Cranberries. . .Not Just for Eating!

Well my friends, with Thanksgiving right around the corner our thoughts often turn to turkey, stuffing, and cranberries.

 

I don’t know about you, but I take a bite of turkey and then I follow it with cranberries and stuffing.  Tremendous trio if you ask me!

 

But as tasty as cranberries are, they are just as pretty, don’t you agree?

Now is the time to plant your Paperwhites and Amaryllis if you want  them to be blooming for Christmas.

 

Although Paperwhites don’t require soil for potting I chose to plant mine in dirt so that I can top them with, (you guessed it cranberries).

 

 

Just something about those pretty plump berries that are a delight.

I especially love them when the white blooms burst open.  You can see that mine are just barely popping their little heads out.

 

Here’s a picture of some that I planted last year.  They had grown to this height after only a week or so.

 

 

They all start out in my kitchen window, but some will be moved throughout the house when they start to bloom.

 

 

These two clay pots have been covered with a red with gold stars tissue paper.  I didn’t do these myself.  Found them years ago in a close-out box at a local shop for $.25 cents ea.

 

Easy to do though, using Mod Podge.

 

Cranberries are also pretty layered with fruit.

Here I’ve used cranberries, oranges, limes, and lemons.

 

 

I like them better in a tall narrow clear vase, but all of mine have been used to hold candies and such in my Christmas basement décor.

 

You can also cover them with water and let them float.

You do need to change the water every so often or it will get rancid.

 

 

One of my favorite things to do with cranberries is to make a spice simmer.

I dumped the entire contents of the jar in a pan and added cinnamon and cloves.  You can even throw in a sprig of pine.  I didn’t have any handy so I threw in some Rosemary.

 

 

Bring it to a boil and then turn down and let simmer.  Just check it occasionally and continue to add water as needed.

 

(I won’t lie, I’ve cooked mine dry before)

 

You can even refresh it with more spices and it will last you for quite a while.  I toss it when it gets looking kind of ugly and make a fresh batch.

 

Growing up my mom always had a simmer going on her stove.  She always used an old coffee can.

 

It made our home smell wonderful!

 

Can you believe that this ‘Mrs. Olson’ does not even own a coffee can?  Folgers would not be happy with me. lol!

 

But look what I did have.  Brought this home from my sisters house when I was helping her pack.

 

 

*note. . .make sure your can will hold water.  I filled it with water first and it seemed to do the trick.

 

Now my simmer is as sweet smelling as maple syrup!

and so is my home!

 

Pick up some pretty cranberries while you’re at the store.

 

This week they are sure to be on sale.  I paid $5 for two bags.

 

hugs,

Jann