Sassy Cranberry Sauce Food

PERFECT CRANBERRY SAUCE

Steps:

• Empty a 12-ounce bag of fresh or frozen cranberries into a saucepan and transfer 1/2 cup to a small bowl. Add 1 cup sugar, 1 strip orange or lemon zest and 2 tablespoons water to the pan and cook over low heat, stirring occasionally, until the sugar dissolves and the cranberries are soft, about 10 minutes. Increase the heat to medium and cook until the cranberries burst, about 12 minutes. Reduce the heat to low and stir in the reserved cranberries. Add sugar, salt and pepper to taste and cool to room temperature before serving.

THE BEST CRANBERRY SAUCE

Steps:

• Empty the cranberries into a saucepan and transfer 1/2 cup to a small bowl. Add the sugar, zest and 2 tablespoons water to the pan and cook over low heat, stirring occasionally, until the sugar dissolves and the cranberries are soft, about 10 minutes. Increase the heat to medium and cook until the cranberries burst, about 12 minutes. Reduce the heat to low and stir in the reserved cranberries. Remove the citrus peel. Add sugar, salt and pepper to taste. Cool to room temperature before serving.

SASSY CRANBERRY SAUCE

Steps:

• Pour cranberry sauce, port wine and honey into a 1-quart saucepan; place over medium heat. Stir frequently while mixture comes to a boil. Meanwhile, drain and finely chop the pears. Add to the pan. Add vinegar and apple pie spice. Stir gently to mix well. Stir in orange zest.
• Raise the heat to medium-high; cook at a rolling boil, stirring frequently, until the sauce thickens slightly, about 5 minutes. Pour into a serving bowl; let cool for 5 minutes. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for about 15 minutes. The sauce will continue to thicken slightly as it cools.
• The sauce may be made 2 days ahead and refrigerated in a covered container. Serve the sauce chilled or slightly warm. (Rewarm the sauce, covered with a paper towel, in the microwave on high for 1 to 2 minutes.) Leftovers can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to a week.