A GARDENER'S LAMENT ( FORCAST: POSSIBLE RECORD BREAKING SNOW for FEBRUARY ! ) ~ WHITE CHOCOLATE 'CHERRY' SHORTBREAD

" If life is a bowl of cherries, then what am I doing in the pits? "

~ Erma Bombeck

~ 'Enough is Enough'
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WHITE CHOCOLATE 'CHERRY' SHORTBREAD

~ Loaded with lots of 'good stuff' to chase 'winter blues' away
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1 1/2 cups flour
12 cup sugar
1/4 tsp. salt
1 cup unsalted butter
1/2 cup dried cherries
1/2 cup finely chopped pecans
1/2 heaping cup white chocolate chips

• Preheat oven to 325-degrees.
• Combine flour, sugar and salt in large mixing bowl. Cut in butter until mixture forms small crumbs. Stir in cherries and pecans. Form into ball and knead until smooth. Divide dough in half.
• On large cookie sheet, roll each section into 6-8 inch circles approximately 1/2-inch thick. Press edges with fingers for form scallop effect. With a knife, cut each circle into 12 wedges.
• Bake for 25-30 minutes or until centers are set and edges slightly brown. While cookies are baking, melt white chocolate over double boiler.
• Remove from oven and cut shortbread wedges again. Drizzle with melted chocolate. ( 2 dozen )

HAPPY NEW YEAR! ~ WAKING to a 'WINTER WONDERLAND'

" The New Year begins

in a snow storm of white vows."

~ George William Curtis

~ 'Window Wonderland'

'LET IT SNOW! LET IT SNOW! LET IT SNOW!'

~ Record breaking December snowfall

(Hubbard Lake)

SEASONAL SUNDAY NIGHT SUPPER ~ DUCK BREAST FAISINJAN / WINTER SALAD of GRAPEFRUIT, FENNEL & WATERCRESS

~ Virgin snow

(Hubbard Lake)

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"Have you eaten a pomegranate? The fruit features in Greek mythology in the story of Persephone, daughter of the harvest goddess Demeter. Hades, the lord of the underworld, kidnapped the beautiful maiden. Because she ate a few pomegranate seeds before being rescued, she had to spend several months every year in the underworld with him. According to the myth, that?s when the earth was forced to endure winter."

DUCK BREAST FAISINJAN

~ Rich in antioxidants, pomegranates make this favorite classic Persian recipe from The Creative Cook well worth the effort.

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4 pomegranates

juice of 1 large lemon

1 Tbsp. light brown sugar or honey

coarse salt & freshly ground back pepper

4 boned duck breast halves

1 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil

1 minced onion

1/4 cup chopped walnuts

• Have the pomegranates and scoop the seeds into a food processor, reserving 2-3 Tbsp. Blend briefly and then press through a strainer.
• Put juice into a pan and add half its volume of water, the lemon juice, sugar, and season. Bring to a boil and simmer gently about 20 minutes. Cool
• Prepare duck breasts by making several diagonal cuts through the fat to the meat. Put breast in bowl and pour over the cooled pomegranate mixture. stir well, cover and let marinate 2-3 hours.
• Preheat broiler. Drain duck breasts, reserving marinade. Pat breast dry and broil skin-side up until well browned, 5-8 minutes. Turn and cook the other side in the same way. (duck is best served fairly pink; if you prefer it well done, reduce heat and cook another 10 minutes or so.)
• While duck is cooking, heat oil in saucepan over medium and add the onion and walnuts. Cook until onion is soft, 2-3 minutes. Add the pomegranate mixture to the saucepan, bring to a boil, and simmer about 5 minutes. Adjust the seasons and the sweet & sour balance with more lemon juice or sugar.
• Serve duck thickly sliced, sprinkled with the reserved seeds. Pass the sauce separately. (4 servings)

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WINTER SALAD of GRAPEFRUIT, FENNEL & WATERCRESS

~ From Pamela Morgan's FLAVORS, comes this tasty winter salad perfect for peak grapefruit season.

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3 medium ruby red grapefruits

2 medium bunches trimmed watercress

1 medium very thinly sliced fennel bulb

1 thinly sliced small red onion

freshly ground black pepper

• With serrated knife, cut a thick slice from top and bottom of each grapefruit. One at a time, set the grapefruits on a cutting board and slice downward, following the curve of the fruit, removing the bitter white pit and the peel, leaving as much fruit behind as possible.Cut between segment dividers to remove the fruit sections.
• Divide the watercress among 6 chilled salad plates. Mound the fennel and onion atop the watercress. Arrange the grapefruit segments over the salads. Lightly dress with Poppy Seed Dressing and cracked pepper.

POPPY SEED DRESSING

3 Tbsp. apple cider vinegar

4 tsp. Dijon mustard

1 Tbsp. honey

1-2 Tbsp. grated mild onion

1/4 tsp. coarse salt

1/2 tsp. freshly ground black pepper

1 cup corn oil

1 tsp. poppy seeds

Whisk together the vinegar, mustard, honey, salt & pepper. Whisk in oil in a slow, steady stream; the dressing will thicken. Stir in poppy seeds. Adjust seasonings.