Is your Thanksgiving menu finalized? My mother is hosting dinner this year so Alex and I are responsible for very little. We’re bringing a charcuterie platter for the appetizer, brussels sprouts (probably pan roasted with homemade bacon) and Alex’s dressing. If your menu isn’t full of family traditions, here are five suggestions for seasonal but unique additions to the table: 1)Buffie Wellies – a tasty rich buffalo appetizer 2) Cranbellini – Add one ounce of [...]

Cranberry sauce is the most neglected dish on the Thanksgiving table. It is over-sweetened to the point of tasting like jam, or worse, dumped and sliced from a can, ridge marks remaining. Why should these tart orbs be subjected to such a fate? Cranberries are easy to obtain fresh in November and full of flavor and vitamin C. It is impossibly easy to make them into an all-natural sauce. And once you do, you’ll find [...]

I have made it no secret that I love cranberries.  Raw cranberries, snowy sugared cranberries, cranberry bread…  Transformed into an alcoholic additive is another delicious way to enjoy these little pearls of antioxidant goodness! The cranberry liqueur recipe I use is adapted from Cooking Light, December 2003.  It makes a lovely gift packaged in a decorative bottle.  The Container Store has a wide selection of bottles.  Be sure to keep some for yourself! 2 cups [...]

Snowy cranberries are the most addicting winter dessert I make.  I eat these candies until my mouth turns raw from the sour acids.  I rationalize that they are healthy because raw cranberries are low calorie and high in antioxidants and vitamin C.  They look beautiful on a dessert table and are a breeze to make. Mix 2 table spoons honey with 2 tablespoons hot water. (Alternative is to cook 1/4 cup sugar into 1 cup [...]

Alex’s relatives are from New England, Massachusetts specifically.  Lillian is named for his great grandmother who made annual trips to Cape Cod.  There’s a connection with the ocean there that is unlike other places I know.  We visit the Cape area as often as we can. The Baillieul clan loves Massachusetts cranberries and I am happy to share their enjoyment of this antioxidant packing fruit. These bright red gems scream ‘holiday’ to me! I purchased [...]