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Sunday, November 20, 2011

Cranberry Sauce w/ Ginger & Cloves

 One essential element to my Turkey Day dinner?  Cranberry Sauce.  But believe it or not, I didn't always think that way.  You see, like many American families, I grew up with the jellied, can-shaped cylinder placed on a showy crystal dish somewhere on the table.  It would be partially sliced and partially left intact.  As if to show off the unique form.  I don't think I ever even let that on my plate as a kid.  I was not having it.  I will take a big pass on the cranberries, thank you.  And so it went.  My family never seemed to stray from that tradition.  Year after year, there it was, positioned on the same crystal dish on my grandma's table.  Well.  Thank the lucky stars that I grew up and started cooking.  Because after the pies, cranberry sauce was the first thing I brought to Thanksgiving dinner.  Why, oh why didn't anybody else ever make cranberry sauce?  It was just as easy...and almost as quick...to make as opening the can and coaxing out that ruby red cylinder.  I guess it was just what everybody was used to.  Well, I for one am happy to have broken that tradition.  And so is my grandpa...he goes straight for the cranberry sauce after Thanks are given.  Of my thirty-six years on earth, this will be the first one that we don't spend with the extended family.  Thank you shaky car.  It'll just be the five of us around our table.  I will be making every last bit of the meal.  I'm not gonna lie, that kind of excites me...you know, planning the whole menu and making every single thing I want.  But I will be thinking about the masses gathered at grandma's this year and wishing I could airmail some Cranberry Sauce over for my grandpa to enjoy.

You know how you find something you really love and it becomes the end-all for a while?  Well, I have a favorite cranberry sauce (okay, it was my first...but that doesn't mean it isn't fantastic) that I wouldn't give up for years.  But a while ago, I decided that I couldn't let them become "the cylinder" all over again, so I'm going to keep that one on-call and start making new ones every year.  Perhaps it's just that I love cranberries, but I'm loving this version, too.  Tart cranberries bathed in juices sweetened by dark brown sugar and rounded out with the warming kick of ginger and cloves.  L♥VE.
Cranberry Sauce w/ Ginger & Cloves
recipe source:  Everyday Food issue 87
yield: ~2 c.

12 oz. fresh or frozen cranberries
½ c. packed dark brown sugar
1 c. water
1 Tbs. finely grated peeled fresh ginger
⅛ tsp. ground cloves

Place everything in a medium saucepan and bring to a boil over high heat.  Reduce to a simmer and cook, stirring from time to time, until cranberries are bursting and sauce is slightly thickened, ~10 minutes.  Remove from heat and cool to room temperature.

You can refrigerate this sauce for up to one week.  Bring back to room temperature before serving.
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More Turkey Day menu items coming soon.....

Would you like to comment?

  1. Omg, super delicious sauce..stunning.

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  2. It was the same at my house--the canned stuff that no one ever ate. My first real cranberry sauce was a revelation. This looks delicious and the color screams holidays. ;-)

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  3. You know, I have never made a cranberry sauce.  I've eaten it and love it but never made it.  I think it's about time...

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  4. i'm with you, homemade cranberry sauce just might be the BEST part of thanksgiving.  so yummy, and just perfect with turkey, among other things.

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  5. I always thought I HATED cranberry sauce also!  Until I made my own.  Swoon! I put ginger in mine also! Our recipes are glaringly similar... :P  Great minds!

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  6. That is a wonderful, fantastic sauce! I can imagine so many ways to delight in this.

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  7. This made me laugh.  I so remember the crystal dish with cranberry sauce, half chopped and half with the can lines still evident.  My grandmother made everything from scratch all the time-why did she do this with cranberry sauce?!  I grew up and starting making my own and have never looked back.  I love how the cranberries pop as they cook.  I'm going to try your recipe today as we are having an early bird before traveling to my brother's house.  We are having fish at his house and no cranberries.  I have all the ingredients in the house!  Thanks for this delightful post.

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  8. It's so jewel like. Want to decorate with it before I eat it!

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  9. I'll never forget the can rings on that mold in the fancy crystal dish.  I never ate it either.  This looks like a great recipe Heather, nice photo.

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  10. I will NEVER be able to eat cranberry sauce out of a can again since discovering how wonderful it tastes freshly made! I can't believe it took me so long to discover home made cranberry sauce. Actually, it was on National Eat a Cranberry Day (Nov. 23rd:) a few years ago that I took the plunge!!! 

    I swear I can smell yours from here. It's funny the way the senses can play tricks on you, lol...Love the combination, Heather. It looks so crimson. It must be delicious!  Thanks for sharing...

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  11. I love cranberries, and cranberry sauce. Yes, I even love it straight from the can with the ridges on it! It's what my family eats every Thanksgiving too :-) But yours does look way better. Thanks for linking up at my Thanksgiving blog hop!

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  12. I love all the different versions of cranberry sauce bloggers have come up with. This one is superb.

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  13. I gotta try this one!

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  14. Looks like the holidays have begun Heather!!

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  15. I want some to spread on the bread!!! Looks gorgeous.

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  16. Ha!! Yes, I can still picture it. VIVIDLY. ;P

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  17. The scent of cloves just screams the holidays for me.  I also grew up with 'the cylinder', and to this day, even when we serve or bring homemade cranberry sauce, somebody in the family will put in a special request to have 'the cylinder' on the table as well.  Go figure.
    Do you remember how the actual tin lines were etched into it?  Yuck.

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  18. Yes, it has been a long time! So good to hear from you...and thanks! =)

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  19. Love the idea of adding ginger!

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  20. I know I havent been here in a really really long time! That cranberry sauce pic in my reader sure made me come here and Im glad I did! Hope you are doing good. Happy Thanksgiving :)

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  21. Homemade cranberry sauce is so much better than the canned version. This one looks delish, Heather.  Love the addition of ginger and cloves. Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family.

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  22. I'm thinking I need this for my Thanksgivng meal. Sounds super good!

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