Traditional Cranberry Relish (or cranberry goo as I like to call it)

I have never made cranberry relish in my life. In fact, I prefer the can shaped, red gel that slices super easy. However, this is also the first year that I will be hosting my entire family and it seems that some people like the real goo and not the can shaped stuff.

I got a few good ideas and decided to try to throw some thing together:



Gather together:

• 4 c. cranberries
• 1.5 c. water
• 2 c. sugar
• zest and juice from one orange
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 1 tsp of ground cloves (or about 5 cloves--but you'll have to remove these later)
  
• 1 tsp of ground ginger

Add water, sugar and orange zest and juice. Cook until sugar is dissolved. Then add cranberries, cinnamon, cloves and ginger. Bring to a rapid boil then simmer for 20-30 minutes.

Remove the cinnamon stick and allow to chill completely.



OMG! THIS STUFF IS AMAZING! However, I have to wait a few days until I get to add this very festive and delicious goo to my overloaded plate of turkey, mash potatoes and all the fixin's.

Homemade (Starbucks) mocha biscotti

Starbucks is giving out free samples of the new starbucks via instant coffee. So I wanted to make something with it. As it turns out, biscotti was up on the list. I have always heard that making biscotti is a two day event and it super hard to make. As it turns out, it's not hard and I made it in less than 2 hours--including the baking time. I found this recipe here. I made changes as I saw fit.

Gather together:

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon instant coffee granules (Starbucks Mocha Via works amazingly well)
  
• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 3/4 cup white sugar
• 2 eggs (room temperature)
  
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup miniature semisweet chocolate chips
• 1/2 cup chopped walnuts (optional)
  
• 1 egg yolk (to be brushed on the top of the huge biscuit before baking)
  
• 1 tablespoon water (added to egg yolk)
  

Directions

1. Preheat an oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease a baking sheet, or line with parchment paper.
2. Combine the flour, salt, cocoa powder, baking powder, cinnamon, and coffee granules in a bowl. Set aside. Beat the butter and sugar with an electric mixer in a large bowl until smooth. Add the eggs one at a time, allowing each egg to blend into the butter mixture before adding the next. Beat in the vanilla with the last egg. Mix in the flour mixture until just incorporated. Fold in the chocolate chips and walnuts; mixing just enough to evenly combine. Roll out on to baking sheet with a dusted rolling pin in to a rectangle that is about 1 inch high. Beat egg yolk with water in a small bowl. Brush over the top loaf. (feel free to cut in half if you want shorter biscuits--leave room between them so they can bake propperly.)
   
3. Bake in the preheated oven until firm, 20 to 25 minutes. Remove from the oven and cool for 10 to 12 minutes. Reduce oven heat to 300 degrees F (150 degrees C). Cut loaf diagonally into 3/4 inch slices. Place each slice, cut-side up onto the baking sheet. Return to the oven and bake until the biscotti are dry, 10 to 15 minutes on each side. Cool in the pans for 10 minutes before removing to cool completely on a wire rack. Store in an airtight container.

These worked out pretty well. I was surprised. These things are going on the christmas cookie list.