Let's ring in the New Year with Stirrings and a Michigan Cherry Lemonade!

Yes, I know it is the last day of the year.  Yes, I know I live in Michigan.  Yes, I know it is cold outside.  Yes, I know Lemonade is a wonderful summertime drink. But....if you are lucky enough to be me this New Year's Eve, then you are spending the evening in a hot tub with your favorite person to ring in the New Year.

The good folks over at Stirrings invited me to join in their "Stir It Up Holiday Blogger Mixology Challenge".  In return for joining the challenge, in which we were charged to create a "Simply Better Cocktail", we received our choice of two Cocktail Mixers and two Cocktail Garnishes to be used in the creation of an original cocktail.

I chose Blood Orange and Lemontini mixers and Cosmopolitan and Margarita rimmers to use in my creation.  I ended up using the Lemontini mixer and Cosmo rimmer in this recipe that I am sharing with you today.

Here in Michigan we are famous for our Cherry Crops. We also have many wineries, breweries and distilleries, all of which make use of our cherry harvest.  I had a bottle of Cherry Vodka in my bar from one of our trips north this past summer.  I knew that it would pair perfectly with the Lemontini mixer and decided to make a Michigan Cherry Lemonade.

This drink is a light and refreshing cocktail that can be enjoyed on a hot summer day in the pool or on a cold winter's night in the hot tub.  It is also a perfect drink to serve up at your next party.

Stirrings products are widely available throughout Michigan and the country at local party stores, liquor stores, wine shops and grocers including Meijer, Value Market and Plum Market.  You can find a complete listing of all the stores that sell their products by going to the store locator site.  Follow Stirrings on Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter and Facebook.  Disclosure:  I did receive free product from Stirrings for use in this contest.  I did not receive any monetary compensation for this post.  All opinions are mine alone and based solely on my experience with this product.

Michigan Cherry Lemonade

an original creation from A Day in the Life on the Farm

1 jigger Cherry Vodka

1 jigger Simple Syrup

1 jigger Stirrings Lemontini Mixer

Club Soda

Ice

Stirrings Cosmopolitan Rimmer

Lemon slice

Place the vodka, simple syrup and lemontini mixer into a cocktail shaker and shake until well blended. Rub the lemon slice along the rim of a tall glass and dip into the Cosmopolitan rimming mixture.  Fill the glass with ice. Pour the lemontini mixture over the ice and add club soda to fill the glass.  Garnish with a lemon slice and serve.  Print Recipe

Cinnamon Cranberry Cup of Comfort for the Cape Cod Select Holiday Blogger Challenge.

I was approached by Cape Cod Select and asked if I would be interested in entering their Holiday Blogging Challenge.  Categories for this challenge are beverage, entrees and baking.  Bloggers are allowed to participate in all 3 categories if they wish.  One winner is chosen from each category and will receive a prize of $500 and there will be one overall winning recipe for a grand prize of $1000.

I was sent two bags of fresh frozen cranberries for use in this challenge.  I have not/nor will I receive any monetary compensation unless I am deemed a winner of this challenge in one of the aforementioned categories.  To participate in this challenge I have agreed to refer to the cranberries by name brand in the recipe, include a picture of the cranberries that I received to use in this challenge and include links to the company's social media as well as a download to stores where my readers will be able to find Cape Cod Select Cranberries.

I decided to enter into two of the categories offered.  I entered the baked challenge with this Caramelized Cranberry Cake.  Now I would like to share an entry for the drinks category.  I created this drink on a snowy and cold December evening.  We had been out running errands all day and it was chilly willy with high winds.  I wanted something that would warm my bones and comfort my soul.  I found it!!

I started out by making a juice from the Cape Cod Select Frozen Cranberries.  I cooked them up with some orange and lemon juice, sugar, honey and cloves until the cranberries popped and released all of their tart goodness.

I strained out all the solids and was left with 2 cups of this beautiful hot juice.  I divided the juice between two cups and added some hot cinnamon schnapps to the mix.  Garnished with an orange slice and a cinnamon stick.  Sat down on the couch, curled my feet up under me and sipped myself right into relaxation.

This will be the perfect cocktail to serve after a day of cross country skiing or sledding.  It will soothe the soul on those cold wintery nights when you are feeling bleak and missing your loved ones.  It will warm your cockles when you are feeling under the weather. It will warm your next gathering with dear friends.  I think I have discovered the perfect Winter Cup of Comfort.

You can find Cape Cod Select Cranberries at nearly 5000 stores nationwide.  Check their store locator to find them near you.  Cape Cod Select is also on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest.

All opinions are 100% my own and are not affected by the product received or contest entered.

Cinnamon Cranberry Cup of Comfort

created by A Day in the Life on the Farm

2 c. Cape Cod Premium Select Frozen Cranberries

1/2 c. sugar

1/2 c. honey

Juice from 2 oranges

Juice from 1/4 lemon

6 whole cloves

1 c. water

4 oz. Hot Cinnamon Schnapps, divided

orange slices for garnish

cinnamon sticks for garnish

Place cranberries, sugar, honey orange juice, lemon juice, water and cloves into a medium saucepan set over med high heat.  Bring to a boil and let cook until sugar is dissolved and cranberries have popped open and are very soft.  Strain into a measuring cup through a fine mesh strainer.  Discard solids.  You should have 2 cups of juice.  Divide the juice between 2 mugs and add 2 shots of Schnapps to each drink.  Stir and garnish with an orange slice and cinnamon stick.  Print Recipe

Caramelized Cranberry Cake for the Cape Cod Select Holiday Blogging Challenge

I was approached by Cape Cod Select and asked if I would be interested in entering their Holiday Blogging Challenge.  Categories for this challenge are beverage, entrees and baking.  Bloggers are allowed to participate in all 3 categories if they wish.  One winner is chosen from each category and will receive a prize of $500 and there will be one overall winning recipe for a grand prize of $1000.

I was sent two bags of fresh frozen cranberries for use in this challenge.  I have not/nor will I receive any monetary compensation unless I am deemed a winner of this challenge in one of the aforementioned categories.  To participate in this challenge I have agreed to refer to the cranberries by name brand in the recipe, include a picture of the cranberries that I received to use in this challenge and include links to the companies social media as well as a download to stores where my readers will be able to find Cape Cod Select Cranberries.

That being disclosed, I want to assure my readers that all opinions in this post are completely mine and completely accurate.  Cape Cod Select Cranberries were used in the implementation of this recipe so as to allow me to take part in this challenge.

I was excited to enter this challenge.  I love baking and cooking with cranberries. In fact, I participated in a Cranberry Week challenge last month where a group of us shared cranberry recipes for a whole week!

I love cakes but I am not a huge frosting fan so when I am able to make a cake sans frosting I jump at the chance.

This cake is made in the style of an upside down cake.  I first caramelized the fruit in a cast iron skillet, added the batter and allowed it to bake creating a syrupy sweet topping that was offset by the tart bite of the cranberries. 

I hope you enjoy my recipe.  You can find Cape Cod Select Cranberries at nearly 5000 stores nationwide.  Check their store locator to find them near you.  Cape Cod Select is also on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest.

Caramelized Cranberry Cake

created by A Day in the Life on the Farm

Prep time: 10 minutes

Bake time: 50 minutes

1 c. brown sugar

1/2 c. butter, divided

1 t. cinnamon

2 c.  Cape Cod Select Premium Frozen Cranberries, thawed

3/4 c. granulated sugar

2 eggs

3/4 c. milk

1 t. vanilla

1/2 c. sour cream

2 c. all purpose flour

2 t. baking powder

In a 12" cast iron skillet, over med high heat, melt 1/4 c. of the butter.  Add the brown sugar and cinnamon. Cook and stir until melted and bubbly.  Remove from heat and add the cranberries, stirring to coat and covering the bottom of the pan.

In the large bowl of a stand mixer, fitted with the paddle attachment, cream the remaining 1/4 c. of butter with the granulated sugar.  Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each.  Stir in the milk, vanilla and sour cream.  With the mixer on low speed, gradually add the flour and baking powder until moistened. Increase the speed and mix until just blended.  

Carefully pour the batter into the skillet in a circular fashion covering the cranberries evenly.  Place in a preheated 375* oven for 40-50 minutes, until golden brown and a skewer inserted in the center removes cleanly.  Remove from oven and cool in pan on baking rack for 10 minutes.  Run a knife around the edges of the cake and flip onto a serving platter.  Print Recipe