“Not Your Momma’s” Cranberry Sauce

I am not your Momma.  Therefore, I will not try to out-do her on the ever so important Thanksgiving meal.  We all have our favorite dishes we bring to the table every year and I would not dream of asking you to break that winning streak!  EXCEPT…. I feel confident enough to say that my cranberry sauce is worth busting out this coming Thursday.

Not very many people like the gelatinous blob in a can.  You know the kind… the kind that slithers out of its tin only if you talk nice to it?  Yeah, that stuff, I never could get into…but THIS recipe, is completely worth the effort to create!  You’re in the kitchen all day anyway, suck it up and make a batch!  I make mine the night before so that it has time to chill in the fridge.  You can also add a splash (or more) of your favorite bourbon into the mixture while it’s simmering on the stove.  Enjoy, Jive Turkeys!

“Not Your Momma’s” Cranberry Sauce

3 cups granulated sugar

1 1/2 cups orange juice

1 tsp ground cinnamon

1/2 tsp ground ginger

1/4 tsp ground cloves

2 -12 oz packages of fresh cranberries

1 tbsp orange zest

1/4 tsp vanilla extract

Combine all ingredients into a large pot and simmer on low for 20 minutes or until the cranberries pop.  Let cool to room temperature before pouring into a container to chill in refrigerator.

Note:  Picture above is fresh hot cranberry sauce.  It will thicken once it is chilled.  You will want to use a large pot and simmer on low so the sauce will not boil over onto your stove top.