Holiday Cranberry Spread Recipes

Steps:

• In a Dutch oven, combine cranberry juice and sugar. Bring to a full rolling boil over high heat, stirring constantly. Stir in pectin. Boil for 1 minute, stirring constantly., Remove from the heat; skim off foam. Carefully ladle hot liquid into hot half-pint jars, leaving 1/4-in. headspace. Remove air bubbles; wipe rims and adjust lids. Process for 10 minutes in a boiling-water canner.

Steps:

• In a small bowl, beat the cream cheese, orange juice concentrate, sugar, zest and cinnamon until blended. Fold in cranberries and pecans. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour. Serve with crackers.

Steps:

• 1. In a heavy 3 qt. saucepan, bring the sugar and water to a boil.
• 2. While the sugar and water heat, zest the oranges over the pot, so the zest goes right into the pot.
• 3. Cut the oranges in half, crosswise, and squeeze the juice from the orange halves into the pot. Drop the orange halves into the pot.
• 4. Stir in the cranberries.
• 5. Return to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer, uncovered, 10-20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until sauce reaches desired thickness. Remove the orange halves from the sauce after a few minutes, then allow the mixture to finish cooking.
• 6. Remove from heat and cool to room temperature. Chill until ready to serve.
• 7. NOTES: Cook longer or shorter time, depending on how thick you like your cranberry sauce, taking into account that it will thicken as it cools. This recipe multiplies easily, just use a bigger pot and plan a longer cooking time. Stores well, tightly covered. I use the cooled orange halves for a project with my grandchildren: we smear the cut side with nut butter then sprinkle on sunflower seeds. We place the finished bird feeders in the fountain in the yard, which has been drained for winter :)