Cranberry Chutney That Saved Thanksgiving

 Thanksgiving is that time of year that kicks of the holiday season and the one that starts the stress level. You have wrought down about two grocery list, cut coupons for weeks, went to the grocery store a total of three times and still on Thanksgiving morning you will always be in the middle of a recipe, when you realize that you forgot something! This year when you realize that you forgot the cranberry sauce, then have no fear. Don't scramble for some sweatpants, a baseball cap and sneakers to run out to a store that you happen to find open. I will share with you my show stopping cranberry chutney, that will sure to save the day. From me and my family to yours, Happy Thanksgiving. Enjoy.

Cranberry Chutney
1 bag        frozen cranberries
2 c            orange juice with pulp
1c             water
1/2 c         sugar
2 TBSP    of vanilla extract
Zest          of 2 oranges
A splash of Brandy or a cranberry liqueur


Combine all ingredients in a saucepan on medium heat and allow to reduce by half. Take off heat once you get the desired thickness and let cool.

How To Create Your Own Flavored Wine

    I absolutely love wine & going wine tasting, but I hate the cost of buying expensive flavored wine. My main objective was to create a wine flavored drink, that was reminiscent of a cocktail & one that would impress my friends at a dinner party. I tried everything from flavored extracts, flavored syrups & pure flavored extract oils. Nothing & I mean nothing worked. Feeling a little tipsy & it still being 3pm in the afternoon, I decided to sober up buy drinking some Crystal Light flavored water. Then it hit me. Why don't I try Crystal Light flavored water packets in my wine. It worked & the fabulous thing about using Crystal Light flavored packets is that Crystal Light has no calories & it does change the consistency of the wine.

     You can buy a low costing wine or Champaign & pick out your favorite flavor of Crystal Light flavored water packet. I would suggest trying the line of cocktail flavored ones. My choice was a bottle of Mezzacorona's Pinot Grigio & Crystal Light Apple Martini flavored packet. For a 1.5 Liter bottle of wine, I used half a packet of Crystal Light. You can adjust the level of flavor by adding as much or as little of the Crystal Light to the wine. Start off with half a packet of Crystal Light & a cold/chilled bottle of wine. If the flavor is too light, then add a little more Crystal Light.