Cranberry Butter Crisps

Cranfest is less than a month away! Enjoy this tasty cranberry recipe, and look forward to more delectable cranberry treats at this year's fest!

Ingredients
1 1/2 cups butter, softened
6 ounces cream cheese, softened
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/3 cups dried cranberries (6-ounce package), coarsely chopped
1 cup walnuts, chopped
1 cup granulated sugar

Makes 5 dozen or more, depending on the size you cut.

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. In a large bowl, mix together butter, cream cheese and flour with hands. Mix in dried cranberries. Refrigerate until firm. Roll out half of dough at a time to 1/2-inch thickness. Sprinkle each half with 1/2 cup walnuts and 1/2 cup sugar. Cut into diamond shapes by cutting diagonal criss-cross lines. Bake on ungreased cookie sheets for 22 minutes or until lightly browned. These cookies freeze well.

The Search for Lodging Continues...

So you've just decided you're coming to Cranfest, and now you're having trouble finding a hotel. Not to worry. There are a number of villas, or log cabins, for rent right in Warrens. Many of these cabins are roomy, so you're entire family can stay. Check out the entire list of villas at our website, www.cranfest.com, and make your reservation today!

If villas don't sound like your thing, there are a couple of hotels that still have room. Cranberry Country Lodge has rooms available on Thursday and Saturday nights, and Econo Lodge has rooms available Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Cranberry Country Lodge can be reached at 608-374-2801, and Econo Lodge can be reached at 608-372-9100. Both are located in Tomah, just 13 miles away from Warrens.

2009-10 Royalty Applications Available Now

Royalty applications for 2009-10 are now available!

Each year, a Cranberry Queen and two Princesses are chosen to promote Warrens Cranberry Festival by attending parades, numerous speaking engagements, food demonstrations, pageants and various other dignitary events. At the end of her reign, the Queen will receive a $500 scholarship from the festival, and the Princesses will receive $250 scholarships.

Royalty contestants must live within 50 miles of Warrens. Queen contestants must be between the ages of 16 and 21, and Princess contestants should be between the ages of 12 and 15.

Candidates will be judged based on an interview regarding personality, poise, posture, grooming, past achievements and speaking ability. All contestants must give a 5-minute cranberry food demonstration.

An informational meeting for Royalty contestants will be held Sept. 9 at 6 p.m. at the Cranfest office in Warrens. Judging night will be Sept 16 at the Warrens Log Building at 6 p.m., with coronation to be held Sept. 20 at the Log Building.

Applications are due Sept. 9 and can be obtained on the festival Web site, www.cranfest.com, or by contacting the festival office at 608-378-4200. Applications can be mailed to Nodji Van Wychen at 3365 Auger Rd., Warrens, WI 54666, or may be returned at the contestant informational meeting held on Sept. 9.

Cranberrywich

Looking for a new breakfast treat? Instead of the traditional ham biscuit, try out this cranberrywich. It's berry tasty!

Ingredients
3 English muffins or scones
2 tablespoons butter or margarine
12 slices cooked ham
1 8-ounce can jellied cranberry sauce, cut into 6 slices
6 slices cheddar cheese

Makes 6 sandwiches.

Split muffins, spread with butter. Place on broiler pan and broil until toasted. On each half place 2 slices of meat, a slice of cranberry sauce and a slice of cheese. Broil until cheese melts.

2009 Parade Marshals Announced

Warrens Cranberry Festival announced that Lawrence Frederickson and Dan Krofta will be honored as this year’s parade marshals.

Both men have served as traffic control during the festival for several years. Krofta served in the Army from 1977 to 1980 and the Wisconsin Army National Guard from 1981 to 2002, and said he appreciates the festival for “taking the time to honor our men and women in uniform.”

Frederickson belongs to American Legion Post 201 and is a member of the firing squad. He has been a member of the Tomah Lions Club for 40 years, and is a recipient of the Melvin Jones Award. He is also a squad leader for the Monroe County Sheriff’s Reserve and has been a member for over 30 years.

The 2009 Warrens Cranberry Festival parade will take place at noon on Sunday, Sept. 27. For more information, contact the festival office at 608-378-4200 or cranfest@cranfest.com.

Bus Tours

Bus Tours can be some of the easiest ways to get to Cranfest. Each year, we have several buses from various cities who make the trip. Buses can also have a step on guide, who will guide them through a working cranberry marsh tour. These marsh tours run Friday and Saturday of the festival every 15 minutes from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Not taking a bus to Cranfest? Not to worry. You can still take a cranberry marsh tour on one of our buses for $6 per person. You'll be able to see a real working cranberry marsh, plus have the opportunity to learn about the cranberry industry and buy some cranberry goodies.

It is $30 per bus to park at Cranfest, plus $6 per person if you want to take the guided cranberry marsh tour. You do not have to prepay for the tour if visitors are planning to go on the tour individually. Visit our website to download a bus reservation form. Call 608-378-4200 for more information. We look forward to seeing you at Cranfest!

Marshmallow and Craisin Treat Pops

Try this twist on the traditional Rice Krispies treat.

Ingredients
3 tablespoons butter or margarine
4 cups miniature marshmallows
6 cups crisp rice cereal
2/3 cup chopped Craisins
48 toothpicks
12 ounces white almond bark
decorating sprinkles as desired

Makes 4 dozen

Combine the butter and marshmallows in a large sauce pan. Stir over low heat until melted and smooth. Place cereal and chopped Craisins in a large bowl. Add marshmallow mixture and stir until combined. Shape cereal mixture into 1-inch balls; gently insert a toothpick into the center of each ball.

Melt the white almond bark in a double boiler over medium heat, stirring until smooth. Dip half of each pop into the melted bark. Decorate with sprinkles. Place on waxed paper until firm and dry.

Ready in an hour or less!

Cranfest Appears in Oprah Magazine

Warrens Cranberry Festival has been named one of the “6 Food Festivals That Are Worth the Trip” in the September 2009 issue of O, The Oprah Magazine.

The article mentions all things “cran-tastic,” including cranberry cuisine, the arts & crafts booths and the marsh tours available during the festival.

The article is available on newsstands, as well as online at www.oprah.com. This year’s 37^th Annual Warrens Cranberry Festival will be held Sept. 25-27. For more information, contact the festival office at 608-378-4200.

August 2009 issue of the Cranfest Scoop

Check out the August 2009 edition of the Cranfest Scoop at www.cranfest.com.

In this issue:

• President's update
• New parade categories
• Volunteer information
• Cranfest contests
• 2009 shirts
• Arts & Crafts review
• Royalty news
• Cranberry salsa recipe
• Beautification grant info
• Parking information
• Calendar of Events
  

Last Call for Parade Entries

If you're interested in being in this year's parade, time is running out! Our band section is full, but we are still currently taking last minute royalty applications, as well as applications for our new novelty and nonprofit categories.

The new novelty and nonprofit categories feature cash prizes ($150 for 1st place and $50 for 2nd place), so you don't want to miss this opportunity. The deadline for these categories is Aug. 20. For more information, or to request an entry form, call the office at 608-378-4200.

Flower Contest Rules Available Now

The 2009 Flower Contest rules are now available. There are five categories, including fresh flower, silk flower, imagination arrangements, cranberry arrangements and wreaths. Participants can enter in up to three categories. Ribbon awards will be given for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place in each category. There will also be a best of show award, a most unusual award and a judges' choice award. Rules are available at www.cranfest.com, as well as in the festival office.

Crancaulicoli

This fresh salad, crancaulicoli (say that 5 times fast), will add a hearty crunch to your summer!

Salad
3 cups broccoli florets cut into 1/2-inch pieces
3 cups cauliflower cut into 1/2-inch pieces
1/2 cup red onion thinly sliced (optional)
1 cup sweetened dried cranberries (may used flavored varieties)

Mix all salad ingredients into a large salad bowl.

Dressing
1 cup Newman's Own Light Cranberry Walnut dressing. Pour over salad and toss. Refrigerate 1 hour before serving.

Vendor Mapping to Begin Soon

Our vendor chair is getting ready to map out vendor spaces for this year's Cranfest. This means that until she is finished mapping, we don't know your booth number or exactly where your spot will be for this year.

If you haven't already sent your application in, get it in the mail soon because time is running out. After the vendors have been mapped, you may not be able to reserve the spot that you want. So hurry up and get those applications in!

Scarecrow Contest Typo

Everyone who received a copy of the scarecrow contest rules needs to know that there was a slight typo. In the rules, it says that in light of this year's military tribute, scarecrows need to have a red, white and blue theme. THIS IS NOT THE CASE! That was done a couple of years ago, and was mistakenly not deleted from this year's rules. This year, your scarecrow can look however you choose. There is no specific theme. Updated copies of the rules have been sent out. To request a copy of the rules, contact our office at 608-378-4200.