Easy Cranberry Sauce

This is a very special homemade cranberry sauce.

It only takes a few ingredients...is done in 15 minutes...has orange juice and zest in it, AND...

it uses brown sugar instead of white.  I LOVE that! 

You can use it on pancakes or add it to your muffins. 

 It's superb! 

Do hope you'll try it soon.  Sometimes I just crave cranberry sauce and this is the best ever! 

I reduced the sugar just a tad because I like the tartness of cranberry sauce...

and added a full teaspoon of vanilla...MMMM!

You can go to Sally's Baking Addiction for the original recipe and for 

lots more detailed info.  She's really great at everything she does! 

EASY CRANBERRY SAUCE 

1 - 12 ozs. bag fresh cranberries, rinsed

3/4 c. water

1/4 c. fresh squeezed orange juice 

(about 1/2 a large orange) 

2/3 c. light or dark brown sugar

2 tsp. orange zest

1 tsp. vanilla extract 

(One large orange should give you enough juice...you may even get to 

drink some down yourself before you're done with this recipe!) 

After washing the cranberries, set 1/2 c. aside. These will be added at the end to add some texture. 

In a medium saucepan, over medium heat, add remaining cranberries, water, orange juice and brown sugar. Stir once in a while as the mixture comes to a boil.  Once it does, reduce heat to medium low.  While stirring occasionally, continue to cook until the liquid has reduced and cranberries have burst and thickened, about 10 minutes more. 

Remove from heat; stir in remaining 1/2 c. cranberries, orange zest and vanilla.  Sauce will thicken as it cools. 

It's wonderful served warm or cold, or even room temperature.  Store leftovers in covered dish in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. 

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Dreamsicle Salad (Sugar Free Options) Updated!

This is the most pinned recipe at my blog!  And it's a real winner! I thought it was time I updated the photo as it's a very old post....do hope you'll give it a stir, and a taste, soon! 

This is an easy and delightful dish that is light and can be served as a salad or a dessert.

It only calls for 4 ingredients!

And it can be whipped up in just minutes.  Ya gotta love that about any recipe! 

It tastes like the frozen treat made with vanilla ice cream and orange sherbet.

(A Creamsicle)

MMMMM!

DREAMSICLE SALAD

1 sm. box (4 serv. size/.3 oz pkg)* sugar-free orange jello

1 sm. box (4 serv. size/1 oz pkg)* sugar free instant vanilla pudding

1 - 10 ozs. can mandarin oranges, drained

1 - 8 ozs. tub fat free frozen whipped topping, thawed

Dissolve jello in 1 c. boiling water. Add 1/4 c. cold water (or 1/2 c. for softer set); let set in fridge for 

20 - 30 minutes.  With mixer or whisk, add dry vanilla pudding mix to jello and beat until

smooth. Fold in oranges and whipped topping (by hand). Refrigerate.

Try strawberry jello with strawberries, peach jello with (no sugar added) peaches, etc.

Dreamy!  Weight Watchers points per cup - 1 (Prior to Points Plus)

1 serving = 1/2 cup 

*these sizes refer to brand-name sugar-free packaging in the small box.  Other brands or sugar-full packages may contain a different oz. by weight or volume, but for this recipe, I use the small box in any case.

Linked to Ingredient Spotlight
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Weekend Potluck

Mom's Apple Salad

This is a dish my beloved mother-in-love made often, whether it be for a gathering, or just a family meal.

I remember it with love and appreciate the fact my sister-in-loves still make it too. 

(Mom Baker, mother of 10, passed at age 47 of a heart attack, leaving 3 children still at home. She is fondly remembered by her family and all who knew her). 

You can use Dream Whip, or Cool Whip (both amounts are in recipe), but you don't want to add too many apples.  If you want to 'build' it bigger, add more marshmallows.

This is a wonderful fluffy dish for a potluck or an everyday meal. 

Enjoy soon! My mouth waters just to think of it. 

(hover over photo to pin)

MOM'S APPLE SALAD 

1/2 block cream cheese (4 ozs), softened

2 envelopes of Dream Whip whipped topping, prepared

(or 1-12 ozs. Cool Whip)

2 - 3 apples, diced

1 medium can mandarin oranges, drained

2 - 3 c. mini marshmallows

1/2 c. walnuts, optional 

After whipping Dream Whip, blend in softened cream cheese until smooth.

Add remaining ingredients; mix; chill and serve.

MMMMM good! 

Linked to 
            Full Plate Thursday
         Weekend Potluck 
           Meal Plan Monday

Easy Fruit Salad

Grandma's Waldorf Salad

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Ambrosia Salad

I love love love this simple salad!

Or it can be dessert too...after all, it does have some Cool Whip in it.

I have a recipe in my first cookbook (still available - Recipes & Recollections - check out my "Cookbooks" tab) that is titled FIVE CUP SALAD.

It's one cup of each of these ingredients - pineapple, mandarin oranges,

 marshmallows, coconut and sour cream.  YUM!!

Since I was making this to share at a potluck in the RV park where we spent the winter in Florida, and I needed a little more than 5 cups, I decided to add some maraschino cherries....

THEN...I saw a similar recipe with Cool Whip, so I stretched it a little farther and added that. 

So yeh, you can omit any of the ingredients and add what you prefer...
like grapes? 

It turned out to be a winner, as I came home with an empty bowl.

I love that it's so simple and has such a rich taste. 

Perfect for any holiday, but summertime too. 

This dish definitely makes you feel 'summer' but is great all year around!

AMBROSIA SALAD

1 c. mandarin oranges, drained

1 c. pineapple chunks or tidbits, drained

1 c. shredded coconut

1 c. miniature marshmallows

1 c. sour cream

1 c. Cool Whip, thawed, optional

1 c. maraschino cherries, well drained and dried, optional

Place oranges, pineapple and coconut in a large bowl. Stir in sour cream and Cool Whip, if using; blend until smooth. Stir in marshmallows. Top with cherries, or stir in just before serving. 

Linked to Full Plate Thursday
          Meal Plan Monday
           Weekend Potluck

"Two" Easy Fruit Dip

Easy Fruit Salad

​

Copycat Starbucks Orange Cake (GF & Naturally Sweetened)

I've been making a number of 'Copycat' recipes lately, have you noticed? 

I was intrigued by this one for 3 main reasons...

It's Gluten Free...(uses almond flour)...is sweetened with agave nectar...and it's unusual, in that you boil 2 whole oranges for over an hour, and then grind the oranges, along with all the other ingredients, in the food processor.  

Not much work involved...MY kind of recipe! 

If you like orange peel, you'll LOVE this cake.  If not, you'll have to pass this one up! 

Truthfully, I've never had Starbucks Orange Cake, but you can be sure I am ELATED that now I can make it home and enjoy more than one piece!

Along with my Starbucks Caramel Frappaccino Light if I want!!!!

I wrapped each piece of cake in saran wrap and froze them.  They were just as tasty and moist when thawed as they were when I first baked them.

I was amazed! that after such a long baking time, how could it possibly be so moist??, but it is!!! In fact, it's SUPER moist!!

The ONLY thing I changed was to use regular sea salt, not the celtic sea salt called for in the recipe. 

I suggest to begin checking for doneness after 35 minutes...it browned rather quickly. 

For the simple recipe & ingredient list, go to Elana's Pantry..
she has some other FABULOUS Gluten-Free recipes there too! 

Linked to Weekend Potluck

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Buttermilk Creamsicle Salad (Lighter Options)

Trust your new year is off to a good start.  I'm hoping to share a few more than usual 'lighter fare' this month, along with the usual. 

Oh what a great addition this dish is to any meal. No one will know it's a 
'lighter choice'.

Simple & easy...you can choose to use (or not) sugar free jello & sweetener, along with low fat buttermilk and lite cool whip!

YUUMMMM-O!  This will go quickly. 

This recipe reminds me of my ever popular Dreamsicle Salad, but this recipe includes lowfat buttermilk. 

I also love that this dish can be made up to 24 hours ahead of serving.

It's another one of Tina's amazing recipes at Mommy's Kitchen
I've made soooo many of her recipes and we always love them. 
Please go check her out, and be sure to tell her I sent you over. 

BUTTERMILK CREAMSICLE SALAD

1 (15 ozs.) can mandarin orange segments, separated (save juice)
2 (3 ozs) boxes or 1 lg. orange jello
2 Tb. sugar/sweetner of choice
1-3/4 c. lowfat buttermilk
(I suggest using the real thing, not a substitute for best results)
1 (8 ozs) container lite frozen whipped topping, thawed

In small saucepan, heat the saved orange juice with the sugar, heating until sugar is dissolved. Add jello and stir well. Remove from heat; allow mixture to come to room temp. Chop the mandarin oranges and add to the jello (setting aside at least 5 orange segments for garnish). 

Add jello and orange mixture to a large bowl; add buttermilk; stir to blend. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour. Fold in the whipped topping, stirring until blended smoothly. Cover and refrigerate at least 6 hours or overnight. 

Just before serving, top salad with remaining orange segments. 
  

 

(Sugar free) Dreamsicle Salad: Updated

This is the most pinned recipe at my blog!  And it's a real winner! I thought it was time I updated the photo as it's a very old post....do hope you'll give it a stir, and a taste, soon! 

This is an easy and delightful dish that is light and can be served as a salad or a dessert.

It only calls for 4 ingredients!

And it can be whipped up in just minutes.  Ya gotta love that about any recipe! 

It tastes like the frozen treat made with vanilla ice cream and orange sherbet.

(A Creamsicle)

MMMMM!

DREAMSICLE SALAD

1 sm. box (4 serv. size/.3 oz pkg)* sugar-free orange jello

1 sm. box (4 serv. size/1 oz pkg)* sugar free instant vanilla pudding

1 - 10 ozs. can mandarin oranges, drained

1 - 8 ozs. tub fat free frozen whipped topping, thawed

Dissolve jello in 1 c. boiling water. Add 1/2 c. cold water; let set in fridge for 
20 - 30 minutes.  With mixer or whisk, add dry vanilla pudding mix to jello and beat until

smooth. Fold in oranges and whipped topping (by hand). Refrigerate.

Try strawberry jello with strawberries, peach jello with (no sugar added) peaches, etc.

Dreamy!  Weight Watchers points per cup - 1 (Prior to Points Plus)

1 serving = 1/2 cup 

*these sizes refer to brand-name sugar-free packaging in the small box.  Other brands or sugar-full packages may contain a different oz. by weight or volume, but for this recipe, I use the small box in any case.

Linked to Ingredient Spotlight
          Fit & Fabulous Friday
Full Plate Thursday
Weekend Potluck