Tasty Tuesday

             Another Christmas favorite is the cranberry, a berry that really gets over looked, not only is it good for you but you can do so much with it! I use it year round in muffins but it gets a workout this time of the year. A family tradition is my Christmas pie and Christmas jam so I thought I'd share both recipes with you today, because it's all berry good! lol

Christmas Jam

2 c. cranberries
1 orange, peeled & quartered
16 oz. frozen strawberries, thawed
3 c. sugar
3 oz. liquid pectin
5 half pint jars (ready to fill)
Coarsely grind cranberries and orange sections in a food processor. Spoon into a heavy saucepan, add strawberries and sugar. Bring mixture to a full boil, stirring for one min. Remove from heat and stir in pectin, skim off foam. Pour into prepared jars and process for 10 min. Makes 5- 1/2 pints

     Get creative with the jars too, make them merry and bright!  This jam is so good and who ever receives a jar will be jolly! Now, onto the pie, who doesn't love pie? We love pie in our family and this one is a tasty tradition, been making it for decades

Christmas Pie

Pastry for 2 crust pie
3 c. fresh cranberries
2 Tbsp. flour
2. c. sugar
2/3 c. water
1 c. raisins
2 tsp. grated lemon peel
2 Tbsp. butter
Remove stems from cranberries and wash well. Combine flour and sugar to a saucepan. Stir in cranberries, water, raisins and lemon peel. Cover and cook till cranberries start to pop. Remove from heat and add butter. Cool to lukewarm. Pour filling into prepared pie shell and top with top crust. Bake in a 425 oven for 40-50 min. or till juices start to bubble or crust turns brown. Cool. 

      Have you ever iced a pie? This works best with apple pie but any two crust pie will do, cream cheese frosting tastes the best too, just spread a thin layer on top of a warm pie and allow to stand till frosting sets a little. Just make sure your pie isn't too warm. I tried this for fun many years ago on a apple pie, it was the best pie I ever made and now a favorite of mine! Enjoy!