Cranberry Raspberry Pecan Conserve Food

CRANBERRY CONSERVE

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, combine the cranberries, orange zest, oranges, raisins and water. Cover and simmer over medium heat until cranberries are soft. Add pecans and sugar; stir well. Simmer, uncovered, 10-15 minutes, stirring often. Cool. Spoon into covered containers. Refrigerate. Serve as a relish with poultry or pork, or spread on biscuits or rolls.

CRANBERRY, RASPBERRY, PECAN CONSERVE

Steps:

• In a skillet, toast pecans over medium heat, shaking pan to avoid burning. In about 8 minutes, nuts will become fragrant and smell toasty; remove from heat and chop.
• In a large heavy pot, bring cranberries, raspberries, sugar, lemon juice and zest to a boil. Remove from heat, pour into a ceramic or glass bowl, then cover and refrigerate overnight. If not canning, add pecans and serve.
• If canning, put a rack in a large stockpot or line the pot with a folded kitchen towel. Fill with water and bring to a boil. Add 4 half-pint canning jars or two pint-size canning jars and boil for 10 minutes. Jars may be left in the warm water in the pot until ready to be filled. Alternatively, sterilize the jars by running them through a dishwasher cycle, leaving them there until ready to fill.
• Place canning rings in a small saucepan, cover with water and bring to a boil. Turn off the heat and add the lids to soften their rubber gaskets. Rings and lids may be left in the water until jars are filled.
• Strain the cranberry raspberry mixture through a sieve over a heavy pot, then place the strainer in a bowl to catch any additional syrup. Reserve the fruit solids.
• Bring liquid to a boil. When syrup reaches 220 degrees, or an active boil that cannot be stirred down, add back the fruit and any juices that have accumulated.
• Bring the mixture back to a hard boil, stirring constantly. Add the pecans, and then cook until the conserve is at a boil that cannot be stirred down and has thickened to a jammy consistency.
• Remove the jars from the pot. Ladle hot conserve into the hot jars, leaving 1/2-inch head space.
• Wipe jar rims with a damp towel. Place lids on jars, screw on rings and lower jars back into the pot of boiling water. Return to a full boil and boil the jars for 15 minutes for half pints, 20 minutes for pints. Transfer jars to a folded towel and allow to cool for 12 hours; you should hear jars ping as they seal.
• Once cool, test seals by removing rings and lifting jars by the flat lid. If the lid releases, the seal has not formed. Unsealed jars should be refrigerated and used within a month, or reprocessed. Rings and jars may be reused, but a new flat lid must be used each time jars are processed. To reprocess, reheat conserve to boiling, then continue as before.

CRANBERRY FRUIT CONSERVE

Steps:

• Cook the cranberries, sugar, and 1 cup of water in a saucepan over low heat for about 5 minutes, or until the skins pop open. Add the apple, zests, and juices and cook for 15 more minutes. Remove from the heat and add the raisins and nuts. Let cool, and serve chilled.

CRANBERRY CONSERVE

Steps:

• Drain liquid from strawberries into 3-quart saucepan, reserving berries. Add sugar and water, bring to boil, stirring to dissolve sugar. Add cranberries, ginger, peel and cinnamon. Return to boil; reduce heat and simmer 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Stir in reserved strawberries. Remove from heat, cool. Spoon into jars, cover and refrigerate up to 1 month. Serve as accompaniment to hot or cold meats or poultry.

CRANBERRY-PORT CONSERVE

Steps:

• Combine cranberries, sugar and Port in heavy large saucepan. Bring mixture to boil over medium-high heat, stirring until sugar dissolves. Reduce heat to medium-low; add chopped orange and simmer until cranberries burst and mixture thickens slightly, about 15 minutes. Mix in dried currants. Cool cranberry conserve completely. Stir in chopped walnuts. (Cranberry conserve can be prepared 3 days ahead. Cover tightly and refrigerate.)

CRANBERRY PECAN SALAD

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Spread pecans evenly on a baking sheet. Toast for 8 to 10 minutes, or until lightly browned and fragrant.
• In a small bowl, stir together the vinegar, mustard, sugar, salt, and pepper; mix until sugar and salt dissolve. Whisk in olive oil.
• In a salad bowl, toss together the greens, cranberries, pecans, onions, and cheese. Drizzle with vinaigrette, and toss gently to coat.

PEAR CRANBERRY CONSERVE

Steps:

• In a 6 qt saucepan combine pears, cranberries, sugar, water, lemon juice, orange peel, cinnamon and allspice. Bring to a boil over medium high heat, stirring until sugar dissolves. Boil gently, stirring frequently, for 20-25 min or until the mixture is thickened and sheets off a metal spoon. (Dip a metal spoon in the boiling mixture and it will slide off in sheets rather then dip off - if its the right consistency).
• Ladle hot mixture into jars, leaving 1/2 inch head space. Wipe off rims and adjust lids till finger tight.
• Process jars in a water bath canner for 10 minutes.

CRANBERRY FRUIT CONSERVE

Steps:

• Cook cranberries, sugar and 1 cup water in saucepan over low heat for 5 minutes until the skins pop and the berries are all open and mixture comes to a slow boil. Stir to quicken the process. Add the remaining ingredients except raisins and nuts and cook 15-20 minuets stirring constantly to prevent any burning. Apple pieces should become incorporated into the mixture and become barely visible. Remove from heat and mix in nuts and raisins. Place mixture when cool in serving container and chill. Nuts and raisins can be omitted if desired for a more traditional cranberry blend. For a thicker, jellied consistency cook the mixture longer over low heat to reduce liquid approximately 30-45 minutes - stirring to avoid burning, omit the raisins and nuts for a traditional jelly. Makes approximately 4 cups.