Dear friends, we had the pleasure of sharing our Yalda celebration in the December issue of Sunset Magazine. Thank you to everyone involved for making it such a bright and joyous evening.

This Yalda I leave you with some of the images from our Sunset shoot and a bright, refreshing Cranberry Orange Rose Sharbat.

MUSIC WE’RE COOKING TO

Honey, the color of a California sunset.

Fierce and unrelenting.
Cinnamon and cardamom, for warmth.

To cut through the bitter bite of Jack Frost and all his generals.
Weavers of long tales. Casting shadows, fear, and hate.

From the silk road to the New World.

Rose water, for love.
Spun of silk and truth.

Fierce and unrelenting.

Oranges, a lantern to light the path.

All the way from the silk road to the New World.

Eviscerating the shadows, the dark and lonesome night.

Crimson cranberries, for Yalda.

For a new dawn.

For peace.

From the silk road to the New World.

Fierce and unrelenting.

Wishing you a happy Yalda night.

CRANBERRY ORANGE ROSE SHARBAT

Serves 8

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup mild honey, such as clover
• 1/4 cup freshly squeezed orange juice
• 3/4 cup unsweetened cranberry juice, divided
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 2 cardamom pods, cracked open
• 1 cinnamon stick (3 in.)
• 1 to 3 teaspoon rose water
• 1/2 orange, cut into half moons
• 1/4 cup firm fresh or frozen cranberries

Put honey and 1/2 cup water in a small pot over medium-high heat and bring to a gentle boil. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Stir in orange juice, 1/4 cup cranberry juice, the lemon juice, cardamom, and cinnamon. Simmer 20 minutes, uncovered, stirring occasionally. Strain into a small bowl and let cool.

1. In a pitcher, combine syrup, remaining 1/2 cup cranberry juice, and the rose water (start with 1 teaspoon rosewater, add more to taste) with 4 1/2 cups cold water. Add orange slices and cranberries; stir. Chill at least 3 hours before serving.
2. To serve, add a couple of ice cubes to each glass and pour in sharbat.

All photos in this post courtesy of Amy Dickerson. Copyright 2016.