Happy Thanksgiving: Merry Cranberry Margaritas

I hope that everyone is having a memorable Thanksgiving, filled with food, family, and fun. We celebrated at my parents' house with the usual suspects and repeated our menu from last year. We had a delicious meal that was complemented by laughter from the words and actions of my two-year-old nephew and eleven-month-old niece. Our Thanksgiving is a potluck of sorts, with everyone contributing several dishes.

Floating Cranberry and Votive Candle Centerpiece

Cheese Tray


Salami Tray

Citrus Garnishes

Mashed Potatoes

Buttered and Peppered Corn

Turkey Breast with Sage

Cremini Mushroom Gravy

Green Bean Casserole

French Onion Casserole


Pureed Butternut Squash

Sweet Potato and Pecan Casserole

Cranberry Sauce

Apple Sauce

Vegetarian Stuffing

Pecan Pie (my sister's very first - and very successful - attempt!)

Chocolate Bread Pudding

Pumpkin Pie

Apple Pie

Pumpkin and Cream Cheese Roll

Chocolates

In addition to our planned menu, my mother had prepared (unbeknownst to us) a fun cocktail. She decided to try the cranberry margaritas that she had seen in her most recent edition of Sunset Magazine. They were tasty, and when served in the punch glasses she had chilled, they were the ideal size. The color and presentation are perfectly festive for the holidays.

Merry Cranberry Margaritas
(From Sunset Magazine, December 2009)
Ingredients

• 1 1/4 cups cranberry juice cocktail, divided
• 1/2 cup sugar, divided
• 1 1/2 cups (6 oz.) fresh or frozen cranberries, rinsed
• 3/4 cup fresh lime juice
• 3/4 cup tequila
• 1/2 cup orange-flavored liqueur, such as Cointreau
• 3 cups coarsely crushed ice

Directions
Pour 1/4 cup cranberry juice into a shallow bowl. Pour 3 tbsp. sugar onto a plate. Dip rims of 4 to 6 widemouthed glasses (6 to 8 oz., suitable for margaritas) into juice, then sugar. Set glasses aside.

Reserve 12 cranberries. In a blender, whirl the remaining cranberries, cranberry juice, and sugar, the lime juice, tequila, orange liqueur, and ice until smooth and slushy. If necessary, blend in 2 batches, then mix together. Divide among glasses and garnish with reserved berries, skewered on toothpicks.