Cape Cod Select Frozen Cranberries - Blogger Recipe Challenge
Family Dinner Category Recipe
For my first recipe submission in the Family Dinner Category of the Cape Cod Select Blogger Recipe Challenge 2020 is a Grilled Pork Chops with Cranberry-Pineapple Sauce. The dish consists of bone-in pork chops from my freezer, and leftover "everything" bagels used to create the cranberry stuffing. This classic dinner is ready in just under an hour and is well complemented with a crisp romaine salad, dressed in cranberry vinaigrette. The final touch on this flavorful dish includes a cran-rosemary lemonade to wash it all down.
You can find my holiday version of this recipe here: GRILLED PORK CHOPS WITH HOT CRANBERRY SAUCE AND SAGE STUFFING.
Contest Cooking & COVID-19
Wrapping my head around contest recipes during the COVID-19 quarantine has been challenging. However, I'm a glass half full type of gal, and I've decided to look at this overwhelming global pandemic as an opportunity for me to get creative with Cape Cod Select Frozen Cranberries. I'm embracing the challenge of scavenging through my fridge, freezer and pantry for supplies. Thankfully, Cape Cod Select sent me the most incredible frozen cranberries for my recipe creations. I'm honored by the opportunity to utilize their products, and delighted to have a well-stocked pantry.
Even in the worst of times, creating recipes for your family with what's on hand in your pantry and fridge is soul-satisfying. I hope you use my recipes to create a similar family dinner with what you have available.
Cran-Rosemary Lemonade
The simple syrup can be stored in a glass container and refrigerated for up to one month. If you'd like to store it longer, it can be frozen.
Cran-Rosemary Lemonade
Ingredients
- Cranberry Simple Syrup
- ⅔ cups water
- 2 cups water
- 1 cup cranberries
- 1 sprig fresh rosemary
- For the Lemonade
- ½ cup frozen cranberries
- ½ cup sliced pineapple
- 1 cup fresh squeezed lemon juice
- 3-4 slices fresh lemons peel on
- 6 springs fresh rosemary
- More sugar to taste
- Ice
- Water
Instructions
- In a small saucepan, heat first 4 ingredients until all the sugar is dissolved
- Remove solids
- Add simple syrup to a 32 ounce pitcher
- Add remaining ingredients to the pitcher and fill with ice
- Fill the pitcher with water and stir
- Add more sugar to taste
Notes
- To Serve: Fill highball glasses with ice, add lemonade and a a rosemary spring for garnish
- ENJOY!
The Stuffing
In-home pantry and freezer searching lead me to the decision to use "everything" bagels in my stuffing in order to utilize leftover bagels. Dotted with bright red, tart cranberries and pepita seeds; the stuffing is stunning well-balanced with the marriage of savory-sweet flavor and crunchy texture.
Cranberry "Everything" Bagel Stuffing
Ingredients
- 2 "Everything Bagels" about 4 cups chopped
- 1 medium onion chopped
- 2 tablespoons rubbed sage
- 2 stalks celery chopped
- 1 ½ cups chicken stock
- 1 egg slightly beaten
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon pepper
Instructions
- Chop vegetables and bagles
- In a large mixing bowl, combine all the ingredients and mix well
- Pour mixture into a greased 8 x 8 x 2 inches baking dish
- Cover dish with foil and bake stuffing for 35-40 minutes or until the edges are crisp and browned and the center is firm set
Notes
The Salad
The salad is super simple, as it's made with the fresh produce I had available in my kitchen. The crisp romaine lettuce, shaved carrots, cucumbers and sliced sweet onions provide a simple, yet sophisticated flavor.
The key to making this specific type of salad lies within the use of fresh vegetables, followed by a consistent layer of dressing over the greens through the use of a refreshing cranberry vinaigrette. You'll be amazed by the extraordinary flavors the cranberries add to each of these stand-alone recipes.
Cranberry Vinaigrette Salad
Ingredients
- 6 cups chopped romaine lettuce
- 1 cucumber washed and shredded
- 1 carrot washed and shredded
- ½ cup sweet onion cut thinly
- For the Vinaigrette
- ¼ cup Cape Cod Select frozen cranberries thawed
- ¼ cup mirin vinegar
- ¼ cup seasoned rice vinegar
- ¼ teaspoon sesame oil
- ½ cup olive oil
- ½ teaspoon sugar
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
Instructions
- Place chopped romaine, shredded carrots, cucumber, and onion in a large salad bowl
- In a food processor or blender, combine the remaining ingredients and blend for 30 -60 seconds.
- Right before serving, pour vinaigrette over salad and toss to combine
Notes
- Enjoy
Grilled Pork Chops with Cranberry-Pineapple Sauce
In order to get the full experience from this dish, I suggest seasoning the chops with salt and pepper, then storing them in the refrigerator until you're ready to grill. Set them out thirty minutes before grilling to bring to room temperature.
Grilled Pork Chops with Cranberry-Pineapple Sauce
Ingredients
- 4 bone-in pork chops
- 1 tablespoon yellow mustard
- ¼ teaspoon each salt and pepper
- For the Sauce
- 2 cups Cape Cod Select Frozen Cranberries thawed and chopped
- 2 cups pineapple chopped
- Juice from 1 lemon about 1 tablespoon
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 rosemary sprig
- pinch salt
Instructions
- Rub both sides of each pork chop with an even amount of yellow mustard then season with salt and pepper
- Rest chops at room temperature until ready to grill
- Grill chops 3-5 minutes per side or until internal temperature reaches 155-166F
- For the Sauce
- Combine cranberries, pineapple, lemon juice, sugar, rosemary sprig, and pinch salt in a medium saucepan.
- Cook over medium heat for 30-40 minutes, stirring occasionally. Do not boil.
- Discard rosemary after 10-15 minutes
Notes
- Serve grilled chops with rosemary cranberry sauce
Before cooking 
After about 15 minutes cooking Finished 35-40 minutes
About The Challenge
The folks at Cape Cod Select have selected food bloggers from around the country to participate in their #YearOfTheCranberry recipe challenge. The prizes are as follows.
Family Dinner Category - $500.00 category prize
Cran-You-Believe It Category - $500.00 category prize
Healthy On-The-Go Category - $500.00 category prize
Overall $1,000.00 Grand Prize winner!
Be Sure to Follow Cape Cod Select
Be sure to follow Cape Cod Select on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest as they provide regular updates on products, contests, recipes and more. Also check nearby stores for this great product or you can order these frozen cranberries online.
Stay Home and Wash Your Hands
If I had a dollar for every time I've heard this phrase the past few weeks I'd be rich nonetheless, we are all struggling to comprehend this ever-changing historical Global event that faces us. The best advice I can share is to stay home and wash you hands, a lot! Be inventive in the kitchen, be kind to one another and trust God. We are all in this together and will be stronger for it.
Information on Printing Recipes
You will find each recipe for this family dinner in a stand-alone format to make it easier to print all the recipes or just one. ENJOY!
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