Cranberry Rita Recipes

Steps:

• Add cranberries, orange juice, zest and sugar to a large pan and set over medium heat until berries break-down slightly and liquid is syrupy, 12 to 15 minutes. *Pour into a blender and process, be careful of the hot liquid expanding when you blend - use a towel over the top of the blender.
• Strain and discard any solids then set aside and cool.
• Pour 2 tablespoons of cranberry-orange syrup into the bottoms of 4 chilled champagne glasses. Add a few cranberries to each glass and gently top off each glass with Champagne.
• *When blending hot liquids: Remove liquid from the heat and allow to cool for at least 5 minutes. Transfer liquid to a blender or food processor and fill it no more than halfway. If using a blender, release one corner of the lid. This prevents the vacuum effect that creates heat explosions. Place a towel over the top of the machine, pulse a few times then process on high speed until smooth.

Steps:

• Stir together the cucumber, yogurt, lemon juice, mint, sugar, and salt in a bowl. Cover and refrigerate at least 3 hours, preferably overnight.

Steps:

• Put everything in your blender (mine is a blender on steroids) and blend.
• Pour.
• Enjoy.
• You can replace kumquat, calamondin and orange with lime or lemon for a different flavor. Have fun with it.

Steps:

• For the cranberries: Combine the granulated sugar and 1 cup water in a saucepan, and bring to a boil. Cook until the sugar is dissolved. Add the cranberries and weight with a plate to submerge them in the liquid. Cover the pot and refrigerate for at least 8 hours and up to 48 hours.
• Drain the cranberries, reserving the syrup. (Yields about 1 1/2 cups syrup; store leftover syrup in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 1 month.)
• Put the superfine sugar on a baking sheet, and toss the cranberries in the sugar. Refrigerate the cranberries, uncovered, for 1 hour, then toss again in the sugar. Refrigerate in an airtight container. (Makes about 2 cups.)
• For the margarita: In a cocktail shaker, muddle the lime and orange zests with the cranberries, 1/4 cup of the cranberry syrup, and the sugar.
• Add the tequila, orange juice, lime juice and orange liqueur; stir until combined. Fill 4 glasses with ice cubes, and strain some of the margarita mixture over each. Garnish each glass with 6 sugared cranberries.