cranberries

When it comes to Thanksgiving, the humble salad is not one of the spectacular standout sides. It's overshadowed by more showy dishes like creamy mashed potatoes with rich giblet gravy or melt-in-your-mouth stuffing with juicy sausage. However, with interesting ingredients and a proper homemade vinaigrette, the salad can be transformed into a side worthy of competing with the best potatoes and stuffing.
Follow this recipe for a beet and butternut squash salad and you'll end up with a remarkably textured and flavorful salad that's pretty to look at and satisfying to eat. The dried cranberry dressing that coats the vegetables, leafy greens, and crunchy pumpkin seeds are sheer perfection, and the liberal shaving of salty parmesan is the ideal garnish. To check out this seasonal salad recipe, keep reading.

Preparing Thanksgiving dinner for a crowd is no small feat — so come turkey day, take any opportunity that arises to make things easier on yourself in the kitchen. Add to the festivities by pouring guests a seasonal cocktail that makes use of ingredients you're apt to already have on hand, like sparkling wine, orange juice, and fresh cranberries. I happened to have tangerine juice and leftover Rosé in my fridge, so I used that instead; the outcome was a deeper blush color. Want a basic, adaptable drink recipe that'd be delicious at the Thanksgiving table? Then read on.

Only a couple weeks ago, Party made a delicious black bean quinoa, and ever since then I've had a hankering for quinoa salad. Recently, I found red quinoa which is very similar to regular quinoa, but with a stunning color.

This uncomplicated recipe combines quinoa, avocado, dried fruit, and nuts dressed in a tart lemon vinaigrette. I didn't have raisins on hand, so I used cranberries and they proved to be a perfect substitute.

This protein-packed dish is a great side or an easy lunch. The salad is nutty, fruity, creamy, and full of satisfying texture. If you want to experiment with quinoa, keep reading for the recipe.

With the baking and gift-giving hysteria that surrounds a holiday like Christmas each year, one would think there'd be more drinks dedicated to Dec. 25. I've always been surprised that only few classic yuletide tipples, beyond the requisite eggnog, mulled cider, and spiked hot chocolate, exist.

Hopefully, the Kentucky Christmas is a forerunner of a holiday trend to come in the following years. Made with fresh cranberries, organic cranberry juice, and bourbon, this festive, jewel-toned cocktail tastes crisp, oh-so-slightly tart, and not overly sweet. Celebrate Christmas cocktail hour in style when you read on.

A special Christmas brunch should end with a stunning dessert. Instead of serving something that requires last-minute attention, plate slices of a cranberry vanilla coffeecake that can be made on Christmas Eve.

It will fill the house with an enticing aroma and get your family excited for the breakfast. Although vanilla beans are expensive, it's a necessary splurge for this flavorful and moist cake.

A layer of zesty cranberry filling is the pleasant surprise that makes this cake festive and celebratory. To get the recipe, read more

Welcome to the eighth project in my 12 DIYs of Christmas series! My cranberry candle wraps are kind of a no-brainer. But they're also a great way to add a little Christmas color to your décor without going over the top or spending too much money. This project uses fresh cranberries, which may go bad in a week or two, so this weekend is a great time to make them.

Supplies:

• Pillar candles
• Candlesticks (for pillar candles)
• 1 bag of cranberries
• Craft wire (about .003 mm gauge)
• Wire cutters or scissors

To learn the steps, read more

There's still time to make an impressive and elegant Thanksgiving dessert. Surprise guests with a cool and light treat that doesn't involve pumpkin, but rather Thursday's other starring fruit, cranberry. This fluffy cranberry mousse takes only 20 minutes to come together. Cream cheese is combined with cranberry juice concentrate, cranberry sauce, and whipped cream to create a refreshing dish that's perfect for serving after a heavy meal. Spoon the tart-sweet fresh cranberry sauce on the mousse at the table. To check out this easy and fast recipe, read more