Cranberry Orange Jam and Crostinis

Hi Everyone,

Happy Monday to you!  This weekend I took advantage of the cold weather and rain by hanging out of my kitchen and making lots and lots of jam!!  Every time I think of Jam I think of the episode of Friends where Monica was making jam to forget the man!

I made Wild Berry Compote, Hotter then Hell Pepper Jelly Jam, which I’ll give you the recipe later.  I also made Cranberry Orange Quick Jam, Yum and Maple Pumpkin Butter.  I was out of my Maple Pumpkin Butter and I was in need!  I love to put it on my vanilla greek yogurt, topped with Puffins.  It tastes like pumpkin pie!  After my pumpkin butter cooled, I made my parfait right away! (1 cup vanilla greek yogurt, 2 heaping tbsp. pumpkin butter, a few Puffins)

Then I continued to make more jam!!  My newest jam to the collection is Cranberry Orange Quick Jam!  I don’t know what it is, but I love cranberry and orange together.  It’s such a fantastic combination!!

I didn’t get the things done that I planned today like setting up my new shelves, doing laundry and cleaning my front room, but that’s ok because I have 7 jars of different kind of butter, jams and compotes to get me through the next few weeks.  I kind of have a thing for condiments!  I love healthy ones that can be topped on yogurt, oatmeal, meat and other fun things!

I didn’t realize how fast time went.  I spent about 5 hours making these, which isn’t to bad!  I was pretty stoked when the doorbell rang and I got my monthly Nature Box.  I love having a monthly subscription to Nature Box.  Look at the goodies I got!  It was in perfect timing because I was getting hungry!

I got in this months box Carrot Chips, Chipotle Maple Almonds, Cinnamon Spiced Granola, Roasted Garlic Pumpkin Seeds and Country Ranch Peas.  I thought the peas were weird, yet it was the first and only thing I tried so far.  Let me tell you they are really good!  I couldn’t stop eating them.  They tasted like corn nuts!  I seen them at Trader Joe’s and I was never inclined to buy them because there peas!  I was wrong  now I have to get them next time I go.  Look how weird they look!

While I was cooking, I had the tropical music station on.  My Husband came in and asked me what the heck am I listening too?  The music sounds like I was in a Mexican restaurant or Cost Plus.  I like it because I could concentrate because I didn’t know the words.  He changed the channel to 80’s music, which I love and as I’m typing this post, I’m singing Stevie Nicks, Stand Back!!  Not good!  I LOVE 80’s music.  I guess I’m showing my age!

There, I’m making my Husband turn the music off!  To hard to think, when all I want to do is dance.  Around 2pm I needed a snack and I was hot from standing in front of the stove, so I decided to whip up one of my Skinny Peppermint Mocha Frappes.  I’ll tell you I am so addicted to this drink.  I have had it everyday around 2-3pm since I posted it a couple of weeks ago!  It’s so good!  I am such a peppermint freak!!

Your probably waiting for today’s recipe for the Cranberry Orange Quick Jam and all I did is ramble on about my day.  I didn’t tell you I also made my roasted chicken too, but that we can discuss another day!    All righty then, lets talk Cranberry Orange Jam!  I thought it would be perfect to share this recipe with you since Thanksgiving is coming and it’s such a cranberry type of holiday.  This jam is very easy to make and I didn’t use any pectin, just cranberries, oranges and sugar.

This jam is fabulous served with cream cheese, brie cheese or goat cheese.  I also like is smeared on whole wheat rolls or my Cranberry Walnut Rolls, which I need to make soon since I am all out.  I made Cranberry Orange Cream Cheese crostinis as an appetizer before dinner.  I topped a few of the crostinis with chopped pistachios, but I left it out on most of them because my Husband isn’t a fan of nuts in his food.  He prefers to just eat them by the handfuls.

Cranberry Orange Quick Jam

Nutrition Information

• Serves: 3 Cups

• Serving size: 2 Tbsp.

Prep time:  5 mins

Cook time:  40 mins

Total time:  45 mins

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A sweet and slightly tart quick jam made with fresh cranberries and oranges.

Ingredients

• 4 cups cranberries, fresh (12 oz bag)
• Zest of two orange
• 1½ cups water
• 2 medium orange, juiced (1/4 cup)
• ½ cup sugar (divided)or to taste
• Juice of lemon

Instructions

1. In a large sauce pan add water, cranberries, orange zest, orange juice and ¼ cup sugar. Place over medium heat; bring to a boil, cover and simmer for 20 minutes; until cranberries have soften, stirring occasionally.
2. With the back of a large spoon, smush the cranberries, add lemon juice and remaining sugar. Taste test it to see if you want to add more sugar. Leave uncovered and simmer for 30 minutes or until thicken, stirring occasionally.
3. Spoon into jars, leave on the counter to cool and refrigerate for up to 1 month.

Notes

Calorie per two Tablespoons: 30.8, Fat: Cholesterol: 0, Sodium: .03, Potassium: 42.1, Crabs: 8, Fiber: 1.1, Sugar: 6.3, Protein: .02

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I love the crostinis and they are super quick to put together as long as you have the jam!  This is a perfect appetizer if you have surprise guests over to your house or you want a quick snack.  I made the crostinis with Artisan Country Loaf French Bread but it would be delicious on walnut bread or wheat bread.  My Husband won’t eat either so I had to use white bread.  When I cut into the bread there was a huge hole right through the middle, so most of my pieces are missing the center.  Glad the cream cheese filled it up!

Cranberry Orange Cream Cheese Crostinis

Nutrition Information

• Serves: 8 Crostinis

• Serving size: 1 Crostinis

Prep time:  5 mins

Cook time:  5 mins

Total time:  10 mins

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Toasted baguette topped with cream cheese, homemade cranberry orange jam and pistachios.

Ingredients

• ½ country loaf artisan baguette
• 2 oz cream cheese, fat free
• 8 tsp. cranberry orange quick jam
• Optional toppings:
• pistachios, chopped

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 F
2. Cut baguette into 8 - ¼" slices, place on a cookie sheet and bake for 5 minutes.
3. Evenly spread the cream cheese over each baguette slice. Top the cream cheese with 1 teaspoon of cranberry orange quick jam.

Notes

Calories per Crostinis: 52.8, Fat: .02, Cholesterol: 1.3, Sodium: 134, Potassium: 9, Carbs: 9.9, Fiber: .06, Sugar: 1.6, Protein: 2.4

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Now you know what I did all day Saturday!    Busy, busy!!  I can’t wait to see what other things I whip up this week!  Lots of ideas and recipes to share!

Have a great week!!

Toodles,

Jennifer

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