Author: Launi

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Homemade Cranberry Sauce

Cranberry sauce 005

True Story

So my friend Jenny says to me–“…we’ll be making pies and real cranberry sauce tomorrow.” Just like that.

“REAL cranberry sauce?” says I.

Hmmm…I’ve only seen the kind you squish out of the can, into a glass dish during the Macy’s Parade.

So upon further inquiry, I find that–lucky for all of us–Jenny shares–all the way from Albuquerque.

And yes, I should get extra points for being able to spell Albuquerque.

 

 

Take it away Jenny…

“Here’s a recipe for the cranberry sauce that we make every year at Thanksgiving and Christmas:

Cranberry Sauce

Ingredients:

12 oz. bag of cranberries

1-1/2 cups cold water

2 cups sugar

Directions:

Place cranberries and water in a saucepan. Boil rapidly until skins pop open, approximately 5 minutes.

*Do not wear anything white during this process, there will be little red dots everywhere in the kitchen, including you as you step up to the pot to check on the cranberries.” Maybe a lid is a good idea here.

Press the hot cranberries through a sieve (strainer) to remove skins and seeds.

You may need to wait until they cool a bit so that you can easily handle them.

Add sugar.

Return the sauce to the pan and boil rapidly for three minutes, stirring occasionally. This recipe makes nearly 1 quart of incredibly good cranberry sauce.

Cool at room temperature until it sets.

Pour into a mold…or a bowl.

Store in refrigerator.

 

Homemade Cranberry Sauce
 
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:
Ingredients
  • 12 oz. bag of cranberries
  • 1-1/2 cups cold water
  • 2 cups sugar
Instructions
  1. Place cranberries and water in a saucepan.
  2. Boil rapidly until skins pop open, approximately 5 minutes.
  3. Press the hot cranberries through a sieve (strainer) to remove skins and seeds.
  4. Add sugar.
  5. Return the sauce to the pan and boil rapidly for three minutes, stirring occasionally.
  6. Cool at room temperature until it sets.
  7. Pour into a mold...or a bowl.
  8. Store in refrigerator.

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5 Things I’m Thankful For…

…at this very moment…

1) A sister who brings over Turkey Cupcakes–they look like turkeys, they taste like chocolate–that are so, so cute–I couldn’t let anyone eat them until we got a picture. Plus, I figured if I could distract everyone long enough…I wouldn’t have to share. Heh, heh, heh…

2) A big black cat named Beany, that sleeps at the foot of my bed–the far right side of the foot of my bed so that I can still move my feet if I want to OR scoot my feet under him to keep them extra toasty. Yeah…he’s a good sport.

3) Thanksgiving decorations all over the place. Laurie–the cupcake sister–made the pilgrims for me a billion years ago.

The turkey bailed into my cart at JoAnn’s last year.

4) The piles on my ridiculous desk. So much potential for fun stuff. I can’t wait to sort them out and see what’s in there. I must point out…this s not a mess. I mean it. This is total order in my world.

5) “Thing 1” and “Thing 2.” The squishyist and most magnamonious babies in the world. It’s quite possible that I made both of those words up. If so…don’t tell me. They are perfect for my needs–thank you.

 

 

“If the only prayer you said in your whole life was, “thank you,” that would suffice.”

~Meister Eckhart

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Pumpkin Soup

pumpkins

Did you know that the largest pumpkin pie ever baked weighed 350 lbs. and measured five feet in diameter?

Ok, well, that’s just sick…

Anyway–on my never ending quest to find rational pumpkiny recipes that–

A) taste good

B) are quick and easy

C) have pumpkin in them–but are not pie

–we have found this lovely soup. It would be a good appetizer for your Thanksgiving meal–or a simple, festive supper for the Wednesday-evening-before-the-feast. It comes together pretty fast and has a very unique flavor, and will leave your family saying, “Ooooh, what is that?” It reminds me of split pea and ham soup only like you’d get on a cruise. The word luxurious seems to work here. It’s very good…you must trust me on this. And so much cheaper than a great, big boat.

 

 

Pumpkin Soup

Ingredients

1 tbsp. onion flakes

1/2 tsp. curry powder

1/4 tsp. coriander

1/4 tsp cumin

1/4 tsp. salt

1 Tbsp brown sugar

1 Tbsp butter

1 large can pumpkin (29 oz)

3-1/2 cups chicken broth

1 cup crumbled, cooked bacon or cubed, cooked ham

1 cup cream, half and half or canned milk

1/2 cup sour cream

In a large saucepan, combine onion flakes, spices, salt and butter. Stir in pumpkin, water, bouillon and meat until well combined. * Heat mixture to a boil, then reduce heat. Stir in cream and sour cream and heat through. Do not boil once the milk is added. Garnish with croutons and a dash of sage.

5.0 from 1 reviews
Pumpkin Soup
 
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Ingredients
  • 1 tbsp. onion flakes
  • ½ tsp. curry powder
  • ¼ tsp. coriander
  • ¼ tsp cumin
  • ¼ tsp. salt
  • 1 Tbsp brown sugar
  • 1 Tbsp butter
  • 1 large can pumpkin (29 oz)
  • 3-1/2 cups chicken broth
  • 1 cup crumbled, cooked bacon or cubed, cooked ham
  • 1 cup cream, half and half or canned milk
  • ½ cup sour cream
Instructions
  1. In a large saucepan, combine onion flakes, spices, salt and butter.
  2. Stir in pumpkin, water, bouillon and meat until well combined.
  3. Heat mixture to a boil, then reduce heat.
  4. Stir in cream and sour cream and heat through.
  5. Do not boil once the milk is added.
  6. Garnish with croutons and a dash of sage.

 

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Photo Journal

While looking through a ton of old pictures the other day–I noticed that we had quite a few in the folder marked “Ghosts of Thanksgivings Past”–but they are all online and so I’m constantly having to say to family and friends, “I’ll email you a copy.” Sounds noble, yes? Well it would be more noble if I had a clue how to actually email pictures.

Hence, the Thanksgiving Photo Journal was born.

First take a hardbound journal or blank book—whichever…

Trace around it on to scrapbook paper.

Cut out to the measurement of your book. I had to work around the spiral binding of mine. Cutting out 65,000 tiny notches was a bit of a pain, but it turned out ok.

Glue the paper on to the cover of your book–being careful to keep the edges straight.

Secure a piece of ribbon to the back with glue and tie a bow in the front. And ta-da! Your book is finished. Except that now you can make copies from your computer–and stick them in the book for all to see.

So, bring it with you to the turkey dinner and share the book around. If you are really brave you can let people write their comments or memories on the blank pages. If you have a few of these books and lots of printer ink, they would make a great gift for the Thanksgiving hostess. Never hurts to butter up the lady with the pie…

Heh…heh.

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Gratitude Tree


This is a simple and fun way to help family members be on the look-out for all the things they love and are grateful for…and clean up some stray branches from the yard at the same time. Ahhh…green waste.

Oh, and earlier today–this tree was called the “Gratitude Tree” but it got on my nerves. Honestly, it sounded way too much like “The Giving Tree”…which is not ok with me. If you know me even a tiny bit you know how I feel about that book. Grrrr….more on this later…no doubt. MOVING ON…

You will need:

flower pot

craft stones, rocks, or art sand

short branches

colored paper, scrapbook paper, or craft foam

paper clips

Fill a clean flower pot with rocks, stones or sand…yes, kitty litter would work, but I’d hate to confuse poor Fluffy, so personally, I’d stick with the rocks. Shorten the tree branch to suit the size of your pot. I stuck three small lilac branches together with packing tape. Set the branch securely in the rocks. Wiggle them around until you’re convinced they will “sit and stay.”

Next, cut out about two dozen leaves–template link below— from colored paper or craft foam. Push a partially straightened paper clip through the stem end of each leaf. Set the leaves in a small basket with a black marker, next to your thankful tree.

Encourage, nudge, ok, force– family members to write their names on one side (unless they want to remain anonymous), and something or someone they are thankful for–and why, on the other side. Have them hang it on the tree and by Thanksgiving Day–your tree will be a beautiful reminder of your family’s blessings and a really cute tree–that you don’t have to water. That’s a plus.

NOTE: Click here for a bunch more family Thanksgiving Crafts or a simple leaf template to make your own Gratitude tree.