Cranberry Cream Food

CRANBERRY & CREAM CHEESE MUFFINS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 190C/170C fan/gas 5. Line a 12-hole muffin tin with muffin cases. Beat the soft cheese with 25g of the sugar and chill until needed. Heat the cranberries together with another 25g of sugar until they start to pop. Mash lightly and cool.
• Sift the flour into a large bowl and add the remaining sugar, baking powder and a pinch of salt. Add the eggs, oil, vanilla and cranberry mixture, and stir together. Don't worry if the mix looks a bit lumpy. Divide it between the cases, they should look about two-thirds full. Make a small dip in the centre of each and put a blob of soft cheese in. Bake for 25 mins or until risen and golden. Cool on a wire rack.

CRANBERRY CREAM CHEESE SPREAD

Steps:

• Process the cream cheese, cranberry sauce, orange zest and juice until smooth, then pulse in your pecans. Spread on a bagel!

CRANBERRY ORANGE SCONES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, mix 4 cups of flour, 1/4 cup sugar, the baking powder, salt and orange zest. Add the cold butter and mix at the lowest speed until the butter is the size of peas. Combine the eggs and heavy cream and, with the mixer on low speed, slowly pour into the flour and butter mixture. Mix until just blended. The dough will look lumpy! Combine the dried cranberries and 1/4 cup of flour, add to the dough, and mix on low speed until blended.
• Dump the dough onto a well-floured surface and knead it into a ball. Flour your hands and a rolling pin and roll the dough 3/4-inch thick. You should see small bits of butter in the dough. Keep moving the dough on the floured board so it doesn't stick. Flour a 3-inch round plain or fluted cutter and cut circles of dough. Place the scones on a baking pan lined with parchment paper. Collect the scraps neatly, roll them out, and cut more circles.
• Brush the tops of the scones with egg wash, sprinkle with sugar, and bake for 20 to 25 minutes, until the tops are browned and the insides are fully baked. The scones will be firm to the touch. Allow the scones to cool for 15 minutes and then whisk together the confectioners' sugar and orange juice, and drizzle over the scones.

NAN'S CRANBERRY SAUCE

Steps:

• Bring 2 cups of water to a boil, then remove from the heat. Stir in the gelatin until completely dissolved, 1 to 2 minutes. Add 1 cup cold water, the cranberry sauce and pineapple. Mix well, ensuring you break apart any large chunks of the cranberry sauce. Pour into a 9-by-13-inch pan. Cover and place in the refrigerator until firm, 3 1/2 to 4 hours.
• Beat together the cream cheese and powdered sugar with a hand mixer until smooth, about 1 minute. Add the milk and mix until completely combined. The frosting should be thick but still pourable. Carefully spread the cream cheese frosting in a thin layer over the cranberry sauce. Zest the orange directly over the frosting. Serve up in individual squares.

CREAMY CRANBERRY FREEZE

Steps:

• Beat cream cheese, sugar and dressing in large bowl with wire whisk until well blended. Add bananas, cranberry sauce and pecans; mix well. Gently stir in whipped topping.
• Pour into pie crust; cover.
• Freeze several hours or overnight until filling is firm. Store leftover pie in freezer.

CRANBERRY ICE CREAM

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, cook cranberries and water over medium heat until berries pop, about 15 minutes. Strain; discard seeds and skins. Cool completely. Meanwhile, in a large saucepan, heat milk to 175°; stir in sugar until dissolved. Cool. Stir in the cream, juices and cranberry mixture., Fill cylinder of ice cream freezer; freeze according to manufacturer's directions. Refrigerate remaining mixture until ready to freeze. Allow to ripen in ice cream freezer or firm up in the refrigerator freezer for 2-4 hours before serving.

CRANBERRY CREAM PIE

Steps:

• Cover the dried cranberries with boiling water. Let stand for 5 minutes and then drain.
• In a medium heavy-bottomed saucepan, combine the sugar, flour and salt. Gradually stir in the milk and eggs. Cook over medium heat stirring constantly until the mixture thickens and boils. Boil and stir for about 2 minutes. Remove from heat.
• Stir in the sour cream, butter and cranberries; pour mixture into the baked pastry shell. Cover with plastic wrap. Refrigerate overnight.
• Whip the cream until soft peaks form, fold in the confectioners' sugar and vanilla. Swirl over top of the pie. Serve and enjoy!