Christmas Snacks

Apricot nut loafs and spicy morsels with spiced chicken skewers. Two great snacks recipes for the festivals or daily cooking. Simple to cook and great to eat.

Appricot-Nut Loaf

Ingredients:
1) Boiling Water.
2) Apricots - 1 package (165 g), dried and chopped.
3) All-purpose plain flour - 2 cups.
4) White sugar - 1/4 cup (165 g), granulated.
5) Salt - 1/4 tsp.
6) 2 large egg whites.
7) Apricot nectar/orange juice - 2/3 cup.
8) Vegetable oil - 3 tbsp.
9) Orange zest - 1 tsp, grated.
10) Pecans/walnuts - 1/2 cup (55 g), finely chopped.
11) Orange juice - 3 - 4 tsp.

12) Icing sugar - 1/2 cup.

Also needed:
A small bowl, a large bowl, a medium-sized bowl, a lightly greased loaf pan (dimensions: 8" X 4" X 2").

Instructions:
1) Set the oven temperature to 350 degree Fahrenheit (180 degree Centigrade).

2) Place the apricots in a small bowl.

3) Pour enough boiling water into the bowl to cover the apricots.

4) Allow the water to stand for about 5 minutes and then drain and set aside.

5) Add in flour, granulated sugar, baking powder and salt into a large bowl. Stir the ingredients together to mix well.

6) Toss in the egg whites, apricot nectar, oil and orange zest into a medium-sized bowl. Mix the items together and add to the flour mixture at one time.

7) Fold in the apricots and chopped pecans.

8) Using spoon, transfer the mixture into the lightly greased loaf pan. Bake for about an hour or until so compact that a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean.

9) Pour the icing sugar into a small bowl. Pour over it the orange juice and stir.

10) Continue to stir until the mixture is thin enough to drizzle.

12) Drizzle the mixture over the loaf. Let cool completely. Serve.


Spicy Morsels - Spiced chicken Skewers

Ingredients:
1) Boneless chicken breasts - 1 lb(450 g).
2) Coriander seeds - 1/2 tsp, coarsely crushed.
3) Cumin seeds - 1/2 tsp.
4) Curry Paste - 1 tsp.
5) Garlic clove - 1, crushed well.
6) Plain yogurt - 1 1/4 cups (320 g).

Also needed:
16 wooden skewers, a baking sheet or a broiler pan lined with foil.

Instructions:
1) Set the oven temperature to 350 degree Fahrenheit (180 degree Centigrade).

2) Place the apricots in a small bowl.

3) Pour enough boiling water into the bowl to cover the apricots.

4) Allow the water to stand for about 5 minutes and then drain and set aside.

5) Add in flour, granulated sugar, baking powder and salt into a large bowl. Stir the ingredients together to mix well.

6) Toss in the egg whites, apricot nectar, oil and orange zest into a medium-sized bowl. Mix the items together and add to the flour mixture at one time.

7) Fold in the apricots and chopped pecans.

8) Using spoon, transfer the mixture into the lightly greased loaf pan. Bake for about an hour or until so compact that a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean.

9) Pour the icing sugar into a small bowl. Pour over it the orange juice and stir.

10) Continue to stir until the mixture is thin enough to drizzle.

12) Drizzle the mixture over the loaf. Let cool completely. Serve.