Tuesday, December 2, 2008

A Festive Holiday Treat

Recipe
Sugared Cranberries

I had every intention to get a blog post up this past weekend - but my best intentions flew out the window with all the Thanksgiving hoopla! I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday.

I finally had the foresight to snap a quick photo of my favorite holiday snack before everyone gobbled them up last Friday...aren't they pretty? I've been making these cranberries every fall and winter for the last couple of years or so - they're my go-to snack to break out for guests - and really, to eat all by myself, if we're being honest. They're very easy to make: fresh cranberries steeped overnight in a simple sugar-water syrup, then rolled in sugar the next day. The concept is ingenious...and I'm always pleasantly surprised by how much people like them. They're the perfect balance of tart and sweet, and they make a tiny *pop* in your mouth. Best of all, they're so sparkly and festive, they can do double-duty as a centerpiece on the table! Need one more reason to try these? They're very light and not at all filling - so if you're having a dinner party and don't want everyone snacking on heavy appetizers before the big meal, these cranberries are the perfect solution.

Our Thanksgiving celebration this year was absolutely lovely - a wonderful combination of family, friends, and food (just as Thanksgiving should be, I suppose). I won't bore you with all the details - but hopefully you won't mind indulging me if I post some parting photos of our evening, taken by our dear friends Kate and Jim (who added so much joy to our holiday weekend, we wish they were in Minnesota all the time - love and miss you guys!):

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

I think you've again given me a great cooking tip. Every time I have people over I try to put a creative snack in a big bowl on the table. These cranberries look perfect for that?

What's the green baked concoction on the table? Looks like something with spinach?

Anonymous said...

Me again. :) I just saw this recipe after I read about your cranberries: http://zoebakes.com/?p=1217

She's a local woman who teaches classes around the Twin Cities. I'd like to go to one of her classes. care to join me?

Elisabeth said...

Carrie, I hope you get a chance to try the cranberries - they are perfect for guests. The green baked concoction is Ina Garten's Spinach Gratin. Thanksgiving was my first time making it - it wasn't my favorite, although everyone else seemed to like it. I don't think I'll make it again, though. I'd love to go to one of Zoe's classes with you! I see the next one in our neighborhood is this Sunday, though, and I have Book Club on Sunday. :( Let's keep an eye on her schedule and be in touch..and we should grab a drink or coffee if a class doesn't come up soon, because I think we MUST meet - we have too much in common not to!

Susan, thanks for stopping by!

Unknown said...

The cranberries look so pretty and yummy! Plus, I love your birdie place card holders...
You should bring some of those to work;)

Elisabeth said...

Thanks, Nicol! You'll have to come have dinner sometime with me and my birdies. :)

Tracy said...

I've been meaning to make sugared cranberries for ages! Maybe I'll make them for a party I'm going to this weekend.

Elisabeth said...

Tracy, they're really good for parties. I vote you try them!

LeLe said...

Oh Lis! Thanksgiving gets better every year! You and Dariush are a wonderful host and hostess! Everything was fantastic. My favorite was the pecan crusted sweet potatoes, but I disagree about the spinach. I LOVED it! Thank again.

Elisabeth said...

Thanks, Mom! I think the sweet potatoes were my favorite, too. Thank you for all your help pulling everything together...I absolutely could not have done it without you. :)