Bogus Cranberry Marmalade

~ Bogus Cranberry Marmalade ~

In another post, I mentioned making cranberry marmalade, mainly for friend Mary, but also for me. She eats the stuff with everything...and I do mean everything! I don't make it to suit her exact taste because she likes it with a lot more sugar, but I try to stay away from a lot of white (processed) sugar. This time of year, I make a lot and am going to buy cranberries and freeze them so I can make it in July as well. Anything for a cheap thrill -grin-.

Usually I cook and bake from scratch but I'm not above using shortcuts. This is one of those shortcuts.

The reason it's called Bogus Cranberry Marmalade is I use a shortcut if I don't have any oranges on hand. Today, no oranges but I did have cranberries, sugar and Smucker's Orange Marmalade.

In a large colander, rinse the cranberries and place in a large, heavy saucepan. No need to dry the cranberries; heat over medium heat until they being to pop.

Continue heating for about 10 or 15 minutes, it really depends on how you like the finished product...with more whole cranberries or with fewer.  Add one cup sugar and stir to mix.  If you'd like it sweeter, by all means, add more sugar but do it sparingly. As you know, it's easier to add more but you can't take any away -grin-.

Heat cranberries and sugar until well mixed and glistening.

Add a jar of Smucker's Sweet Orange Marmalade and stir to mix. All the while, the cranberries will continue to pop as they heat.

I pour the marmalade into a Pyrex dish to cool before placing in glass jars for gift giving. I also have a traditional, non-bogus marmalade and I'll give that recipe after I go to the store and buy oranges. In the meantime, here are the ingredients and recipe...easier to copy and paste.

Bogus Orange Marmalade

2 bags fresh cranberries, rinsed
1 18 ounce jar Smucker's Sweet Orange Marmalade
1 cup white sugar

In a large, heavy saucepan, place the rinsed but not dried cranberries. Heat over medium heat until they being to pop.
Continue heating for about 10 or 15 minutes, it really depends on how you like the finished product...with more whole cranberries or with fewer.  Add one cup sugar and stir to mix.
Heat cranberries and sugar until well mixed and glistening.
Add a jar of Smucker's Sweet Orange Marmalade and stir to mix. All the while, the cranberries will continue to pop as they heat.

Enjoy and let me know how you like it or the changes you made to make it your own.

Blessings ~ cranberries ~ marmalade ~ friends ~ short cuts of a non-threatening nature ~

Talking when I should be napping!

~ wild turkey ~

Patrice is hosting Chats Number 118 and here I sit, at the computer while watching it pour rain outside. It's supposed to turn to snow and I wish it'd get to it. The dogs and I walked to the mailbox...correction, Sam and Sadie walked with me to the mailbox while Sophie watched from the upstairs window. Sophie can, sometimes, be a diva and between rain and cold she has an easy decision to make. After finishing Chats, I am seriously considering a nap and the idea of a warm woolen blanket, a down pillow and three dogs, help the decision making process quite a bit. Yes, there are several dozen things on my to-do list but like Dave always said, "Goofing off isn't any fun unless there's something else you should be doing." God in heaven knows, there's plenty I should be doing but my most expensive piece of equipment is me and, right now, it needs some Tender Loving Care. If you read comments from yesterday's post, you saw what Val, Pretty Little Rough Patches,  wrote...there's sage wisdom in taking care of me first, no matter if me is me, you or Val. We all need to recognize it's a fine balancing act...but when the care giver (me) goes down, it all comes to a screaming halt.  So, next time you're trying to decide me first or something/one  else first, think about the extended ramifications. Choose wisely, Hen.

 ~ flock of wild turkeys ~

1. If you are celebrating Thanksgiving, what are [you] looking most forward to on Thursday?  -- I'm looking forward to waking up above ground and things getting better afterwards.

2. My favorite Thanksgiving dish is -- the one someone else made although Mary tells me her favorite dish is my cranberry marmalade. (Yes, Mary, I'm making more.)

3. Do you ever go through periods of time when you get hooked on a specific food?  -- I don't think so, can't really remember.

4. What's the best stuffing for a turkey? -- I haven't a clue but, maybe, one of these days I'm going to make all the stuffing recipes I have so I can make an intelligent decision. Or, maybe not.

5. When you were a child, were you ever in a Thanksgiving play, pageant, mock pilgrim dinner or anything different to celebrate? -- Childhood was so many decades ago, another country universe actually and the borders are now closed. Patrice, stop with the age questions already! People keep telling me...and I agree...my memory isn't all that good but ya gotta figure...the older I get, the more there is to remember and the less room to hold it all. 

Gee, Wendell...may I come with you? I've got carrots!

Blessings ~ Thanksgiving ~ food ~ carrots ~ Patrice ~ Wendell ~ Sophie ~ Sam ~ Sadie ~