Thursday, November 24, 2011

Cranberry Concoction

My Cranberry Concoction.
     Today was Thanksgiving and I  was was very lucky to have been invited to a beautiful home, where the owners had, what they called, an Orphans Thanksgiving.Anyone who had no where to go was welcome.It was so nice to be included, as I was kind of an Orphan. My Family had all gone to in-laws and that kinda left me out. The people who were the host, have a very interesting home. They have traveled all over the world and there home reflects this travel. It is so much fun and they are so generous and love sharing it. It is hard to believe it is here in Middle American. I was asked to bring cranberries, and this is the concoction I dreamed up. I do not do a lot of cooking, as I live alone and it just is not fun ,to cook just for yourself. I have lived alone all my adult life ,so I have always looked for short cuts, simi-homemade and instant things that are easy and good. I just  love jellied cranberry sauce out of the can. I eat it all during the year. I know  a lot of people roll there eyes at the thought of canned cranberry. If you do, I am sorry, maybe you should not read the rest of this.But I promise you, if you try this, you will like it.
   What I made today is very easy. Only takes a few minutes and it really is good. I love it on  the second day  with  a slice of bread and left over turkey. It is just plain good. All you need is an 8 ounce package of softened cream cheese, 3/4 cup of miracle whip , 3 cans of jellied cranberry sauce and 1/2 cup of chopped pecans. Mix the pecans, miracle whip and cream cheese together till smooth and blended. Cut the top out of the cranberry sauce cans and use a table knife to loosen the edges and dump it out onto a plate. Cut about 1/2 inch thick slices of the cranberry sauce, hold a slice  in the palm of your hand, spread some of the above mixture and place on a plate. Continue to do this till all is gone.Arrange in a long line, kinda like a log.  Sprinkle the top with a few chopped pecans.Of course you can make less, just use less of all the above. We had about 15 people today and it was mostly all gone.
    I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving. I know every one had beautiful food and family. You might want to try this with Christmas coming up. Not only is it easy, it taste good and is very pretty on the plate.. So with that, I leave you with an invitation to come anytime to tour, My Old Historic House. I will always leave the lights on and Sissy Dog will always meet you with a jump and a kiss.
   I have been working very hard for the past few nights helping two of my dearest friends, transform there house for the Christmas Holidays. I have before pictures and soon as it is done, I will do a blog. It has been quite a ride, from moving furniture to hanging the Christmas  greens. Keep watching, it is coming soon.

Only takes four  ingredients.

An Oval dish with shallow sides works well for serving.

My Friends and Thanksgiving Hosts House.

Lots of African Art and See the Leopard Skin to the Right?

This wonderful Library

Russian Icons.

Asian Cabinets and African Pottery

And Plenty of food to be Thankful for.

26 comments:

Pamela Gordon said...

That recipe does sound good. I'm glad you had someone to share Thanksgiving dinner with. Blessings, Pamela

FABBY'S LIVING said...

Oh my dear Richard, that recipe sounds great, I do things with the canned ones too! You look like you had a great time at your hostesse's home with all that great food and interesting home. Thanks for sharing such nice pics. Happy Thanksgiving and may you be blessed always! FABBY

Pearl said...

My best buddy does the same thing except he has all the orphans at his house. It's such a sweet thing to do. Your recipe looks yumo! Happy Turkey kid, Hugs, Pearl

Glenda/MidSouth said...

Sounds and looks good - thanks for sharing. Our big meal is yet to come due to other family obligations.
Happy Thanksgiving!!

Marcia said...

Looks and sounds like a great recipe, Richard. I love jellied cranberry sauce any ole time, too. I've found that if you cut both top and bottom out of the can, it slips right out. I'm sure you had a great time today!

Entertaining Women said...

My son-in-law called me yesterday to make sure that I had bought a can of jellied cranberry sauce. He and I eat it every year. It makes me smile that you can see the ridges from the can when it's transferred to the serving dish. I like your Mary Hadley platter. It looks like you had a wonderful group with whom to share your Thanksgiving; I'm glad to know. Thanks for inviting us for a peak at your holiday celebration. Cherry Kay

Pam B said...

So glad that you had a wonderful Thanksgiving, Richard. Sometimes those "orphan" get-togethers are better than the traditional ones...no family baggage! LOL

Hugs,
Pam

Sissysmom said...

Sounds like you had a great Thanksgiving. I'm not a fan of canned cranberry sauce, but my Dad eats it all year long. I'll have to try your recipe for him.

I make a cranberry salad for Thanksgiving and Christmas that is pretty simple. It's one bag of fresh cranberries, one orange, one apple and a large box of orange jello. You grind the cranberries, orange and apple in a meat grinder or food processor. Make the jello with half of the amount of water, mix all together add sugar to taste then refrigerate until set. I love it spread on top of my turkey.

Give Sissy Dog a pat on the head from me!

Michele

Gary said...

Richard,
I don’t think “we” are alone in our fondness for jellied cranberry sauce, if we were it would not be on the store shelves, lol. And like yourself I eat it through out the year and now with your recipe copied and pasted on a recipe card I feel I will be eating even more, thank you for post this wonderful “concoction”.
It was pleasant to hear that you had such a nice Thanksgiving Day celebration and your host truly be wonderful friends and apparently mirror your own friendliness. – gary

Curtains in My Tree said...

Well Richard
I had my canned jellied cranberry sauce also just for me at Thanksgiving dinner. My Daughter said Mom where is your cranberry sauce ? LOL she never has ate it and I always took a can to her house in years past and I was the only eater of cranberry sauce from a can. She wanted to make sure I bought some for me.
I always love having dinner with my other orphans at Christmas sometimes. since I have grandbabies I always have Christmas with them now.
I see Nancy in the picture. Maybe I will get to see that Africian art in person sometime
I can't wait to see what you did at Marily's and Haines house I know it will be so elaborate

I hope Sissy had a bone to chew on

Deb @ Lavender Garden Cottage said...

I love your "orphans" dinner! I used to throw "homeless" dinners for anyone who didn't have some where to go for Thanksgiving. It became so popular that even people who did have a place to go would stop by afterwards. Thanks for the fond memories!

Priscilla said...

I love the idea of an orphan party. I'm glad you had such a great experience with friends.
So many of us are living alone after a "certain age". I think the thing I miss most about being alone is not being able to cook big meals. I'm so out of practice, I bet I couldn't even do it successfully anymore.

Sweet Old Vintage said...

I would love your Cranberries... It is nice to have others to share with... This is a wonderful idea.... will you be sharing your lovely home decorated for Christmas ? I don't know if you do Christmas tours ?

Anonymous said...

Hi Richard! I'm so glad you weren't alone for Thanksgiving and your friend's home is lovely. Your dish looks so good. I've never seen a cranberry sauce dish like this. I'm lazy and always get my cranberry sauce from a can! ;)
Hope your Thanksgiving was wonderful.
Be a sweetie,
Shelia :)

Charlotte Wilson said...

Richard,
I am so happy that you had a good time on Thanksgiving!It was good to see photos of your hosts' house.
Your dish looks wonderful and you served it on a Mary Hadley plate! I love Mary Hadley. I started collecting her pieces when I was a young girl in my 20's. They are so whimsical!

Hugs,

♥charlotte

Charlotte Wilson said...

Ooops, I forgot to say that my family loves the canned jellied cranberry sauce...they love to cut the slices.

Love Of Quilts said...

Good looking concoction one I would have liked. Trish

PAINTORDIG.blogspot.com said...

I have to try this! It does sound delicious.I love those Russian icans, just beautiful.

Tara said...

The Asian cabinets are gorgeous! Your cranberries sound yummy to me. My family always uses the canned variety. They are yummy with mayo and cream cheese on turkey sandwiches. Happy Pink!

Bohemian said...

I'm so glad you had a lovely Thanksgiving with Friends Richard. What an interesting Home they have... great Russian Icon Collection and those Asian Cabinets really caught my eye!

Blessings from the Arizona Desert... Dawn... The Bohemian

LANA said...

Canned cranberry (only Ocean Spray, no other brand, there IS a difference), has always been my favorite. I love it on a turkey sandwich. I just may try yours for Christmas Eve. Your friend's house is amazing, I love the vintage portraits and the library.

Lottie said...

Richard, what wonderful friends you have! Glad you had a great Thanksgiving! Your cranberry concoction sounds wonderful! I prefer it with the ridges, too!

Blessings,
Lottie

Unknown said...

What good is a home if it can't be shared..so happy your neighbors shared their home with you. And I grew up on Ocean Spray canned jellied cranberry sauce and cant be without it. Have made other ways but family insist's it be canned! Blessing for tomorrow...

La Vie Quotidienne said...

This recipe sounds very good and would be wonderful included in a turkey sandwich. Happy that you had such an interesting Thanksgiving, it looks to be a fascinating home to visit.

Sherry @ No Minimalist Here said...

Richard, I also love the canned cranberry sauce and we eat it year round with chicken and pork. This recipe sounds wonderful and I will be serving it at Christmas. Thanks for sharing. I can't wait to see this wonderful home decorated for Christmas.
Hugs,
Sherry

lvroftiques said...

Richard thanks for the heads up on this post! There aren't very many blogs where I fret when I miss a post but yours is at the top of that list *winks*
No kidding your friends have very eclectic well traveled taste! I'm lovin' that library!
Also don't tell anyone OK? But I too love canned cranberry sauce *Shhhhhhh* That's what my mama served since I was a kid and that's what I still think of as cranberrys. Your cranberry salad looks delish! And I can just taste it on a turkey sammy... Yummmm!

Thanks for giving me your opinion on the powder room Richard. I like the wallpaper idea (sounds easy) As usual I'm having the debate with the hubster over painting wood *winks* He HATES to ever paint wood! I almost always do too, but in this case the mirror had been used (prior to my buying it) in somebodys home bar and they screwed holes right through it to hang it on the wall. The holes are pretty large and they also had a mirrored piece at the top that said "BAR" So I HAD to take that off, and the finish was really rough behind it. Hence my begging for advice lol! So thanks again my friend. I always appreciate your opinion and help. Vanna