It's that time again, huh? The holiday season. I am nearing the end of my fall quarter with tired fingers and a worn-out brain. I'm ready for the enchantment of the holidays---- more so than ever!
Once again, I'm attempting the impossible this holiday season: making most of my gifts. Since I cannot fabricate video games, and they seem to be a mainstay on my childrens' wishlists, I cannot join The Handmade Pledge.
First up on my holiday gift-making list are slippers. I'm making cushy, comfy wool slippers with these fleece-lined suede soles for the whole family. The soles aren't cheap but I had enough yarn in my stash to make the knitted portion of the slippers without any further spending. There are store-bought versions available, but I'm making my gifts! :-)
Gifts from my kitchen are one of my favorites and I have a few kitchen projects in the works; such as Limoncello, a fancy and flavorful thai peanut sauce (I might post my recipe soon), candied grapefruit peels, and some of this homemade garlic salt with rosemary added to it. Mmmm. I'm currently on the lookout for fancy bottles and containers...
I discovered the yum that is fresh cranberry salsa over turkey and jack cheese quesadillas. I used this recipe for the cranberry salsa and I will be making it over and over again! So good.
And finally, we enjoyed these Cranberry Margaritas over the Thanksgiving weekend. I switched up the recipe a bit but it originally appeared in the December issue of Sunset magazine.
Cranberry Margaritas
1 ¼ “Just Cranberry” Juice (the non-sweetened variety), divided
½ C. sugar, divided
1 ½ C. (6 oz.) fresh or frozen cranberries, rinsed
¾ C. fresh lime juice
¾ C. tequila
½ C. oranged-flavored liqueur, such as Cointreau
3 C. coarsely crushed ice
~ Pour 1/4 C. Cranberry juice into a a shallow bowl. Pour 3 T. sugar onto a plate. Dip rims of 4-6 wide-mouthed glasses into juice, then sugar. Set glasses aside.
~Cook the fresh or frozen cranberries with the remaining sugar until the cranberries pop and are tender. Let cool. In a blender, whirl the cranberry/sugar mixture, cranberry juice, lime juice, tequila, orange liqueur, and the ice until smooth and slushy. If necessary, blend in 2 batches, then mix together. Divide among glasses and toast to the season!
serves 4
