For me cranberries signal the start of the holiday season! I love the beautiful deep bright red color, it's so festive! I serve them continuously throughout the season with leftovers and as a side dish. I buy plenty of bags of fresh cranberries while they are available at the market and freeze them. They are seasonal and you can't get fresh cranberries in the spring or summer. That' when having bags of frozen cranberries comes in handy. They can stay in your freezer for up to 9 months! I use fresh cranberries all year long.
Kick Butt Chili Recipe: Heat a cast-iron frying pan or heavy-bottomed skillet over medium heat. Add 1 tablespoon of canola oil and half of the meat, and brown for about 8 minutes. Pour the meat into a strainer positioned over a bowl, and let the fat drain. Set the strained meat aside. Wipe down the frying pan using a paper towel, cleaning off the residual oil and bits of beef from the bottom. Heat 1 tablespoon of canola oil in the frying pan and cook and drain the remaining beef using the same process. Discard the drained fat. Put the beef in the crock pot. Add 12-ounces of pinto beans and 12-ounces of black beans that have been soaked over night. Canned beans will turn into a mushy paste in a Crock Pot, so be sure to use dry beans. Add the beef stock, beer, and tomatoes on top of that. Add all of the spices, onions, garlic, and jalapeno. Simmer on low for 2-3 hours or until meat is tender. Add masa and fresh corn at the very end and allow to thicken for 5 minutes. Serving options:
Recipe: Preheat oven to 350°. Put your oven rack in the middle of the oven. Pour the tablespoon of olive oil in your hands and rub all over the potatoes. Place potatoes on the oven grate and bake for 30 minutes at 350° (Test for doneness by inserting a paring knife into the thickest part of the potato. If it slides in smoothly, then the potatoes are done). Remove the potatoes from the oven and let cool completely. Cut the potatoes in half, lengthwise. Gently scoop out the potato, leaving about ¼ inch of potato on the skin. Line the scooped out potato skins on a baking sheet. When ready to bake, slice the halves of potatoes into quarters. Line up the potatoes on a baking sheet. Using a pastry brush, brush the inside of the potato skins with the teriyaki sauce. Place in the oven and bake for 5 to 10 minutes at 350° or until the skins are crispy. Serving options:
