Cranberry Cocktail

This is seriously the easiest drink to make that I am almost embarrassed to tell you about it, but I had to keep with the cranberry theme of Thanksgiving.

Virgin Drink:

Using whatever pitcher you will be using fill 1/2 of it with cranberry juice and the 1/2 with Sprite.

Adults only:

Repeat the steps above for the virgin drink but add some vodka to it. They say you should only do about a 3/4 of a shot per glass, but if your family is driving you nuts you can always add more!

To make the drink all the more festive you could add a few cranberries in the drink or hanging from the edge of the glass.

Crazy For Cranberries

Decorating For Thanksgiving

"Delicious autumn! My very soul is wedded to it, and if I were a bird I would fly about the earth seeking the successive autumns" George Eliot

Thanksgiving is usually a holiday that is forgotten in regards to decoration and presentation. Everyone focus' so much on "dressing" their turkey that they skimp out on "dressing" their dining room table. Although food is the most important part of celebrating this holiday, having a festive welcoming table is fun for both you and your guests. Typically, everyone has a set of table linens and china that they use for special occasions but what is usually lacking on the table are center pieces. To keep with the Thanksgiving theme I found easy and elegant ways to use cranberries as decor for your table. To decorate with cranberries I suggest using fresh berries that are not frozen. It is best to do these projects the night before or the day of Thanksgiving, as they are fruit and will not last a very long time. The easiest way to add both color and light to your table is to take a basic glass vessel and place a solid pillar candle in the center. Next, pour the cranberries around the candle so they are evenly spread throughout the glass. Another way to do this would be to take the same glass vessel and place a flower weighted down with cranberries at the bottom of the vase. The next step is to pour water into the vessel leaving about a 1/3 of room to the rim of the glass. Next place some cranberries on top and a floating votive candle in the center of the piece. To be safe you should not place the cranberries above the top of the candle. These candle arrangements could be used as your centerpiece or on either side of a floral arrangement.

Another simple way to use cranberries is to create a floral arrangement using them as accents. All you have to do is take a large vase and place a clear narrow vase that is filled with water in the center of the large vase. Next, spread the cranberries evenly in the space between the two vases. Your last step is to place your flower arrangement in the narrow vase.

My last suggestion for decorating with cranberries is to take what you already have, which is and should be cranberry sauce. If you actually take the cranberry sauce out of the can or glass jar and place it in beautiful clear bowl it will complete your cranberry theme!

I hope everyone has a wonderful "Turkey Day" filled with thanks, love, and of course cranberry sauce!

Love, Lili