Last-Minute Christmas Pastries: Banana Cream Waffle Baskets to Pecan Butter

Sometimes there are people we either forget or find it so difficult to buy a gift that we postpone the purchase until time has run out. There are some quick ideas that can be whipped up in the kitchen and need to be made at the last minute, so they match your dilemma.

Whip up Some Pecan Butter

This is not an inexpensive gift because it uses Brie cheese and sherry, but if you are making a lot of it then the cost is reduced. Since it only requires 2 tablespoons of sherry, take a moment after the kids are in bed and gifts are wrapped. Sit with your loved one, light a candle, and have a small glass of sherry. Use the extra sherry and a few moments alone with each other to take a break from the hustle and bustle of the holiday just for the two of you. If you are divorced with children and trying to pull the entire holiday together by yourself, tilt your head back and pour the rest down your gullet, you probably can use it right now.

Put 2 tbsp of peanut oil, and 1 1/4 cups of chopped pecans in a blender or food processor. Blend it until the mixture turns smooth. After you have taken the rind off 1/2 pound (8oz) of Brie cheese, cut it into the pecan mixture. At the same time cut in a 3 oz package of cream cheese 2 tbsp of sherry and 1/4 tsp of salt. Blend again.

When the mixture is completely blended, put it into a clean jar and seal it tight. Place the pecan butter in a basket with crackers or apples with a note, "Store in the refrigerator."

If you are using the recipe for simple appetizers, spread it on a cracker and top the cracker with a smoked pecans, hot pepper pecan, or roasted pecan.

Make the roasted pecan by placing 1 cup of pecan halves in a bowl with 1 tablespoon of melted butter and stirring. Transfer the nuts to a baking sheet and put in an oven that has been preheated to 200 degrees, for 1 hour. Check every 15 minutes and stir the pecans to avoid burning. Remove and put on a paper towel to drain the excess grease from the nuts. While they are still warm salt to taste.

The recipes for the hot pepper pecans and smoked pecans are at this web address:

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/432432/pecan_recipes_for_the_perfect_christmas.html

Make Banana Cream Waffle Basket

You don't need to go to a lot of hassle to create this basket. The main ingredient for the basket is a family size bag of freezer waffles. Thirty years ago, a package of waffle mix would have been substituted for the frozen waffles, but today, few people have a waffle maker. You will be adding banana butter, cream syrup, and bananas to the waffles in the basket.

Cream Syrup

Mix 1 cup of regular sugar, 1 cup of light corn syrup, and 1 cup of whipping cream that has already been whipped. Boil for 3 minutes as you constantly stir and remove from heat. Stir in 1/2 tsp of freshly grated nutmeg. Put it in a bottle or other airtight container and store in the refrigerator. This syrup should be made at the last minute.

Make this in the morning and try some yourself, it's great warm.

Banana Butter

Blend 4 large ripe bananas that have been sliced and peeled in a blender with 3 tbsp of lemon juice until it's smooth. Put the blended mixture into a large saucepan and add 1 1/2 cups of granulated sugar and 1 tsp of pumpkin pie spice. Stir well and bring to a boil. Continue to simmer for 15 minutes as you continuously stir. Pour the mixture into sterilized self-sealing canning jars. Allow them to cool and store in the refrigerator.

Don't forget to put a label with the date on both jars and instructions to store in the refrigerator.