Thanksgiving leftovers panini

I hope you had a great holiday! After all that cooking yesterday who wants to cook today? Especially if you went post holiday shopping. Here is a delicous panini recipe that you can make from leftovers.

Butter, melted
Ciabatta bread
Cranberry Sauce
Turkey
Brie
Mixed greens
Preheat the panini grill to medium-high heat (375 degrees).
Brush melted butter onto two slices of bread. On one slice (non-buttered side), spread a layer of cranberry sauce. On the other slice (non buttered side) spread a layer of brie. Top with a generous amount of turkey and mixed greens. Place the other slice of bread (buttered side up) on top to form the sandwich.
Grill sandwich for 5-6 minutes until cheese is melted and grill marks appear. Serve immediately and enjoy!

Spiced Cranberries

Thanksgiving is getting close, one of my favorite parts is the cranberries. My house was a can house growing up, but I like the real stuff. I have experimented with cranberries quite a bit. Last year I shared a spicy southwest cranberry sauce, this year I am sharing a spiced cranberry sauce. Spiced cranberries have a similar flavor to ginger cookies. The pomegranate juice is a nice touch, if you don't have any pomegranate you can use another juice.
1 (12-ounce) bag fresh cranberries (readily available during the holidays)
1/2 cup pomegranate, apple, or cranberry juice
¾ cup maple syrup
2 teaspoons grated citrus rind (lemon, tangerine or orange)
also juice the citrus fruit you use and add that to the fruit juice you decide to use
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
pinch of nutmeg

Mix the cranberries and juices together in a medium saucepan. Cook over medium-high heat until cranberries start to pop and juice is boiling. Reduce heat to low and simmer, stirring occasionally, until the berries are soft and juices thicken, about 25 minutes. (Sauce will continue to thicken as it cools). Stir in citrus rind and spices.

This will keep in the refrigerator for a month. Serve at dinner as a side dish or my favorite on a turkey sandwich.
If you like the spiced cranberries try spiced caramel fondue.

Thanksgiving: Cranberry Relish Arizona Style

I love cranberry sauce for Thanksgiving, I am even pretty okay with the jelly stuff from a can. I also love a leftover turkey sandwich with cranberries. This recipe gives it a little kick. Jalapenos with Cranberries seems to be a strange combo but the tart cranberries are fabulous with the spice of the jalapenos.

12 oz pkg fresh cranberries
1 whole lime
3/4 cup sugar
2+ Jalapeno peppers, seeded and minced
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
Place cranberries in food processor; process until coarsely chopped and transfer to bowl.
Cut lime with peel into small chunks. Process until finely diced. add to cranberries along with sugar and minced jalapeno. Mix in cilantro.
Refrigerate relish for several hours to allow flavors to mellow and blend.
Serve chilled
Because jalapeno peppers vary widely in "heat", I usually start with 2 peppers and then taste it to see if more should be added.