounces candied cherries
• 6 Ounces raisins
• 3 ⁄ 2 Tablespoons sherry
• 4 Ounces butter
• 1 Cup sugar
• 1 Pinch salt
• 1 Pinch grated nutmeg
• 1 Teaspoon ground mixed spice
• 3 Eggs , beaten
• 1 Cup self-raising gluten-free flour
• 6 Ounces chopped blanched almonds
• 1 Cup confectioner ’ s sugar
• 3 Tablespoons water
Directions :
1 . For the cake : Place all the fruit in a bowl with the sherry , stir well , cover and leave to stand overnight .
2 . Heat the oven to 325 F . Grease a loaf pan and line the base with parchment paper .
3 . Beat the butter with the sugar , salt and spices in a mixing bowl until light and creamy , then gradually beat in the eggs .
4 . Gently fold in the flour , followed by the soaked fruits and almonds , stirring well .
5 . Spoon into the pan and bake for 2 to 21 ⁄ 4 hours until cooked through . Leave to cool in the pan .
6 . For the icing : Mix the sugar with a little water , adding a little at a time , until it is thick and smooth .
7 . Spread the icing on top of the cake , allowing it to run down the sides . Leave to set .
Ingredients :
• 1 Duckling , 51 ⁄ 2 to 6 pounds
• 1 Teaspoon kosher salt
• 1 ⁄ 4 Teaspoon black pepper
• 2 Apples , cored and cut into wedges
• 1 Small red onion , sliced
• 2 Teaspoons fresh thyme leaves
Directions : 1 . Preheat oven to 425 F .
2 . Season both the outside and inside of the duckling with salt and pepper . Tie the duck ’ s legs together with a piece of butcher ’ s twine . Place the duck breast side up on a sheet pan and roast for 15 minutes .
3 . Reduce the oven temperature to 350 F and roast for 30 minutes . Remove pan from oven and remove excess fat with a bulb baster , if desired . Add the apples and onion around the duck . Sprinkle the thyme over the top and bake for an additional 30 minutes or until the duck reaches an internal temperature of 165 F .
4 . Let rest for 10 minutes before serving .
Recipes researched and collected by Joy Tucker .
26 � NOVEMBER-DECEMBER ’ 24 � SOUTH