Cranberry Bread

2c flour
1c sugar
1 1/2t baking powder
1t salt
1/2t baking soda
1/4c butter
1 egg
1t orange zest
3/4c orange juice
1c golden raisins
1 1/2 c fresh cranberries, chopped
1/2c powdered sugar

~sift the first 5 ingredients.
~cut in the butter until mixture is crumbly.
~add egg, zest and juice. stir to moisten.
~fold in raisins and cranberries.
~pour into a loaf pan and bake at 350 for 1hr 10 min.
~cool 15" before removing from pan.
~make a simple glaze with the powdered sugar plus a LITTLE water.
~glaze immediately after removing from pan.

Heidi's Grandmother's recipe.
makes 1 loaf

Cranberry Bliss Bars

cake:
2 sticks butter, softened
1 1/4c brown sugar
3 eggs
1t ground ginger
1t vanilla
1/4t salt
1 1/2c flour
1/4c dried cranberries, minced
1/4c white chocolate chips
1/4c candied ginger, minced
zest of 1 orange

frosting:
4 oz cream cheese
1 1/2c powdered sugar
2T butter
1t vanilla

garnish:
2T dried cranberries, minced
2T candied ginger, minced
1/3c white chocolate, melted

~beat butter and sugar.
~add eggs and vanilla and beat until fluffy.
~add flour, salt, ginger and orange zest. mix to combine.
~fold in the  berries, candied ginger and chocolate.
~spread batter (will be thick) into a jelly roll pan and bake at 350 for 20-25", or until lightly golden.
~cool.
~mix all ingredients for frosting together.
~spread onto the cooled cake and top with berries and ginger.
~drizzle the melted chocolate over all of it and allow to cool.

serves 12-16
recipe from marianne

Thanksgiving Turkey

20# turkey
1 1/4c martinelli's cider (apple or cranberry)
1 cube butter, melted
1T salt
1/4c sugar
1/4c black pepper (no, that is not a typo. one quarter cup)
6 cloves garlic
2 apples, quartered
1 turkey sized (jumbo) baking bag
1 T flour

~wash the turkey and prep the turkey for baking.

~reserve the neck. give the organ parts to the dogs/cats.
~cut off the wings and reserve for making the gravy.
~place the apples in the cavity.
~sprinkle the inside of the baking bag with the flour.
~slide the turkey into the bag.
~add all the remaining ingredients and tie the end of the bag closed (use the zip tie).
~carefully rotate the bag and contents to baste the whole turkey, inside and out.
~place it all into a roasting pan and cut 4 slits in the top of the bag.
~bake at 350 for about 5 hours (1 hour for 5# of meat) or use a pop up timer and remove when it pops up.
~remove form the oven and wrap the entire situation in towels. use several and tuck them all over and around  so that the heat is trapped.
~let set on the counter for several hours (this technique is similar to the old hay box of days gone by).
~when ready to serve, remove the towels. the turkey should still be PIPING HOT.
~carve, serve and enjoy.

gravy:
~heat a bit of olive oil in a dutch oven.
~add the wings and neck and brown well.
~remove the meat and add 1c of water. deglaze the pan.
~return the meat and add 2 lg onions, 3 carrots and 3 celery sticks (all quartered).
~cover with water and simmer for several hours (reduce the liquid by about 1/2.
~remove meat and veg.
~cool and then strain off most of the fat.
~use a shaker jar to mix 2/3c flour and 1/2c water.
~bring broth to a boil.
~add a dash of kitchen bouquet.
~slowly add the flour mixture to thicken (you may need more if your batch of gravy is large).
~salt and pepper to taste.

serves 12+
recipe from wendy mcd