Cranberry Chutney- a great addition to your Thanksgiving Table

Already started on the long list of recipes to make for Thursday- This is one of my favorites - from my good friend Molly. She would make it every year when our families spent the holidays together in Virginia.

Now that we celebrate in Maine- I have to call Molly - chat - and then make the chutney myself!!! Oh well at least I will see her next week when we head back to DC !!

Lots of other things to get done so I will leave you with this recipe- Next up I am going to make Ina Garten's Barefoot Contessa's Lobster Corn Chowder- need to have some Maine type of thing for our holiday!!! George is out hunting for lobsters - will let you know how the whole thing turns out!!!



CRANBERRY CHUTNEY

1 lb fresh cranberries
2 1/2c sugar
1 c water
1/2 tsp salt
6 whole cloves
2 sticks cinnamon
1 c raisins
1 apple - peeled and chopped
1 pear-peeled and chopped
1/2 c chopped celery
1 small onion chopped
1/2 c slivered almonds

Combine the cranberries and the sugar and boil over heat until cranberries pop. Add water, salt, cloves and cinnamon simmerl 15 to 20 minutes. Add raisins, apple, pear, celery and onion and continue simmering until softened. Add slivered almonds and stir. Can cook days ahead and refrigerate. Fish out cloves and cinnamon sticks if you can-before serving-or better still use a little mulling pouch to keep the spices together and easy to dispose before serving! Enjoy!

Happy Birthday to Lucky Stars!!!!!!

One year blogging!!! Can't believe it - so much fun - need to do better next year on updating. Love reading other bloggers entries and don't like it when they don't update enough! Gotta get going on mine-life just gets in the way!!! On to another year- Happy Birthday to us!!!

Birthday lunch in the country

Great day for a birthday lunch at Heart and Hand restaurant in Clifton, Virginia. Haven't been here in years but was so glad it was such a nice day in the country. Michelle was celebrating her birthday and neither Deb or Michelle had been to the restaurant before !



Deb and Michelle in front of the restaurant. This front entrance was used in the opening sequence of the movie "Broadcast News". An oldie but goodie starring William Hurt. The restaurant was also a favorite of Nancy Reagan and her pal George Will. But that didn't stop these die hard democrats from enjoying a great lunch.





The fall leaves are on their way out but the scarecrow decorating all the lamp posts in downtown Clifton were capturing the festive spirit!


Marcia and Deb and a friendly scarecrow!!!!! We talked quite a bit with one of the managers of the restaurant and discussed the fact that their famous Heart and Hand cookbook has been out of print for many years. This cookbook is one of my favorites and one I turn to for many family favorites!!! I would buy another one in an instant - mine is so falling apart. And I would love to present a few to friends and my now-cooking daughters!!!

They are trying to work out the details of who owns what copyrights - publisher, writers etc. When they do, we all have to get a new copy of that great cookbook!!! Until then I thought I would include my favorite tomato soup recipe in this post- Deb and Michelle sampled it at lunch! Happy Birthday Michelle!!!! Always fun to spend the day with those two!!!!




Old Fashioned Cream of Tomato Soup

1 stick butter
1/2 cup flour
4 cups milk
2 1/2 pounds canned diced tomatoes
1 1/2 cups tomato juice
1 1/2 cups prepared bloody mary mix
2 1/2 tsp salt
2 tsp pepper
1/2 cup sugar
2 cups heavy cream

Make a roux in large pot using butter and flour, careful not to brown. Add remaining ingredients, simmer 15 minutes. Garnish each serving with a dollop of sour cream and chopped green onions.

ENJOY!!!!