Thursday, November 27, 2008

Happy Thanksgiving plus cranberry sauce

Happy Thanksgiving.
Today is one of the days that I stop and pause and reflect on how many blessings I have in my life. There are so many things to be thankful for -- my family, my friends, the people who read my books, and the people who read my blog. It is so easy to overlook the good things in life.

Some years, we have a big dinner and have lots of people around on a Saturday but not this year. This year, it is just the family and we are having the feast on Thanksgiving.

This year like most other years, I have made cranberry sauce. I learnt to make cranberry sauce when I was five. The produce man from the local supermarket visited my kindergarten to encourage the children to learn about vegetables and to try something fresh. The supermarket had just opened and they had a big fresh vegtable section. He mentioned cranberries and how even children could make cranberry sauce. When I got home, I begged and pleaded with my mother and was allowed to try. A tradition was born -- despite my brother's protests.
Cranberry sauce is very easy to make and you make it -- sweeter or more tart depending on the amount of sugar. The recipe makes more than enough for one meal.
Take one packet of cranberries (at the moment in the UK, they are 300 grams in weight)
Place same amount of water -- 300 ml (approximate 1 1/2 cups of water) and 100 grams (1 cup) sugar in a large saucepan. Stir to dissolve the sugar. Bring to a boil for about five minutes. Add the washed cranberries. Move to a lower heat and bring to another boil. The cranberries will begin to pop. Allow to boil for about five more minutes. Take from heat and pour into a glass bowl. Allow to cool. The sauce will set.
If you prefer a smooth jelly (my brother did), you can push the mixture through a jelly bag but for me this always seems like too much fuss and I like the berries.
Fresh cranberries also make great bread and cranberry apple pie is fantastic. I use the left over cranberry sauce in making a cranberry nut bread.
Wherever you are -- may your blessings be great and your troubles few.

6 comments:

Unknown said...

Happy Thanksgiving. Feeling more than a bit lost this as Dh is in UK, DS 1 & 2 in Uk only dd and me and we're not doing anything :-(

Kate Hardy said...

Hugs, Michelle.

On Thanksgiving, I'm thankful for the blessings of good, supportive friends - in a year when I've really needed them.

Unknown said...

Happy Thanksgiving Michelle!

Today I am thankful for you, because I'm halfway through A Question of Impropriety and completely loving it. The characters just zing off the page, and the dialogue...

Well, more on all of that when I've finished it!

Anonymous said...

Happy Thanksgiving, Michelle!

Sue Child

Donna Alward said...

Happy Thanksgiving!

I have made cranberry sauce with a bit of orange juice for some of the water, and some grated orange zest. It's very good. My kids and I like it, the husband does not. But at least I am not the only one eating it.

:-)

Nell Dixon said...

Happy Thanksgiving, dearest!