Homemade Cranberry Sauce

*Disclosure- I received the mentioned product courtesy of the sponsor for the purpose of this review. All opinions are genuine, based on my experience with the product, and have not been influenced by promotional items.


I'm just going to go ahead and shamelessly admit that I love cranberry sauce from a can. Now, I don't eat much of anything from a can these days, but cranberry sauce is one of my very few exceptions. It has been a holiday staple in my family for as far back as I can remember. I used to get so excited for Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner because I knew it was going to be put on the table with the rest of the goodies. We always had the jellied cranberry sauce, never the whole, so when you open it up and plop it into the serving dish, it's still in the shape of the can. I saw this meme on Facebook last week and thought, yep, I'm not alone in my canned cranberry addiction. 

Source: Facebook

As much as I love this edible delight, this year I am trying to add a little class to our Christmas spread, so I thought I would try my hand at making Fresh Cranberry Sauce, getting all fancy using real cranberries and stuff. 

Now, this does take a little more time to prepare than just using a can opener, but the payoff is so worth it! I daresay it's even more delicious than the canned version, and the hit of cinnamon and apple cider give the dish an overall warmth. Since it should be served chilled, this dish can be made ahead of time and just kept in the fridge until dinner is ready. It's a perfect recipe to add to your holiday recipe collection.

Ingredients

1 (12 ounce) bag cranberries
2 cups apple cider
1 cup GOLDEN BLOSSOM HONEY
2 teaspoons cinnamon
2 tablespoons orange zest
1 teaspoon ground cloves
1 bay leaf

CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL RECIPE

You can find this recipe, as well as many more delicious recipes right on the Golden Blossom Honey recipe page! Be sure to follow Golden Blossom Honey on Facebook and Twitter to stay up to date on new products and promotions.

If you like this recipe, be sure to come back every Friday, where I feature a new recipe from Golden Blossom Honey!

Which do you prefer, jellied or whole cranberry sauce?

 

Pomegranate & Cranberry Vodka Sparklers Will Light Up Your 4th of July!

Disclosure- I received the mentioned product courtesy of the sponsor for the purpose of this review. All opinions are genuine, based on my experience with the product, and have not been influenced by promotional items.

Can someone please tell summer to slow down a little bit? I can't believe that 4th of July is less than a week away! Since the 4th will be falling on a work night this year, we don't have major plans for the actual holiday. Maybe a little cookout with a few friends and a trip downtown to watch the city firework display if it doesn't start too late. You know you're getting old when you start to worry how late the festivities are going to run. To make up for it, my sister is hosting a little family BBQ at her place this weekend and after all of the party planning I've had to do this summer already, I am really looking forward to kicking back and enjoying a party that I don't have to plan, execute, or clean up after. Now, I'm not a total freeloader of a guest. I'll still bake a batch of cookies and I plan to bring some ingredients to whip up a few cocktails. I mean, even though I'm worried about early bedtimes in my old age, I still think an adult party should have a few adult beverages, right? I thought this Pomegranate & Cranberry Vodka Sparklers recipes would be a fitting choice because what's a 4th of July celebration without sparklers?

The kids can have run around the yard with their sparklers while mom and dad will have a good time enjoying these sparklers on the deck. Whip up a pitcher of this fruity tasting goodness and let the festivities begin!

Ingredients

1/8 cup water
1/8 cup GOLDEN BLOSSOM HONEY
3/4 cup fresh lime juice
2 1/2 cups pomegranate-cranberry juice
1 cup (8 ounces) vodka
2 cups club soda
lime, sliced

CLICK HERE FOR FULL RECIPE

You can find this recipe, as well as many more delicious recipes right on the Golden Blossom Honey recipe page! Be sure to follow Golden Blossom Honey on Facebook and Twitter to stay up to date on new products and promotions.

If you like this recipe, be sure to come back every Friday, where I feature a new recipe from Golden Blossom Honey!

What are your 4th of July plans this year?

 

Thanksgiving Leftovers? Put Them to Good Use in a Turkey Cranberry Melt!

I can't say that I'm sad that I won't be hosting Thanksgiving dinner this year. We usually go to the in-laws, then we host a Christmas breakfast at our home. I am sad that we won't be getting any of the leftovers that usually come with hosting a big meal though. Sometimes I think that the casseroles and sandwiches you can make out of the leftovers rival the main holiday meal!

Eating all of that turkey can get boring after a bit, but if you can whip up a great sauce, then you can pump new life into holiday leftovers. I usually have lots of cranberries left over, and if you have a few staples on hand, you can make an awesome cranberry relish to top off a turkey melt sandwich.

The sauce adds an awesome zingy flare to turkey, and overall, this is a pretty healthy lunch option for the day after Thanksgiving.

yield: 1 SandwichAuthor: Theresa M.print recipe

Cranberry Turkey Swiss Melt

INGREDIENTS:

• Leftover Turkey (enough for 1 sandwich)
• 1 Slice Swiss Cheese
• Bun
• 6 ounces cranberries (fresh or frozen)
• 1/4 cup orange juice
• 1 tbp brown sugar

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Place Swiss slice on the bottom half of bun. Warm in oven at 350 degrees until bun is toasty and cheese is melted.
2. In a small saucepan, combine cranberries, orange juice, and brown sugar. Heat over medium-low heat for about 15 minutes, until all orange juice is soaked up. Cranberries will pop during the cooking process, but that's okay. That's what they are supposed to do.
3. While making the cranberry dressing, heat turkey in a 350 degree oven until warm.
4. Place turkey on the Swiss cheese, top with cranberry dressing, and garnish with lettuce if desired. Eat!

http://www.theresasmixednuts.com/2016/11/thanksgiving-leftovers-put-them-to-good.html

Created using The Recipes Generator

Happy Thanksgiving from my family to yours!

Add Color to Your Easter Table with Cranberry Mango Relish

*Disclosure- I received the mentioned product courtesy of the sponsor for the purpose of this review. All opinions are genuine, based on my experience with the product, and have not been influenced by promotional items.


I am having a hard time coming to grips with Easter popping up so early this year. I hardly have enough time to take down my St. Patrick's Day decorations to put up the Easter before I have to turn right back around and pack it all away again. I feel like the Grinch of Easter because the yard decorations won't be going up this year. It just isn't worth the hassle of dragging them out of storage to leave them up for less than 2 weeks. This makes me a little sad because I love how all those spring pastels add pops of color to the yard after winter has made it all dead and baron after the yucky season. I decided to make up for it with making sure we have pops of color indoors, including the dinner table. Of course, there will be dyed eggs, but I thought adding in some pretty Cranberry and Mango Relish to the mix would add a little more excitement to the Easter spread. 

I found this one in Golden Blossom Honey's Thanksgiving recipe section, but for my family, we are not only big on eating cranberry sauces for Thanksgiving, but always on Easter too. I think it pairs well with both ham and turkey equally. 

Ingredients

1 large or 2 small mangoes, peeled and cut into pieces
2 cups cranberries
1/2 orange, unpeeled, seeded and cut into pieces
1/2 cup GOLDEN BLOSSOM HONEY
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger

CLICK HERE FOR FULL RECIPE

You can find this recipe, as well as many more delicious recipes right on the Golden Blossom Honey recipe page! Be sure to follow Golden Blossom Honey on Facebook and Twitter to stay up to date on new products and promotions.

If you like this recipe, be sure to come back every Friday, where I feature a new recipe from Golden Blossom Honey!

What side dishes will you be serving this Easter?

How I Maintain a Youthful Appearance

*Disclosure- I received the mentioned product courtesy of the sponsor for the purpose of this review. All opinions are genuine, based on my experience with the product, and have not been influenced by promotional items.

When I was younger, I used to get annoyed when someone would comment on how young I looked. Even though I am older than Jason, we'd still hear snarky comments- "You robbing the cradle with that one?" Or, going out in a group to the bar or casino, I was usually the only one to get stopped for age verification. Now that I'll be 40 in a few very short years, I don't mind the comments so much. I find it funny when someone will ask where my sister is, referring to my 16 year old daughter, or when her friends get baffled expressions upon meeting me for the first time. "That's your mom?!" 

Sometimes, a youthful appearance is all about hitting the gene pool lottery. As much as I hated my small, elfish features when I was little, they are serving me well in my older years. But, those small features can only get one so far. Establishing a good beauty routine also plays a pivotal role in keeping the signs of aging at bay, and today I am sharing my tips with you.

• Keep Skin Clean & Moisturize! Keeping the skin moisturized and hydrated is one of best ways to keep skin looking young and healthy. I wash my face twice daily, followed by an eye cream and facial moisturizer. Once a week, I apply a mud mask for tightening and toning of the skin. I started doing this in my early 20's, and am glad I didn't wait until the signs of aging popped up before starting. I believe the earlier you start this routine, the better off you'll be for it in the long run.

• Sleep. Nothing wrecks havoc on your skin and appearance like lack of sleep. While I aim for 8 hours of sleep a night, being a busy mom, in reality, I sometimes only get 6. When that happens, I do look for little breaks in my day to take a quick catnap. It all adds up!

• Eat Healthy. You are what you eat, and if you eat junk all the time, that's probably how you'll look, too. I'm guilty of sneaking in some not-so-good-for-me foods every now and again, but overall, I maintain good eating habits. Lean meats, lots of fruits and veggies, and snacking on Greek yogurt. If you eat a well balanced diet, you'll be rewarded with great looking skin, hair and nails.

• Drink water! Mainly, I only drink water throughout the day. I elimiated sugary and caffinated beverages from my diet years ago. They can cause the skin to look dehydrated, dull, and even cause acne. 

 • Sweat! Fitness has always been a big part of my life, and I think it's so important to work up a good sweat several times a week. Not only will it help remove toxins from the body, you'll build muscles that will make your body smokin' hot! 

Additionally, I rely on a little support from NeoCell supplements for an added boost to my overall appearance. I've been using NeoCell products for a little over 3 years, and absolutely love them! I was thrilled to find out they now have two new products in their lineup: Platinum Glow Matrix and Derma Matrix. 

NeoCell Glow Matrix is a dietary supplement that provide collagen supporting ingredients to deliver improved skin moisture and elasticity, and reduce signs of aging. It is crafted to support collagen health on a systemic level, targeting specific wellness concerns for total body vitality. The Ceramides act as a water barrier to prevent moisture from leaving through the skin, keeping it smooth and hydrated. Take 3 easy to swallow capsules daily to get skin hydrated from the inside out. Many people see improved results in just 15 days!

The Derma Matrix Collagen Skin Complex is one of my new favorites! It's designed to promote the reduction of fine lines & wrinkles, and support cell turnover & elasticity. It protects against cell-damaging free radicals and aids in healthy collagen formation. The Derma Matrix is a powder that dissolves instantly in water, juice, or smoothies. I love to have a smoothie after my workouts, and lately, I've been big on consuming cranberries because of the antioxidants and because they also help combat free radicals that can damage cellular structure. For an extra anti-aging boost, I put a scoop of the NeoCell Derma Matrix in as I am blending the ingredients together.

Ingredients:

1/2 cup frozen cranberries
1/2 cup frozen mixed berries
1 banana
1/2 cup vanilla yogurt (do not use Greek yogurt. It adds more tartness to the smoothie)
1/2 cup regular or almond milk
2 tablespoons honey
1 Scoop NeoCell Derma Matrix Collagen Skin Complex

Directions: Blend all ingredients together. Serve immediately. 
(If you find the smoothie too tart, add 1/2 banana more)

You can find these amazing NeoCell products right on NeoCell.com. To stay up to date on new products, be sure to follow along on Twitter and Facebook.  

*The statements here have not been evaluated by the FDA. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.  

What are some of you anti-aging beauty tips?