The Best Cranberry-Tangerine Chutney

One of the reasons I love food blogs has been discovering treasured recipes others consider to be the best they have made, served and eaten.

A fellow blogger, Cathy, over at Wives & Knives, just posted this chutney as one the most treasured recipes from her mother's files.  You know those are the best ones.  When I looked at the list of ingredients I just knew it would be good.  However, I did not know it would exceed all my expectations.  It is absolutely fantastic and out of this world.  There are also no cooking skills required to make this.  You just combine ingredients and simmer until done.  Nothing could be easier.

Everything about this chutney screams Thanksgiving and the holidays.  I'm pretty sure I can throw away all my other cranberry sauce or chutney recipes; this is now my hands down favorite.

Cathy emphasizes to include all of the ingredients such as the curry powder.  Even if you don't like curry....it does not taste typical...it's a background flavor, enhancing other flavors present.  Also, do not leave out the candied ginger because you think you can't find any.  Candied (crystallized) ginger is everywhere now.  I remember years ago only being able to get it at Williams-Sonoma but now I see it in the baking aisle and in the bulk food section of most grocery stores.  Don't leave it out, it adds an incredible taste.

Cathy also suggested pouring this chutney over cream cheese for an appetizer, which would be delicious as well.

Thanks Cathy for sharing this amazingly wonderful recipe.




Combine all ingredients in a large, heavy pot.  Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low and simmer for 40 minutes, stirring occasionally.




This keeps indefinitely in the fridge and will easily form a seal if poured, very hot, into small, decorative jelly jars...which I am going to do.

Cranberry-Tangerine Chutney
Adapted from Wives with Knives

3 cups fresh cranberries
1 large tart apple, cored, peeled and chopped (I used Granny Smith)
1/2 cup orange marmalade
1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
1-1/2 cups sugar
1 cup water
3 Tablespoons candied (crystallized) ginger, chopped (Do not substitute)
3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 Tablespoon curry powder (Do not leave this out)
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
1/2 cup golden raisins
2 cans mandarin orange slices, drained

Combine all ingredients in a large, heavy pot.  Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low and simmer for 40 minutes, stirring occasionally.
This keeps indefinitely in the fridge and will easily form a seal if poured, very hot, into small, decorative jelly jars...which I am going to do.

Gr Grand daughter, Baby Ryin

 Isn't she the prettiest little thing? I haven't seen her or held her yet but they have sent lotz of pictures and I'm waiting and waiting.  There are so many things to keep us busy and they live so far away.

I'm having trouble now with my energy fairy. It is frustrating!  Frequently Ms. Energy Fairy and I need to have a little heart-to-heart about why she isn't holding up her responsibilities. As far as I'm concerned it's her job to be charged and ready to roll on a moment's notice. Just because I've dealt with a stressful problem earlier in the day and I'm feeling emotionally drained, she's supposed to find a way to make sure I'm perky, perky, perky all day long. I have lotz of things I want to do.  My thing is to see how many activities I can stuff into one day, Ms. Energy Fancy-pants is suppose to make sure I have enough energy to do them. "No excuses," I say. Make friends with the Energizer Bunny, offer to do his laundry, or give him a foot rub--his feet must be killing him by the end of the day. I don't care what it takes, I want my Energy Fairy to be charged and ready for whatever and whenever I want to do something. Yet, I assure you she isn't....I can work like crazy all morning...come afternoon, I'm done. Now, the holidays are just around the corner.  Joy and Peace to the World !!

Diamonds & Stones

Some days are diamonds, some days are stones....Just listening to John Denver singing...How true, how true are those words.  Some days I feel great and some days, I don't.  The aches and pains move in and I can't exercise or take my long walks and have to face my dogs looks if disgust..Some days I have great ideas and some days I don't.  Life has it's joys and sorrows too.  Sometimes the mists will hide our view....have to keep looking up.

Apple Trees

Just want to share some of the apples from our apple tree in Sweet Home, OR. They were so gloriously bright and red this year, it just put joy in your heart to see and look at them and they made wonderful applesauce too.

A GREAT PLACE TO VISIT

I found - Artistsnetwork.com a great place to visit. It is The Artist's Magazine . The Pastel Journal . Watercolor Journal . Blogs . Articles . Art Work . Videos. etc. All kinds of useful information. Enjoy!!

in reference to: Artists Network - The Leading Online Fine Art Resource for Artists (view on Google Sidewiki)

ART TRADING CARDS

painted while camping in Oregon.

I was fascinated with Leola's miniature pictures and thought I might try one.  Then I came across the Artist Trading Card (2.5 x 3.5) folks where they are trading them around the world. Artists create, trade and collect art at organized "swap" events, either in person or online.  I found it a great way to meet other artists and share our work.  So this summer I tried some.  Here are a few...  I'm still not real good at taking the pictures and placing them on the blogsight, but, oh well...enjoy!!

Kristie called me this morning and wanted to go to Springfield to get some material for a new riding jacket. So we spent several hours looking at all the beautiful material and then we went next door to Ruthie B's Antique & Food Shop for a sandwich. It was really a fun place and the food looked so pretty I had to take a picture of it.

I found this neat little yarn shop over in Brownsville, and Jamie, the lady who owns it was so helpful and nice that I decided to knit some things. She convinced me that knitting with wool and then felting it was a good thing to
do. So-o this big thing is what turned out. I couldn't believe that it would actually turn into this cute little bag. It makes a nice fall bag to show off my newly acquired skill of knitting.

I'm really getting into this computer thing. I enjoy it very much....enjoy the friends I've made on the computer...friends from all over the world. Enjoy my family who are scattered all over. We talk and share and play games together. Share our pets, and the seasons...right now the falling leaves and the end of summer. I've found some wonderful recipes to cook some playful meals.

Some musings I have this a.m.: Although we purchase twice what we did in the 50's can I honestly say I am happier for it? Do I sense that my neighbors, friends, and family are more at peace, joyful, at ease? Do I feel in them a palpable sense of well-being and delight? If not, why not? My car runs faster, telephone reaches farther, computers are everywhere, dishwasher more efficient, armies better equipped, our police have more weaponry, medicines are more powerful, the interstate highways are bigger and reach farther, buildings are safer, more modern, and temperature controlled. I have, in short, everything I ever wanted or dreamed of. Or do I? Do I take the time to enjoy and thank God for all these blessings?
It is my pleasure, today, to consider all these things and taste the sweetness of peace, serenity, well-being, and delight.....take each moment of each day as it comes and enjoy and be happy, trusting my father in heaven. The truth must be told: With all the money in the world, and no time or gratitude in my heart, I really have nothing at all.

7 a.m. The sun just came up in a beautiful sky. Life is good today. I'm reading and studying at the moment, looking out the window and wondering what to do today to have a great day.

Just wondering a little......How many times do we scream silently?
How many times do we scream loudly? Which is better?
Does it do more good to suffer silently or loudly? Hum m m

Remodeled the bathroom a little yesterday - painted the floor white and now wondering what color carpets to put down.
Named our place here in Oregon, "Little Creek Farm", as we found out the name of the creek that runs thru the back field is called, "Little Creek"..... very fitting as it isn't very big. It rained pretty hard for 2 days so now it is a little bigger. Virg came in and announced that some water was running into the pond and out into the creek. In the winter when it rains nearly all the time it floods and looks like the Mississippi River.

Sculpting Today

Lynda I wanted you to see the plaque I made this morning. I used the chocolate colored clay and attached the stuff just as you said to.

This whale sort of took shape with the lump of clay I pulled off the larger one, needs some more work but it is coming along.

I'm Still Here

Haven't had much time for painting this summer. When Lynda was here from Alaska she showed me how to make pots out of clay, now I'm hooked. Here's the one I am working on now.....still have to fire it. I'm going to use an outdoor fire in a garbage can, burning wood shavings. We'll see how it turns out. Hope it doesn't break to pieces.

Maya Angelou said this:
"I've learned that no matter what happens, or how bad it seems today,life does go on, and it will be better tomorrow."

"I've learned that you can tell a lot about a person by the way he/she handles these three things: a rainy day, lost luggage, and tangled Christmas tree lights.?"

"I've learned that regardless of your relationship with your parents,you'll miss them when they're gone from your life."

"I've learned that making a 'living' is not the same thing as 'making a life."

"I've learned that life sometimes gives you a second chance."

"I've learned that you shouldn't go through life with a catcher's mitt on both hands; you need to be able to throw some things back."

"I've learned that whenever I decide something with an open heart, I usually make the right decision."

"I've learned that even when I have pains, I don't have to be one."

"I've learned that every day you should reach out and touch someone. People love a warm hug, or just a friendly pat on the back."

"I've learned that I still have a lot to learn."

"I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel."

May, June & July. Has it been that long since I posted? Lotz of water under the bridge since I last visited my blog.
We are spending the summer in Oregon and it is so beautiful up here.
We went camping in the mts. this weekend. Rode the Old Santiam Wagon Trail in a cart pulled by a team of horses. Couldn't help being reminded of the pioneers and wondering how in the world they did it. Then we turned around and the next day we hiked a good share of it. Over the river and thru the woods we went, fording the streams & thru the log clogged creek beds.

Amazing Friendships you Make in Blogland! I have found some amazing and talented friends every time I look thru my friends list.
I saw a little yellow warbler today. I don't know what it is, but when I have a really, really bad day , I get home to find little unexpected surprises at my birdbath! I must say, it is always a thrill to see these little feathered jewels. They blow my socks right off my feet! They flit in and flit out and leave my heart feeling happy even to have a glimpse. It seems that whatever peace I know rests in the natural world, in feeling myself a part of it, even in a small way. Thanks for reading with me.

Looked out the window this morning and saw a beautiful Western Tanager drinking from our birdbath...such bright yellow and red. Also the black-headed grosbeaks are back. Couldn't get a very good picture of the tanager before he flew away.

Another quilted postcard.
There has been so much going on that
I haven't had much time to play with these.
But gradually I am adding to my collection.
This one has some paper in it.
I couldn't resist the little lion cub.
Enjoy!

Another picture I've been working on. It isn't finished yet. Still working on the fog in the mts.

Some musings from my journal: I refuse to wear masks and play games. I do not want to maneuver and manipulate behind the scenes or twist Gods word to suit myself.
The saying,"He's a self-made man and he worships his creator," you see this all around...so many of us are like this.
My life is filled up with light as I see and understand God, in the face of Jesus, all bright and beautiful. When I look at myself and others, I miss the brightness. I'm not much to look at. My ordinary life is just an unadorned clay pot, not beautiful like Lynda's pots she makes. (See her blog) We are all surrounded and battered by troubles. We're not sure what to do. We've been spiritually terrorized...but God hasn't left our side. Even though on the outside it often looks like things are falling apart...these hard times are small potatoes compared to the good times coming...the lavish celebration that Jesus is preparing for us. I want to be God made, not handmade. That's the only way I can be anything at all worth looking at.

I loved this one.

Spring bloom in Oregon. Cherry trees & daffodil's.