Welcome to our fabulously festive December Insider. Like you, we think it takes more than holly berries and mistletoe berries to make a Christmas. It takes lots of cranberries too! So gather the clan together and enjoy some cranberry mulled wine and a delicious cranberry mince pie…or two, with Ocean Spray.
Wishing you and yours a very merry Christmas and a sparkling New Year!
The Growers of Ocean Spray |
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| It’s been a busy year for cranberry health research. From studies in Chile that show how cranberry and probiotics could combine to help ward off H Pylori in the stomach, to the news that cooking with cranberry could help stave off food bugs on your barbecue. The health protection message keeps growing. And we’ll be sure to keep you up to date with the very latest health news throughout 2009 – and beyond. |
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The tree is up and lit, the family is gathered together and Dad’s having a doze – don’t you just love Christmas? Here’s a great mulled cranberry recipe that is perfect to leave slowly simmering for those festive evenings when you’re entertaining. For a kid friendly version, simply leave out the wine and double the Cranberry Classic. Cheers!
CRANBERRY MULLED WINE
Makes 6 servings
INGREDIENTS
500ml Ocean Spray Cranberry Classic Juice Drink
500ml (3/4 bottle) dry red wine
teaspoon grated lemon peel
teaspoon grated orange peel
6 whole cardamom seeds
6 cloves
2 sticks of cinnamon
METHOD
Add all ingredients into a large saucepan. Heat until boiling, then reduce the heat and simmer for 15 minutes. Strain punch to remove spices. Serve in a punch glass or mug. |
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The dry yet juicy burst of Craisins® sweetened dried cranberries adds a delicious extra dimension to these festive favourites. Enjoy just as they are, as a treat with a glass of mulled wine or why not serve with some cream or brandy butter as an indulgent dessert?
CRANBERRY MINCE PIES
Makes: 20
Preparation time: 20 minutes plus chilling time
Cooking time: 15-20 minutes
INGREDIENTS
For the mincemeat:
100g/4oz Ocean Spray Craisins® sweetened dried cranberries
1 x 400g jar mincemeat
25g/1oz chopped almonds
For the pastry:
500g/1lb 2oz plain flour
2 tbsp icing sugar
250g/9oz butter, diced
icing sugar for dusting
2 sticks of cinnamon
METHOD
In a small pan, cover the Craisins® with water and bring to the boil. Reduce the heat and simmer for 10 minutes. Leave to cool.
Preheat the oven to 180*C/fan oven 160*C/Gas mark 4. Sift the flour and icing sugar into a large bowl. Add the butter and using fingertips, gently rub in to resemble breadcrumbs. Add 6-7 tbsp of cold water and mix into soft dough. Wrap in polythene film and chill for 10 minutes.
Drain any excess liquid from the Craisins®, mix with the mincemeat and chopped almonds.
Roll pastry to approximately 3mm in thickness and use a 8cm/3 ½ in cutter to make 20 rounds. Line a deep bun tin with the rounds. Spoon approximately 1 ½ tbsp of mincemeat into each case. Use the leftover pastry to cut for the lattice topping. Bake for 15-20 minutes until golden.
And remember you can explore a host of delicious recipes on our website here |
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Congratulations to Sophie Dykes, Hannah Johnson, Judith Newman, Phillip Jones and Paula Barker who all win a hamper of Jordans cereals, a designer bowl and some delicious Ocean Spray Cranberry & Mango Light to toast their success! Thanks to all who entered and look out for another fabulous competition in our next issue. |
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If you’re serving up the traditional turkey roast this Christmas, remember to factor in time for letting the meat rest.
Take the turkey out of the oven, lightly cover in foil and leave it for around half an hour before carving. This lets the meat relax, and makes it easier to slice. Serve with a generous helping of your favourite Ocean Spray cranberry sauce – whether it’s Wholeberry, Smooth or one of the Growers’ Reserve range, our sauce is ready whenever your meat is! |
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Thanks to the keen eyed among you who spotted we had the wrong image for our cranberry and ricotta stuffed turkey recipe last issue. Pictured instead was our equally delicious Cranberry Tarte Tatin, but if you followed our turkey recipe you should have had something that looked more like this. |
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