Best of Bridge

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Lightly grease muffin tins. Combine cranberries, 1/3 cup sugar, ORANGE ZESTO and orange juice. Set aside. Mix dry ingredients together. Set aside. Cream margarine, one cup sugar and egg in large bowl. Add cranberry mixture and dry ingredients. Mix until just blended and spoon into muffin tins. Bake for 20 minutes.

Makes 18 medium muffins.

CITRUS PEPPER COOKIES

Combine flour with next 7 ingredients; set aside. Beat butter with both sugars until light and fluffy. Beat in egg. Stir in flour mixture until combined. Stir in currants. Chill until slightly firm, about 30 minutes. On lightly floured surface roll dough into 2 logs, each about 1 1/2” in diameter. Roll logs in chopped almonds. Freeze until firm, at least 1 hour. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Cut dough into 1/4” slices; bake on greased baking sheet until golden brown, about 12 minutes. Cool on wire rack.

Makes 3 dozen.

ORANGE MERINGUE TART

Meringue Shell:

Creamy Orange Filling:

Candied Orange Slices:

For meringue, preheat oven to 200 degrees F. Line baking sheet with parchment paper. Draw 10” circle on paper and reverse. Beat egg whites, 3 tbs. sugar, extract, LEMON ZESTO and lemon juice until soft peaks form. Beat in remaining sugar 2 tbs. at a time until stiff peaks form. Using a spoon spread most of meringue onto paper within circle. Form rim along edge of circle with remaining meringue. Sprinkle rim with almonds; bake 1 hour. Turn off oven; let meringue remain in oven 3-4 hours, until crisp. Transfer on paper to rack; cool. For filling, in pot combine sugar, cornstarch, flour and salt. Over medium heat add orange juice, milk and ORANGE ZESTO. Cook stirring constantly, until thickened, about 8 minutes. Remove from heat; cover surface of filling with plastic wrap. Refrigerate until chilled, at least 1 hour. For candied orange slices, in skillet over high heat combine 2 cups water, sugar and cloves. Bring to a boil; cook 10 minutes. Reduce heat to low. Add orange slices; simmer until rind is tender, about 40 minutes. Remove from heat. With slotted spoon remove slices, reserving 2 tbs. syrup. Cool slices on wax paper. Just before serving, spoon filling into shell; top with slices. Brush slices with syrup. Serve immediately.

Makes 10 servings.

ARLENE'S HINT FOR FEBRUARY

If you wrap a partially used cucumber in tin foil and refrigerate it will stay fresh for weeks. I have no idea why it works, but it does.