This is my variation of Linda Amendt's variation of the BBB Brandied Mincemeat. I just want you to know this is not an "approved" recipe. Changes I made from Amendt's original: 1) My version doubles the pears and apples and halves the sugar. (It's plenty sweet enough.) 2) Day 1 I mixed the dried fruits with 1 cup of brown sugar and chopped mixture in the FP in several batches. (Doing this kind of thing can cloud the FP container, so skip it if the scratching would bother you.) Macerated 30 hours with brandy until Day 2. I think the sugar with the liquor mellowed the fruit. Day 2 chopped and sliced the apples and pears by hand for a more discernable, fresher texture. That worked very well. 3) I noted this mixture scorches easily. Use a heavy pan, don't cook on high heat and watch carefully. This stuff is so good it ought to be a sin to eat it. Mixed-Fruit Mincemeat Categories : Canning & Preserving Amount Measure Ingredient -- Preparation Method -------- ------------ -------------------------------- 1/2 pound dried apricots -- chopped 1/2 pound dried cherries -- chopped 1/2 pound dates -- chopped 1/2 pound golden raisins 1/2 pound currants -- or dark raisins 2-3 cups apple cider -- or apple juice 3/4 cup brandy 3/4 cup sherry -- (I used Almad�n Golden) 2 pounds tart apples 2 pounds Bartlett pears -- firm ripe 1/2 cup fresh orange juice 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice 3 tablespoons finely chopped orange zest 2 tablespoons finely chopped lemon zest 1 1/2 cups firmly packed light brown sugar 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1/2 teaspoon ground allspice 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger In a large bowl combine the apricots, cherries, dates, raisins, currants, apple cider, brandy and sherry. Stir until well combined. Cover loosely with plastic wrap and set aside to macerate for 24 hours, stirring occasionally. (See above for my variation.) Peel, core and chop the apples and pears. In an 8- to 10-quart pan, combine the apples, pears, orange juice and lemon juice. Stir in the dried fruit mixture, orange zest and lemon zest. Combine the remaining brown sugar, cinnamon, allspice, nutmeg and ginger until well-blended. Stir the sugar mixture into the fruit in the pan. Over medium heat, bring the mincemeat mixture to a boil, stirring frequently to prevent sticking. Reduce the heat and simmer until the apples are tender, about 40 minutes, stirring frequently to prevent sticking. If mixture becomes too dry, add a little more cider vinegar. Ladle the mincemeat into hot jars, removing as many air bubbles as possible and leaving 1/2-inch headspace. Using a plastic knife, remove any trapped air bubbles. Wipe the jar rims and threads with a clean, damp cloth. Cover with hot lids and apply screw rings. Process both pint and quart jars in a BWB for 30 minutes. Note: This mixture expands and even with a boiling water bath I think 1" headspace works better. Description: The original recipe came from "Blue-Ribbon Preserves." Yield: 8 pints Carol

Nancy, here's a good bread recipe that uses a lot more than a couple of tablespoons of maple syrup. I love it, and the coffee does not add a discernable coffee flavor but it does add a nice "secret ingredient" flavor. MAPLE OATMEAL BREAD 3 3 ¼ cups flour 1 pkg dry yeast ¾ cup prepared coffee 1/2 cup quick cooking rolled oats ½ (scant) cup maple syrup 2 tbls butter 1 tsp salt 1 egg Combine a cup of flour and the yeast. Heat coffee, oats, syrup, butter and salt until just warm and butter is almost melted. Add to flour mixture along with egg. Beat with electric mixer on low for 30 seconds. Beat on high speed for 3 minutes. Using a wooden spoon, stir in as much of the remaining flour as you can. Turn dough out onto lightly floured surface, knead in enough remaining flour to make a moderately soft dough that is smooth and elastic (3-5 minutes kneading). Shape dough into a ball, place in lightly greased bowl, and turn over once to grease surface of dough. Cover and let rise in a warm place until double in size, about an hour. Punch down dough, cover and let rest 10 minutes. Meanwhile lightly grease a 9x5x3 inch loaf pan. Shape dough into a loaf and place into prepared pan, cover and let rise in a warm place until nearly double in size (30 to 45 minutes). Bake at 350 F about 30 minutes or until bread sounds hollow when lightly tapped. Remove from pan immediately and cool on wire rack. Makes 1 loaf (14 slices) Each slice contains 149 calories, 3 grams total fat, 2 grams sat. fat, 1 gr fiber, 26 gr. Carbs, 196 mg sodium, 4 gr protein. (Contains 8% of daily requirement of iron) And here's a really nice maple scone... Maple Cream Scone 2 cups all-purpose or unbleached flour 1 tablespoon baking powder 3/4 teaspoon salt 4 tablespoons cold butter, cut into 1/4-inch pieces, plus 2 tablespoons butter, melted 3/4 cup heavy cream 1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons pure maple syrup 1. Preheat oven to 425 F. Lightly grease a baking sheet (I used silpat on the baking sheet). 2. Combine the flour, baking powder, and salt in a large bowl. Cut the butter pieces into the flour until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Make a well in the mixture. 3. Blend the cream and 1/4 cup of the maple syrup and pour the mixture into the well. Stir, just until the dough coheres. 4. Lightly flour a work surface; turn the dough onto the surface and knead four or five times, gently. Pat or roll to a thickness of about 3/4 inch. Cut into 2-1/2-inch to 3-inch rounds with a biscuit cutter and place on the prepared baking sheet. 5. Stir together the melted butter and remaining 2 tablespoons maple syrup, then brush a little on each scone. Keep the remaining syrup mixture warm. Bake the scones for about 15 minutes, until golden. Serve hot. Spoon the remaining warm syrup mixture over the scones. Yield: About 12 scones. Source: Maple Syrup Cookbook, copyright 1989, 2001 Mmmmm, love maple syrup. Like other kids, Ashley'd rather have Mrs. Butterworth. Have I mentioned that she's a heathen when it comes to food, LOL? Annie

The medical community seems to always be finding new information and changing their minds. I have no idea what will be what in the future so I have opted to try, without going overboard, to look for more simplified ingredient lists. For me that's "sugar", 1 word, 5 letters, something I understand vs. "high fructose corn syrup" which is 4 words, way more letters and I had to look in up on intellipedia. So I look for sugar (or no sugar). Which made jams and jellies practically impossible (and I will always miss Welches Grape Jam). I finally found one that both has the fruit listed first and sugar, then pectin - and thats it, though it is stocked irregularly. Its Swedish! one flavor. As someone who eats lots of processed foods, I do believe your palate or tongue gets used to and then craves certain things - for me mostly salt. So much processed food has tons of salt! And I'm used to that and like it - but my mother goes nuts when I cook her Smoky Links and complains about all the salt. I suspect it will be as the others say with your Karo syrup.

and another use for the bourbon.. I love this for basting grilled chicken.. BOURBON BUTTER 6 ounces butter, cut into small pieces 1/4 cup brown sugar 2 tablespoons bourbon 1/2 lemon, juiced 1 teaspoon kosher salt 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper While grill is heating, make bourbon butter glaze by melting butter with the other ingredients in a saucepan and boiling over high heat for 2 minutes, stirring constantly.