Do you want to know what my favorite holiday is?
Yup, you guessed it, Thanksgiving!
It's the one time of year where the whole family comes together for no other reason than to just be with each other while surrounded by a fantastic meal to share. No presents to buy, no hustle and bustle, just good quality time with those you love!
And, where is the best place to celebrate Thanksgiving in my family? That would be my mother's house. She not only has the space for us all to fit comfortably, she also is a rock star at cooking this meal perfectly. My mother has had many years to practice, and let me tell you, there is no other place I'd rather be then where I grew up on this very special occasion.
Over the past few years, with my parents getting older, us kids have all chipped in with the cooking, bringing a dish or two to share, while my mom just focuses on the three main dishes of the meal—the turkey, the stuffing, and the mashed potatoes. I'm getting excited just thinking about all of it, I can almost smell it!
This year I am bringing some desserts, one being my melt-in-your-mouth dark chocolate brownies, spaghetti squash for a side dish, and also the recipe I am giving you here for my Orange Infused Cranberry Sauce.
For me, Thanksgiving is not complete without cranberry sauce. I don't even think many people in my family like it besides my mother and I, but that won't stop me. I don't even mind if it comes out of the can. However, I certainly prefer it homemade, and a little healthier with less sugar if I can.
Below is the recipe for my homemade Orange Infused Cranberry Sauce. It's a little on the tart side, which I prefer, but if it is too tart for you, please feel free to add more sweetener until you reach your desired sweetness.
Orange Infused Cranberry Sauce
Ingredients:
2, 12 oz. bags of whole fresh cranberries, picked over for any bad cranberries
Zest of 2 navel oranges
3 navel oranges, juiced (or 1/2 cup orange juice)
1 1/2 cups water
1/3 cup light agave nectar, or about 4-6 packets of Stevia (add additional sweetener to taste)
Directions:
First, zest two navel oranges, and put it into a medium sauce pan.
Then, juice all three oranges, and strain to remove any seeds. You should get around 1/2 cup of juice.
Then, in your sauce pan with the zest, add in your water, orange juice, and agave, stir to combine well.
Turn your stove on to high heat, and bring the water mixture to a boil.
Once the water has reached a boil, add in your whole cranberries, stir, and let the water return to a boil. Once the mixture has reached a boil, reduce heat to simmer.
Simmer cranberries in your water mixture for about 10-15 minutes uncovered, stirring occasionally. Cranberry sauce will thicken as the berries cook down.
Once you have reached your desired consistency, turn off heat and remove to let cool. You can either serve this warm, or chilled over night.
Makes about 5 - 5 1/2 cups.
This recipe is gluten-free, nut-free, and vegan.
Product Name: Canyon Bakehouse 7-Grain Gluten-Free Bread
Manufacturer: Canyon Bakehouse
Overall Rating: 4.8
Taste: 5
Texture (right out of the bag): 5
Texture (toasted): 5
Shelf Life: 5
Cost: 3.8 | $6.99
Company Website: http://canyonglutenfree.com/
Review: Over the past 5 years, I've searched high and low for the best gluten-free bread available in the Capital District. I've tried breads from local gluten-free bakeries and restaurants, which were fairly good, but way too expensive. I've tried making some on my own at home in my bread machine, which again, was okay, but not great and was very time consuming. And, I've also tried countless loaves off the shelves and freezers of a my local supermarkets before finding my favorite gluten-free bread to date.
And, the best gluten-free bread in the Capital Region goes too....drumroll please...Canyon Bakehouse's 7-Grain Bread!
Canyon Bakehouse is not a local company—which I would prefer—but located in Loveland, Colorado. Canyon Bakehouse has a mission, which is to create delicious and nutritious gluten-free breads that the whole family will enjoy. They wish to create breads with the same flavor and texture of "regular" bread to those adhering to a gluten-free diet. And, let me tell you something, they hit this one out of the park.
I found Canyon Bakehouse breads at one of my favorite local markets in Albany, the Honest Weight Food Co-op. The Co-op carries and sells this 7-Grain bread for $6.99 a loaf, which isn't cheap, but wasn't so high either that I was unwilling to give it a try. It looked good, and looked a lot like regular bread, so I picked one up, and brought it home. You can find this bread at the Co-op located on the regular shelf, not the freezer, with all of the other breads and wraps.
The texture of this bread is simply fantastic. Right out of the bag, it's soft and pliable like "regular" bread, and most certainly is not dry, like some of the others I've come across. It is light and airy, and not too dense like a lot of other GF breads tend to be, and has just a hint of sweetness. I was simply amazed by the taste and texture of this bread. It was everything I had remembered "regular" bread to be, and it is also good for me. Bonus! This bread, and many of the others that Canyon Bakehouse sells, are made with 100% whole grains, have 2g of protein and 2g of fiber, and is also dairy, nut, and soy free.
Wow, right?
I've also tried their Mountain White bread when the Co-op was out of the 7-Grain variety—apparently I'm not the only one who is in love with this bread— and it too is delicious. It has the same great texture, and the same great taste, but just a little more "plain jane" without the whole grain "seeds" that I love in the 7-Grain variety. The Mountain White variety is still a great nutritional choice since it is also made with 100% whole grains, and has 2g protein and fiber like the 7-Grain.
The Co-op also carries Canyon Bakehouse's Rosemary and Thyme Focaccia. I haven't tried this yet, but I'm definitely intrigued, and plan to give it a try soon. Based on my experience I've had thus far, I am sure it is spectacular too.
So, if you are looking for that perfect gluten-free bread, I would give this bread from Canyon Bakehouse a try. I think you might just forget that you are even eating gluten-free bread altogether, and end up enjoying that sandwich, toast with your eggs, or what ever you fancy, that much more.
Please let me know if you give it a try, and what you think. I'd love to hear your thoughts.
