Happy Thanksgiving!
Spiced Orange Pomander Balls
From Simple Bites.
This is a relaxing and fragrant activity to engage people of all ages and at the same time produce a pretty table centerpiece.
You will need
Firm, fresh citrus fruit. If it is too shriveled or too mushy, it will be harder to poke with cloves.
Toothpicks. A nail works well, too.
A jar of whole cloves, or more if you have a big crowd.
A citrus zester or a sharp vegetable peeler.
A rubber band or two.
Directions
Use a corner of the citrus zester to make a few designs in the skin of the orange. A peeler works too, but will make wider strips.
Poke a row of holes in the orange with a tooth pick and push the cloves into the pre-made holes. You may not find this necessary, but if you are crafting with small children, the cloves hurt their fingers without the pre-made holes.
You can make any design you like on the oranges. If you like to be precise, you can place a rubber band around the citrus and use it to make a perfect circle around the orange.
If you like, you can finish by rolling the pomanders in ground spices for extra fragrance. Ground cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, cardamom, and of course, cloves, would all be nice.
Sparkling Berry Apple Mocktail
Stanford University staff used to (and perhaps still does) expect that every gathering should offer EANABS, “Equally Appealing Non-Alcoholic Beverages.” Here is a delicious and festive one to include at your bar during the holiday season. Feel free to add something alcoholic such as vodka to turn this mocktail into a cocktail.
In advance, make the Mixed Berry Syrup
Ingredients for Mixed Berry Syrup
• 12 oz frozen mixed berries
• 3/4 cup granulated sugar
Directions
1. In a heavy bottomed sauce pot, combine frozen berries and sugar. Set over medium heat and bring a boil. Reduce to a simmer and cook until berries have softened and mixture is thick.
2. Strain mixture. Cool to room temperature. Transfer to an airtight container and keep stored in the fridge for up to two weeks.
Ingredients for each drink
• 1/2 oz (1 Tablespoon) mixed berry syrup
• 3 oz apple cider
• 3 oz sparkling water
• A few fresh berries, optional for decor
• 1 cinnamon stick, optional for decor, or just have one to stir drinks before serving
Directions
1. Add berry syrup and apple cider in a serving glass. Add ice and top with sparkling water. Stir before drinking. Top with a few fresh berries.
Recipe Notes
• You may substitute any frozen berries of your choice. A combination of strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, and blackberries works well.
• Mixed berry syrup can also be used to sweeten iced teas or flavor lemonades/limeades.
Fruit Cones
Ingredients
- Cones of your choice. Make sure they are fresh and crisp.
- Fruit of your choice. Berries, grapes, slices of apples, pears, or melon, whatever you and your crowd like.
- Greek yogurt, if desired.
- Chocolate sauce, if desired.
Directions
If using yogurt, put a little in each cone. You can mix some fruit with it.
Pile in the fruit.
If using chocolate, drizzle it on.
Turkey Veggie Tray
Ingredients
- 3 heads red leaf lettuce
- 1 bunch celery, cut into sticks, or 3 bags celery sticks
- 3 bags baby carrots
- 1 bunch slim asparagus (or use crisp green beans instead)
- 2 red bell peppers
- 2 yellow bell peppers
- 2 green bell peppers
- 1 basket cherry tomatoes
- 1 yellow crooked neck squash
- 2 large cucumbers, one English cucumber, or 5 Persian cucumbers
- 1 black pitted olive
Directions
Arrange all the vegetables in circular patterns to represent a Turkeys tail feather on a large round platter.
Create the head of the Turkey with the crooked neck squash, black olive and red bell pepper.
Click below for previous years recipes:
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