Got Cranberries?

Two recipes we'll be enjoying on Christmas day feature cranberries as a main ingredient: 

 Cranberry-orange muffins with streusel topping & cranberry pineapple salad!  

Double yum!

Cranberry-orange muffins

These are a new one for this Christmas, as I had fresh cranberries I needed to use and an orange tree in the backyard full of ripe fruit.  I found the recipe here and made a few adjustments. I think they might become an every year thing too--Oh so tasty!!

Ingredients:

- 2 C flour

- 3/4 C sugar + one extra tablespoon

- 1 t baking powder

- 1/2 t baking soda

- 1/2 t salt

- 1 1/4 C fresh cranberries (slightly chopped)

- 1 egg

- 3/4 C orange juice

- 1/4 C vegetable oil

- 2 t grated orange rind

Directions:

- in a large bowl, combine dry ingredients

- chop cranberries just a bit, add to dry ingredients

- in a small bowl, beat egg, add orange juice, oil, & orange rind

- add to dry ingredients

- pour into greased muffin cups

For streusel topping:

- mix together 2 T flour, 1/4 C sugar and cut in 1 T butter until mixture resemble course crumbs.  Sprinkle on top of each muffin.  Add some turbanado or decorating sugar sprinkles.

Bake at 400 for 15-20 minutes.

Cranberry pineapple salad

The cranberry salad was the first dish I brought to Thanksgiving as a married lady and we've had it nearly very Thanksgiving and Christmas since then.

Ingredients:

 - 1 can whole berry cranberry sauce

 - 1 8oz. box raspberry jello

 - 1 20oz. can crushed pineapple

 - 1 apple (I usually use granny smith)

 - chopped pecans (optional)

To make: 

 - drain juice from crushed pineapple into a large glass measuring cup (set aside the  pineapple in a medium bowl).  Add water to get 3 cups.  Boil liquids.

 - Pour hot liquids into serving dish. Dissolve gelatin in hot liquid. Add can of whole berry sauce--break up in the jello.  Put in fridge to start setting

 - chop apple & pecans.  Mix with pineapple.

 - once the jello mixture has cooled and is just starting to set, stir in the fruit & nut mixture.  Return to the fridge to set completely.

Note:  I almost always make this the day/night before to let set completely & let the flavors combine.  

The picture shows a double recipe made in my trifle bowl.

ENJOY!