Did You Know

Scroll down to find tidbits of information on food and kitchen items related to Christmas.

Index
A Tip for Shortbread and Gingerbread
A Wise Moment for Great Pictures
Champagne Bubbles
Choosing Cookie Sheets
Cooking Terms
Do You Know These Equivalents?...
Ease the Grocery Budget
High Altitude Baking
Hors d'oeuvres
Ingredient Exchanges in Recipes
Merry Christmas Around the World
Oven Temperatures
Refrigerator Cookies
Simplify the Season
Storing Cheesecake
Storing Cookies
Storing Food Gift Baskets
Toasting Nuts

A Tip for Shortbread and Gingerbread

The amount of flour required for shortbread and gingerbread may vary with the different brands of flour.  Work the last 1/4 - 1/3 cup (50 - 75 mL) flour into the mixture until the desired consistency is obtained.

A Wise Moment for Great Pictures

When entertaining, take photos as soon as everyone arrives while everyone is relaxed and tidy and not rushing out the door to be somewhere else.

Champagne Bubbles

Do you know why popping the cork in a bottle of champagne releases so many bubbles?  When the cork is popped, it releases the pressure inside the bottle, at which time the gas erupts into an explosion of millions of tiny, elegant bubbles.

Choosing Cookie Sheets

• Purchase heavy-duty cookie sheets with very low or no sides; aluminum ones are the best.
  

• Nonstick cookie sheets do not require greasing and are easy to clean.  Because sheets are dark in colour, baking times may be shorter and the cookies will likely brown more.
  

• Insulated cookie sheets take longer to heat than standard cookie sheets so baking times may be increased.  While they give very even results (tops and bottoms come out the same colour), the crispy edges and browned bottoms of the cookies are lacking.

Merry Christmas Around the World
	Chinese	Sheng Dan Kuai Le
	Dutch	Froleijk Kerstfeest
	French	Joyeux Noel
	German	Froliche Weinachten
	Greek	Kala Christougenna
	Hawaiian	Mele Kalikimaka
	Hungarian	Kellemes Karacsonyi Unnepeket
	Italian	Buon Natale
	Japanese	Meri Kurisumasu
	Polish	Wesolych Swiat
	Portuguese	Boas Festas
	Spanish	Feliz Navidad
	Swedish	God Jul
	Ukrainian	Khrystos Razdayetsia

Do You Know These Equivalents?...

• 1 stick butter or margarine = 1/4 pound = 1/2 cup butter or margarine
  

• confectioners' sugar = icing sugar = powdered sugar = xxx sugar

Ease the Grocery Bill

To make it easier on the grocery budget during the holiday season, start in early October to buy extra or specialty items you will use over the holiday season.  These items may include nuts, baking ingredients, beverages, chocolates, candy, specialty canned foods, etc.  Take advantage of the sales and eliminate the stress of one huge purchase when time and money are short and the stores are busy.

High Altitude Baking

High altitudes of 3000 feet (914 metres) or over affect baking cakes and yeast breads.  The leavening agent (yeast, baking powder or soda) releases more and bigger gas bubbles that expand quickly and collapse easily, causing cakes and breads to fall.  Moisture vaporized at a lower temperature causing a drier texture.  There is no magic formula for adapting recipes for baking at high altitudes.  These tips will minimize some of the guesswork.

• Line baking pans with wax paper or grease well and dust with flour to prevent baked goods from sticking to the pan.
  

• Let yeast doughs rise only until doubled in bulk or bread will develop large air cells and will collapse during baking.
  

• Increase baking time a few minutes for most baked goods but do not change the temperature.
  

• Store baked goods in an airtight container to prevent them from drying out.
  

• For more specific information on high altitude baking, contact the ATCO Blue Flame Kitchen.

Hors d'oeuvers

• When planning a cocktail party, allow 3 - 4 cold and 6 - 8 hot hors d'oeuvres per person

• For a wine and cheese party, allow 1/4 lb (125 g) cheese and one-half bottle of wine per person.

Ingredient Exchanges in Recipes

Raisins, candied fruit, nuts, etc. may be exchanged for one another in a recipe if the amounts remain constant.  For example, 1 cup (250 mL) raisins or 1 lb (500 g) candied pineapple may be exchanged for 1/2 lb (250 g) pecans plus 1/2 lb candied cherries.  This does not apply to coconut.  Coconut may not be added to or removed from a recipe.

Oven Temperatures

Old recipes sometimes refer to oven temperatures using a description, such as "moderate", rather than degrees.

Refrigerator Cookies

The term refrigerator cookies, also called icebox cookies, is reminiscent of days gone by.  This style of cookie is convenient and easy to make.  The cookie dough is mixed, then formed into logs, wrapped in plastic wrap and refrigerated until firm.  Once firm, the dough is easy to slice into rounds before baking.  Our recipes for Maple Pecan Cookies and Honey Poppy Seed Cookies are delicious versions of refrigerator cookies.

Simplify the Season

• Keep a calendar handy so everyone can add special events.

• Mark one night on the calendar each week in December for an activity-free night at home.

• Keep your address book handy to update it as you open holiday cards and letters.  Throw the envelopes into the recycling container right away.

• Choose evenings early in the week to go shopping, preferably over the dinner hour when the stores are quiet.

Storing Cheesecake

Wrap cheesecake with plastic wrap and store in an airtight container.  Cheesecake may be stored for up to 3 days in refrigerator.  Unless otherwise specified in a recipe, a baked cheesecake can usually be frozen.  Do not add garnish or topping before freezing.  Freeze for 2 - 3 weeks.  No-bake cheesecake does not freeze well.

Storing Cookies

• Cookies should be completely cooled before storing

• Use airtight containers or tins for storing cookies.  Soft cookies should be stored separately from crisp cookies.  Decorated or frosted cookies should be stored in layers separated with wax paper.

• Hard dry cookies may be softened by placing a slice of apple or a piece of bread in the cookie container.  Remove apple or bread after one or two days.

• If cookies become soggy, they may be restored by heating them at 300° F (150° C) for several minutes before serving.

Storing Food Gift Baskets

Gift baskets containing food require proper handling and storage.

• A food gift basket purchased from a refrigerator case must be refrigerated at all times.  When gift giving, it is best to label it "KEEP REFRIGERATED".
  

• Upon receiving a food gift basket, promptly refrigerate all perishable items.  Read all food labels carefully to ensure proper storage.
  

• Use all food items within a reasonable period of time.

Toasting Nuts

Toasting brings out the flavour in any type of nut.  Heating helps release flavour compounds that give a richer more intense nut taste.  To toast nuts, place nuts on a cookie sheet and bake at 350° F (180° C), stirring frequently, until a light golden colour.  Time will vary with the type of nut.  Watch carefully to prevent burning.  Toasting does not improve the flavour of stale or rancid nuts.