If you are like me, your Thanksgiving leftovers are long gone, but you still have a bag or two of whole cranberries in your freezer.  I love cranberries, and was determined this year to make cranberry dishes other than the familiar sauces, but I’m also quite fond of cranberry juice and seltzer, so how about a drink recipe? This recipe is not quick in terms of mixing a drink because it involves simmering on the stove, putting berries through a sieve, ricer, or food mill, and some cooling.  But, you have to use up those cranberries, remember? Ingredients 

• 1 12-oz bag cranberries
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/4 cup water
• 3/4 cups seltzer/club soda
• 2/3 cup gin
• 2 tbsp lime juice 

   In a medium saucepan, bring cranberries, sugar and water to a simmer and simmer uncovered until berries hiss and pop (such a great sound!). Stir occasionally; this should only take a few minutes if the berries aren’t frozen, but if they are, it will take 5 minutes or more. Place your sieve/ricer/food mill over a bowl or measuring cup. Place 1 cup of cranberries aside, and force the remaining ones through the sieve. Throw away the solids remaining, and add whole berries to the cranberry syrup mix. Cool completely and then pour into a pitcher and chill for 2 hours. Add the rest of ingredients to the pitcher, stir, and serve over ice when ready.  If that seems time-consuming, know that you can make the cranberry syrup ahead of time, and double the batch while at it.   And of course, if you want to make this non-alcoholic, skip the gin!