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I’ve been hosting at my house for the past six years. I love to pull out all the stops for the big turkey day. We brine and debone the turkey. Make two kinds of stuffing. Three desserts (including a pumpkin chocolate cheesecake that’s so good it’ll make you cry.) But the thing that surprises people is the cranberry sauce.
No, not that kind.
This kind:
The thing is, it’s ridiculous easy to make and so much better than that other stuff. So I thought I’d share the recipe.
One bag fresh cranberries
zest of one orange
juice of an orange plus enough water to make one cup liquid
one cup sugar
one apple diced
a handful of raisens
a dash of fresh nutmeg
combine all the ingrediants, cook on the stove about twenty minutes until your kitchen smells wonderful and all the cranberries have “popped.”
It’s fantastic on the big day and on turkey sandwiches the next.
So what’s your favorite “secret” holiday recipe? You know what I mean, the one that’s super easy, but impresses everyone?
Filed in: Jaunty Post
Nov 25th
2008
8:16 am
Shana Said:
Mashed potatoes. I buy a couple of those bags of dried flakes, add boiling water or milk, a little butter and salt, and voila! Everyone thinks they’re homemade…until now.
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Nov 25th
2008
8:17 am
Margo Maguire Said:
LOL, Shane!
I always have Thanksgiving at our house – usually 20-25 guests. And I make everything from scratch. A couple of years ago, I made a cranberry sauce similar to the one you posted, Emily, and it was a hit! But I lost the recipe. So now I’m going to try yours. Thank you!!
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Nov 25th
2008
8:30 am
RobynDeHart Said:
Hey some of us like that gelled stuff!
My recipe that make people go nuts is my sweet potato casserole. Even people who don’t like sweet potatoes usually like it. It’s so good, it’s just wrong and I might as well put it in a crust because it should just be a dessert, but it’s simple and always comes out perfect.
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Nov 25th
2008
12:44 pm
Kristan Higgins Said:
Being a perpetual guest at Thanksgiving, the only thing I have to make is pie. I use lard for the crust, and I freeze it before I cut it up…so flaky! I also put a little powdered sugar in with the flour. My pies are so good that I have to bake one of each kind just for McIrish and the little ones, because they get jealous when other people are allowed to have a slice. Cute, I always thought…
Robyn, send me that recipe! I love sweet potatoes!
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Nov 25th
2008
3:51 pm
Nancy Robards Thompson Said:
Yes, Robyn! Please send the recipe. Sweet potatoes are my absolute favorite part of the Thanksgiving dinner…along with the stuffing… and the mashed potatoes… and the rolls. Who am I kidding? I love it all!
Emily, my cranberry recipe is my “secret.” People who don’t like cranberries have been known to go crazy for it. It’s super easy:
1 pound fresh cranberries, picked over and washed
1 2/3 cups sugar (more or less depending on how sweet you like it)
½ cup water
½ cup orange juice
2 tsp grated orange rind
Grand Marnier to taste (optional, but it gives a very nice kick)
½ cup blanched almonds, slivered (optional)
1. Combine all the ingredients (except the almonds and Grand Marnier) in a saucepan and cook until the cranberries pop open (about 7 minutes)
2. Skim the foam from the surface and add the Grand Marnier. Let cool. Just before serving, stir in the almonds if desired.
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Nov 25th
2008
4:16 pm
Shirley Karr Said:
Yes, Robyn, please post your casserole recipe!
I usually make the desserts at our house, except the pies – dh has a love/hate relationship with making pie crusts – so I usually don’t have to do more on T-day than set the table and open the can of olives. But this year I’ll try Emily’s cranberry sauce recipe. Much better than gloop out of a can.
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Nov 25th
2008
10:30 pm
RobynDeHart Said:
Okay girls, you asked for it. But just so you know this is not a recipe for the diet conscious. But hey, it’s Thanksgiving…
Robyn’s Famous Sweet Potato Casserole
4 cups sweet potatoes, peeled & cubed (2 large cans)
2 cups sugar
4 eggs, beaten
¾ cup melted butter
1 cup evaporated milk
1 tsp. Nutmeg
1 tsp. Cinnamon
2 cups marshmallow
1 cup coconut
Topping
1 ½ cup crushed corn flakes
½ cup brown sugar
1 cup chopped pecans
¾ cup melted butter
Preheat oven to 400°. In large bowl, mash potatoes. Mix in sugar, eggs, butter, evaporated milk, nutmeg, and cinnamon. Fold in marshmallows. Add coconut. Bake 20 minutes. (I usually divide this up into two casserole dishes and only add the coconut to one of them since The Professor isn’t a coconut fan)
Mix the topping ingredients in a small bowl then crumble onto the casserole and bake an additional 10 minutes.
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