Ericka Stachura
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PARKING LOT GOURMET: TAILGAITING 101

Ocean Spray offers Tailgate Party Tips and Tasty, Effortless Recipes

LAKEVILLE-MIDDLEBORO, MA (September 6, 2007) –As summer transitions to autumn, the changing of the seasons brings with it all the charms of fall including back-to-school season, vibrant foliage, the beauty of the cranberry harvest and, of course, football season!  To help you serve up a feast of champions, Ocean Spray has developed quick and simple tailgating recipes along with tips on how cranberries and their numerous health benefits can be used in grilling sauces and glazes.  

This harvest season, Ocean Spray growers will bring a bounty of cranberries straight from the bog to you. The cranberry’s beautiful deep-red color and tangy taste makes this “wonderberry” a versatile ingredient year round. Cranberries team well with just about anything from sweet to savory, and their versatile flavor adds a new dimension to almost every dish or drink you prepare. 

Ocean Spray’s Jellied and Whole Berry cranberry sauces provide a great base for succulent marinades, glazes, and grilling sauces.  For a crowd pleaser that will have fans storming your vehicle, whip up a batch of Ultimate Party Meatballs using Ocean Spray Jellied Cranberry Sauce and a bottle Heinz chili sauce.  

Forget your basic chips and dips – and stir up a little south-of-the-border flavor by combining Ocean Spray Whole Berry Cranberry Sauce, jalapenos, green onion, and lime juice and you’ve got a zesty Tex Mex Salsa.
Give a classic cookie recipe some pep and bake Oatmeal Cranberry White Chocolate Chunk Cookies with the surprisingly sweet taste of Craisins®, sweetened-dried cranberries.

Pre-game, halftime, or post-game, these tasty, effortless ideas are perfect for any tailgate.  For more recipes, visit www.oceanspray.com.

Ultimate Party Meatballs

Ingredients
2 1-pound bags frozen cocktail-size meatballs (about 64 meatballs)
1 16-ounce can Ocean Spray® Jellied Cranberry Sauce
1 12-ounce bottle Heinz chili sauce
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/4 teaspoon cayenne

Directions
Combine cranberry sauce, chili sauce, cumin and cayenne in a large saucepan. Cook over medium heat, whisking occasionally, until the cranberry sauce is melted and smooth.  Add meatballs; stir gently to coat. Cook over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally, 12 to 15 minutes or until meatballs are heated through. Place in chafing dish or slow cooker to keep warm.  Makes 30 servings.

Tex Mex Cranberry Salsa

Ingredients
1 cup water
1 cup sugar
1 12-ounce package Ocean Spray® Fresh or Frozen Cranberries
2 tablespoons chopped canned jalapeno peppers
1 teaspoon dried cilantro
1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
1 green onion, white and green parts, sliced
1 teaspoon lime juice

Directions
Combine water and sugar in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium heat. Add cranberries; return to a boil. Gently boil cranberries for 10 minutes without stirring. Pour into a medium glass mixing bowl. Gently stir in remaining ingredients.

Place a piece of plastic wrap directly on salsa. Cool at room temperature and refrigerate. Best if served at room temperature. Makes about 2 1/2 cups.

Oatmeal Cranberry White Chocolate Chunk Cookies

Ingredients
2/3 cup butter or margarine, softened
2/3 cup brown sugar
2 large eggs
1 1/2 cups old-fashioned oats
1 1/2 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 6-ounce package Ocean Spray® Craisins® Original Sweetened Dried Cranberries
2/3 cup white chocolate chunks or chips

Directions
Preheat oven to 375ºF. Using an electric mixer, beat butter or margarine and sugar together in a medium mixing bowl until light and fluffy. Add eggs, mixing well. Combine oats, flour, baking soda and salt in a separate mixing bowl. Add to butter mixture in several additions, mixing well after each addition. Stir in sweetened dried cranberries and white chocolate chunks. Drop by rounded teaspoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheets. Bake for 10-12 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on wire rack. Makes approximately 2 1/2 dozen cookies.

Warm Cranberry Wassail

Ingredients
1 64-ounce bottle Ocean Spray® Premium 100% Cranberry Juice Cocktail
2 1/2 cups apple juice
1/4 cup sugar, optional
3 3-inch cinnamon sticks
1 teaspoon whole allspice
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
Orange slices, garnish
Whole cloves, garnish

Directions
Combine all ingredients, except garnishes, in a large saucepan. Heat to boiling, reduce heat and simmer 10 minutes. Strain punch to remove spices. Place in an insulated container with orange slices and cloves.
Makes 14 6-ounce servings.

Ocean Spray is an agricultural cooperative owned by more than 650 cranberry growers in Massachusetts, Wisconsin, New Jersey, Oregon, Washington, British Columbia, and other parts of Canada as well as about 50 Florida grapefruit growers. Ocean Spray was formed 75 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 fiscal 2006 sales of roughly $1.5 billion.