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[nverland]

Truffle Cake with Candy Cane Cream


Ingredients
1 cup graham cracker crumbs
1 cup chopped pecans, toasted and coarsely ground
2 tablespoons plus 3/4 cup sugar, divided
1/4 cup butter, melted
16 ounces semisweet chocolate, coarsely chopped
1 cup heavy whipping cream
6 eggs
1/3 cup all-purpose flour

CREAM:
1 cup heavy whipping cream
2 tablespoons sugar
4 candy canes, finely ground
1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract, optional

Directions
Combine the cracker crumbs, pecans, 2 tablespoons sugar and butter; press onto the bottom and 1-1/2 in. up the sides of a greased 9-in. springform pan. Place pan on a baking sheet.
In a large saucepan, cook chocolate and cream over low heat until chocolate is melted. Cool. In a large bowl, beat the eggs, flour and remaining sugar on high speed until thick and lemon-colored, about 5 minutes. Gradually beat in chocolate mixture.
Pour batter into prepared crust. Bake at 325° for 40-45 minutes or until center is almost set. Cool on wire rack for 10 minutes. Carefully run a knife around edge of the pan to loosen; cool 1 hour longer. Refrigerate for 4 hours or overnight.
Beat cream and sugar until stiff peaks form; fold in ground candy and extract if desired. Serve with cake. Yield: 16 servings.





Christmas in Yugoslavia


In Yugoslavia, children celebrate the second Sunday before Christmas as Mother's Day. The children creep in and tie her feet to a chair and shout, "Mother's Day, Mother's Day, what will you pay to get away?" She then gives them presents. Children play the same trick on their father the week after.

Those Yugoslavs who live in the country fear bad luck if their Christmas log burns out and so someone has to stand over the log all Christmas night to ensure it stays lit up.

A Christmas cake called chestnitsa, contains a gold or silver coin and is said that whomever gets it can expect lots of good luck.

The Yugoslavs eat roast pig as their Christmas dish and it must be carved a particular way, according to old customs.

Every household has a Christmas crib. According to old customs they go on an expedition to the forests to gather moss with which to line the crib. Also families would have an old-fashioned music box that plays Christmas carols.