Holiday Recipes
Plum Pudding with Hard Sauce
 1 cup light molasses
3/4 cup melted butter
1/2 cup warm milk
2 eggs, beaten
1 cup all-purpose flour, plus additional for tossing fruit
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1 pint candied mixed fruit (or diced dried fruit such as pineapple, pears, apples, and plums)
1 cup raisins
1 1/2 ounces brandy
Holly sprig, for garnish
Hard Sauce, recipe follows
Combine the molasses, butter, milk, and eggs in a mixing bowl. Next, combine the flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and cloves in a large mixing bowl. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients in 3 additions. Toss candied fruit and raisins lightly with flour to prevent sinking and add to batter. Stir in brandy.
Pour into a greased and sugared steam pudding mold and place on a rack in a large covered pot with water that comes halfway up the sides of the mold. Cover and steam for 2 hours, checking occasionally to make sure water hasn't boiled out. Let cool for 5 minutes on a rack before turning out. Dust with powdered sugar and serve with a sprig of holly and hard sauce.
Hard Sauce:
1/4 pound butter
1 cup sugar
1 pinch salt
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1-ounce brandy or rum Beat all ingredients together until very well combined. Serve with pudding.
Spiced Nuts
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
4 cups unsalted mixed nuts, such as walnuts, pecans, hazelnuts, and almonds
4 tablespoons unsalted butter
6 tablespoons brown sugar
1 teaspoon salt
Mix spices and reserve.
Heat the nuts in a dry skillet and cook, stirring frequently, until they begin to toast, about 4 minutes. Add the butter and cook, stirring, until the nuts begin to darken, about 1 minute. Add the spices, the sugar, 1 tablespoon water, and the salt and cook, stirring, until the sauce thickens and the nuts are glazed, about 5 minutes.
Remove the nuts from the heat and transfer to a baking sheet lined with aluminum foil, separating them with a fork. Let the nuts stand until cooled and the sugar has hardened, about 10 minutes. Store in an airtight container.
Simple Standing Rib Roast
1 (5-pound) standing rib roast
1 tablespoon House Seasoning, recipe follows Allow roast to stand at room temperature for at least 1 hour.
Preheat the oven to 375 degree F. Rub roast with House Seasoning; place roast on a rack in the pan with the rib side down and the fatty side up. Roast for 1 hour. Turn off oven. Leave roast in oven but do not open oven door for 3 hours. About 30 to 40 minutes before serving time, turn oven to 375 degrees F and reheat the roast. Important: Do not remove roast or re-open the oven door from time roast is put in until ready to serve.
House Seasoning:
1 cup salt
1/4 cup black pepper
1/4 cup garlic powder
Mix ingredients together and store in an airtight container for up to 6 months |
We wish you the happiest, healthiest, and safest of holiday seasons! Can you believe it's been another year already? Take a moment and relax on your comfy couch with a bottle or two of wine before the holidays hit full swing. And don't forget to get your stockings stuffed at Merchant's. Happy Holidays!
Don't forget to pick up a festive and fruity bottle or case of your favorite Beaujolais Nouveau before they're gone. They're perfect to bring to holiday parties. 
Looking for the perfect stocking stuffer? Look no further! Chateau St. Nicholas wines are here. They're the perfect holiday gift and great for holiday parties. These festive wines are available for a short time in 3 tempting varietals… 
Marques de Caceres Crianza Rioja -
Filled with vanilla, cedar, and cherry tones, this wine is the perfect enhancement to goose, turkey, lamb or rib roast. 
Has someone been EXTRA SPECIAL this year? Give them something extra special. We have some of the finest, rarest wines available. 
1976 Chateau d'Yquem Sauternes (1.5L)
1997 Quinta do Noval Nacional Port (750ml)
2003 Joseph Phelps Insignia (1.5L)
1990 Salon Champagne Les Mesnil (750ml) 
2003 Clarendon Hills Astralis Syrah (750ml) 
1997 Petrus (750ml) 