between2worlds

People who have only had that gunk called cranberry sauce that comes in a can really have no idea how good fresh cranberries really are. Especially the ones who have only had the canned ones and claim to "hate cranberries".

Here is an easy recipe which has changed the minds of many "haters".

1 bag (12 - 16 oz) fresh cranberries
1 C. sugar
1 1/2 C. mini-marshmallows
1 C. grapes (take out the seeds if not seedless, cut in half if they are those huge globe grapes)
2 small or 1 medium apple, chopped into bite-size pieces (with or without peel - your preference)
1 pint heavy whipping cream
2 T. powdered sugar

Grind up the cranberries. You can use a blender and drop in a few berries at time (adding a little water as you go to keep things spinning) or a food processor (much easier). My mom used one of those hand-crank things with long tines attached to a glass bottle that are used to grind nuts. Gramma used a cast iron meat grinder with the finest blade. Basically you need the cranberries in tiny pieces.

Put the cranberries in a glass or ceramic bowl (they are acidic and should not be put in aluminum bowls). Add the sugar and marshmallows and give it a stir (so that the marshmallows are well coated with bits of cranberry). Put it in the refridgerator for at least 4 hours - but better overnight.

In the morning there will be a thick syrup with bits of cranberry in it and the marshmallows will be pink on the outside.

Just before serving -

Put the grapes and apples in a big bowl, dump the cranberry/marshmallow mixture on top. In a seperate bowl whip the cream until fluffy (if you put the bowl and beaters in the freezer for at least an hour before whipping it is much easier and faster to make whipped cream), add the powdered sugar towards the end of the whipping - it helps the cream stay fluffy.

Spoon the whipped cream over the fruit and stir until everything is combined (don't overstir cuz your marshmallows will disintegrate). Return unused amounts to the refidgerator promptly.

This will keep 2-3 days before the whipped cream starts to become a liquid again. I've only ever made enough to find this out once... and that was a triple recipe!

You can use Dream Whip or Cool Whip instead of making whipped cream, but it won't be as rich tasting.

wyo_rose

My mom loves cranberries. I think I'll make this for her birthday next week!

Pvt Butter

fresh cranberries (uncooked) are the best and so good for you. However, the trick when cooking is not to overcook the berries otherwise they become bitter.

wyo_rose

I didn't get to make this for my mom last year. Hopefully I can swing it for Thanksgiving this year.

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Pvt Butter

Martha S has a recipe on her website (sorry I didn't copy it) for cranberry fluff made with fresh cranberries, blueberries and pomegranites! It sounds pretty good, but has more sugar than I would prefer.

between2worlds

I love blueberries and cranberries together.... I got a couple of recipes around here somewhere that use dried blueberries and dried cranberries - one is a buckle and the other is a pie. I'll have to dig them up.

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"The cavalry didn't come riding to the rescue; the American Indians did." ~ Al Gore regarding Mother Earth/Live Earth at NMAI 7/7/2007

"You can accurately predict the future if you create it." Native Roots @ Mother Earth 2007

Creewoman05

OMG this has me thinking of "indian ice cream" Haven't had that since I was a kid

between2worlds

*grin* never did care much for soapberries - kind of bitter. I like pemmican tho and that's something I haven't had in quite a few decades.

__________________
=========================================
"The cavalry didn't come riding to the rescue; the American Indians did." ~ Al Gore regarding Mother Earth/Live Earth at NMAI 7/7/2007

"You can accurately predict the future if you create it." Native Roots @ Mother Earth 2007