Have yourself a cranberry little Christmas

They’re seasonal, brightly-coloured, and, when cooked correctly, taste wonderful. Cranberry juice, with its signature tartness, has uses as a mixer, both in and out of the holiday season.

With that in mind, the US Cranberry Marketing Committee wants to play Santa a bit early, bringing several recipes for the world to try, such as oatmeal cranberry white chocolate cookies (courtesy of Ocean Spray – a cranberry retailer), acorn squash with cranberry stuffing and hot cranberry punch. Read on for the recipes:

Hot cranberry punch

2 quarts apple cider
2 quarts cranberry juice cocktail\
1/3 cup brown sugar
4 cinnamon sticks
1/2 lemon, sliced

In a large saucepan, combine all ingredients and simmer over low heat for 15-20 minutes. Remove lemon slices and serve warm.

Acorn squash with cranberry stuffing

1 medium-sized acorn squash, halved, seeds removed
2 tablespoons butter
1/2 cup celery
1/2 cup onion
1 apple, peeled and chopped
3/4 cup sweetened dried cranberries
3/4 cup cooked rice
1/2 orange, peeled and chopped
1 tablespoon lemon juice

In microwavable dish, place squash cut side down and add 3 tablespoons water. Cover and cook on high heat for 5-7 minutes or until fork tender. In a saucepan over medium heat, melt butter and saute celery and onion until tender crisp. Add remaining ingredients and warm through. Spoon mixture into squash halves and serve immediately.

Oatmeal, cranberry and white chocolate chunk cookies
(makes approximately 30 cookies)

2/3 cup butter or margarine, softened
2/3 cup brown sugar
2 large eggs
1 1/2 cups old-fashioned oats
1 1/2 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 (6-ounce) package sweetened dried cranberries
2/3 cup white chocolate chunks or chips

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Using an electric mixer, beat butter or margarine and sugar together in a medium mixing bowl until light and fluffy. Add eggs, mixing well. Combine oats, flour, baking soda and salt in a separate mixing bowl. Add to butter mixture in several additions, mixing well after each addition. Stir in sweetened dried cranberries and white chocolate chunks.

Drop by rounded teaspoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheets. Bake for 10-12 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on wire rack. Makes approximately 2 1/2 dozen cookies.

(recipe courtesy of Ocean Spray)

Have yourself a cranberry little Christmas

They’re seasonal, brightly-coloured, and, when cooked correctly, taste wonderful. Cranberry juice, with its signature tartness, has uses as a mixer, both in and out of the holiday season.

With that in mind, the US Cranberry Marketing Committee wants to play Santa a bit early, bringing several recipes for the world to try, such as oatmeal cranberry white chocolate cookies (courtesy of Ocean Spray – a cranberry retailer), acorn squash with cranberry stuffing and hot cranberry punch. Read on for the recipes:

Hot cranberry punch

2 quarts apple cider
2 quarts cranberry juice cocktail\
1/3 cup brown sugar
4 cinnamon sticks
1/2 lemon, sliced

In a large saucepan, combine all ingredients and simmer over low heat for 15-20 minutes. Remove lemon slices and serve warm.

Acorn squash with cranberry stuffing

1 medium-sized acorn squash, halved, seeds removed
2 tablespoons butter
1/2 cup celery
1/2 cup onion
1 apple, peeled and chopped
3/4 cup sweetened dried cranberries
3/4 cup cooked rice
1/2 orange, peeled and chopped
1 tablespoon lemon juice

In microwavable dish, place squash cut side down and add 3 tablespoons water. Cover and cook on high heat for 5-7 minutes or until fork tender. In a saucepan over medium heat, melt butter and saute celery and onion until tender crisp. Add remaining ingredients and warm through. Spoon mixture into squash halves and serve immediately.

Oatmeal, cranberry and white chocolate chunk cookies
(makes approximately 30 cookies)

2/3 cup butter or margarine, softened
2/3 cup brown sugar
2 large eggs
1 1/2 cups old-fashioned oats
1 1/2 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 (6-ounce) package sweetened dried cranberries
2/3 cup white chocolate chunks or chips

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Using an electric mixer, beat butter or margarine and sugar together in a medium mixing bowl until light and fluffy. Add eggs, mixing well. Combine oats, flour, baking soda and salt in a separate mixing bowl. Add to butter mixture in several additions, mixing well after each addition. Stir in sweetened dried cranberries and white chocolate chunks.

Drop by rounded teaspoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheets. Bake for 10-12 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on wire rack. Makes approximately 2 1/2 dozen cookies.

(recipe courtesy of Ocean Spray)

Nothing says happy holidays like... a steak

The trend of giving food as a holiday is picking up steam as shoppers aim to buy useful gifts for their friends and family and interest of gourmet foods rises.

According to a recent survey by Packaged Facts, “consumer food gifting” has increased by over 50% between 2004 and 2006. This rise is all the more important given that consumer gifts in general have declined by 8% over the same period.

The types of gifts range from chocolates, cheeses and candies to… steak. One company, Omaha Steaks, has been in business for 90 years offers gift packages of steak and other gourmet specialties.

Is gourmet food “earning a solid reputation as a perfect gift”, as Omaha Steak’s senior vice president claims? All signs point to yes, as many major retailers in the UK such as John Lewis and Selfridges advertise gourmet gift hampers. Organic shops such as Daylesford Organic, which offers gourmet food gifts year round, sells some rather dear Christmas-inspired options too.

Internet shopping has supported the food gift trends as well. Packaged Facts reports that more Americans are shopping online than ever, as web traffic is up by 157%.

Photo credit: Omaha Steaks

Nothing says happy holidays like... a steak

The trend of giving food as a holiday is picking up steam as shoppers aim to buy useful gifts for their friends and family and interest of gourmet foods rises.

According to a recent survey by Packaged Facts, “consumer food gifting” has increased by over 50% between 2004 and 2006. This rise is all the more important given that consumer gifts in general have declined by 8% over the same period.

The types of gifts range from chocolates, cheeses and candies to… steak. One company, Omaha Steaks, has been in business for 90 years offers gift packages of steak and other gourmet specialties.

Is gourmet food “earning a solid reputation as a perfect gift”, as Omaha Steak’s senior vice president claims? All signs point to yes, as many major retailers in the UK such as John Lewis and Selfridges advertise gourmet gift hampers. Organic shops such as Daylesford Organic, which offers gourmet food gifts year round, sells some rather dear Christmas-inspired options too.

Internet shopping has supported the food gift trends as well. Packaged Facts reports that more Americans are shopping online than ever, as web traffic is up by 157%.

Photo credit: Omaha Steaks