Easy Cranberry and Orange Marmalade

"In New Orleans when it's time to grocery shop we say going make groceries. This is funny to people who aren't from here. The expression has been used for hundreds of years. See the old people would say faire son marche or let's go make groceries. It comes from the French. We also ask do you want your po-boy dressed? Meaning would you like the works on your sandwich. We call extra meats and sides lagniappe, pronounced lanyapp. We call frozen colored drinks in cups hucabucks and pecan candy plarines, not pralines. We have a unique way of cooking and speaking."

- Mia X

Welcome to our kitchen. This easy cranberry and orange marmalade is a fresh twist on cranberry sauce. Your home will be filled with scents of orange, cinnamon, and vanilla long after the meal has ended.

If you like this quick holiday marmalade, you'll love the cornbread, stuffing, mashed potatoes, mixed-up potato gratin, and turkey.

Learn more about cooking with kids.

Jump to:

• The Best Cornbread
• Food from Around the World: Free Cooking Lessons
• How to Make Easy Cranberry and Orange Marmalade
• Quick Holiday Marmalade
• Free Cranberry & Orange Marmalade Recipe for Pre-Readers & Up
• Easy Cranberry and Orange Marmalade

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This homemade cornbread recipe comes from Things My Grandma Told Me, Things My Grandma Showed Me: A Cookbook Memoir 1975 - 2001 by Mia X.

Inside, Mia X talks about living No Limit:

One Thursday we were running low on food. We had money but no car. What we gon eat? KL asked his ears covered by the headphones because he was making a beat. Serv looked at me and was like 'They ain't really got nothin in here ma'. I looked in the freezer hmm two thin T Bone steaks. On top of the fridge we had an onion and 6 packs of Ramen Noodles. In the fridge, piece of bell pepper, some minced garlic, butter, and a half pack of ground beef. I was still well stocked on my spices. I looked at the boys and said well we have bread and a few other things y'all, so Ima just hook something up. We good for today, I'm just glad that P comes back tomorrow because it's time to make groceries and talk to him about getting a whip.

I thawed the steaks, cut the meat from the bone, and began to dice it like stew meat. I cut up the onion and bell pepper and got a teaspoon of garlic. I opened the packs of noodles, put them on to boil, browned the ground beef, and then cooked the steaks and seasonings together in a little butter. The boys kept coming in the kitchen saying maaaaan it's smelling so good. I would just shoo them out of the kitchen and say it's almost ready. I added a teaspoon of everyone's two favorite steak sauces to the steak and seasoning blend then mixed the ground beef in. I made cream sauce for the noodles with butter, flour, evaporated milk, grated dry Parmesan cheese, and a couple cheddar cheese slices. A little Italian spice, parsley, thyme and it was done. I called it a Hard Time Casserole.

- Mia X

This is a cookbook memoir filled with highs, lows, & many laugh-out-loud moments.

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How to Make Easy Cranberry and Orange Marmalade

Ingredients or Make Ya Groceries

• cranberries
• oranges
• plum
• peach
• lemon
• cinnamon
• sugar or stevia
• water
• salt
• nutmeg
• vanilla extract

Equipment

• Apron
• Prep Bowls
• Butcher Block
• Child-Friendly Knife
• Utility Knife
• Kitchen Scale
• Box Grater or Microplane
• Measuring Spoons
• Measuring Cup
• Wooden Spoon
• Saucier or medium saucepan
• Immersion Blender or Blender
• Mason Jars with Lids
• Ladle
• Stock Pot
• Oven Mitts
• Learning Tower (as needed)

Zest the Oranges and Lemon

Wash your hands with soap and water. Use a box grater to zest the oranges and lemon.

Dice the Fruit

Use a knife and cutting board to dice the fruit for the marmalade. Both Kaia and Noah like working with this utility knife right now. Be sure to remove any seeds or pits.

Melt the Sugar and Salt in the Saucier

Turn the stove on medium heat. Use a kitchen scale to measure the sweetener (sugar, stevia, etc.) and add it to the saucepan.

Use a measuring cup to add the water and your fingers to add the pinch of salt. Use the wooden spoon to give it a stir.

Add the Fruit and Zest to the Saucier

Add the fruit and the zest to the saucier. Give it a stir.

Add the Spices to the Pan

Use a spice spoon or measuring spoon to add the cinnamon to the saucepan. Grate the nutmeg with the box grater and add it to the pan.

Add the Vanilla Extract

Add 2 splashes or use a measuring spoon if you're like my kids and you're afraid of adding too much vanilla.

Stir the ingredients with a spoon.

Cook for 30 Minutes over Medium Heat, 15 Minutes over Low Heat

Cook over medium heat for 30 minutes.

The fruit will begin to break down as it cooks. Turn the heat to low and cook for another 15 minutes. Turn off the stove.

Blend the Marmalade Ingredients

Use the immersion blender to blend the fruit mixture until it is smooth. If you don't have an immersion blender, you can wait for the mixture to cool down and then transfer to a blender cup.

Transfer the Marmalade to Mason Jars

Use a ladle to transfer the marmalade to the Mason jars. Screw the lids on.

Mia X suggests 8 little Mason jars. We used a couple 32-oz Mason jars and it worked well with our stock pot.

Setup a Water Bath for the Marmalade

Place the Mason jars with lids in a large pot and fill so the jars are half submerged in water. Turn the stove on high and boil for 10 minutes. Turn off the stove, remove the jars from the pot, and set them aside to cool.

This holiday marmalade can be kept at room temperature or refrigerated.

Free Cranberry & Orange Marmalade Recipe for Pre-Readers & Up