Holiday Gifts From Your Kitchen Cranberry Chutney

Homemade Cranberry Chutney is an Easy, Cheap, and Elegant Offering

The best thing about this present is that when making it at home, you can stretch ingredients to double, triple, or quadruple your recipe, making it one day, gifts that will cover dozens of lucky recipients, including relatives, bus drivers, teachers, neighbors, coworkers, helpers and all who deserve a few thanks. Save money this holiday season by making a sensible and delicious homemade Cranberry Chutney.

If you’re not familiar with chutney, it’s a fruit-relish type condiment that pairs sweet and spicy flavors to create a fabulous accompaniment to meats, cheeses salads, and other dishes. The following recipe uses canned cranberries which are inexpensive and easy to find in most areas.

Once prepared, Cranberry Chutney in glass jars makes a beautifully presented gift when wrapped with ribbon and homemade recipe cards. Be creative to make the gift your own, and the joy of your lucky gift-getters.

Cranberry Chutney Recipe

Ingredients

• 2 can whole berry cranberry sauce
• teaspoon ginger spice
• 1 tablespoon diced garlic
•  cider vinegar 1/2 cup
• 4 tablespoons sugar
• black pepper 1/2 teaspoon
• cinnamon 1/2 teaspoon
• allspice 1/2 teaspoon
• 1/2 orange or 2 clementines, peeled and diced
• The juice of 1 lemon, or 1/4 cup bottled lemon juice

Directions

1. Add cider, garlic, and spices to a large pot on the stove. Bring to a boil stirring often, and reduce to medium-low heat. Simmer for 20 minutes.
2. Add cranberries, sugar, citrus, and lemon juice. Simmer, stirring occasionally for 2 – 3 hours.

Once prepared, can your chutney using mason jars available at your local food warehouse or craft store or online via Amazon or other retailers. Can your chutney using the National Center for Home Food Preservation’s USDA Complete Guide to Home Canning guidelines.

Chicken Salad

Ingredients (for 4 servings)

• 2 cups cooked chicken
• 1 large apple, peeled and cut into small cubes
• 1/4 onion, diced
• 3 tablespoons mayonnaise
• 4 tablespoons cranberry chutney
• lemon juice 1 teaspoon
• parsley 1 teaspoon
• mustard 1 teaspoon
• garlic salt 1/2 teaspoon

Mix all ingredients and chill. Serve with lettuce on tortillas or rolls.

Sauce

Drizzle warm cranberry Chutney over cooked fish or sliced pork tenderloin as an ideal flavorful sauce.

Turkey Sandwiches

For leftover holiday turkey or everyday turkey sandwiches, mix an equally desired amount of cranberry chutney and mayonnaise for topping. Chutney can also be used as a substitute for cranberry sauce to accompany the turkey.

Hors D’Ouvres

• Drizzle over-molded cream cheese to form an elegant cheese ball. Serve with crackers.
• Serve as-is in a small dish with a spreading knife along with a selection of crackers and cheese.