It’s the day before Thanksgiving, so what am I doing? The same thing you probably are – COOKING (whilst listening to Christmas music).
I LOVE THANKSGIVING!!!
It’s one of my favorite holidays. We always have a crowd of friends, family and lots of food. And my motto is “the more the merrier” on all three counts.
One of our longtime Thanksgiving guests is a sweet lady who ALWAYS brings the cranberry sauce. After all these years, she doesn’t even have to ask what to bring because the answer is always the same – cranberry sauce!! She makes it herself from a recipe we got long ago from another friend. It’s just not Thanksgiving without her cranberry sauce. (Have I stressed this enough?)
Well, this year, our friend is NOT bringing the cranberry sauce because she is at home sick with a terrible cold. I guess we’ll have to excuse her. After all, an 86-year-old is allowed to stay home sick once in a awhile…even though we will miss her company AND the cranberry sauce. (My girlie said she is “so fun” and the kids will miss playing card games with her.)
Anyhoo, on a whim, I decided to try my hand at a version of “the sauce” while using no refined sugar. It’s extremely easy to make. Let me know if you try it –
- 4 cups fresh whole cranberries, rinsed
- 1½ cups apple cider, no sugar added
- ¾ cups coconut sugar
- ½ cup honey
- ¼ cup pure maple syrup
- juice of 1 large orange
- zest of 1 large orange
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- Place everything into a medium saucepan.
- Bring to a boil.
- Turn heat down and keep simmering until it thickens, 30-40 minutes. It will thicken more as it cools.
- Allow to cool completely and refrigerate.
