SNOW…I knew we got some overnight because I could see that eerie glow through the blinds when I woke up this morning…not enough to close down the schools for the day but plenty to drive the kids into a frenzy and cause a 2-hour delay. Areas of the school district are hilly and the buses can’t make it if there is even a dusting of the slick stuff. It’s beautiful now but in about 2 hours it will be grey, slushy… and SLICK. Oregon drivers are terrible in the snow and either drive like old grandma’s (that’s me…LOL) or like crazy people who think their pickup trucks don’t need to slow down at all and pass the old grandma’s as if we are standing still. I can already hear sirens racing up and down the main streets to check out the fender benders that will take place all morning…that’s just the way it is here.
This is a good morning for me to stay home and do a little extra baking for the weekend. My son is going on a ski trip to Big Sky, Montana for the holiday so we are going to celebrate our Christmas with him on Saturday. I want to send him off with a big box of cookies and this snowy morning is a good time to start putting it together.
I love cranberries and CRANBERRY CURD is right up there with LEMON CURD on my list of favorite sweets. It’s silky smooth with a sweet tart flavor and can be used in so many delicious way…just like its lemony cousin. Try it on top of your favorite cheesecake (store bought works great and guests will think you make the entire dessert yourself). Make a heavenly cranberry mousse by folding whipped cream into the curd and spooning it into your best parfait glasses… spread it on warm biscuits or scones for Christmas brunch. Substitute CRANBERRY CURD for lemon curd in your favorite bar cookie recipe. I added pecans to the shortbread base I usually use and topped it with cranberry curd and a sliver of candied orange peel to accentuate the citrus in the curd. Don’t they look like CHRISTMAS?
Add a few extra bags of fresh CRANBERRIES to your shopping list this week. They freeze well and then you can enjoy them the rest of the year in chutneys, sauces and desserts. Cranberries are like pumpkin pie…we all love them but out of habit only enjoy them a few weeks out of the year. Homemade cranberry sauce is delicious with barbecued chicken and a good CRANBERRY CAKE is a real treat on a summer picnic.
- 5 cups fresh cranberries
- ¾ cup orange juice
- 7 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1-2/3 cups sugar
- 6 large eggs, lightly beaten
- Combine cranberries and orange juice in a saucepan. Cook over low heat until the cranberries pop, about 10 minutes. Press through a fine meshed sieve. Discard solids.
- Return the puree to the saucepan. Add the butter and sugar and slowly melt. Stir a little of the warm cranberry mixture into the eggs to temper them. Pour the warmed eggs into the puree. Cook over low heat, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon until the mixture thickens and coats the back of a spoon, about 10 minutes. Strain again through a fine meshed sieve. Pour into 5 half-pint jars. Cool and refrigerate.
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FOODIE FRIDAY at Rattlebridge Farm
FRIDAY FOOD FRENZY at Close to Home
Nothing like a little snow to excite the kids, even us old ones.
Larry recently posted..Posole
Very interesting recipe. Definitely caught my eye when I saw the title.
Snow…it shuts down the state here in MS.
These look AMAZING! I adore lemon curd, and I’ve made grapefruit curd, but never thought to try cranberry. The color alone is enough to tempt me. Enjoy your snow, all we ever get is rain!
Sue/the view from great island recently posted..Spiced Pear and Walnut Chutney
Wow, who ever thought of cranberry curd? You, obviously, and now we all know about this colorful, delicious treat.
ciaochowlinda recently posted..Torino and Salone Del Gusto
I love making cranberry curd a lot this time of year & your recipe sounds really good! Yummy yum & so versatile to use too! 🙂
I agree with you on drivers, snow and Oregon–well at least western Oregon 🙂 The snow itself was wonderful and I hope we get a lot more!
Love, love, love the sound (and look) of your cranberry curd!
Blessings,
Aimee
So beautiful! What a great idea. I absolutely love the cran orange combo. Have a wonderful holiday.
Virtually Homemade – Liz recently posted..Fried Brussels Sprouts with Crispy Parsley and Parmesan
And I thought that lemon curd would be my all-time favorite…..but now, this cranberry curd just might beat it! Love it on the shortbread Cathy!!!
Merry Christmas!
Roz recently posted..Special Announcement!
Ooh, your cranberry curd is so pretty and I adore cranberries. The first snow fall is always the prettiest. Glad it’s you, not us, that got the snow. I made my husband promise we would never be cold again, so we head south as soon as it gets too cold for flip flops or deck shoes 🙂
Sam
Sam @ My Carolina Kitchen recently posted..Chicken Marbella recreated into cocktail food for a party buffet
We have a ton of snow today too. It is pretty but treacherous! I have never had cranberry curd before — I know I would love it! Joni
Snow, huh? And down here we’re having a mini pre-Xmas heatwave!!! Your cranberry curd looks & sounds delectable – but sourcing fresh cranberries in OZ is almost impossible so I’ll have to enjoy it virtually!!!
Red Nomad OZ recently posted..The Ghoulish Guide of Cutta Cutta Caves!
I had never heard of this:) It’s beautiful:)Thank you:)
Snow here..and no power..8 am until 5 pm..~
And snow it goes~:)
Monique recently posted..Peace On Earth~
Your cookies are just beautiful Cathy! The cranberry curd sounds like a great new way to use up that leftover bag of cranberries in the freezer:@)
I have never thought of cranberry curd. It looks and sounds delicious.
Marilyn recently posted..Finally – A British Holiday Tea – 2012
We had some snow last week, but this week the weather has suddenly become very mild.
The curd looks delish!
Angie@Angie’s Recipes recently posted..Poppy Striped Cookies
Hi Cathy, wow, I would have never thought of cranberry curd but it’s a wonderful idea, so many great ideas of ways to use it. Oh, and those shortbread bars look absolutely amazing, I love it all!
The Café Sucré Farine recently posted..Perfect White Cupcakes (IN PINK) w/ Best-Ever Buttercream Icing (IN PINK!) for Lilly
So true about drivers. Same thing in NC. I am from snow country (Michigan) originally and am always amazed at how crazy people drive in the snow. Cranberry curd sounds great. I just made something with lemon curd. Happy holidays Cathy.
Penny recently posted..Rugelach and Other Cookies
wow I have never heard of cranberry curd before! It sounds tart and yummy! Sorry about the bad weather though.
Rhonda recently posted..The Best Thing I Ever Made – Salsa
I have not heard of cranberry curd before, but I’m adding more cranberries to my grocery list to try this. Sounds so delicious Cathy!
We are having blizzard style winds and cold right now, but just a spattering of snow is on the ground so far. I think most of the white stuff is north of us, but it’s so windy the windows are rattling.
Lynda recently posted..Tiger Butter – A Yummy Peanut Butter and Chocolate Candy
We didn’t get much at all but it was so nice to see the flakes falling from the sky! The curd looks amazing Cathy and so do the bars!
Happy holidays Cathy!
Pam recently posted..Egg Drop Soup
My mouth is watering just thinking about this… yum!
Karen recently posted..Homemade Granola
I love lemon curd, have added grapefruit and orange to the list to try… But cranberry?! Be still my heart!! I LOVE cranberry!!! I must make this. You’re a genius. So glad I saw you at Foodie Friday!
~April @DimplesandDelights
April recently posted..7 Layer Cookies
Cranberry curd, what a great idea! Of course, I’m probably not the only one who’s only ever tried lemon curd, but this really sounds uniquely delish. Adding it to the top of shortbread sounds stunning. Yum! Found your blog today from the Blog Maven.
Jelli recently posted..Mommy Brain Mixer’s Moving In!
I have never heard of cranberry curd either, but loving cranberries as I do, I love the idea! What a gorgeous color!
Susan recently posted..Danish Almond Wreath Cookies