Growing up holiday meals were a big to-do with all of the fix'ins one would imagine. Everyone had their "signature dish", each holiday had it's "signature" protein (ham for Easter, turkey for Thanksgiving, prime rib AND turkey for christmas) and more often then not the holiday meal was served at a select persons home... it was all very traditional.
One thing I never could get my head around as a child was the idea of slathering a jelly like goo over the top of my entire holiday meal... what was the point? Cranberry sauce from a can was like the holy grail of condiments and I was entirely at a loss for why. It jiggled unpleasantly, smelled sour and sweet, and CAME FROM A CAN!
While out thanksgiving shopping I bought cranberries... you know for decor purposes. Somehow, one thing led to another, and Drew talked me into making cranberry sauce for the holiday meal.
Dread instantly filled my stomach! I didn't know how to make cranberry sauce... I hated cranberry sauce, the very idea of creating the congealed goo from my childhood made me nauseous. Thankfully, a girl who works at the organic market gave me some tips and what ended up emerging, was the easiest, most delicious sauce I have perhaps ever created.
-CRANBERRY SAUCE-
What you will need:
1 lb of fresh cranberries
1 8oz bottle of Pom Wonderful (pomegranate juice)
1-2 tbsp orange zest
1/3 cup coconut sugar
Optional- cinnamon, nutmeg, taste first to see if you would like to add the spice.
Rinse your cranberries throughly, place into a sauce pan with the pomegranate juice, orange zest, and sugar, bring to a simmer and turn to a low heat. Cook covered (the berries will burst as they cook) for 15-30 minutes until the cranberries have softened and turned to (for lack of a better word) mush.
Pour into a jar and refrigerate, this sauce will keep well so you can make it several days in advance if need be.
Thanksgiving day arrived and my suspicions were high. However, when I took my first bite of chicken, slathered in cranberry sauce... I became a believer.
This sauce would be perfect over chicken, turkey, or pork and I promise, though the canned stuff may be tradition, this will blow it out of the water.
Happy holiday eating!
xx
