Cranberry Compote

So for the second part of the Brie Bites installment, I have the very easy recipe from Lily taken from a Martha Stewart hostess gift! It's the perfect addition to Brie Bites or simply just a piece of plain old bread.


HOMEMADE CRANBERRY COMPOTE

• 1 bag fresh (or frozen) cranberries
  
• ¾ cup sugar
  
• ½ cup (possible more) cranberry juice

Put the entire bag of cranberries in a small pot on medium heat

Let the cranberries heat up and soften (you will see the skin burst and make soft pops)

After about five minutes, pour in the sugar and cranberry juice. Stir and mix well

Let the mix simmer on medium for about 15 minutes. It will bubble and stir every few minutes so it doesn't congeal.

• If it looks too thick at first, add a little more juice
  
• If it tastes too tart (this all goes by your taste, after all!) add a little more sugar

Once the mixture has reduced, take it off the heat and let cool for about five minutes

There are three ways to finish your compote:

1. Leave as is. This way will be slightly more congealed and chunky, but still delicious!
   
2. Pour the slightly cooled mixture into a blender (even a hand blender will do). Blend until the chunks are blended out (the mixture will get hotter as it blends, so be careful). The seeds will still be there but the mixture will be much smoother
   
3. To make the ultimate in silky cranberry deliciousness, first complete step 2. After the mixture is blended and slightly cooled, pour the mixture through a fine mesh strainer. It's easiest to do this a few spoonfuls at a time so you don't spill it out the sides. Push your spoon down on the strainer to help the mixture go through and move the seeds aside. Strain the mixture once, and maybe twice if you reeeeally want some super silkiness!
 

Pour in a small airtight container (or a glass jar if you're giving it as a gift!)




Good Luck!

Weekly Wanted Wonders

     With Valentine's Day right around the corner, and my mother coming in town this weekend, I have been on a cleaning spurt trying to make everything look sparkly clean especially after the Crafternoon party, I keep finding glitter everywhere. Then again, who doesn't love a little sparkle to their step? This week, I can't get enough of:

1. Valentine's decorations
    
   
   
    I love the kitschy look of them; they just add such fun to my living room.
   
   
    
2. Heart Shaped Plates
   
   
   
     Made from plastic and sparkly, these are perfect for serving dessert or a whole meal on for a nice dinner during February. Plus they are from Target and only about 2 dollars each!
   
   
    
3. Beautiful Tray
   
   
   
     I picked up this tray at Goodwill the other day for under 5 dollars, and while it's pretty, I think I could clean it up a bit and make it really shine. Any ideas are welcome, please!
   
   
    
4. Lisa's Closet from the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills
   
   
   
     I adore Lisa and her house is to die for, just look at how pretty and organized her closet is! If only I had that kind of time/money/skill to get my closets to look like that.
   
   
    
5. Coaster
    
   
    Aren't these too funny? They add such whimsical humor to the chore of asking people to use coasters.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   What's inspiring you this week?
   

Weekly Wanted Wonders

     As many of you may already know, next Monday is St. Valentine's Day, unless you are my boyfriend (It's February 14^th, dear). It seems that so many of my friends and family members have birthdays around that time, making the holiday extra important. These are the things inspiring me this week.

1. Pear-Raspberry Heart Pie
   
   

    

   Heart Pie

    It almost looks to pretty to eat. ALMOST. I love the heart cut outs for the pie crust. Maybe this will be a weekend project…
   
   
2. Florist Measuring Cups
   
   
    
   Measuring Cups
   I wish I had something to bake deserving enough of these cups! I feel I would just place them on a shelf and never want to get them messy, which isn't really the point of them.
   
   
   
3. Marchesa Gown
   
   

   
   I know this has nothing to do really with décor, but I so want this dress and somewhere to where it. Any ideas on how I could possibly justify it?
   
   
   
4. Damask Flocked Wall Paper
   
   

    

   wallpaper
   I don't really know where I would put this, but I know it would be beautiful. I love the soft purple offsetting the more modern foil behind it, making it more whimsical than stuffy.
   
   
   
5. Heart Shaped Valentine's Bejeweled Box
   
   

    

   Bejeweled Heart

    My boyfriend wouldn't appreciate it, so I might have to end up making this for my best friend and giving her a bunch of homemade goodies to fill it with à la Martha!
   
    
   
   What's inspiring you this week?