Cooking with Cranberries

Today's post is by special request, just in time for Thanksgiving. Up until last year, I'd always had canned cranberry sauce for Thanksgiving dinner. I thought there was some huge secret to making cranberry sauce from scratch, because my mom never made any. The truth is, it's very simple to make, and the only reason Mom never made it is that we rarely ate turkey for Thanksgiving. So today, along with my recipe for cranberry sauce, I'll share a couple of other fun recipes for cranberries that'll be great for this holiday season.

Cranberry Sauce:
1 c. sugar
1 c. water
1 pkg. (12 oz.) fresh cranberries

Combine water and sugar in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil, and add cranberries. Reduce heat and boil gently for about 10 minutes, stirring frequently and gently smashing the berries as they become ready to pop. Cover and cool completely at room temperature. Refrigerate until serving time. This sauce is great when made a day-ahead!

Cranberry Nut Bars:
2 eggs
1 c. sugar
1 c. flour
1/3 c. butter or margarine, melted
1 1/4 c. cranberries (fresh or frozen)
1/2 c. chopped walnuts

Heat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease an 8" baking pan. Beat eggs in medium mixing bowl until thick and frothy. Gradually add sugar, beating until thoroughly blended. Add flour and melted butter; blend well. Using a wooden spoon, fold in cranberries and nuts just until combined. Spread evenly in pan. Bake for 40-45 minutes, or until golden brown. Cool and cut into bars. Serves 16.

Cranberry Apple Bread:
from the Ocean Spray Homepage
2 cups peeled, chopped apple
3/4 cup sugar
2 tablespoons oil
1 egg
1 1/2 cups flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 cup Ocean Spray® Fresh or Frozen Cranberries
1/2 cup chopped walnuts

Preheat oven to 350ºF. Grease an 8 1/2 x 4 1/2 x 2 1/2-inch loaf pan.

Combine apples, sugar and oil in a medium mixing bowl. Add egg, mixing well. Combine dry ingredients in a separate mixing bowl. Add to apple mixture, mixing just until the dry ingredients are moist. Stir in cranberries and walnuts.

Spread batter evenly in loaf pan. Bake for 1 hour or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the bread comes out clean. Makes 1 loaf.