Cranberry Turtle Bars Dee Dees Food

CHRISTMAS SAUSAGES

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, combine the cranberry sauce, BBQ sauce, soy sauce, mustard, honey, salt and orange zest. Warm over medium-low heat, stirring, until everything is combined. Bring to a low simmer and allow it to bubble gently until slightly thickened, 5 to 7 minutes.
• Add the sausages to the pan and stir. Allow the sausages to warm through, about 5 minutes. Transfer to a chafing dish or warming dish. Serve with toothpicks on the side.

CRANBERRY TURTLE BARS

Steps:

• Make base:
• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Line a 15- by 10-inch shallow baking pan (1 inch deep) with foil, leaving a 2-inch overhang on the 2 short sides. Butter all 4 sides (but not bottom).
• Blend flour, brown sugar, and salt in a food processor, then add butter and pulse until mixture begins to form small (roughly pea-size) lumps. Sprinkle into baking pan, then press down firmly all over with a metal spatula to form an even layer. Bake in middle of oven until golden and firm to the touch, 15 to 17 minutes, then cool in pan on a rack.
• Make topping:
• Melt butter in a 3-quart heavy saucepan over moderate heat and stir in sugar, corn syrup, and salt. Boil over moderately high heat, stirring occasionally, until caramel registers 245°F on thermometer, about 8 minutes. Carefully stir in cranberries, then boil until caramel returns to 245°F. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla, then stir in pecans until well coated. Working quickly, spread caramel topping over base, using a fork to distribute nuts and berries evenly. Cool completely.
• Cut and decorate bars:
• Lift bars in foil from pan and transfer to a cutting board. Cut into 6 crosswise strips, then 6 lengthwise strips to form 36 bars.
• Melt half of chocolate in top of a double boiler or a metal bowl set over a saucepan of barely simmering water, stirring until smooth. Remove bowl from heat and add remaining chocolate, stirring until smooth. Transfer chocolate to a small heavy-duty sealable plastic bag. Seal bag and snip off a tiny piece of 1 corner to form a small hole, then pipe chocolate decoratively over bars. Let stand at room temperature until chocolate sets, about 1 hour.