Cranberry Inspirations For Your New Year's Festivities

Here are a two cranberry themed drinks and an appetizer that are sure to please all your New Year's guests! Happy New Year Everyone!

Crantinis
1 cup cranberry juice cocktail
1/2 cup citrus vodka or plain vodka
1/4 cup Triple Sec or orange juice
1 teaspoon fresh lime juice
Fresh cranberries, if desired Lime slices, if desired

Fill martini shaker or 3 cup covered container half full with ice. Add all ingredients except cranberries and lime slices; cover and shake. Pour into martini or tall stemmed glasses, straining the ice. Garnish glasses with fresh cranberries and lime slices on picks.

Cranberry Fizz
1 quart (4 cups) cranberry juice cocktail, chilled
1 cup grapefruit juice, chilled
1 cup orange juice, chilled
1/2 cup sugar
2 cups ginger ale, chilled

In a large pitcher or punch bowl, mix cranberry juice cocktail, grapefruit juice, orange juice and sugar until well blended. Just before serving, stir in ginger ale.

Camembert with Cranberry Caramelized Onions
1 tablespoon butter
1 small sweet onion, halved, thinly sliced
1 (8 oz) round Camembert Cheese
1/4 cup sweetened dried cranberries
2 teaspoons brown sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons sweet or dry sherry
2 tablespoons chopped fresh marjoram or 1 teaspoon dried marjoram leaves

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Melt butter in large skillet over medium heat. Add onion; cook 8-10 minutes or until very tender, stirring frequently. Meanwhile, place cheese in ungreased decorative ovenproof shallow baking dish or plate. Bake at 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes or until cheese is soft. Add cranberries, brown sugar, salt and sherry to onion; mix well. Cook 5 minutes or until sugar is dissolved, stirring frequently. Stir in marjoram; cook and stir 1 minute. To serve, spoon warm onion mixture over cheese. Serve with assorted crackers and small cocktail bread slices. Store in refrigerator. Serves 12 people.

Recipes can be found at www.pillsbury.com

Delightful Cranberry Inspired Drinks

Just in time for your Holiday Parties - here are two Cranberry inspired drinks-Enjoy! Happy Holidays to everyone!

Cranberry Slush

1 large can frozen lemonade concentrate
1 small can frozen limeade concentrate
1 1/2 quarts Cranberry juice
2 cups vodka
2 cups water
7-up, Sprite, Gingerale (clear soda pop)

Mix all ingredients except the soda pop. Put in freezer and stir occasionally until mixture turns into slush (almost frozen). Spoon 3/4 cup slush and 1/4 cup soda into glass and serve.


Spiced Hot Cranberry Drink

3/4 cup brown sugar
1 cup water
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon allspice
3/4 teaspoon cloves
2 cans jellied Cranberries
3 cups water
1 quart pineapple juice

Stir together the brown sugar, water, salt, nutmeg, cinnamon, allspice and cloves. Bring to a boil. Break jelly with a fork and mix carefully with 3 cups water with a rotary beater until smooth.

Mix sugar mixture with jelly mixture and stir well. Add juice. Bring to a boil. Serve hot in cups and garnish with cinnamon sticks. Stores well in the refrigerator. Just reheat.

The Cranfest Scoop - December 2010 Newsletter

The December Newsletter is available online.

In this month's issue:

• Election 2010
• Board of Directors
• Donations to Date
• Festival Opinion Survey
• Royalty News
• Cranberry Cuisine
• Calendar of Events
• Membership Form
• Volunteer Form