New Year's Cranberry Appetizers & Drinks

There is only one more day left until the end of the year...and with that evening comes parties, celebrations and get-to-gethers. So, here are a couple appetizer and drink recipes that are sure to give your New Year's celebration that extra kick...tart and beautiful in color, the cranberry is not just for your Thanksgiving table anymore.

Happy New Year!

Cranberry Crab 'N Cheese Appetizers
(2011 Processed Recipe Entry)

10 ounce container "Savory Garlic Cooking Creme" (found by the cream cheese)
1 tablespoon Spicy Brown Mustard
1/3 cup Celery, diced
1/3 cup Almonds, sliced and chopped
3/4 cup dried cranberries
1 cup Imitation Crab, diced
1 box Multi-Grain Crackers
Chives, dill weed, etc., optional

In a medium bowl combine cooking creme and mustard. Stir in celery, almonds, dried cranberries and crab. Refrigerate until ready to serve. Spoon a teaspoon of filling onto each cracker and garnish with fresh green herbs if desired. Yield: 2 1/2 cups - 40 crackers


Cranberry Horseradish Dip
(1990 Processed Recipe Entry)

1 cup whole Cranberry Sauce
1/2 cup Ketchup
1/4 cup Lemon juice
2 Green Onions, chopped
2 tablespoons Celery leaves, chopped
2 tablespoons prepared Horseradish
1 tablespoon prepared Mustard
1/4 teaspoon Garlic Salt

Combine all ingredients in a food processor or blender. Process until smooth. Serve with cooked, chilled Shrimp. Yields: 2 cups


Wild Cranberry Slush
(1996 Processed Recipe Entry)

1 3-ounce package raspberry Jell-O
1 cup boiling Water
2 cups cold Water
2 cups Vodka
4 cups Cranberry Juice
1 12-ounce frozen Orange Juice
1 12-ounce frozen Lemonade

Mix the above ingredients in the order listed. Pour into a 5-quart container. Freeze. To serve, place a generous scoop of slush into a glass and top with 7-Up or Ginger Ale. Yields: 5 quarts

Cranberry Lime Punch

This cranberry inspired drink is sure to please all those that attend your New Year's party. Enjoy!

Cranberry Lime Punch
(1999 Processed Recipe Entry - Youth Division)

12 ounces frozen Cranberry Juice Cocktail concentrate
2 cups Water
1/2 cup fresh Lime Juice
1/4 cup granulated Sugar
5 cups Ginger Ale
1 Lime, sliced
Ice (cubed or crushed)

Combine cranberry juice cocktail, water, lime juice and sugar in a punch bowl or large pitcher. Stir until sugar dissolves. Stir in Ginger Ale, lime slices and ice. Serve immediately.

Cranberry Vodka

Here is another drink recipe inspired by that tart little fruit, that is sure to be a hit at your New Year's party.

Cranberry Vodka
(1992 Fresh Recipe Contest Entry)

5 cups of fresh or frozen whole Cranberries
Rind of 2 Oranges, cut into strips
2 1/4 cups Water
1 1/4 cups granulated sugar
2 cups Vodka

Combine the cranberries, orange rind, water and sugar in a large heavy saucepan. Bring to a boil, stirring often to dissolve the sugar. Cool completely. Mix in the vodka. Cover the cranberry mixture and let stand for 2 days at room temperature. Strain cranberry mixture through a sieve. Fill glasses with ice and cranberry vodka and serve. This mixture will keep one month - be sure to refrigerate.

Yield: 5 cups

Hot Cranberry Swizzle

With the New Year's holiday just around the bend - here is a cranberry inspired recipe that is sure to warm you right up!

Hot Cranberry Swizzle
(1992 Processed Recipe Contest Entry)

3/4 cup Brown Sugar
1 cup Water
1/2 teaspoon Cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon Allspice
1/4 teaspoon Salt
1/4 teaspoon Nutmeg
2 16-ounce cans jellied Cranberry Sauce
2 cups Water
4 cups unsweetened Pineapple Juice
red food coloring (optional)
12 Cinnamon Sticks

Combine and mix brown sugar, water, cinnamon, allspice, salt and nutmeg in a large saucepan and heat to boiling point. With a knife, cut through jellied cranberry sauce several times to break into smaller pieces; add to the boiling mixture and return to boiling point. If necessary, beat mixture until smooth. Add remaining ingredients and simmer about 5 minutes. Serve hot in mugs with cinnamon stick stirrers.

Yields: 3 quarts

Cranberry Turtles!

Christmas is just 2 days away! Here is a recipe inspired by that tart little fruit that is indiginous to the great state of Wisconsin!

Cranberry Turtles

5 oz of pecan halves
12 caramels
2 oz of Craisins
3/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

On a cookie sheet arrange pecan halves together in groups of four, with one end of each pecan meeting at a center point of each group. Place approximately nine Craisins on top of each group of pecans.

Unwrap caramels and place them in a small mixing bowl. Microwave one minute on HIGH and stir. Continue to microwave caramels in 30-second intervals until melted. Work quickly in dropping approximately 1 teaspoon of caramel mixture over the top of each nut/Craisin formation.

Place the chocolate chips in a small mixing bowl. Microwave one minute on HIGH and stir. Continue to microwave chips on HIGH in 30-second intervals until melted. Drop approximately 1 tablespoon of chocolated over the tops of the caramel/nut/Craisin formation.

Yield: 1 dozen

(past Processed Category Recipe Entry)

2011 December Newsletter - The Cranfest Scoop

Click here to read this month's newsletter!

In this month's issue:

• Festival seeks volunteers


• Festival volunteer who has the Christmas Spirit


• Monthly meeting changes


• Holiday Wishes


• Membership


• Donations to date


• Monroe County Community Service Donation


• Royalty News


• Cranberry Cuisine


• Calendar of events


• Cranberry Trivia


• Membership and Volunteer forms