Not having internet at home is fantastic. Liberating, really. But it does tend to cramp my blogging style. So I apologize for delayed updates. But know that the decreased time behind a screen at home has done a wonderful good for my soul and our marriage! And for that, dear friends, I know you don’t mind the delays.
As many of you know, my beautiful mother came to visit for Thanksgiving. It was the first Thanksgiving we’d spent together since I was in high school, which seems like forever ago – 5 years now. Needless to say (but I’ll say it anyway!) having my mom stay with us was such a huge blessing. We got to uphold our tradition of making Christmas cards together and watching a Muppets Christmas Carol. We cooked and baked until our little hearts content. Laughter reigned. Much merriment ensued. Pics to prove.
Oh and here is a cranberry sauce recipe we used from The Flying Kitchen! The creator of this site is a beautiful woman named Shannon – a fellow military wife (marine corp). Check out her delicious recipes and adorable tutorials, you’ll be inspired!
Fresh Cranberry & Grand Marnier Sauce
Why not take your cranberry sauce to a higher level this year? This recipe is fast, simple, but yields stunning results. The star ingredient is the splash of Grand Marnier orange flavored liquor.
Total prep and cooking time: 1 hour, 15 minutes (includes chilling time)
See Step 5 for Make-Ahead Masterpiece6 option.
Serves: 8-12
Serve With: French –Style Thanksgiving Turkey
Tools/equipment:
vStrainer or sieve vMedium saucepan vmeasuring cups vmeasuring spoons vWooden spoon or rubber spatula vOrange/lemon zester or fine cheese grater
Ingredients:
1 12oz. bag fresh cranberries
1/3 cup white sugar
¼ cup brown sugar
1/3 cup real maple syrup
1 orange, for zesting and for juice
2 Tbs Grand Marnier orange liquor
Step 1: (~2 min) Rinse the fresh cranberries in cold water. Pick out any stems or wilted/squishy cranberries. Fresh cranberries should be firm and crimson.
Step 2: (~4 min) Zest your orange with a zester, or grate your orange on a fine cheese grater taking care not to grate any of the white pith.
Step 3: (~2 min) Cut orange in fourths, and squeeze out the juice. Discard any seeds that you may find in your juice.
Step 4: (~8 min) Dump the cranberries in a sauce pan. Add all white sugar, brown sugar, maple syrup, orange juice and orange zest. Simmer on medium heat, stirring occasionally. The cranberries will begin to pop once they get hot. Once the cranberries start to pop, add Grand Marnier liquor and simmer an additional 3 minutes.
Step 5: (~1 hour) Chill for 1 hour before serving. You can also make this a Make-Ahead Masterpiece6 and keep this dish, covered, in refrigerator for up to five days before serving.
Serve in an elegant glass dish, so the beautiful and sparkly cranberries can shine!
a dillightful adventure 