Cranberry Apple Mango Chutney

• 2 bags of fresh cranberries, rinsed
• 1 pear – peeled, cored, chopped small
• 2 medium apples, cored, chopped small
• 1 mango chopped small
• ½ cup dried cherries
• 2 cups light brown sugar
• 1 ¼ cup orange juice
• 1 large tablespoon of raspberry preserves
• ¼ cup apple cider vinegar
• ¼ teaspoon ground ginger
• ¼ teaspoon cinnamon
• ¼ teaspoon allspice
• Dash of nutmeg
• Pinch of salt

Place all ingredients into a large saucepan and cook on medium heat until cranberries pop and mixture thickens – about 20-30 minutes. Cool.  I like to get little Mason jars or pretty containers and give a little bit to the neighbors or friends each year.  That way a little bit of us is with them at their holiday meal!

This is a great side for your holiday turkey meal, but is also fantastic with pork or veal.  Emily even warmed some up last night and topped with vanilla ice cream!  Yum!

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How to “Doctor” a Boxed Cake Mix

Want to make a cake but no time to make it from scratch? Here’s how to make a boxed cake moister, tastier and disappear because it’s so good!  Take your favorite cake mix, add one package of complimentary flavored instant pudding mix, add an additional 1/4 cup water & 1/4 cup oil to the the whatever the recipe calls for on the back of the box, plus all the remaining ingredients that the box calls for – mix well, pour into a baking spray coated pan and bake!

Examples:

• Chocolate fudge cake + chocolate fudge pudding
• Lemon cake + lemon pudding
• Vanilla cake + vanilla pudding (or the cheesecake pudding mix)
• Funfetti cake (Randi’s favorite!) + vanilla or cheesecake pudding

Makes it taste homemade!  Try it!

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Simple Pear and Apple Tart

• 3 tbsp. light brown sugar
• 2 medium size pears & apples halved, cored and sliced thick
• 3  tbsp. butter
• ½ tsp. ground cinnamon
• 1 egg slightly beaten
• ¼ tsp. ground ginger
• 1 tbsp. slivered almonds
• 2 tbsp. granulated sugar
• 1 sheet refrigerated    pie crust dough

Preheat oven to 350° F. Coat baking sheet with non-stick spray. Combine brown sugar, butter, cinnamon and ginger in small bowl. Microwave 30 seconds, and mix well.  Unroll dough onto baking sheet. Place fruit slices in overlapping circle, leaving 2″ border. Fold dough edges up and over edge of fruit and press to seal. Drizzle butter mixture over fruit, sprinkle with almonds, brush dough edges with egg, and sprinkle with granulated sugar.

Bake 30-35 minutes or until golden brown. Cool and serve with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream. Top with fresh raspberries, if desired.

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