Homemade Cranberry Sauce

I will admit that I used to kind of like canned cranberry sauce, (as long as it was the whole berry kind), until I made my first batch of FRESH homemade cranberry sauce a few years ago.  Fresh tart cranberries, sweetened up with sugar and dabbed with a hint of orange and cinnamon is an absolute MUST for my holiday plate, and it is SO quick and easy to throw together!  Throw everything in a saucepan and listen to the berries pop as they heat through.  Sweet, tart, citrusy - it goes perfectly with turkey or ham!  Trust me, you will never buy the canned stuff again...

Ingredients:

• 12oz fresh cranberries
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 1 cup cranberry juice or your favorite cranberry juice blend
• Zest and juice of one large orange
• 1 cinnamon stick (or sprinkle of cinnamon if you don't have a stick)

Instructions:

1. Throw everything in a large saucepan, bring to a boil then reduce the heat and let simmer till slightly thickened, about 15-20 minutes.  
2. Remove the cinnamon stick
3. Mash up the sauce if you want it less chunky, (with a potato masher), and let it sit in the saucepan, covered, until completely cool.  
4. Transfer to an airtight container and store in the refrigerator till you need it!