I am posting the recipes now and will post the pictures tomorrow morning when they are cooled with comments on the ease of cooking and taste. First on the list is an interesting twist with an ingredient that I have never worked with or for that matter tried, Brandy.
Now according to Wikipedia:
A conserve is a jam made of fruit stewed in sugar. In some cook books, such as the Chutneys Handbook, conserves are referred to as whole fruit jam.
Due to a shorter cooking period, not as much pectin will be released from the fruit, and as such, conserves (particularly home-made conserves) will sometimes be slightly softer set than some jams.
An alternate definition holds that conserves are preserves made from a mixture of fruits and/or vegetables. Conserves may also include dried fruit or nuts.
Brandied Cranberry Conserve
1 small orange
1 Cinnamon stick 4 inches long
3 whole cloves
1/2 cup of water
1 T. Lemon juice
3 cups fresh or frozen cranberries (I will be using fresh)
1 1/2 cups sugar
1/3 cup brandy
1/4 cup slivered almonds
Finely chop orange and combine with cinnamon stick, cloves, water, and lemon juice in medium stainless steel or enamel saucepan. Bring to boil, reduce heat, cover, and boil gently for 10 minutes. Remove cinnamon and cloves.
Add cranberries and sugar. Return to boil, reduce heat and broil gently, uncovered till berries pop and mixture will form a light gel, about 5 minutes, stirring often. Remove from heat and cool slightly; stir in brandy and almonds.
Ladle into hot jars and process for 10 minutes. Makes 3 1/2 cups.
My second recipe is a relish but is more on the sweet side than the savory. The recipe says that it is great served with poultry or with crackers and cheddar cheese. I always like a versatile recipe especially when we have unexpected company and I need to put together some noshes on the spot.
This recipe includes another ingredient that I am not too familiar with, orange liqueur. My husband is a professional bartender and says that you can use Grand Marnier Or Triple sec (meaning "Triple distilled") which is a strong, sweet and colorless orange flavored liqueur. It is made from the dried peel of oranges found on Curacao, an island in the Caribbean.
Cranberry Apple Pear Relish
3 cups fresh or frozen cranberries
3 apples, peeled cored, and diced
2 pears, peeled cored, and diced
1 1/2 golden raisins
2 cups sugar
1 cup orange juice
2 T grated orange rind
2 t. ground cinnamon
1/4 t. ground nutmeg
1/2 cup orange liqueur
Combin cranberries, apples, pears, raisins, sugar orange juice and rind, cinnamon and nutmeg in very large saucepan. Bring to a boil over high heat, stirring frequently. Reduce heat and boil gently, uncovered for about 25 minutes or until mixture thickens, stir occasionally. Remove from heat and stir in liqueur.
Ladle hot relish into the hot jars and fill within 1/2 inch of rim. Process 10 minutes for half pints and 15 minutes for pints.
Lastly, I wanted to do a traditional Cranberry Sauce, but with a not so familiar flavor. The added taste of a deep port wine to round out the sweetness of the cranberries gives this recipe a must try.
Cranberry Sauce with Spirit
1 cup sugar
1/4 cup water
1 T red wine vinegar
2 1/2 cup fresh or frozen Cranberries
1/2 cup port wine
2 cinnamon sticks 3 inches long
Combine sugar, water, vinegar and boil until sugar is dissolved. Add cranberries and boil till they pop. Mixture will thicken and process when at desired consistency. Ladle in hot jars leaving 1/2 headspace and process 15 minutes for half pint jars. Makes 2 cups.
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