Spiced Cranberry Sauce

makes 2 cups

5 whole star anise

12 oz fresh organic cranberries, rinsed

1/2 cup raw sugar

1/3 cup filtered water

1 teaspoon orange zest

1/3 cup freshly-squeezed orange juice

1. Place the whole star anise spices in the center of a small square of cheesecloth. Fold up the edges and use a short length of kitchen twine to enclose the spices in a pouch. Trim off any excess. Set aside.

2. Add the cranberries, sugar, water, orange zest, and freshly-squeezed orange juice to a medium sauce pot. Top with the star anise spice pouch.

3. Bring the mixture to a boil. Once it begins to boil, cover the pot with a splatter guard and reduce the heat to low. Simmer for 20-25 minutes, or until most of the cranberries have burst and the sauce has thickened slightly. Carefully remove and discard the spice pouch.

4. Pour the sauce into a glass serving dish (preferably with a lid) and allow to cool slightly on the counter top. Serve warm, or chill in the refrigerator until ready to serve.