I've never understood the appeal of cranberries. Growing up, our parents served both styles for Thanksgiving dinner. The lumpy canned kind with whole cranberries (sorry mom...did you make those from scratch and I just forgot? If you did they were amazing!), and the slimy canned kind in the shape of a..er...can. I always put both a little of both on my plate as they were passed around because you had to, right? It's a tradition. You put everything handed to you on your plate whether you liked it or not. You might not eat some of it, but you sure as hell better take some.
This year, I'm drinking my cranberries before dinner. I refuse to put any form of cranberries anywhere near the food on my dish. If someone tries to say, "Hey, cheater. You don't have any cranberries on your plate! Why should the rest of us have to suffer while you just sit there smugly without them?", my response will simply be, "Oh but you're mistaken. I already drank my cranberries before dinner and they were wonderful. Pass the gravy please?" It's really so nice to be a grown up.
Cran Opener ½ ounce bourbon 1 ounce cranberry juice 1 ounce pomegranate juice 5 ounces prosecco Squeeze of lemon juice Whole cranberries and lemon twist garnish
Directions Combine the bourbon, cranberry juice, pomegranate juice, and lemon juice in a champagne flute. Mix with a spoon, then tip your glass to the side and add the prosecco. Garnish with cranberries and a twist of lemon.
Grateful Red 2 ounces sweetened chai tea 1.5 ounces cranberry juice 2 ounces spiced rum ½ ounce lemon juice
Directions To make the tea, steep one chai tea bag in one cup of hot water. Add a tablespoon of sugar and stir until it dissolves. Allow to cool before using. Once it's room temperature or chilled, combine the tea, cranberry juice, spiced rum, and lemon juice in a martini shaker filled with ice. Shake well and strain into a glass filled with ice. Garnish with a lemon slice and whole cranberries.
Happy Go Lucky
¾ ounce amaretto
½ ounce blackberry simple syrup
¼ ounce lemon juice
1.5 ounces cranberry juice
5 ounce champagne
Blackberry Simple Syrup Directions Combine one cup sugar with one cup water and one cup blackberries. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer for fifteen to twenty minutes, stirring periodically. Strain into a measuring pitcher and use once cooled.
Directions Combine the amaretto, cranberry juice, blackberry simple syrup, and lemon juice in a champagne flute. Mix with a spoon, then tip your glass to the side and add the champagne. Garnish with blackberries and lemon.
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