If you’ve never made cranberry sauce from fresh cranberries; be prepared to shock yourself at how amazingly easy it is. Here is my fool-proof recipe that’s perfect to make ahead of time; it’s also perfectly simple, perfectly delicious and perfectly beautiful… that’s why I call it “Perfect Cranberry Sauce”.
Perfect Cranberry Sauce
This recipe for cranberry sauce has never let me down; that’s why I call it “perfect”.
Ingredients:
- 3 cups cranberries (1 12oz. bag)
- 1 cup orange juice
- 1 cup sugar
- Cinnamon sticks- 2
Directions:
- Combine all ingredients in saucepan; cook over medium heat stirring constantly
- Be amazed at how beautiful the cranberries look when they soften and begin to pop
- Once cranberries are completely softened and have popped (about 10-12 minutes), remove from heat, cool
- Remove cinnamon sticks before serving
Herbed Not-So-Sweet Potato Casserole
If you like your sweet potatoes to taste less like dessert and more like a side dish for your turkey; you’ll love this easy recipe. Dried herbs bring an earthy flavor undertone to this usually-sweet side dish.
Ingredients:
- Sweet potatoes- 2 1lb cans
- Butter- ½ cup (¼lb or 8 tbspns) plus a few tbspns more to pour on top
- Marshmallows- 1 bag
- Brown sugar- ¼ cup
- Dried sage and thyme- 1 tspn each
Directions:
- Melt butter in microwave
- Combine sweet potatoes, melted butter, ½ of marshmallows, sugar and herbs
- Beat until smooth
- Transfer to casserole dish and pour remaining marshmallows and drizzle melted butter on top
- Bake on 375 for 30-45 minutes
Warm Cranberry Rolls
Ingredients:
- Frozen white roll dough- 2 bags
- Fresh cranberries- 1 cup, chopped
- Butter- 4 tbspns
Directions:
- Let dough thaw and rise according to directions
- Arrange dough on baking sheet
- Sprinkle chopped cranberries on top and brush with melted butter
- Bake according to directions
Cranberry Spinach Salad
Ingredients:
- Baby spinach
- Dried cranberries (Craisins)
- Pine nuts
- Rasberry vinaigrette dressing
Directions:
- Place spinach in salad bowl
- Top with cranberries and pine nuts
- Drizzle with dressing; toss
Let’s Talk Turkey
I’ve never been a stuffing-in-the-turkey person; so instead, I take fresh herbs like sage, thyme and rosemary with leafy stalks of celery and onion halves to stuff in my turkey before baking. I found this link for the best tips on cooking your Thanksgiving Turkey: Sara Moulton’s Turkey Tips.
For my stuffing, I saute chopped onion, celery and cranberries in butter. Then I combine that with my stuffing mix and chicken broth to bake separately.
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