Cranberry Sauce with Frills
makes 2 1/2 - 3 1/2 cups
12-oz bag fresh cranberries (about 3 cups)
Up to 1 cup liquid (see note below)
Up to 3/4 cup sugar or brown sugar (depending on your other ingredients, you may have to adjust)
Additional ingredients (see note below)
Bring liquid(s) and sugar to a boil, stirring with a wooden spoon until sugar is dissolved. Add cranberries and other ingredients, lower flame to a simmer, and continue stirring occasionally. Cook until most of the berries just pop, about 10 minutes. Allow to cool. Taste for sweetness and add more sugar if necessary (dissolved in 2x the amount of water and brought to a boil briefly.) Can be made ahead of time, cover and stored in the refrigerator for up to a week.
Liquids: Try Port, Marsala, orange juice, apple or cherry cider, a dash of vinegar, even a few spoonfuls of liquor like Grand Marnier)
Additional Ingredients:
- Grated citrus zest (orange, lemon, even lime) - 1 1/2 teaspoons
- Spices (ground ginger, ground cardamom, cinnamon, ground cloves, allspice) - 1/4 - 1 1/2 teaspoons, depending on how strong the spice is (clove is very strong)
- Fresh herbs (parsley, rosemary, marjoram) - 1 teaspoon or more
- Candied/dried fruits and nuts (pecans, walnuts, almonds, cashews, ginger, apricots, currants) - 1/4 cup
- Fresh Fruits (pears, apples) - 2-3 cups (chopped)
Now go on, get wild in the kitchen. I dare you.
Grand Marnier and orange zest combined is simple yet amazing.