Sunday, December 30, 2012

End of year cranberries

For most people in the western world Christmas is now over, but not for everyone.  Already in January 2010 I explained in a post that for Eastern Orthodox Christians,  Christmas is celebrated in January.  One year during the Holidays my daughter and I were in Heliopolis, Cairo, visiting my first cousins (Armenians.) They celebrated Christmas on January 6th.  Please read my post of January 2010 here regarding the traditional Christmas date.  So, for my Armenian family, I say "Have a Merry Christmas" (I don't know how to say it in Armenian as in the card below.)

We drove to Tennessee to be with our daughters and family to celebrate the holidays.  The three grand-children had grown since we had seen them.  I did not take good photographs of the two eldest grandsons (6 and 4 years old) as they were always moving, but I did take some of the youngest (17 months old.)
Two years ago there was snow in Tennessee during the Holidays - it was so beautiful.  There was no snow in Georgia in 2012.  Hopefully we will see some in 2013.  I would not mind walking through the snow, like the lady below.
 A Winter Landscape by Giuseppe de Nittis, Italian, 1846-1884

 It would be even better if the snow was in Paris - 
 Boulevard des Italiens by Antoine Blanchard, French 1910-1988

or in New York City.
 Fifth Avenue in Winter by Childe Hassam, American  1859-1935

 But the house in Tennessee was warm and cosy with lovely decorations.
 My daughter followed Santa Claus' travel around the world on her computer for the grandsons.  In the picture below Santa is in Douala, Cameroon and going next to Lagos, Nigeria.(Click on picture to enlarge.)
My daughter Celine, who had driven to Nashville from Memphis, Tennessee, made her famous "penguins" with her nephews (made with olives, carrots and cream cheese.)  I baked several cookies including the chocolate chip cookies below.
 For Christmas Day, my daughter Jessica served a ham with homemade cranberry sauce.  I really enjoy cranberries - I had never tasted cranberries while growing up in France.  I decided that upon returning home I would try to bake some goodies using fresh cranberries.  We left Tennessee after the Christmas celebrations and I drove back to Georgia using an alternate route to avoid bad weather.  Below is a town in Tennessee, Johnson City, the way it would have looked during the Holidays in 1958. (Courtesy Johnson City Historical Society.)
Once back home I went to the supermarket and purchased several packages of cranberries.  I made one recipe last night.  I created it, but I did not like the result too much.  I think it would have been better with three cups of cranberries (I used 2 cups.)  It also would have tasted better if I had not forgotten it in the oven and over-cooked it.  My husband liked it though because he said it tasted "rough."  I am not sure how to take this comment.  Here is the recipe.

Fresh Cranberry Bars

1 cup light brown suger, firmly packed
1/2 cup vegetable oil
2 cups flour (you may use Biscuit Mix, omit salt and baking soda)
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 tsp nutmeg, 1/2 tsp cardamon, 1 tsp cinnamon
1 1/2 tsp vanilla
1 apple, chopped
1/3 cup sour cream or Greek yogurt
3 cups fresh cranberries
Streusel: 1/2 cup oats, 1/2 cup slivered almonds chopped, 1/3 cup brown sugar, 3 Tablespoons soft butter
Cream together oil and sugar.  Add eggs and vanilla, blending well.  Sift together flour and dry ingredients. Add to egg mixture and blend well.  Stir in apple and cranberries.
Streusel: in a small bowl combine ingredients with fork until crumbly.
Place cranberry mixture in a 9x13 inch well greased pan. Sprinkle streusel on top.  Bake in 350 degree F oven for 45-50 minutes.  
 I forgot it in the oven for well over one hour, maybe more... so it was crispy on top...  I was not pleased with myself.  But it still tasted OK and would taste really delicious if baked properly.  So I decided to try another cranberry recipe this morning.  I had received some nice presents for Christmas - CDs, chocolate and books, including a cookbook.
 The cookbook is called "Foodista" Best of Food Blogs Cookbook.  There was a cranberry recipe in this cookbook.  The recipe was written by Katie Goodman of Albuquerque, New Mexico.  I checked and she is still writing her blog - Good Life EatsHer recipe is called "Cranberry Crumb Bars" which she posted in October 2009 - you can find it here.
 It was very easy.  The result was excellent.  
Here is a cranberry bar, below, to enjoy "virtually"...
Now I am coming to the end of my post, and to the end of the year.  I'll wish you a Happy New Year in French for 2013 as they did in the postcard below, one hundred years ago.
Here is another vintage postcard, but in English.
 and now I wish you a Happy New Year in French, English and Armenian.  May you look forward to a great 2013 filled with good health, good cheer and much happiness.

 
  

50 comments:

  1. You always have such amazing postcards in your posts. It was wonderful, as always, to be with you at Christmas.

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  2. my dear Vagabonde..i do so enjoy your posts and photos!! your grandchildren are beautiful..it is true..the older ones don't always sit long,do they!! your decorations and tree are beautiful!!! thank you so much for sharing the recipe..it looks delicious!!ohhhh..see's candy!! my father,for as long as he was alive,and as far back as i can remember,gave me a box for valentine's Day,my birthday and Christmas!!! the bordeux's..a full pound..light or dark..either kind!! love the cd's...Ravi Shankar's music was magical. The Southern Foodie..oh,a box i must find and look at!!! As i have mention..my parents were born and raised in Georgia..there is noting as satisfying as a good Southern meal!!..and,one must not be afraid of Crisco!!! the penguins are so cute...do they take long to put together? i just love them!!! your chocolate chip cookies make my mouth water!! we followed Santa also..the kids love to do this!!
    I wish you a healthy,happy and joyful New Year!!!
    hugs!

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  3. I love cranberry desserts and make quite a few during the holidays. Only some in my family are fans of the berry and I usually am forced to eat more than I should as I don't want to waste food. That is my excuse anyway.

    Your pictures and postcards are lovely and your daughter's tree and decoration are outstanding.

    Have a wonderful New Year.

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  4. Why thanks for the recipe and sweet post.Aloha

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  5. Vagabonde, Thanks for the cranberry recipes! I love cranberries...use them in cookies and in my cereal too. As for the snow in Tennessee, please keep it confined to wherever you are and away from us here in East TN near Knoxville. We moved here from Chicago to avoid as much snow as possible and still have the 4 seasons. Happy New Year! Take Care, Big Daddy Dave

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  6. a wonderful post, Vagabonde, as always. It looks as if you had a lovely Christmas with your relatives. Les petits-enfants are just darling. :-) Happy New Year to you as well, with good health, laughter-filled days, and of course, many, many field trips that will inspire the stories we all enjoy so much. Veronique (French Girl in Seattle)

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  7. You are so brave, making these Cranberry Goodies! I admire that so very much...!
    Your little Grandson is darling!
    And I LOVE The Penquins that Celine made with her nephews...ADORABLE!!!
    AND...Last But Not Least....Those Chocolate Chip Cookies look so delicious---I Want Some Right Now! (LOL)
    A VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR, MY DEAR...Filled with The Best Of Everything---Especially, GOOD HEALTH!!!

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  8. As always, I enjoyed your post and discovered something new: cranberries in bakery! Me neither, did not know about cranberries before being linked to an anglophone and used them a couple of years ago for the first time to do winter decorations - the birds ate them all! EG is a cranberry sauce adept and we have it often with the carved meat, becomes a tradition now as we can buy them here. We tried to grow some but the Americans are bigger :-).
    I wished sometimes to be like an Armenian with the advantage of celebrating Christmas after the event - perhaps I was then a bit better prepared? Beautiful grandchildren, Vagabonde and one can feel that you enjoyed the festive days over there. Je vous souhaite à tous les deux une excellente année 2013 et surtout plein de santé et prospérité. Je me réjouis déjà de lire tes blog futurs. Je t'embrasse bien fort avec 3 bisous comme c'est la coutume ici.

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  9. Looks like you´ve had a wonderful time! :-) And hey, I can send some snow over from here, we´ve had plenty already! :-)

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  10. Dear Vagabonde..
    A wonderful post. Your home looks so lovely.
    delightful penguins.. they are so cute.
    your recipies look delicious.
    sending you lots of happiness and joy for 2013
    great to be blogging with you.
    By the way.. we only get snow high in the hills here..
    love the images..
    val xxx

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  11. Thanks for the visit and comment. I enjoyed seeing your antique postcards, and your grandson is adorable! Happy New Year!

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  12. A wonderful peek into your kitchen, VB. And what a fine selection of old paintings and postcards... I am feeling quite blessed. Thank you also for your Christmas card! I don't send them out any more but I sure do enjoy receiving them. :-)

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  13. I enjoyed this post very much, the cards, recipes, china.
    Yes, January 6 seems to be an important date also
    I leave the Christmas tree until then.
    Warmest wishes for a splendid year,
    anni

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  14. And a Happy New Year to you, too, Vagabonde. I love cranberries, especially when they are dried, like raisins. I have them every day in my trail mix!

    And now I wonder what will be in store for all of us in 2013. I'm already loving writing it. :)

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  15. Vagabonde, this is a real feast of a post, with lovely vintage views mingling easily with Christmas 2012 festivities! Lots of joy throughout...right to the tempting cranberry recipes.

    You've got us well set up to welcome in a wonderful New Year. A very Happy 2013 to you and your husband. xo

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  16. Haven't had much time to post comments recently but thanks for the baking blog.

    Wish I could get cranberries easily here but sadly can't. Saw some in the SuperU but they were a bit past their best and very expensive.

    Bon réveillon! And all good things for 2013!

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  17. I always buy extra bags of cranberries to keep in the freezer to be able to serve recipes like this during the year.

    Wishing you and your family a happy & healthy new year. Bonne Annee.
    Sam

    P.S. Love the vintage cards.

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  18. Happy New Year, to you and yours! I love to try both recipes you posted. They look and sound delicious.

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  19. Que de belles photos, pour illustrer le passage à la nouvelle année!
    Alors, meilleurs voeux pour toi et ta famille et un joli blog 2013!

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  20. What a busy Christmas full of Love and full of Light!
    En ce qui concerne les canneberges (nom tres etrange pour moi en francais, je prefere dire "cranberries") je les aime beaucoup sechees, dans les scones... Si vous trouvez une recette de "cranberry scones" essayez la et si vous n'en trouvez pas de bonne contactez-moi j'en ai une que je fais souvent. Sinon je les utilise souvent fraiches comme decorations pour Noel!
    Merci pour tous ces jolis partages!
    Bonne annee 2013 a vous et a votre famille!

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  21. A very happy, healthy, and prosperous New Year in 2013 to you and your family, Vagabonde!

    I love the vintage postcards you always include.

    My wife made a fantastic cranberry relish this year that included cranberries, orange zest, maple syrup, and corn syrup. She also made cranberry pancakes for breakfast on two different occasions. Heavenly!

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  22. Je viens tout juste de rentrer et je viens te souhaiter une BELLE ET NOUVELLE ANNEE
    dans la joie et la bonne humeur
    J'espère que tu vas bien et merci aussi de ton passage c'est si gentil
    Je t'embrasse

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  23. I've so enjoyed your holiday postings and thank you for sharing them here. Years to come you can easily re-visit these trips you make via your photos and narratives.

    The goodies you picture here all look delicious. I, too, like those penguins.

    May 2013 bring you much joy and happiness!

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  24. ✿ ❊ ✿ ❊ ✿ ❊ ✿
    Merci pour tes gentils vœux Chère Vagabonde :o) !

    Tes petits-enfants sont ADORABLES !!!! J'adore ces photos du BONHEUR !!!!

    Et les photos gourmandes me donnent très envie ! hum miam miam ! :o) :o) :o)

    GROS BISOUS d'Asie et bonne année 2013 à toi aussi ! :o)
    ✿ ❊ ✿ ❊ ✿ ❊ ✿

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  25. Thanks for sharing with us your family Christmas. What a delightful post. As for walking in the snow, I do nothing else but, esp. when I go out to take bird photos.

    Also, I notice two of your gifts right away: The World of Downton Abbey and Lang Lang plays Chopin. I've read the DA book, very informative insiders' view, like a making of chronicle with lots of pictures. I'm sure you'll enjoy it. As for the Lang Lang CD, I'm just curious to know what pieces he plays.

    Have a Happy New Year, Vagabonde, to you and your family!

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  26. Your Christmas with family seemed lovely. I will have to make the recipe from the 'Good Life Eats' blog...I'm sure it tastes as good as it looks pretty!

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  27. Mais quel festin tu partages avec nous pour célébrer cette nouvelle année! Merci chère Vagabonde!
    A mon tour, je te souhaite une très belle et heureuse année! Que 2013 te comble de joie, d'amour de partage de rires et de bonne humeur...

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  28. I was searching for a Christmas card in Armenian and found your blog. Thank you for telling people that not all Christians celebrate it on the 25th. This is a diverse country but people ignore other customs. It is sad to want to celebrate when no one cares. Merry Christmas to your family on January the 6th. A lost friend in Alabama.

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  29. Mmmmm. We like to make a cranberry relish that we use on the turkey kind of like you'd use gravy). Especially good if you use leftover turkey in pannini and spread the relish on the bread before toasting. Another seasonal favorite is pomegranate. You should try it! Kind of like cranberry but much more tart.

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  30. A Very Happy New Year to you and yours!
    Lovely photos of your youngest
    grand-children!
    As always your posts are precious and beautiful.

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  31. A friend told me about your blog. I read this post and the one from 2010. Thank you to acknowledge our Christmas. In Egypt the 7 January is a holiday and it is not a Christian country but here, only the 25th is a holiday. Peace to you. Kidane (proud Ethiopian American.)

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  32. I can't decide which part of your post I like best, they were all so interesting to read and look at. Do love your cardinal dishware set!

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  33. Darling grand child! I wonder if you could incorporate cranberries macerated in sugar overnight into a clafoutis?
    Happy, healthy new year to you and your beautiful family!

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  34. Bonne Année trés chere Vagabonde, to you and J!
    much much love, all the best for 2013.
    love, christina

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  35. What a delightful New Year's post! I may have to try those cranberry bars -- they look delicious and if they were good when you overdid them, just think! The blogger cookbook looks great, too. So many wonderful gifts, but I suspect one of the greatest is sharing with your family in that lovely holiday house!

    Happy New Year to you, dear Vagabonde. May 2013 treat you well!

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  36. I have a bag of cranberries that need to be used and your recipes sound perfect. Love your beautiful cards. By the way, I live in New Hampshire and we have a foot of snow on the ground. Have a wonderful new year.

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  37. Those cranberry bars sound delicious. I'll settle for Christmas snow here in Colorado :) Have a wonderful 2013!

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  38. The cranberry bars sound scrumptious! I wish you all the best in 2013.

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  39. Yum to the cranberry crumb bars. I love the tartness of cranberries, and they have loads of vit c. I make cranberry relish with apples and oranges and pineapple (and cranberries!) quite often in the winter. We like it with poultry and as a side with sandwiches. Your photos of grandchildren and visit with daughters are lovely. Happy 2013!

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  40. Enjoy 2013 !
    All good and beautifull things for you...
    Greetings from Paris,

    Pierre

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  42. My first visit here. Enjoyed every little bit. The children are beautiful...absolutely! The foods make my stomach grumble; I love cranberry anything; a favorite, Cranberry Bread, at Christmas was a real hit for everyone. THEN I was blown away seeing Main St. Johnson City and suddenly transported back to age 17. This is my hometown! What do you know about this area? The vintage looking vehicles smacked me back to present reality...Egad, I'm OLD. I will be back; count on it.

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  43. When I still lived in Germany I never had any cranberries either. I came to love them over here, I love their tart taste that gives every sweets its special taste. I think I will try this second recipe, it looks delicious. Thank you so much for sharing.
    All the best to you for 2013.

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  44. Quel beau pots, Vagabonde et très gourmand !
    Tes petits enfants sont très beaux.
    J'adore les chaussettes de Noel suspendus à la cheminée, comme chez mon fils aîné. J'avais acheté pour notre premier petit fils Lucas une chaussette avec un nounours dessus, et l'année dernière j'en ai fait une pour Le petit dernier avec un nounous aussi. Je dois dire qu'elle était assez réussie. Je ne sais si tu l'avais vue sur mon blog.
    J'adore tes illustrations.
    En France on peut trouvé du jus de cranberry. J'ai testé, ce n'est assez bon. Il paraît que c'est bon pour la circulation sanguine des jambes.
    Bises

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  45. Vagabonde,
    How lovely your grand children are!!

    I have been learning many things such as tradition, culture, customs and more through your wonderful blogs always.

    Christmas of January 6th is very interesting. And I remember one story I heard decades ago, I am not so sure it is true or not. Three wise men left for Bethlehem when they saw a shining star over it. They arrived there around January 6th and greeted baby Christ.

    A happy new year and may this year be the best for all of you!

    keiko

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  46. I wish you and your husband a Happy New Year.... and I wish you the patience to deal with difficulties. And of course best wishes for the January 6 Old Christmas to your Armenian relatives. I see you read the same book as me... the Sandcastle Girls, what a sad story.
    I think I shall have to try the cranberry recipes. When I was a child in England, I had never seen cranberries, but I am sure they have them there now.

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  47. Thanks for your comment regarding JC TN. The town's life was lovely back then; life is lovely at 17yr! The Main St view you show drastically changed, practically abandoned by the new mall, etc. then after time came alive again. JC is so sprawled out now, it is hard to believe. Thanks for the magic memories you instilled for me via the picture.

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  48. Bonne Année, Vagabonde.

    Sorry not to have commented before but I was in France for the reveillon!

    Your Cranberry bars look most excellent. But I shall resist the temptation to make some. I must slim.

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  49. What a lovely post. I love your photos and you sound as though you had a wonderful time over Christmas. Thank you for your comments on my last couple of posts. Nice meeting you and look forward to seeing more of your posts.
    Patricia

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  50. Et Bonne Année à vous, Vagabonde.

    I'm glad you had such a good Christmas with your family, even without snow. Your cranberry recipes look delicious, but I would need to translate them into pounds and ounces, as I don't have any American measuring cups.

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