I work in the heart of cranberry country and the months of October and November are loaded with all things cranberry. The harvest is in full swing and the bogs are beautiful. I see lots of trucks filled to the brim with fresh cranberries every day, and there are boxes of free cranberries donated by the growers in many of the town buildings. The sight of all those cranberries, along with the really big bag of them I have in my fridge, leads me to this week’s topic: 10 Things To Do With Fresh Cranberries.
- Make cranberry sauce. It’s the simplest thing in the world: boil cranberries, water and sugar. The end. So delicious and so much better than the stuff in the can.
- Bake cranberry bread. I like mine with the addition of orange zest and walnuts.
- Make cranberry jam. More on this tomorrow, I promise.
- String popcorn and cranberries and hang it around the house. It’s not just for Christmas, you know.
- Fill a vase with cranberries and use it as a holiday decoration. They are lovely like this, I think.
- Make cranberry orange relish. My mom always made jars and jars of this. She would bake biscuits and we’d top the hot biscuits with the cold relish and it was heavenly.
- Bake a cranberry pecan pie. My recipe is here and you know I’ll be making one for Thanksgiving next week.
- Add cranberries to a pork roast. The tartness of the cranberries are a wonderful addition to pork.
- Put them in your stuffing. Don’t forget the sausage, too!
- Bake them with acorn squash. Split the squash, scoop out the guts, throw in some butter, brown sugar, walnuts and a few cranberries and bake until soft. Better than dessert, I tell you!
Those are my favorite ideas for things to do with cranberries but I could go on and on. They are versatile and delicious. And they bounce! What more could you want from a fruit?
I’m definitely acquiring a taste for this lovely fruit. Love them in bread and relishes. Acorn squash and cranberries sounds yummy! Think I’ll try this tonight. That’s two interesting food ideas this week!
Apple cranberry muffins, YUM!
love the recipe ideas – and I can’t wait for cranberry jam! (and the decorating ideas… mine are the same!) Thanks, Carole, for the great topic – can’t wait to see what ideas everyone else offers up too.
They bounce? Oh, I am so trying this! 🙂 (Can’t wait to hear about your cranberry jam! I may want to give that a try.)
Great topic, Carole!! I can’t add anything to your list – it is
perfect. The thought of watching the trucks fill up with those
beautiful cranberries and the bogs makes me want to drive up from NC to see them once again. Photo is great!
I only have time for one, but I don’t see it. I’m making this today, in fact. Cranberry Fluff. It’s an old recipe – something you would have seen when you were a kid. Kinda sweet with marshmallows in it, but still fresh with the cranberries, grapes, apples and walnuts. And I like the idea of that relish on the biscuits. We make the relish, but haven’t eaten it like that.
I’ve already purchased my cranberries for my godmother’s recipe that we serve instead of cranberry relish. Very easy recipe so I’ll share as it rocks!
1 bag of cranberries, 1 cup sugar, 1 tsp cinnamon
Combine all and put in an oven proof dish and bake at 350 til bubbling (about 45 minutes). Serve slightly warm or at room temp.
Sounds simple but absolutely divine! I also have a yummy recipe for Brandied Cranberries…happy to email it if you want it (don’t have it memorized).
Excellent topic, and great ideas! I might have to try a few of them. yum yum
Lots more yummy recipes to try.
mmmm… cranberries…. I have an acorn squash at home… will have to try it after I see if they really do bounce. I made a pear/cranberry gingersnap crumble over the week-end that disappeared amazing fast……
Yay for #s 5, 6, 9 and 10!
I’m buying cranberries because your ideas are great and I’ll use them! We might be making turkey this year, but we’ll certainly have to try them with pork, too!
Yum-O! You mentioned almost all of my favorite cranberry things. I also love the dried cranberries and use them shamelessly to get my husband to eat green beans. I blanch the beans, saute them with cranberries and either almonds or pinions. I’m going to try this with fresh berries. It’s so much fun to envision driving through cranberry country, something that doesn’t happen in the west! thanks for the inspiration and recipe!
Wha??? Thanksgiving is NEXT WEEK!??
I think I might try that pie… Yum.
Thanks for sharing a great list.
I was just looking up cranberry relish and cranberry jam recipes yesterday! I’m looking forward to your post tomorrow!
Another fabulous and timely topic. I can’t wait to see the jam post. I may need to make some.
I love cranberries. I never understood, once I started making my own cranberry sauce, how on earth jellied cranberries in a can even became a thing. The other great thing about cranberries is they freeze well, so you can stock up when they are in season an have cranberries year round! Whee!
Love ’em! Halle made the most delicious cake she got from the Pioneer Woman’s website. When I get home from work, I’ll email you the link. It was AWESOME! I love all your ideas and we’ll be trying the squash recipe this coming week!
Salivating……..
Cranberry pecan pie sounds divine!! I’ll be making my honey’s favorite–Cranberry orange pie. It’s my favorite post-thanksgiving breakfast…
Yum! I have a much greater love for cranberries since learning to make my own cranberry sauce, but I had not given much more thought about other ways to use them. Great idea for a list. I will be reading all of them.