How to Make Easy Thanksgiving Recipes - Cranberries

Using cranberries to garnish any menu is an easy Thanksgiving recipe. There are so many ways to add the flavor and color to a Thanksgiving menu besides a cranberry sauce. Here are recipes, to go from welcoming guests through dessert, to use cranberries to garnish a Thanksgiving feast.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Cranberry Punch
   
   This punch is for a holiday family get-together. Mix one half at a time to keep the sparkle in the punch.
   
   7½ cup Cranberry juice cocktail
   3¾ cup Orange juice
   22½ oz. Lemon-lime pop
   Whole cranberries
   
   • Mix the orange and cranberry juices in a punch bowl.
   • Slowly pour the lemon-lime pop into the bowl.
   • Float the whole cranberries on the top of the punch.
   
   To create a more festive look place one cranberry into each of the ice cube trays with the water and freeze to make colorful cranberry ice cubes.

2. Jellied Cranberry Salad
   
   1 small package Raspberry Jell-O
   1 cup hot water
   ½ cup orange juice
   1 Orange, peeled and diced
   1½ cups whole cranberry sauce (end)
   ¼ cup Chopped nuts (optional)
   
   • Prepare the raspberry Jell-O as directed using the hot water.
   • Stir until dissolved.
   • Add orange juice and stir.
   • Stir in the orange pieces, cranberry sauce, and nuts.
   • Place in refrigerator until firm.

3. Cranberry and Sausage Stuffing
   
   1 lb. cranberries
   1 cup water
   1½ cups sugar
   1 lb. sausage meat. (Cook until browned with drippings reserved.)
   8 cups crumbled corn bread
   1 cup celery, diced
   1 small chopped onion
   ½ teaspoon of thyme
   1 tablespoon of chopped parsley
   1 unpeeled red apple (Core and chop into thin pieces)
   
   • Cook the cranberries, water and sugar in a saucepan for 10 minutes and drain the juice.
   • Combine cranberries, cooked sausage meat, drippings, and corn bread together and mix. Season with celery, onion, thyme and parsley to taste.
   • Use to stuff turkey or place in a casserole and bake for 60-65 minutes in a 325°F.

4. Pork and Cranberry Pot Roast - Slow Cooker
   
   This Thanksgiving entrée starts long before the guests arrive.
   
   One 4 lb. boneless pork roast
   1 cup cranberries (Chop finely)
   ¼ cup honey
   1 tsp. grated orange peel
   Salt and pepper, ground cloves and nutmeg to taste
   
   • Place roast in slow cooker.
   • Mix the remaining ingredients and pour over the roast.
   • Cover and cook on low for 8-10 hours.

5. Cranberry Pie in the Microwave
   
   Prepare all ingredients before the guests arrive and dessert will be a breeze.
   
   21 oz. apple pie filling
   One baked pie shell
   1 cup fresh cranberries
   1 cup vanilla wafer crumbs
   ½ cup raisins
   ¼ cup chopped walnuts (optional)
   3 Tbsp. brandy
   3 Tbsp. melted butter
   2 Tbsp. brown sugar
   2 Tbsp. water
   ½ tsp. cinnamon
   
   • Combine and mix the cranberries, raisins, brandy, sugar and water into a microwave safe bowl.
   • Cover and microwave for three minute on full power.
   • Stir and let the mixture stand for five minutes.
   • Stir the apple pie filling and cinnamon into the mixture.
   • Pour the mixture into a baked pie shell.
   • Combine the vanilla wafer crumbs, butter and the walnuts and sprinkle on top.
   • Microwave on full power for another three minutes.
   • Allow to cool before serving.

Tips & Warnings

• These easy Thanksgiving recipes, using cranberries, will add color and flavor to whichever Thanksgiving dinner course you serve them.