Christmas Bishop Recipes

SMOKING BISHOP

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Prepare oranges for roasting: wash and dry them well, and stud each fruit equally with cloves. Roast the clove-studded fruits in the oven for an hour, then transfer them to a large glass or ceramic bowl.
• Add the sugar and the red wine (do not add the port yet) to the bowl. Cover the bowl and leave it in a warm spot in the kitchen for at least 12 hours, and up to 24.
• After the citrus-sugar-wine mixture has rested, cut the fruits in half and juice them through a strainer into the wine and sugar mixture. Discard fruits after they have been juiced. Strain the mixture again, this time into a heavy saucepan. Discard solids.
• Add the port, the cinnamon stick, and the cardamom pods to the saucepan, and heat very slowly-until it "smokes" (the vapors rise), hence the name; do not allow it to boil.
• Once the Bishop is as hot as you like, turn off the heat. Remove the cinnamon stick and cardamom pods. Serve in warmed, heatproof glasses, garnished with orange peel.

CHRISTMAS BISHOP'S BREAD

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375°. In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in vanilla., In another bowl, whisk flour, baking powder and salt; add to creamed mixture alternately with milk, beating well after each addition. Fold in chocolate chips, raisins, pecans and cherries., Transfer to a greased 9x5-in. loaf pan. Bake 65-75 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes before removing from pan to a wire rack., In a small bowl, mix glaze ingredients until smooth. Drizzle over warm bread.

SMOKING BISHOP

Steps:

• Wash the fruit and bake it on a foil lined baking sheet until it becomes pale brown, turning once.
• Heat a large earthenware bowl and add the fruit. Stud each fruit with five cloves.
• Add the sugar and the red wine, and store covered in a warm place for about a day.
• Squeeze the fruit to extract the juice, and strain into a saucepan.
• Add the port and warm thoroughly, but don't boil.
• Serve in heated glasses.
• Note: There are many suggestions for variations in this recipe, including the addition of star anise and cinnamon sticks.
• There was also a suggestion to bring the mix to a boil, simmer for an hour, and add brandy, brown sugar and orange juice.

BISHOP'S BREAD - A CHRISTMAS FAVORITE

Steps:

• Prehead Oven to350°.
• Mixture 1.
• In mixing bowl, beat egg with electric mixer for about 1 minute.
• Add sugar, oil, and vanilla to the egg. Beat well.
• Blend in the buttermilk.
• Mixture 2.
• In another bowl sift together the flour, soda, and salt.
• Add pecans, cherries, raisins or dates, and chocolate chips. Blend gently - Careful not to mash the cherries.
• Combine Mixture 1 and Mixture 2. Blend gently - Careful not to mash the cherries.
• Pour the batter into a greased and floured 9x5-inch loaf pan.
• Bake in preheated 350° oven for 1 hour, or until a wooden pick or cake tester inserted in center comes out clean. (If cherries weren't drained well enough, the excess moisture will increase baking time).
• Let bread cool in pan for 10 minutes then remove to a rack to cool completely.