Cranberry Sauce

I will admit that I used to kind of like canned cranberry sauce, (as long as it was the whole berry kind), that was until I made my first batch of FRESH 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 easy! 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)

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

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