iPhone Fruit App

This is neat. If you have an iPhone check out this new application that helps you find neighborhood fruit. Here is an excerpt from the page I found:

“Looking for local blackberries for a pie? Want to smell fruit blossoms on a romantic walk? Interested to learn fun facts about common edible plants? Want to find fruit on the go in many metropolitan areas nationwide? Feel like organizing a fruit picking adventure in your neighborhood?

Find Fruit unlocks cities, enabling you to explore in new ways. Instead of being trapped in the concrete jungle, this app is your key to the edible urban forest! Find Fruit helps you find fresh fruit growing down the street and learn more about fruit trees.”

I don’t know what an iPhone is really, but most people probably do, so thought I would point it out.

Cranberry Time

Sugared Cranberries

 

Cranberry Sauce with Apple Cider

Welcome Thanksgiving! It is my favorite holiday, surprise, surprise. I love going by myself to the store and buying food treasures for the holidays. One of the most fun things to buy are bags of cranberries. Oh how I love cranberries, and I love making cranberry sauce. A few years ago I made my own for the first time. I guess I never did before because I really do like that jellied stuff in the can, but the recipe in this post has more texture because of the bits of berries, and it’s sweeter too. And it’s so fun to make, watching the cranberries pop and the mixture congeal. I get so excited, like I’m watching a movie waiting for the plot to thicken, except I’m watching my cranberry mixture thicken.  Alright, I’m easily amused, but I promise it’s fun to watch.

Then there are sugared cranberries. Oh, you are going to love me for sharing this one with you. First of all, they are beautiful, like little Christmas ornaments. With its encrusted shell of sugar, the outside sparkles like twinkling lights. When you bite into the cranberry you taste the sweet, crispy outside, then on then POP!  The inside gives a tangy bite  — they work perfectly together to make a absolutely addicting combination. Anna has helped me make these the past few years, and this year Katelyn (my two-year-old) gets to help. So, while expect my usually perfect sugared cranberries to have some clumping going on because of Katelyn, (you should see what she does to green beans while snapping — yikes) I think it will be fun to share making these with both my daughters this year.

I am really excited to share these Cooking Light cranberry recipes with you! I’ll be posting more fun holiday recipes as the days go on. Hurray for Thanksgiving!

Cranberry Sauce with Apple Cider

Cooking Light

• 1 cup sugar
• 1 cup apple cider or apple juice
• 1 (12-ounce) package fresh cranberries

Combine all ingredients in a medium saucepan; bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce heat; simmer 10 minutes or until cranberries pop, stirring occasionally. Chill.

Sugared Cranberries

Cooking Light

• 2  cups  granulated sugar
• 2  cups  water
• 2  cups  fresh cranberries
• 3/4  cup  superfine sugar

Combine granulated sugar and water in a small saucepan over low heat, stirring mixture until sugar dissolves. Bring to a simmer; remove from heat. (Do not boil or the cranberries may pop when added.) Stir in cranberries; pour mixture into a bowl. Cover and refrigerate 8 hours or overnight.

Drain cranberries in a colander over a bowl, reserving steeping liquid, if desired. Place superfine sugar in a shallow dish. Add the cranberries, rolling to coat with sugar. Spread sugared cranberries in a single layer on a baking sheet; let stand at room temperature 1 hour or until dry.

Note: The steeping liquid clings to the berries and helps the sugar adhere. Store in an airtight container in a cool place for up to a week.