Combine and Unwind ... Let Your 'Go-To' Recipes Do the Work

LAKEVILLE MIDDLEBORO, Mass., Dec. 1, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- The malls aren't the only place full of hustle and bustle during the holidays.  There also can be a swirl of chaos in the kitchen when trying to prepare a dish for all those potlucks, parties and holiday festivities.  What about giving the unofficial, official fruit of the holiday season -- the cranberry -- a whirl and let Ocean Spray rescue you from calamity in the kitchen.  Visit www.oceanspray.com to create your very own stash of "go-to" recipes and tips for a party ready pantry.

A good "go-to" recipe is one that uses minimal ingredients and takes only minutes to prepare yet always seem to impress guests, no matter how diverse their tastes.  Because the focus of the holidays should be more on kitchen merriment over kitchen management, Ocean Spray offers some sure-fire family favorites that can be pulled together with a few pantry staples -- such as mustard, brown sugar or chili sauce.

By keeping pantries stocked with these few necessary ingredients, consumers can customize "go-to" dishes for any event or party theme. Having a holiday party?  Need a main dish? Combine jellied cranberry sauce, Dijon mustard and brown sugar to perk up tired chicken tenderloins.  Or for a sassy appetizer, try Ocean Spray's version of Fruited Brie Bake. For a sweet and savory crowd pleaser, combine Ocean Spray® Jellied Cranberry Sauce and Heinz® Chili Sauce to create Ocean Spray's Ultimate Party Meatballs.

"Everyone has one or two recipes they go to every holiday season," said Cindy Taccini, test kitchen manager at Ocean Spray. "But hostesses shouldn't be afraid to try something new as long as it fits the criteria of being quick, easy, yet delicious."

Below are a few tips for introducing new recipes into your family repertoire:

Tips for a Party-Ready Pantry:

• Keep your list of "go-to" recipes handy.
• Stock your pantry with all the necessary ingredients, so no matter which recipe you choose, you're ready to cook at a moment's notice.
• Presentation is everything -- keep colorful plates, napkins, hors d'oeuvre picks and platter decorations at the ready.
• Customize your "go-to" recipes for different events and party themes. Dream up fun serving suggestions like fancy glassware and garnishes or small variations for each recipe.
• Some of us can't help but share our best kept secrets, so keep extra copies of your "go-to" recipes on hand.

In the spirit of commemorating holiday traditions and welcoming new ones, Ocean Spray invites consumers to join its Season of Sharing campaign online via Facebook at www.facebook.com/oceanspray. So if you have a signature "go-to" recipe that's been handed down for generations, tell us on Facebook or Twitter at www.twitter.com/oceansprayinc.

Now through Dec. 31 the grower-owned cooperative is sharing its fondest family recipes, seasonal crafts, photos and holiday tips online and encouraging cranberry fans around the world to do the same.

Ultimate Party Meatballs

Ingredients:

1 14-ounce can Ocean Spray® Jellied Cranberry Sauce

1 12-ounce bottle Heinz® Chili Sauce

1 2-pound bag frozen, pre-cooked, cocktail-size meatballs

Directions:

Combine sauces in a large saucepan. Cook over medium-low heat, stirring until smooth. Add meatballs. Cover and cook for 15 minutes or until meatballs are heated through, stirring occasionally.

Makes 30 appetizer servings.

Slow cooker Preparation: Place meatballs in a slow cooker. Combine sauces and pour over meatballs. Cover and cook 4 hours on HIGH.

Chicken Fingers with Cranberry Mustard Dipping Sauce

Ingredients:

1/2 cup Ocean Spray® Jellied Cranberry Sauce

1 1/2 tablespoons grainy Dijon mustard

1 tablespoon brown sugar

Directions:

Combine ingredients in a small mixing bowl, whisking until smooth. Serve hot or at room temperature as a dip with chicken fingers.

Makes 1/2 cup.

Fruited Brie Bake

Ingredients:

1 15-ounce wheel Brie cheese

1/2 cup Ocean Spray® Whole Berry Cranberry Sauce

1/2 cup apricot preserves

Sliced almonds

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Slice off the top 1/4-inch of the Brie wheel; set aside. Hollow out the center of the cheese, leaving a 1-inch shell all around. Place in an ovenproof serving container slightly larger than cheese. Save left over cheese for another use.

Break up cranberry sauce with a fork and place in center of cheese. Cover with top of cheese. Spoon apricot preserves over top; sprinkle with almonds.

Bake for 8-10 minutes or until soft and slightly melted. Serve with crackers. Makes 8 servings.

For more information and recipes, visit www.oceanspray.com and www.ultimatepartymeatballs.com.

About Ocean Spray

Ocean Spray is an agricultural cooperative owned by more than 700 cranberry growers in Massachusetts, Wisconsin, New Jersey, Oregon, Washington, British Columbia, and other parts of Canada as well as more than 50 Florida grapefruit growers. Ocean Spray was formed 80 years ago by three cranberry growers from Massachusetts and New Jersey. Florida grapefruit growers joined the Cooperative in 1976. Ocean Spray is North America's leading producer of canned and bottled juices and juice drinks, and has been the best-selling brand name in the canned and bottled juice category since 1981. Ocean Spray posted excellent results across the board in fiscal 2010, including gross sales of $2.05 billion and net proceeds of $340 million.

SOURCE Ocean Spray