Archives for December 28, 2009

2005 Cable Bay Chardonnay Waiheke Island

December 28, 2009 By

This is THE Chardonnay for folks who don’t enjoy big, buttery California Chardonnays.  It’s not heavy on the oak, but has enough of it to make it…interesting.  This New Zealand wine is similar to a French Chardonnay and is dry with a fresh, complex taste.

Around $30.

PS: Good call pairing this wine with smoked salmon Jean-Guy

Filed Under: White Wine, Wine Reviews Tagged With: , ,

Maple Taffee on Snow (Tire sur la Neige)

December 28, 2009 By
Maple Taffee on Snow 2

Maple Taffee on Snow 2

As my family began getting ready for the food frenzy my visit to Quebec would bring on, one thing that my oldest niece, Maude, wanted to be sure my sister would fix for us is Tire sur la Neige, or Maple Taffee on Snow.  This treat is one most popular at sugar shacks during maple syrup season, but great anytime there’s snow outside.

Ingredients:

  • 2 – 3 cups maple syrup
  • Freshly gathered snow packed tightly into a wide, low container

Directions:

  1. Maple Taffee on Snow

    Maple Taffee on Snow

    Pour the maple syrup into a medium saucepan and bring to a boil on high heat.  Reduce heat to medium and simmer until it reaches 240°F on a candy thermometer, approximately 4-5 minutes.

  2. Using a ladle,  drizzle some of the hot syrup onto the snow, making certain not to cover the entire surface (you can re-pour additional syrup after the first round of taffee is gone).
  3. Let the taffee set for a minute then pick up by rolling on a fork or wooden chopstick.

Notes:  Don’t have snow where you live?  Finely-crushed ice from a blender would work!

Filed Under: Canadian, Desserts, Maple Syrup Tagged With: , ,

Grandma's Chocolate and Peanut Butter Treats

December 28, 2009 By
Chocolate and Peanut Butter Treats

Chocolate and Peanut Butter Treats

These treats come straight from my childhood as my Grandma made them for the holidays as far back as I can remember.  She’d make a double batch and freeze the finished treats so we’d have them well into the new year.

Ingredients:

  • 1/3 cup grated paraffin wax
  • 8 ounces milk chocolate chips
  • 1 cup smooth peanut butter
  • 2 cups powdered sugar, sifted
  • 2 cups puffed rice cereal

Directions:

  1. Melt paraffin and chocolate in a glass or metal bowl placed over a pot of simmering water over medium-low heat.  Don’t allow the bowl to touch the simmering water.
  2. Add peanut butter to the melted chocolate and blend well until fully incorporated.
  3. Stir the powdered sugar into the mixture.  Remove from heat and add the puffed rice cereal, making certain that the cereal is fully coated with the chocolate mixture.
  4. Drop spoonful of the mixture on a wax paper-lined cookie sheet and cool.  Refrigerate cooled treats.

Makes approximately 24 treats.

Notes: Paraffin wax can be found at most grocery stores in the canning section where Mason Jars are found.  Only use consumable wax such as Gulf Paraffin Wax.  Grate the paraffin using a box grater or microplane.

Filed Under: Canadian, Chocolate, Desserts Tagged With: , , ,