Colorful and delicious Cranberry Pear Sauce will be a hit this holiday season! It is super quick and easy to make with no refined sugar. Its sweetness comes naturally from ripe pears and a touch of real maple syrup. It is a superb accompaniment to turkey and other poultry as well, as pork tenderloin or pork roast. Once you try this recipe, you’ll never look at store-bought cranberry sauce the same. What kind of pear to use? Bartletts hold their flavor but break down and become "saucy" when heated so they are a good choice for this recipe. They have a true “pear shape” with a large, rounded bottom half that tapers to a smaller curved neck with slender stem. Bartletts come in two colors, red and yellow, that are unique in the pear world in that they darken as they ripen. Bartletts ... [Read More]
cranberry
Cranberry Pineapple Salad
Cranberry Pineapple Salad is a kid friendly addition to holiday dinners. The addition of crushed pineapple and diced apples in raspberry gelatin take away the signature tartness of the cranberry. Easier for kids and people who aren’t into tart – like me – to eat. I have a tart reflex. One bite and my face just folds – no way to hide it. On the other hand this is not overly sweet either – but just right. Cranberries are also healthy. Cranberries are one of the top antioxidant-rich foods, containing more than other superfoods – including pears, grapes, apples and strawberries. Antioxidants help prevent or stop cell damage. For this reason, you can serve them any time of year – don’t wait for holidays! This salad is also versatile in the ways you can serve it. I like the minis ... [Read More]
Cranberry Pistachio Chocolate Bark
Cranberry Pistachio Chocolate Swirl Bark could start a new holiday tradition in your family. Warning: It’s addictive and tends to disappear quickly! You can substitute chocolate chips for either or both of the white or dark chocolate. My preference is to use a candy chocolate (Wilton, CandiQuik, almond bark) since it melts better and is easier to work with, especially the white chocolate. Follow the package directions for melting in the microwave. Use a narrow utensil to create the swirls-- the point of a knife, a chopstick, the handle of wooden spoon – and move slowly to allow the chocolate time to flow. Stop when you have a design you like. When you add the cranberries and pistachios, it helps to press them into the chocolate just slightly. I’ve become a fan of non-stick ... [Read More]
Rosy Tea
Rosy Tea has been a winter drink at our house ever since I made it for a New Years Eve party a few years ago. It is a wonderful citrusy slice of warmth on a cold snowy day. Then last summer I discovered it was good cold and over ice cubes as well. So now I keep a carafe in the refrigerator all the time. It’s mine – well, most of the time. The guys are big coffee drinkers but I notice they sneak a glass now and then! First set the tea to steep. For this recipe, I use the yellow box brand of tea bags because it is being mixed in with the juices, “saving” flavorful and special teas for drinking by themselves. If you are doing this on the stovetop, bring water just barely to a boil, pour into a glass container (I pour it into a glass 2 quart pitcher) and add 4 teabags. OR use the ... [Read More]
Fruity Cranberry Relish
Mom’s Cranberry Relish with apples, oranges and nuts is different from most relish recipes. I think it was actually my grandmother’s recipe, but that’s not noted anywhere. It’s mostly fresh fruit and nuts so not a lot of sweetener needed. A little bit tangy and a whole lot refreshing. The bit of sugar used also brings out the fruit juices so it provides that extra bit of moisture to accompany the turkey. I don't peel the apples because I like the added texture and flavor (and it's quick and easy!). But you can peel them if you prefer. Use a sweet apple to contrast with the zingy cranberry -- Gala, Fuji, Honeycrisp or Delicious. Golden Delicious provides a bit of color contrast. This was one of my favorite dishes as a child and I was always a bit sad when the holidays ... [Read More]
