Las Vegas, NV, USA
A Cranberry Christmas
Every year Sammy the squirrel watched as Farmer Bill harvested his cranberries. One year, faced with the harshest of winters, Sammy saves all the animals of the forest with a basket of goodies that he made from the leftover cranberries given to him by Farmer Bill at the end of the berry harvest. This is a story of curiosity, love, hope, and compassion for others.
See contest rules at the bottom of this page.
Follow these links to order A Cranberry Christmas.
Fun Facts About Cranberries
Cranberries are picked once they are ripe.
Cranberries are considered fruit. Cranberries do not ripen after they are picked, much like other fruits such as Cherries, Strawberries, Grapes, Lemons, Pineapples, Grapefruits and Oranges. Cranberries must be picked within a few days once they are determined to be ripe in order to keep them fresh.
What happens to the cranberries that are not ripe after they are picked.
During the harvest, some of the cranberries that are harvested are not completely ripe. When the cranberries are taken to the processing plant they are separated. In the story, A Cranberry Christmas, the animals of the forest would pick and taste the berries before they were ripe. Therefore, the berries had a bitter taste. So, the animals just assumed the berries were always bitter. They did not know how sweet they would become once they were ripe enough to pick. The berry Sammy found and tasted in his room was already ripe when he stored it. He just did not realize it.
Some cranberries can be used for cooking even if they are not completely ripe.
Some of the berries that are not ripe, but close to it, can be used in cooking, just as Sammy included the berries he collected in A Cranberry Christmas for cooking. The ingredients used for cooking, like sweeteners, change the tart flavor to a more desirable treat.
Cranberries can be frozen for future use.
Cranberries can be frozen for weeks, and even months before use. When Sammy took the cranberries back to his tree and stored them, that winter set in early, therefore freezing the berries until he used them for the baskets of goodies he made for the animals of the forest. Once Sammy made the baskets of food, he stored them back in the tree trunk, thus, keeping the food he made frozen until he could deliver them on Christmas Eve. Squirrels don't need heat to stay warm because of their fur. They don't have heaters in their nests. Therefore, even the berries Sammy stored in the storage bin inside his room remained frozen until he used them for the garland that was made for their Christmas tree.
Websites to learn more about Cranberries.
There are many websites where you can learn more about the use of cranberries, the nutritional value of cranberries, and the many ways they can be grown and harvested. Simply type in Cranberries, nutritional value of cranberries, harvesting cranberries, or cooking with cranberries. You might want to even look up the various cranberry associations in the United States - for the love of cranberries.
About the contest
Registration will begin in January of 2025
An entry form will be made available on this website in January of 2025.
Contest Rules
1: It must be original but can be based on other recipes.
1: It must be original but can be based on other recipes.
1: It must be original but can be based on other recipes.
All recipes submitted must be original. They can be variations of other recipes but cannot be duplicated due to copyright infringements.
2: Entry Requirements.
1: It must be original but can be based on other recipes.
1: It must be original but can be based on other recipes.
To enter, you must be between the ages of five (5) and fourteen (14) at the time of entry. All entries must accompany parents' information.
3: Parents participation.
1: It must be original but can be based on other recipes.
4: The recipe must be in both videotaped and written format.
Parents can help with the making of the recipe with the child leading the way.
4: The recipe must be in both videotaped and written format.
4: The recipe must be in both videotaped and written format.
4: The recipe must be in both videotaped and written format.
We need the recipes to be submitted in written format accompanied by a video of the child putting the ingredients together. Parents can be included in the video if they participated in making the recipe.
5: Three winners will be chosen.
4: The recipe must be in both videotaped and written format.
5: Three winners will be chosen.
Three winners will be chosen. The first-place winner will be awarded a $100 savings bond. The second-place winner will receive a $75 savings bond, and the third place a $50 bond. We will let you know in advance if this changes.
6: Winning Recipes
4: The recipe must be in both videotaped and written format.
5: Three winners will be chosen.
Winning recipes will be added to the existing recipes and published in each year’s addition of A Cranberry Christmas. Video versions will be uploaded to our website to share with others.
7: 8. All decision will be final.
9: All recipes will be posted on our YouTube Channel.
7: 8. All decision will be final.
The decisions made by the judges will be final. The criteria for winners include ingredients, presentation and taste.
8: Judging Pannel.
9: All recipes will be posted on our YouTube Channel.
7: 8. All decision will be final.
To be determined at a future date. The panel will be put together in January of 2025. Final decisions will be determined by March of 2025 in time for the revised edition of A Cranberry Christmas to be published and marketed for the 2025 holiday season.
9: All recipes will be posted on our YouTube Channel.
9: All recipes will be posted on our YouTube Channel.
9: All recipes will be posted on our YouTube Channel.
Winning recipes will be posted on a newly created YouTube website after the winning recipes have been determined.
