Thanksgiving
is literally biting me in my ass at this point.
The stress of knowing that I will be responsible for feeding 30 of our
“closest” is no small feat. I’m lucky that I actually like most of my family
members. (Note to family members, please
do not ask if you are part of the most list on the table this year)
Luckily I
will be armed with something fabulous that will keep my stress, my heart and my
health under control. You’re in luck
too… this Thanksgiving, I’m in the spirit of giving! Three fabulously delicious recipes that should
be staples on your table! All with one
of my favorite ingredients… CRANBERRIES!
Cranberries
rock. They do. I’m not lying. Cranberries are actually among one of the highest-ranking
foods when it comes to proven health benefits.
We all know they come to the aid in a snap when you’ve got a bladder or
urinary tract infections… at least we did back in our early 20’s when we were
having crazy amounts of sex. (Yes, you’re reading a Thanksgiving recipe post
that’s talking about sex. Move along now…) But here’s some facts about those
berries that you might not have known.
· Cranberries
are known antioxidants… meaning they have great anti-aging properties. They
actually can give you glowing skin!
· If you have
an ulcer, some studies have shown that drinking unsweetened cranberry juice for
a few months can actually kill the bacteria that causes them.
· Cranberries
are proven to relax the blood vessels, lower LDL (bad) cholesterol and help
prevent heart disease.
Here’s a
recipe for my absolute all-time favorite all-in-one Thanksgiving…
Cranberry Stuffing Recipe
1 small onion, diced
1 cup of diced mushrooms
3-4 stalks of celery, diced
1 stick of butter
1 package of seasoned stuffing (I use
Mrs. Cubbison's)
1-2 cups chicken broth or water (per
box instructions)
1 package of fresh cranberries (may use
canned if fresh unavailable)
Fresh thyme
Note: If
you would like to follow step-by-step instructions on how to make this recipe,
just click here.
Directions
Melt the
butter on a medium heat and add the onion and celery. Allow them to sweat and
turn translucent. Add the mushrooms and cook for another 3 to 5 minutes on
medium high heat.
Add the
fresh cranberries. Don’t worry about the cranberries cooking down too much…
you’re not looking for them to turn to mush just yet! They’ll cook down once
they’re in the stuffing. Just give them about 3 to 4 minutes to cook.
Now add the
stuffing mix straight outta the box. Any brand that you happen to like… I
usually use seasoned stuffing mix… it just adds more flavor. Add broth and
combine thoroughly.
Transfer mixture into a Pyrex or baking pan that has been coated with non-stick spray or butter. Sprinkle the top with some of the fresh thyme and bake in the oven covered on 375 degrees for about 30 minutes. During the last 5 minutes, remove the cover and allow the top to become golden brown.
Cranberry-Apple Dressing
1 12-ounce bag fresh
cranberries
3 Tablespoons sugar
¼ Teaspoon ground
cinnamon
2 Medium Golden
Delicious apples, peeled and diced
2 Teaspoons fresh
lemon juice
¼ Cup Orange Juice or
Water
In a saucepan place the cranberries, sugar, and cinnamon and add
juice or water- just enough to bring the cranberries to a float. Bring to a
simmer for 5 minutes and then drain, but leave a small amount of liquid in the
pan.
Add apples and cover mixture for 5-10 more minutes or until apples
are tender. Stir in lemon juice.
Allow cooling - then transferring dressing to a serving bowl.
Cover and refrigerate for at least two hours.
Serve chilled.
Makes 3 cups
Cranberry Twist Cocktail
4 ounces Cranberry Juice
2 ounces Vodka
2 ounces Ginger Ale
½ ounce Lemon Juice
1 ounce Simple Syrup
In a cocktail shaker combine all ingredients. Shake. Shake.
Shake.
Serve over ice or martini style!
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