Christmas Eve Memories... Cottage Pie and Fudge

 Santa’s Favorites with an English Twist

                                                        

                                                          By Cal Orey

When I was a girl homemade chocolate fudge was a part of the holidays in suburbia of the San Francisco Bay Area, where I grew up. On Christmas Eve morning my mom used the stovetop, candy thermometer, cocoa powder, and elbow grease to make the decadent treat. That night, my family sat in the living room around a white flocked tree with colored lights, a warm, stoked fire, and Dalmatian, Casey.  My job was to put out a plate of homemade chocolate fudge squares on top of the glass dining room table for Santa before going to bed. Then, late at night I’d hear the words “Ho, ho, ho!” and the front door close. I’d run out to see Santa and his reindeer--but only presents were left under the tree and the fudge was gone.

This season living in the mountains on the South Shore, I’m breaking tradition a bit. As a snowstorm is rolling in, it’s the perfect time to whip up comfort food and make a fire--the first one of winter for me. Enter hot Shepherd’s Pie or Cottage pie, a dish from the United Kingdom for countryside workers back in the 18^th century. It is a concoction of meat (beef or lamb) and a topping of mashed potatoes. Also, instead of chocolate fudge, I’m giving you a no-cook fudge that a child can make and will appease taste buds for kids and grownups.

 COTTAGE PIE

3-4 yellow or Russet potatoes 
¼ cup organic 2 percent low-fat milk

1 tablespoon European style butter

1 teaspoon chives, fresh

1 tablespoon olive oil or European style butter

2 tablespoons yellow onion, diced                                

½ cup mushrooms, fresh, sliced

1 cup cruciferous vegetables (broccoli florets, cauliflower, carrots) or fresh baby spinach

1 large Roma tomato, sliced thin

1 cup beef, turkey, ground (optional)       

1 cup Italian cheese mix, shredded
¼ cup Parmesan cheese (optional)

Ground pepper to taste

In a large pot, fill with water and place four washed, peeled, quartered potatoes. Boil until tender. Put potatoes into a mixing bowl. Add milk and butter. Mash until smooth. Fold in chives.  Set aside. In a skillet, use oil or butter and sauté onions (add turkey and cook till brown).  In individual ramekins (round or oval) place a bottom layer of onions, fresh vegetables (and meat or poultry). Spread with a top layer of cheese, mashed potatoes. Sprinkle with a layer of cheese. Bake at 350 degrees for about 30 minutes or until cheese bubbles and top is slightly golden.  Serves four to six.

LOW-FAT PEANUT BUTTER FUDGE

1 cup European style butter with sea salt

1-1/4 cups low-fat, creamy peanut butter (or use regular for richer flavor)

4 cups confectioners’ sugar, sifted (use a whisk if you don’t have a sifter)

1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract

½ cup walnuts, chopped

1 tablespoon European style butter (for greasing dish)

            In a microwavable bowl, melt butter and peanut butter. Watch it closely for about one minute. Add vanilla. Stir in sugar. Fold in walnuts. Line an 8 x 8 square dish with foil. (A smaller dish will provide thicker fudge squares.) Spoon in mixture and spread evenly. Put in fridge for a few hours to firm. On a cutting board, turn out and remove the foil and cut the fudge into squares. Cut in squares, place in cupcake paper liners, and put in container. Makes 16 pieces. Store in airtight containers; place in refrigerator or freezer.

This Shepherd’s Pie is a filling dish full of healthful ingredients—vegetarian or meat. The fudge is a treat where less is more. These holiday eats are a good fit for Santa and Santa’s helpers. 
P.S. I'll put the fudge squares on a plate from yesteryear and a pot of hot herbal tea on top of the now antique glass table with sweet memories of family, two-leggers and four-leggers, love and hope. (Santa brought me a white Christmas at Tahoe, my new book cover for The Healing Powers of Tea, a new memory foam gel mattress with flannel sheets, the resort pool/spa is open, and a soon to book trip to Victoria.)