Cranberry Festive Sparkler Food

CHRISTMAS CRANBERRIES

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, combine cranberries, sugar, orange juice and bourbon. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, until berries pop and mixture has thickened, 18-22 minutes., Remove from heat. Stir in vanilla and orange zest. Ladle hot mixture into 4 hot half-pint jars, leaving 1/4-in. headspace. Remove air bubbles and adjust headspace, if necessary, by adding hot mixture. Wipe rims. Center lids on jars; screw on bands until fingertip tight., Place jars into canner with simmering water, ensuring that they are completely covered with water. Bring to a boil; process for 15 minutes. Remove jars and cool.

FESTIVE CRANBERRY DRINK

Steps:

• In a Dutch oven, combine cranberries and 1 qt. water. Cook over medium heat until berries pop, about 15 minutes. Remove from the heat. Strain through a fine strainer, pressing mixture with a spoon; discard skins. Return cranberry pulp and juice to the pan. , Stir in the sugar, juices, Red Hots and remaining water. Place cloves on a double thickness of cheesecloth. Bring up corners of cloth and tie with kitchen string to form a bag; add to juice mixture. Bring to a boil; cook and stir until sugar and Red Hots are dissolved. , Remove from the heat. Strain through a fine mesh sieve or cheesecloth. Discard spice bag. Serve drink warm or cold.

CRANBERRY SPARKLER

Steps:

• Place blackberry puree and cranberry juice in a champagne flute. Add sparkling water to fill. Garnish with mint.

CRANBERRY ORANGE ICED TEA SPARKLER

Steps:

• Bring 1 quart water to a boil, then remove from the heat and add the tea bags. Steep the tea, dunking the bags occasionally, 10 minutes. Remove the tea bags. Add the cranberry juice and stir. Refrigerate until chilled completely, about 1 hour.
• Fill a tall glass a third of the way with the cranberry tea, then fill the rest of the way with the Italian orange soda. Add a heaping tablespoon of the cranberry cubes. Garnish with an orange zest curl and serve. Repeat with 11 more glasses and the remaining ingredients.

CRANBERRY SPRITZ

Steps:

• Pour 50ml cranberry juice into two champagne coups or wine glasses. Divide the orange juice between them, then stir.
• Add 3 sage leaves and an ice cube or two to each glass, then top up with the sparkling grape juice.