Yummy Cranberry Drink

Sometimes, I don’t know how I end up in the messes I make for myself. I don’t know how I moved from making dinner Sunday night to the point where I pulled out my Mom’s sieve that she used to make tomato juice with, to straining cranberries, but that’s where I was.

I read that this drink has been made by Moms for their sick kiddies; and and I have a couple of those right now and I thought, cranberries, being so full of vitamin C and antioxidants would totally rock that cold right out of them. I was hopelessly sucked right in to pulling out the sieve, churning cranberries and slaving over a hot stove.

The drink was delicious. It really, truly was worth the effort, which, in truth, while this LOOKs like a big production, really wasn’t that bad. The cranberries “PoP” while you cook them, which was kind of exciting.  I might make a batch to serve up for Thanksgiving, with a Captain Morgan Kick.

So, here’s the recipe.

• 2 cups fresh or frozen cranberries
• 6 cups water, divided
• 1 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup cinnamon candies
• 7 whole cloves
• 1/2 cup fresh orange juice (You could substitute Ginger Ale for this.)
• 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice

1. In a saucepan, cook cranberries in 2 cups water until they pop. Gather the kids round to watch.
2. Strain through a fine sieve, reserving juice and discarding skins; set aside.
3. In a large saucepan, combine sugar, candies, cloves and remaining water.
4. Cook until candies are dissolved.
5. Add orange and lemon juices and reserved cranberry juice; heat though.
6. Remove cloves. Serve hot.