Appetizers

Cranberry Salsa

Cranberry Salsa is the perfect appetizer for the holidays. I am not a fan of too much spice but i jalapeno is just right for this dish. I served the Cranberry Salsa over softened cream cheese with crackers, tortilla chips, and cubes of sourdough bread. In addition I had very thinly sliced piecs of serrano ham. A piece of the bread with cream cheese, salsa and a bite of serrano ham…to die for!

After Thanksgiving, I made a turkey sandwich topped with the salsa and it was sooo good. Definitely worth making this holiday season!

Cranberry Salsa

INGREDIENTS:
  • 12 ounces fresh cranberries
  • 3/4 cup granulated sugar, (add more to taste)
  • 1 jalapeno, seeded and chopped coarsely (leave the seeds in if you like it spicy)
  • 1/2 cup cilantro
  • 4 green onions
  • 2 tablespoons lime juice
  • pinch of salt
  • 2 (8 ounce) blocks of cream cheese
  • Crackers or tortilla chips
DIRECTIONS:
  1. Place all of the ingredients in a food processor (EXCEPT CREAM CHEESE) and pulse until desired consistency. I like mine fairly fine. Chill in the fridge for a couple of hours (preferably overnight) to allow the salsa to macerate. Serve over cream cheese and with crackers.
  2. This makes enough to cover two blocks of cream cheese. Some people prefer to spread the cream cheese on a serving dish with the salsa on top. I prefer to just pour it on top of a block of cream cheese.
  3. Depending on how tart your cranberries are you may want to add more sugar. This last batch I added a total of 1 cup of sugar.
  4. NOTE: Wheat thins or triscuits are great for serving with this because they are sturdy and won’t break. I love it with Ritz crackers but they are too soft and will break with dipping. If you want to use them just make sure you have a spreader with the salsa. As with all salsa, the quantities are approximate and you can adjust to your own preferences. I have kept this in the fridge for up to 10 days and it was still good! I’m not a food safety expert but it does last for a while.

Recipe from Thegirlwhoateeverything.com

Breads

Cranberry Brie Sheet Pan Biscuits

Marrying two of my favorite fall flavors, Brie and Cranberry, into a biscuit was too good to skip. The fresh herbs and the drizzle of honey makes these savory biscuits a must for a special fall meal or Thanksgiving dinner. They are especially good warm from the oven. Even my grandsons liked them…but who doesn’t love a biscuit with honey!

Cranberry Brie Sheetpan Biscuits

INGREDIENTS:
  • Nonstick cooking spray, for the pan
  • 4 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting (see Cook’s Note)
  • 4 teaspoons baking powder
  • 2 teaspoons sugar
  • 3/4 teaspoon baking soda
  • 2 1/2 teaspoons fine salt
  • 2 1/2 sticks (20 tablespoons) cold unsalted butter, cut into pieces, plus
  • more for serving
  • 1 1/2 cups buttermilk, plus more for brushing
  • 8 ounces Brie, cut into small pieces
  • 1 cup fresh flat-leaf parsley, finely chopped
  • 1 cup dried cranberries
  • 1/4 cup finely chopped chives
  • 2 tablespoons fresh thyme leaves, chopped
  • 1/4 cup honey
DIRECTIONS:
  1. Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F. Spray an 18-by-13-inch half sheet pan with nonstick cooking spray.
  2. Whisk together the flour, baking powder, sugar, baking soda and 2 teaspoons of the salt in a large bowl. Rub 4 tablespoons of the butter into the flour mixture with your fingertips until completely absorbed. Work the remaining 16 tablespoons butter into the flour mixture until pea-sized bits of butter remain. Use a fork to stir in the buttermilk until the mixture comes together into a shaggy dough. (Don’t overmix the dough.)
  3. Add the Brie, parsley, cranberries, chives and thyme to the bowl and gently mix with lightly floured hands, folding the dough over itself (this is where the flaky layers will form) until the ingredients are just combined.
  4. Turn the dough out onto the prepared sheet pan and use lightly floured hands to evenly distribute the dough into the prepared pan. Using a paring knife, gently score 24 squares on top of the dough, making sure the knife does not cut through to the bottom of the biscuit. (If baking the biscuits the following day, cover gently with plastic wrap at this point and refrigerate up to 24 hours.)
  5. Brush the top of the dough with more buttermilk. Bake until the biscuit top is lightly browned, 12 to 14 minutes. Cool in the pan for 5 minutes, then use a paring knife to follow the score marks to cut through the biscuits.
  6. Meanwhile, mix the honey with the remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt in a small bowl. Drizzle the honey over the warm biscuits. Serve the biscuits warm or at room temperature with more butter, if desired.

Recipe from Food Network

Holidays · Salads · Sauces

Cranberry Orange Sauce

Cranberry Orange Sauce is a Thanksgiving staple and now that the grandkids have discovered it, I have to make a double batch. While the Sauce is delectable with the Turkey and sides on Thanksgiving day, a turkey sandwich with the sauce is heavenly. I always hope that the turkey and the cranberry sauce run out at the same time.

Cranberry Orange Sauce

INGREDIENTS:
  • 1/2 cup fresh orange juice, from two oranges
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 3/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar
  • 1 (12 oz) bag fresh or frozen cranberries (do not use dried)
  • Zest of one orange, about 2 teaspoons
  • Pinch salt
DIRECTIONS:
  1. In a medium sauce pan over high heat, bring the orange juice, water and sugar to a boil. Add the cranberries, orange zest, and salt and return to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium and boil gently for 10 to 12 minutes, until most of cranberries have burst open. (You may need to mash them a bit with a spoon.)
  2. Transfer sauce to a serving bowl. Cover and chill until ready to serve.
  3. Make-Ahead/Freezing Instructions: Cranberry sauce will keep for 10 days in a covered container in the refrigerator. It can also be frozen for up to two months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before using.

Recipe from Onceuponachef

Appetizers · Holidays

Cranberry Pepper Jelly

A tangy, yet spicy jelly on top of a mild cheese is such a wonderful appetizer. I’ve enjoyed many of these appetizers through the years but Christmas 2021, I made my own! After the epic fail of Grape Jalapeno jam a few years ago, I was a little nervous. Never fear, this recipe is a winner! Other than cleaning and chopping the jalapenos, this was an easy recipe and yielded 7 half pints of Jelly and a little more to enjoy immediately! It was wonderful on top of cream cheese or brie. It would be marvelous with chicken or fish, too.

It you make homemade Christmas gifts, I would highly recommend this for friends and family!

Cranberry Pepper Jelly

INGREDIENTS:
  • 2 cups fresh or frozen cranberries (I used a 12 oz. package of fresh cranberries)
  • 1 cup jalapeno
  • 2 cups cider vinegar
  • 1 cup water
  • 4 cups sugar
  • 6 tbsp. Ball RealFruit™ Low or No-Sugar Pectin
DIRECTIONS:
  1. Sort & wash cranberries. Measure pectin and add 1/2 cup sugar to it.
  2. Add vinegar and water to large stock pot.
  3. Chop and remove seeds from jalapenos. 1 cup of jalapenos makes a fairly mild jelly.
  4. Add peppers and cranberries to the vinegar and water to pan.
  5. Bring to boil.
  6. Reduce heat.
  7. Simmer for about 10 minutes until everything is soft.
  8. Strain out the cranberries and pepper mixture with a slotted spoon to a food processor or blender.
  9. Blend until very smooth. (you can add some of the liquid from the pan to help break up the cranberries and peppers, if you need to)
  10. Return to the saucepan.
  11. Add sugar/pectin mixture. Bring to rolling boil.
  12. Add the remainder of the sugar.
  13. Bring back to a full rolling boil. Boil hard for 1 minute.
  14. Fill hot jam into hot jars.
  15. Wipe rims.
  16. Attach lids. Tighten bands finger tip tight.
  17. Process in water bath canning pot for 15 minutes. Turn of heat, allow jars to sit in hot water for at least 5 minutes.

Recipe from blinkysculinarycarnival

Cookies and Bars · Holidays · New Favorite · New Traditions

Cranberry Lemon Bars

Lemon Bars in the Spring and Cranberry Lemon Bars for the holidays! With a bag of lemons and a large bag of cranberries on hand, I decided to make these delicious bars. I forgot to sprinkle with powdered sugar, but I was too anxious to taste them. They are tart with a burst of flavor from the cranberries. The bars were a real hit!

Cranberry Lemon Bars

INGREDIENTS:

FOR THE CRANBERRY LAYER:

  • 1 (12-ounce/340-gram) bag fresh or frozen cranberries
  • ¾ cup/150 grams granulated sugar
  • 2 to 3 large lemons

FOR THE CRUST:

  •  Nonstick cooking spray
  • 1 ½ cups/190 grams all-purpose flour
  • ⅓ cup/65 grams granulated sugar
  • 1 teaspoon fine sea salt
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ¾ cup/170 grams unsalted butter (1 1/2 sticks), melted and cooled

FOR THE LEMON LAYER:

  • 1 cup/200 grams granulated sugar
  • ¼ cup/30 grams all-purpose flour
  • ⅛ teaspoon fine sea salt
  • 3 large eggs, at room temperature
  •  Confectioners’ sugar (optional)
DIRECTIONS:
  1. Start preparing the cranberry layer: Combine the cranberries, sugar and 3 tablespoons water in a medium saucepan. Zest 2 of the lemons directly into the saucepan; reserve the lemons. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally. Continue boiling, stirring occasionally, until the berries burst and the mixture is jammy, 7 to 9 minutes. Remove from the heat and reserve.
  2. Make the crust: Heat oven to 350 degrees. Line the bottom and sides of a 9-by-13-inch baking pan with one large sheet of heavy aluminum foil, making sure there are no gaps or holes, then generously coat with cooking spray.
  3. Whisk the flour, sugar and salt in a medium bowl. Whisk the vanilla into the butter, then pour over the flour mixture. Stir until the dough comes together in a mass. Press into an even layer in the prepared pan. Bake until golden brown around the edges and dry and golden on top, 17 to 20 minutes.
  4. While the crust bakes, begin preparing the lemon layer: Squeeze the juice from the 2 reserved zested lemons. You should have 1/2 cup. Squeeze the juice from another lemon, if needed.
  5. Whisk the sugar, flour and salt in a medium bowl. Add the eggs and whisk gently just until incorporated. Add the lemon juice and stir gently with the whisk just until smooth.
  6. Let the crust cool for 5 minutes, then spread the cranberry mixture evenly over the crust. Carefully and slowly pour the lemon mixture on top to create two distinct layers.
  7. Return the pan to the oven and bake until the filling is set, 18 to 22 minutes. Cool completely in the pan on a wire rack, then refrigerate until cold and firm, at least 2 hours. Using the foil, slide the bars out of the pan and onto a cutting board. Cut into 24 squares, wiping your knife between cuts for clean slices. If desired, sift confectioners’ sugar over the tops just before serving.

Recipe from Cooking/NY Times

Family · Garden · New Favorite · Salads

Apple Cranberry Walnut Salad

Breads · Holidays

Cranberry Orange Bread with Orange Glaze

Cranberry and Orange are a culinary match made in heaven.  The combination in this wonderful quick bread is divine, especially with the addition of Orange Glaze.

The bread is great with a cup of coffee or tea or can be served as a dessert.  

CRANBERRY ORANGE BREAD WITH ORANGE GLAZE

1 1/2 cups all-purpose Gold Medal flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 cup granulated sugar
Zest of 1 large orange
3/4 cup buttermilk
1/2 cup canola or vegetable oil
2 large eggs, slightly beaten
1 tablespoon fresh orange juice
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup fresh cranberries

For the orange glaze:
1 cup powdered sugar
1 1/2 tablespoons fresh orange juice
1 teaspoon orange zest

  • Preheat oven to 350° F. Spray a 8 1/2 x 4 1/2 loaf pan with cooking spray and set aside.
  • In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, salt, and baking powder. In a small bowl, combine sugar and orange zest. Rub together with your fingers until fragrant. Whisk into the flour mixture. Set aside.
  • In a separate medium bowl, combine the buttermilk, oil, eggs, orange juice, and vanilla.
  • Slowly add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients. Stir until just combined. Fold in the cranberries. Pour batter into prepared loaf pan.
  • Bake for 70-75 minutes, or until toothpick comes out clean. If your loaf starts to get too brown drape a piece of foil over the top to finish baking. I did this during the last 10 minutes of the baking time.
  • Remove bread from oven and place on a cooling rack and cool for 15 minutes. Loosen the sides of the bread with a knife. Carefully remove loaf from pan. Let cool completely on wire rack.
  • While the bread is cooling, make the orange glaze. In a small bowl, combine powdered sugar, orange juice, and orange zest. Whisk until smooth. Drizzle the glaze over the bread. Cut and serve.
  • Note-The bread is best eaten within 2-3 days or freeze.

Recipe from twopeasandtheirpod.com 

Family · Holidays · Sauces

Raspberry Cranberry Relish

Cranberry relish for the holidays is a tradition.  I’ve made cooked and raw cranberry sauce, but the addition of raspberries, is a nice change. Cranberry relish is great with the big meal but also great on a leftover turkey sandwich.

Wishing everyone a wonderful, safe, healthy Thanksgiving in this difficult 2020.  Let’s take the time to count our many blessings, thank our medical and essential workers, hug (virtual and real) those we love, help those in need, take care of ourselves, and breathe!

Check out other family Thanksgiving recipes!

RASPBERRY CRANBERRY RELISH

1 1/3 cup sugar
1 cup water
3 cups fresh cranberries
1 cup frozen raspberries
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

  • In a saucepan, combine ALL ingredients.
  • Bring to a simmer and cook for 10 minutes, stirring frequently.
  • After 10 minutes, mash up berries using a potato masher or fork or something to mash up the berries. You can mash up all the berries, some, or none, depending on how chunky you like your cranberry sauce.
  • Once mashed cook for 5 more minutes.
  • Allow mixture to cool completely.
  • Serve Chilled.
  • Store in an air tight container up to 5 days.

    Recipe by:  Sheena at Hot Eats Cool Reads

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    Family · Family Favorites · Holidays · Home

    Thanksgiving Favorites

    Thanksgiving is such a wonderful time of year with friends and family gathering together, sharing a meal, counting our blessings, and probably take in some football games.

    This year I am sharing some of my Fork-Lore.com favorite Thanksgiving recipes that our family has enjoyed for many, many years.

    Wishing you and yours a wonderful Thanksgiving memories!

    ROAST TURKEY AND DRESSINGroasting turkey

    CRANBERRY RELISH

    cranberry relish 026

    PUMPKIN (OR APPLESAUCE) BARS

    Pumpkin Bars iced and cut
    Pumpkin Bars iced and cut

    GRANDMA SUSIE’S PUMPKIN PIE

    The Best Ever Pumpkin Pie
    The Best Ever Pumpkin Pie

    PUMPKIN BREAD

    Pumpkin Bread Loaf
    Pumpkin Bread Loaf

    SILKY SQUASH SOUP

    Butternut Squash and Apple Soup
    Butternut Squash and Apple Soup

    TURKEY VEGETABLE SOUP

    Turkey Vegetable Soup
    Turkey Vegetable Soup

    Holidays · New Favorite

    Cranberry Coffee Cake for brunch, lunch, anytime!

    Cranberry Coffee Cake is a new recipe that my sister-in-law, Donna, shared with me several weeks ago.  The Mother’s Day weekend coffee/tea was a great time to try it. The cake is so moist and the extra treat of cranberry is so good.  I chose to go without nuts this time but the glaze was a wonderful touch.

    This coffee cake is wonderful anytime of year but could be a wonderful addition to your holiday go-to-recipes.

    CRANBERRY COFFEE CAKE

    1 cup butter or margarine, softened
    1 cup sugar
    2 eggs
    2 cups flour
    1 teaspoon baking powder
    1 teaspoon baking soda
    1/2 teaspoon salt
    1 cup (8 ounces) sour cream
    1 teaspoon almond extract
    1 can (16 ounces) whole-berry cranberry sauce
    1/2 cup chopped walnuts (optional)

    GLAZE:

    1/3 cup confectioners’ sugar
    5 teaspoons warm water
    1/2 teaspoon almond extract

    • Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
    • In a mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar.  Add eggs; mix well.
    • Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt; add to creamed mixture alternately with sour cream.  Add extract.
    • Spoon a third of the batter into a tube or bundt pan.  Top with a third of the cranberry sauce.
    • Repeat layers twice. Sprinkle with walnuts (optional).
    • Bake for 55-60 minutes until a toothpick inserted hear the center comes out clean.
    • Allow cake to cool and transfer to serving plate.
    • Optional:  Combine glaze ingredients and drizzle over cake.