Marilyn's Cranberry Sauce

Best cranberry sauce I've ever flapped my lip over if you ask me.  Good on meat.   Also good on Hawaiian Haystacks. - Kim

INGREDIENTS:

• 1-1/2 cup cranberries

• 1/4 to 1/2 cup sugar (or splenda).  Marilyn thinks it was 3/8 cup she used

• 1/4 cup orange juice concentrate

• 1 tablespoon grated orange peel

TO MAKE:

• Combine all ingredients  well in a 1 quart casserole or equivalent dish.  

• Cover and microwave 3-5 minutes on HIGH (berries pop)

• Stir after 2 minutes

• Let stand an additional 3 minutes

You have left over cranberry sauce after Thanksgiving?   Here are some good ways to use it:

• Swirl it into vanilla yoghurt and top with some granola

• Fill home made pop tarts

• Top pancakes, french toast, or waffles with cranberry sauce and whipped cream

• Make maple cranberry syrup by mixing it with...you guessed it...maple syrup

• Stir into a bowl of oatmeal

• Make cranberry butter for your favorite muffins or breakfast breads by beating together butter, a little cranberry sauce, fresh orange zest, and a touch of almond extract 

• Top a toasted bagel or English muffin with cream cheese and a shmear of cranberry sauce 

• Make a cranberry smoothie:  1 cup apple juice, 1-1/2 cups cranberry sauce, 2 bananas, 1 cup yogurt, and a dash of cinnamon. 

• Cranberry meatballs:  In a large skillet, heat 1 cup cranberry sauce, 12 ounces chili sauce, 1 teaspoon cumin, and 1 teaspoon black pepper. Fold in a 22-ounce bag of your favorite frozen cooked homestyle meatballs, thawed. 

• A turkey grilled cheese sandwich with layers of leftover turkey and cranberry sauce, plus sharp cheddar. 

• Stir some cranberry sauce into a pot of chili

• A crostini appetizer: Simply toast your favorite baguette or smaller bread under the broiler until just crisp, and then let cool. Top with softened cream cheese or goat cheese, followed by a bit of cranberry sauce, fresh orange zest, and fresh thyme leaves. Crack a bit of black pepper over the top to finish them off. 

• Cranberry sauce cheesecake

• Angle food or pound cake topped with cranberry sauce

• Warm cranberry sauce spooned over vanilla bean ice cream