Recipes

[JeanLouiseFinch]

My mom never bought canned cranberry sauce and neither have I unless it was an ingredient in something else.  Mom used the recipe on the bag of fresh cranberries - cranberries, water, sugar - boil/simmer until the berries pop and the sauce thickens.  She never strained it, just left the bits of berries in and everyone always loved it.  

I make two kinds of cranberries every year - my mom's and the other one on the bag for cranberry-orange relish (my daughter's favorite).  It's simple - chopped fresh cranberries, a chopped navel orange, and sugar.  

When attending Thanksgiving at my niece's home, her DH is the chef of their family.  He really enjoys cooking and prides himself in his ability.  He makes his mom's cranberry sauce.  Here's his recipe:

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 cups orange marmalade
• 2⁄3 cup orange juice
• 1 cinnamon stick, broken in half 
• 12 ounces fresh cranberries 
• fresh grated nutmeg, to taste (optional)

Directions:

1. mix marmalade, juice and cinnamon stick in a saucepan, bring to boil.
2. add cranberries, return to boil.
3. lower to simmer and cook until cranberries pop and thicken, about 8-10 minutes.
4. add grated nutmeg, if desired, remove from heat, cool.

[lOVETOSHOP]

I took the leap and decided to make homemade cranberry sauce last Thanksgiving.

No one touched it!  I guess we are not a family of cranberry lovers!  I thought it was good, but I'm not a huge lover of cranberry sauce, and even though it's not hard to make from scratch, since it's not that important to us, I'll put my efforts into the other things that go on the table and just stick with the Ocean Spray canned sauce (with the whole berries in it, though, not the jellied kind).

[NancyA]

I always get compliments on my cranberry sauce and it couldn't be easier:

1 can whole berry cranberry sauce

1 small can mandarin oranges (drained)

1/2 cup chopped pecans or walnuts

Mix together and chill until ready to serve.  

[DiAnne]

@JeanLouiseFinch

That recipe sounds interesting.  I love orange marmalade.  

[EdithEllenLily]

Mine features fresh cranberries baked in the oven and it is a favorite dish that "sells out" each Thanksgiving, LOL. 

Baked Cranberries

1 lb. fresh cranberries (I get a few bags of Ocean Spray and go through them, wash them and only cook the 'good ones' -- sometimes I am able to get a pound and a half of 'good ones' so I just add a little more of the following ingredients)

1 cup whole walnuts

1 cup sugar

1 large jar of orange marmalade (I find the store brand has more 'zest' in it, making the mixture more 'orangey', LOL)

Put all ingredients in a sturdy glass bowl, stir the cranberry mixture gently and bake in the oven at 350 degrees for 45 minutes. Bubbles should form to be seen all through the baking dish. Serve warm with your turkey dinner and watch everyone say YUM! 

[Preds]

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@NancyA wrote:

I always get compliments on my cranberry sauce and it couldn't be easier:

1 can whole berry cranberry sauce

1 small can mandarin oranges (drained)

1/2 cup chopped pecans or walnuts

Mix together and chill until ready to serve.  

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This is how I make mine but I add chopped apples and a touch of orange juice.  I now have to make batches for several family members.  Bunch of lazy devils.  LOL

[Katcat1]

It's actually on the bag.  Fresh cranberries, sugar and water.  Delicious.  I am making this year. 

[CAcableGirl2]

Does anyone have a cranberry sauce recipe with bits of apples in it?  My parents and I had some at MiMi's restaurant and it was wonderful - my mother makes a great cranberry sauce and she was impressed and wanted to try theirs this year.  Waitress said it had oranges, small bits of apples, and I thought she mentioned being some pectin in it.  Please share if you happen to have a recipe similar...or know someone who works at MiMi's restaurant and is willing to share!

[lork]

I love all things cranberry and Cranberry & Grape Salad is an all time favorite.  Grandma Nellie, Mom and now I make it every Thanksgiving.  It's easier now that I don't have to "grind" the cranberries or seed the grapes.  I'm making the "salad" today and will do the dressing tomorrow (day before Thanksgiving).

CRANBERRY & GRAPE SALAD: 2 12 oz bags of fresh or frozen cranberries, 1cup sugar, 1/2 lb. seedless red grapes, halved, 1 small orange, lemon or cranberry jello, 1/2 cup boiling water. Grind cranberries and sugar together (I use a food processor); let stand. Soften jello in water. Stir grapes into cranberry mixture along with soft jello. Spoon into pretty glass bowl, cover and chill. When ready to serve, spoon prepared dressing over salad. YUMMMMM! DRESSING; 1/2 cup sugar, 1 Tablespoon flour, 1 egg, beaten, 1 pt. whipping cream, 1 small can grated pineapple with juice. Put all ingredients, except cream, into small pan, stir together and cook until thick. Cool. Whip cream and fold into cooled mixture. Cover and chill.

[RespectLife]

Dad always insisted on fresh cranberry sauce.  It was the only time of year Mom dragged out that antiqued meat grinder. 

I never cared for it.  DH likes that jelly stuff out of a can.

BUT these recipes sound SO good, I am going to have to try it this year!

Maybe a small batch!

Mary Bailey...you had me at Bourbon!  LOL  I have a bottle of Honey Bourbon at home that I think may work just fine!