"Harry Langdon/Getty Images We may receive a commission on purchases made from links. Ever wondered what a cranberry sauce fit for a president might actually taste like? It's unlikely but, now that the question's in your head, here's the answer: It's sweet, with a tinge of spiciness from dry mustard. According to Cookin with Congress, this was Ronald Reagan's cranberry sauce recipe which likely graced the White House holiday spreads during his term from 1981 to 1989."
"While you might be the first to ask about cranberry sauce recipes fit for the White House, you wouldn't be the first to wonder what dry mustard is doing in Reagan's version. His recipe calls for orange juice concentrate diluted with water and sugar, which is then spiked it with a ½ teaspoon of dry mustard for a peppery warmth that balances the sweetness of the sauce. The cranberries are cooked in this mixture until they collapse into a jewel-toned preserve."
"The Reagans clearly had a thing for dry mustard - apparently, one of the 40th president's favorite mac and cheese recipes also came with a dash of the stuff. Despite there being really no source mentioning how exactly the White House kitchen staff sourced the spice at the time, odds are good that it didn't come out of a pre-packaged bottle bought from a grocery store's shelf."
The recipe uses orange juice concentrate diluted with water and sugar, spiked with a half teaspoon of dry mustard to add a peppery warmth that balances sweetness. Cranberries are cooked in the mixture until they collapse into a jewel-toned preserve. The overall flavor is sweet with a tinge of spiciness from dry mustard. The Reagans used dry mustard in other dishes, including a favored mac and cheese variation. The White House kitchen likely sourced the spice beyond a standard packaged bottle. Freshly ground mustard is recommended as a more elevated option, though store-bought ground mustard can work.
Read at Tasting Table
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]