Monday, December 31, 2012

Happy "cranberry inspired" New Year Recipes!

Happy New Year!  Here are a few recipes for your celebrations this evening and of course any other time you feel the fancy to bring a little "cranberry" cheer into your families and friends lives!  Here's to 2013 and cheers to everyone!


Berry Sweetheart (non-alcoholic) - courtesy of about.com

3 oz. cranberry juice                                     3 oz. apple juice
1 oz. honey                                                  Maraschino cherry for garnish

Fill a highball glass with ice cubes.  Add the juices and honey to a mixing glass.  Stir the ingredients with a spoon.  Pour the contents of the mixing glass into the highball glass. Garnish with a maraschino cherry.  Mocktails with cranberry juice are a good choice to offer guests at a party.  The cranberry adds a great snap to the drink.  

Mistletoe Martini - courtesy of about.com

2 oz. vodka                                                  2 oz. orange juice
3 oz. cranberry tea, chilled                           3/4 oz. lemon juice
3 tsp. sugar

Pour the ingredients into a cocktail shaker with ice.  Shake well.  Strain into two chilled cocktail glasses.  If you're planning on making quite a few of these, consider steeping a large pot of tea so that it's ready for future drinks.

Woo Woo - courtesy of about.com 

2 oz. vodka                                                  1 Tbsp. peach schnapps
1/2 cup. cranberry juice                                Lime wedge

Place the lime wedge into a cocktail shaker with ice cubes.  Add the other ingredients.  Shake well.  Strain into a chilled cocktail glass.  Garnish with a lime wedge.  The cocktail can be transformed into a party punch by combining the ingredients in a quantity to fill a punch bowl and mixing it well before serving.  

Zippy Cranberry Appetizer - courtesy of Taste of Home

1/2 cup granulated sugar                                 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1 cup water                                                   1 package (12 oz.) fresh/frozen cranberries
1-3 tablespoons prepared horseradish               1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1 package (8 oz.) cream cheese, softened         
Assorted crackers

In a large saucepan, bring sugars and water to a boil over medium heat.  Stir in cranberries; return to a boil.  Cook for 10 minutes or until thickened, stirring occasionally. Cool.  

Stir in horseradish and mustard.  Transfer to a large bowl; refrigerate until chilled.  Just before serving, spread cream cheese over crackers; top with cranberry mixture.  

Yield:  2-1/2 cups; 10 servings

Cranberry, Crab Meat & Cream Cheese Appetizer - courtesy of Ocean Spray

1/2 cup whole berry cranberry sauce                              
1/3 cup cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup minced crab meat
2 tablespoons green onion, white & green parts, sliced
15 individual mini-phyllo shells, thawed

Preheat oven to 375 degrees-F.  Place cranberry sauce in a small mixing bowl; beat with a fork or wire whisk until smooth.  Combine cream cheese, crab meat and green onion in a small mixing bowl.  Fill each shell with about 1 teaspoon of the cream cheese mixture.  Top with 1/2 teaspoon cranberry sauce.  Bake for 10 minutes or until heated through.  

Yield: 15 individual servings






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