Good Food, Good Life, 365 – Cranberry Spritzer
Cranberry Spritzer
3 heaping cups fresh cranberries or 1 (12-ounce) bag
2 cups sugar
5 (3-inch) cinnamon sticks
1/2 cup water
Combine cranberries, sugar, cinnamon sticks and water in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to a simmer. Cook until cranberries have popped and are soft. This will take about 8 minutes. Mash cranberries a little with a potato masher. Pour mixture into a fine-mesh strainer over a bowl. Allow cranberries to drain completely. Refrigerate the liquid in a sealed container.
When cranberry liquid is chilled you can begin making Spritzers. For each spritzer, put 2 or 3 tablespoons of the cranberry liquid into an 8-ounce glass. Add sparkling water to fill. Use a long cinnamon stick as a stirrer. Garnish with a lemon slice and a few whole cranberries.