I consider my Homemade Whole-Berry Cranberry Sauce with Apple and a Hint of Cinnamon a ‘bonus recipe‘ in my series of 6 ‘make ahead’ recipes, all of which can be prepared – or prepped – a day or two ahead, which will help to make your busy life a bit easier! By preparing a few dishes each night for two nights, all you’ll need to do the day of The Big Feast is roast the turkey, make the gravy and cook the green beans.
Everything was very casual the night of the ‘taste testing’.
MENU
- Mashed Potatoes with Sour Cream and Chives
- Sweet Potatoes with Cinnamon, Nutmeg and a Dash of Bourbon
- Herb Stuffing with Baby Bella Mushrooms, Celery and Onion
++ Green Beans with Browned Butter and Sesame Seeds
- Turkey Breast (or Turkey) with White Wine, Oranges & + Savory Turkey Gravy
- Bonus Recipe – Homemade Whole-Berry Cranberry Sauce with Apple and a Hint of Cinnamon
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I’m so pleased with how this cranberry sauce turned out. Adding a bit of apple mellows out the naturally tart taste of the cranberries. And, the addition of just two small pinches of cinnamon and some brown sugar adds a subtle something extra. (I’m heading down to Philadelphia for Thanksgiving & I’m taking this cranberry sauce to share. I’ll be helping out where I can while I’m there. Still – it’s so nice to be a guest!!)
There are times… luckily not often… when I get a recipe idea that turns out really bad. Such was the case recently. I had the idea of substituting some orange juice for the water when making homemade cranberry sauce. DON’T EVER TRY THAT !! It was so sour – and I learned long ago that you just can’t fix sour… no matter how much sugar you add. (Perhaps freshly squeezed orange juice would’ve worked…. what do you think?)
Ingredients and Method
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 1/4 cup brown sugar ++ NOT packed down !!
- 1 cup water
- 1 bag (12 oz.) fresh cranberries
- 1/3 cup chopped (peeled) apple ++ See photo below to give you an idea of what size chunks.
- 2 pinches cinnamon
- ++ You can add a few tablespoons of chopped walnuts, filberts or pecans etc. AFTER the cranberry sauce had been made.
Open a 12 oz. bag of cranberries – discard any bad ones. Set aside.
Peel and chop apple. You’ll need 1/3 cup. ++ No turkeys were abused during the making of this cranberry sauce. I did all the work myself, even though Mr. Turkey looks so very proud !
Bring 3/4 cup sugar, 1/4 cup brown sugar (not packed), and 1 cup water to a boil. Add cranberries, 1/3 cup chopped apple and 2 pinches cinnamon.
Lower heat a bit – continue to boil – stirring occasionally – for 10 minutes.
Pour the cranberry sauce into a bowl, cover – allow to cool completely at room temperature. Refrigerate until serving time. Talk about e.a.s.y. !!
Happy Holidays to All – Enjoy !
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