Sunday, November 20, 2011

Cranberry Help, Please!

 

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source

Oh dear…

dare I confess this?


My family likes jellied cranberry sauce.


There I said it.


I do make an effort to get the wrinkles out of its cheeks prior to serving.

image

source

I know some of you might be having

flashbacks ,

after seeing these photos,

of your elementary cafeteria days the week of Thanksgiving,

but I have unsuccessfully tried to find a recipe that has

fresh ingredients that:


a.  isn’t so tart your eyes cross

b.  doesn’t have such a strange texture it feels funny in your mouth.




My grandmother Mamaw made fresh cranberry


relish that met the above criteria.


She was an amazing cook,

but my mouth is puckering and my eyes are crossing right now thinking about it.


So, I need your help.


I studied cookbooks last night,

and I just don’t trust the recipes I read.



If you have a recipe that is wonderful and

you are willing to share it,


I would be so grateful.


22 comments:

From Beyond My Kitchen Window said...

I live minutes from a cranberry bog and use them in relishes, chutneys, salsas you name it. I have to serve the jelly version in the can just like every other American. I don't know how they do it but it taste really good with Thanksgiving turkey and all the delicious fixings.

Theresa said...

Well... I like the jellied kind too:) I also buy the whole cranberries! I just can't get away from the jellied cranberry sauce... it is a childhood memory relived! Have a blessed day dear Laura, HUGS!

deb said...

OK, so we like it as well. My son used to call it "purple gravy" when he was little (and, of course, we still call it that!) BUT...I do have a recipe that I really like and make. It's Cranberry Fruit Conserve by Ina Garten. I won't write it all here, but if you google that exact title it'll come up. Hope you like it!!

Katie said...

I just grind fresh cranberries, add plenty of sugar to taste and add orange zest. Fresh orange adds great flavor!

trash talk said...

I do believe it's the can marks that give it that little extra special something our families dig. No recipe is gonna tell you how to make the wrinkles!
Anthony

Sonny G said...

I have no recipe, sorry. However my family is Particular about their cranberry sause. It must be 1 can of jellied and 1 can with cranberries in it mixed together and thoroughly chilled.. theres never any left after dinner.

Happy Thanksgiving

Patricia said...

Confession time. We love slices of cranberry sauce on turkey sandwiches. Chunky cranberry sauce just wouldn't be the same...

Ann said...

we always had the stuff straight out of the can when I was growing up. Now, no one in my family likes it. I normally buy a small container of the cranberry relish they make at the grocery store I work at just for me.
Sorry, I'm no help

Pondside said...

I always make my own - it's a plain, old recipe but the family won't eat anything else:
Wash four cups of fresh cranberries and remove any bits of stem
Stir together 2 cups of water and I.5 cups of sugar in a saucepan and heat to boiling
Stir in cranberries
Heat to boiling and boil for about five minutes. Stir often.
Remove from heat and stir in a tsp of orange zest.
Cool, cover and refrigerate.

NanaDiana said...

I use the recipe on the side of the cranberry bag of Ocean Spray. It is wonderful..and you can add more sugar if it is too tart. Since I started making this we don't use the jellied stuff anymore! xo Diana

Marty@A Stroll Thru Life said...

Well, we eat the jellied kind too and love it. So, I don't have any recipes. Just enjoy yours, it really is good. Hugs, Marty

Stacey said...

We love the jellied kind! My mom makes something with fresh cranberries and oranges. We'd rather have it out of the can. My sister in law and I both always make sure there is plenty.

Sherry @ No Minimalist Here said...

Laura, I have tried different recipes and I always come back to the canned...just more tasty! We eat cranberry sauce during the year with chicken and pork and I could actually eat this stuff for dessert.
Hugs,
Sherry

Lisa Russell said...

Our local meat market deli has a fresh relish (like recipe above) with some Grand Marnier added to it. The jellied is fine! Just cut it into half inch slices and spread them out on a nice plate. I make mine in half moon shapes because the kids like smaller pieces (cut the circles in half. Pretty on a plate! :)

Sissie's Shabby Cottage said...

I have always made the recipe on the bag of fresh cranberries. It's sugar and water and boiling, that's it and it taste wonderful.

hugs
Sissie

Erin of Salvaged Whimsy said...

I won't even try fresh cranberries, even though my mom makes them every year...I'm really weird about food textures. I'll only eat the canned jellied kind...maybe we should start a support group because we feel shameful about it? Have a very happy Thanksgiving!

Deb said...

hubby made some with fresh cranberries a few years ago...they weren't bad...he just cooked them and added sugar...I do like the canned better...don't tell him though...lol

Anonymous said...

I like it straight from the can.. wrinkles and all!!

Anonymous said...

We gave up on the cranberry sauce and have adopted the following recipe instead.

Raspberry Jello Salad

1 cup sour cream
1 1/2 cups miniature marshmallows
1 T. sugar
2 T. lemon juice
2 small pkg. raspberry jello
2 1/2 cups boiling water
2 pkg. raspberries (don’t drain) I use frozen
2 8 oz. cans crushed pineapple (don’t drain)
1 cup chopped nuts (optional)

Mix together sour cream, marshmallows, sugar & lemon juice. Marinate in refrigerator overnight. I double the topping recipe for better flavor.

Dissolve jello in boiling water, add raspberries & pineapple. Pour jello mixture in 8 1/2 x 11” pan & set up in refrigerator overnight or for several hours. Spread sour cream mixture on top. Keep refrigerated. Serves 12

Lindsay Jade said...

Trader joes makes an excellent one my while family loves! ;)

Linda Jo said...

I agree...the recipe on the bag... sugar, water and boiling. It's great. You can squeeze a little orange juice in if you want...but not necessary!

Bliss said...

I have been reading your whole blog! Yes, your whole blog......I love your wit and I hope everyone catches all your little funnies, they are pretty darn good. Anyway, had to finally post, could of posted on almost every one, but chose this one because...... where I am at in Minnesota Ocean Spray makes TWO kinds of cranberry sauce. One is called "whole" cranberries and the other is what I remember as a kid, the "jellied" cranberries. Go here http://www.oceanspray.com/Products/Sauces/Whole-Berried-Cranberry-Sauce.aspx to see them both. I really like the whole cranberry version, but the other one, not so much.

~Bliss~

 

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