Black Friday Cranberry Salsa with Food Network Star Melissa d’Arabian

It’s two days after Thanksgiving and the day after Black Friday. And yes, I was crazy enough to venture into the malls this year. What a mob-scene. I don’t know what possessed me to subject myself to such an insane endeavor. Perhaps my curiosity got the best of me? I needed a shot of adrenalin? I wanted to believe that I could wrap up my Christmas shopping in one money-saving-door-buster-day?

Ummm, not so much.

All I accomplished was, some much needed exercise since I could only find a parking spot a mile away, being reminded of how much I dislike enormous crowds of cranky rude people and that the Starbucks in the mall somehow, mysteriously, just doesn’t taste as good as my neighborhood one does.

After running home with my empty Starbucks cup and sore feet I was ravenous to say the least.

Now I don’t know about you, but after I’ve spent weeks in preparation of Thanksgiving…

deciding what to make…

making grocery lists…

doing the shopping…

setting the table…

preparing the food…

and finally enjoying the food (or perhaps I should say, overindulging in the food) the last thing I want to do is waste the food that I’ve worked so hard to prepare!

But how many times do you really want to eat Thanksgiving dinner? Once is enough for me thank you.

Well let me enlighten you with a solution for all of those pesky leftovers!

Meet Melissa d’Arabian.

A few weeks ago, I had the pleasure of chatting with Melissa d’Arabian, host of Ten Dollar Dinners, after being invited to attend a conference call with Melissa and some other food bloggers. Let me just tell you, Melissa is a charming, energetic mom of four and she knows how to make the most of every penny and that includes clever ways to use up your leftovers!

All of Melissa’s recipes are easy and delicious and she’s got a great insert in the November Food Network Magazine full of tips and leftover recipes! I’ve decided to share her Cranberry Salsa! We always have leftover cranberry sauce hanging around! Try this salsa as a yummy side served with Melissa’s Turkey Taquitos or enjoy it on some leftover bread as a snack or appetizer!

Be sure not to miss Ten Dollar Dinners on December 5th, where Melissa will be sharing two delicious entrees that will dazzle your guests for the upcoming holidays – each for under $10!

I’d like to shout out a big THANKS to Melissa for taking the time to chat with me! My second day after Thanksgiving and day after Black Friday torturous-shopping-extravaganza have been salvaged!

Wishing you & yours many delicious leftover meals!

Wenderly

Cranberry Salsa

Recipe courtesy of Melissa d’Arabian

• 1/2 cup canned whole cranberry sauce
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro leaves
• Zest and juice of 1 lime
• 1 jalapeno, coarsely chopped
• 1/2 white onion coarsely chopped, covered and microwaved for 1 minute
• 1/4 cup diced red bell pepper
• 1/4 cup diced green bell pepper
• 1/2 cup Mexican-flavored canned tomatoes, drained and chopped
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

Place the cranberry sauce, cilantro, lime zest, lime juice, jalapeno pepper, onion, red pepper, green pepper, tomatoes, and salt, and pepper, to taste in a food processor and pulse until blended, but still chunky.

Yield: 1 1/2 cups
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Ease of preparation: easy