Fall Favorites

Cranberry Oatmeal Cookies

Fall is upon us - leaves in the driveway, sunny days and cool evenings.  Halloween and Thanksgiving are right around the corner and I am starting to think about what to cook!!  Well, I am always thinking about what to cook!  Fall brings some favorite ingredients that I look forward to.  One of my favorites is Cranberries!  I love anything if there is a cranberry in it!  Here are a few recipes of my fall favorites for you to share with your friends and family during the upcoming holiday seasons!

Cranberry Oatmeal Cookies
Ingredients: Serves: 48

Yield: 4-5 dozen

  Cookies

• 2 cups flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
• 1 cup butter, softened
• 2 cups brown sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1/2 cup milk
• 2 teaspoons fresh orange zest
• 3 cups oats
• 2 cups fresh or frozen and thawed cranberries

Glaze

• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 1 lemon, juice of

Directions:

1. In a food processor or blender pulse cranberries until medium-fine. Set aside.
2. Cream sugar and butter.
3. Add all the rest of the ingredients except cranberries; mix well.
4. Gently mix in cranberries.
5. Drop by spoonfuls on greased cookie sheet.
6. Bake at 375* for 8 to 10 minutes or until rim of cookie is lightly browned. Don't overbake or they will be dry and hard.
7. Brush on the glaze while still warm.
8. To make the Glaze:
   
9. Combine powdered sugar and lemon juice till smooth. Should be very thin like gravy. Add more or less sugar for right consistency.

---

Cranberry Nut Bread
Recipe credit: By Jennifer Segal
Servings: One 9 x 5-inch loaf
Total Time: 1 Hour 20 Minutes
Ingredients

• 1/3 cup orange juice
• 2 teaspoons grated orange zest, from one orange
• 2/3 cup buttermilk
• 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
• 1 large egg
• 2 cups all-purpose flour, spooned into measuring cup and leveled-off
• 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 cup fresh or frozen cranberries, chopped coarse*
• 1/2 cup walnuts or pecans

Instructions

1. Adjust oven rack to middle position and preheat oven to 375 degrees. Spray bottom of 9 x 5-inch loaf pan with non-stick cooking spray.
2. In a small bowl, stir together orange juice, orange zest, buttermilk, butter and egg. Set aside.
3. In a large bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, salt, cinnamon, baking powder and baking soda. Stir liquid ingredients into dry with rubber spatula until just moistened. Gently stir in cranberries and nuts. Do not overmix.
4. Scrape batter into prepared loaf pan and spread evenly with a rubber spatula. Bake for 20 minutes, then reduce heat to 350 degrees. Continue to bake until golden brown and toothpick inserted into center of loaf comes out clean, about 45 minutes longer. Cool loaf in pan for about 10 minutes, then turn out onto wire rack and cool at least one hour before serving.
5. Note: Cranberries are a bit tricky to chop because they roll all over the place. You can use a food processor if you like but I think it's easier to just cut each one in thirds with a sharp knife; it's only one cup so it doesn't take long. If you're using frozen cranberries, be sure to chop them while they're still frozen.