CRANBERRY LIME CHUTNEY

I wouldn't be lying if I told you that my dear hubby has been eating this stuff straight up.  I tried to explain that it is a condiment of sorts or a side to complement something else, like turkey.  He's pretty sure its perfectly okay to eat it by the spoon full!

The first time I made it, I did not have an orange to complete the recipe but I was all in at that point so I went ahead and made it anyway.  This past time I included the orange.  OMG!  It really made a difference.  I will be making it a third time very soon with the last of my frozen cranberries.

CRANBERRY LIME CHUTNEY

2 c. fresh cranberries
2/3 c. dark brown sugar
1 large orange, peeled, pith removed, cut into 1/4" slices
1 T. grated lime zest
3 T. fresh lime juice
1 medium tart apple, such as Granny Smith, pared, cored, coarsely chopped
1/2 c. cider vinegar
1/4 c. water
1/4 tsp. ground nutmeg
1/8 tsp. ground ginger
1/8 tsp. dry mustard
1/8 tsp. ground allspice
1 1/2 tablespoon cornstarch mixed with 2-3 tablespoons water

In a saucepan combine all the ingredients, except cornstarch mixture, and cook on medium low until the cranberries have popped and everything is tender. Add the cornstarch and cook until it thickens.

Cranberry Orange Scones

These scones are amazing.  A great use for fresh cranberries if you have them stored in your freezer like I do. If you don't you can use dried cranberries but you may have to adjust baking times as there will be less moisture in them.

I have made these scones twice this winter so I think that says something.  Next time I think I will add some walnuts or pecans.

CRANBERRY ORANGE SCONES

3⁄4 cup buttermilk

1 egg

2 3⁄4 cups flour

4 teaspoons baking powder

1⁄2 teaspoon baking soda

1⁄2 teaspoon salt

1⁄2 cup butter

1 cup coarsely chopped cranberries (fresh or frozen)

1⁄2 cup sugar

1 rind grated from one orange

3 tablespoon butter, melted

3⁄4 to 1 cup confectioners sugar

little orange juice as needed

Preheat oven to 375F.

Beat buttermilk and egg with a whisk in small bowl and set aside.

In a large bowl, mix together flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt.

Cut in butter until mixture resembles small peas.

Mix in cranberries, sugar and orange rind.

Add buttermilk mixture and stir until soft dough forms.

Using your hands, form dough into a large ball and place on floured surface.

Knead just until it comes together.

Form into scones as desired. Should be 1 inch thick. Makes about 16.

Bake scones for 15-20 minutes. Maybe longer depending on how you shape them.

Mix butter, orange juice and confectioners sugar together to create glaze. Drizzle on scones while they are still warm.

Cranberry Mousse

The next thing I did with some of those amazing cranberries- is make some cranberry sauce.  Which was later translated into cranberry mousse. 

White chocolate is usually added to this but I did not have any and really just wanted to make the mousse without running out to the store.  I made it with just the whipped cream.  Me and my daughter were none the wiser.  Smooth and delicious.  Not too sweet.  Love it.

Cranberry Mousse
This is the recipe I was going to use but then omitted the white chocolate.

Cranberry sauce
2 cup sugar
3 cups cranberries
1/2 cup water
juice of one lemon

Combine all in a saucepan and cook until cranberries have "popped" and are soft.  Puree in a blender.  Chill.

1 cup cranberry puree, chilled
1 cup heavy cream, whipped until peaks form.

Fold the puree into the heavy cream, gently.  Spoon into containers and chill. Serve cold.  Will stay "set" for a day or two.  Cranberries have natural pectin which will keep them set.

Cranberry Bread

While in Cape Cod, at the Cranberry Festival, we bought some fresh cranberries, well, LOTS of fresh cranberries.  I could not wait to get home and make some cranberry dishes.  This is the first one I made.

A nice breakfast treat. Not as good as say, eggs, but WAY better than dough nuts. Right?  Right?  I need some back up here.

Look at all those yummy, tart, cranberries. I was suppose to chop those cranberries, but as you can see I missed that part of the recipe and added them whole.  I didn't mine biting into that tart berry, nor did anyone else apparently because this was eaten up, no problem.

Cranberry love!

Cranberry Bread
Recipe largely adapted from this recipe at the Cape Cod Cranberry Growers Association. If you want to know more about the festival, click here.

1/2 cup butter
3 large eggs
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup sugar
3/4 cup buttermilk
1 tablespoon grated orange peel
2 1/2 cups flour
2 cups fresh or frozen cranberries, chopped
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/4 teaspoon salt

Preheat oven to 350F.  Grease a 9 x 5 loaf pan.  Beat butter and sugar in a bowl until light and fluffy.  Add in vanilla and orange zest.  Add eggs, mixing well after each addition. In another bowl, combine flour, baking soda and salt, add to creamed mixture alternately with buttermilk, beating at low speed just until blended. Fold cranberries into batter. Turn into prepared pan, spreading evenly. Bake until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean, about 50 to 60 minutes. Cool slightly in pan. Remove from pan and cool completely on wire rack.

And here are some scenes from the Cranberry Festival in Wareham, Massachusets at AD Makepeace Farms.

This festival is a great place for families to go to. Lots of great activites and lots of learning about cranberries.  Wagon rides, pony rides, cooking demonstrations, crafts, little train rides for the kiddo's, and other various demos. It has the distinction of being one of the ABA's 2013 Top 100 Events. Go here to see what others have made that list.

 Lots of bags of cranberries all around.... so yum!

Amazing process of loading the cranberries onto the truck!

Look at all those cranberries!

 Love this pic!

This is how the cranberries grow.  This is before they comb it out and all the cranberries float tot he surface.  Such bounty!

 Some young chefs preparing amazing food with cranberries!

Luscious, cranberries!