Holiday Cranberry Sauce Recipes

Cranberry Sauce from Real Berries is Healthy and Easy to Prepare

© Ellen Wilson

Nov 22, 2008

Fresh cranberry sauce for Thanksgiving or Christmas is a treat that is extremely easy to prepare. Not only is real cranberry sauce easy to make, it is loaded with antioxidants. Cranberries, in fact, are ranked number one for high antioxidant content. According to ScienceDaily, researches have discovered that cranberries rank highest in disease fighting phenols, a type of antioxidant compound.

Antioxidant compounds found in fruits and vegetables are helpful in combating disease. They work as a defense system against oxidative damage. Oxidative damage may be caused when our bodies turn oxygen into energy. This oxidative process can then produce toxins, also referred to as free radicals. Free radicals are generally neutralized by antioxidants before they cause any damage, but as we age this process becomes inefficient and breaks down. Antioxidants have been implicated in causing various types of cancer and Alzheimer's disease.

Processing cranberries (cooking and storing) reduces the antioxidant properties found within the fruit. And although cranberry sauce has a high antioxidant content, fresh and dried cranberries have a higher antioxidant content than this prepared dish.

It makes sense that you would want to incorporate this healthy fruit not only in your holiday dishes, but also in your everyday meals.

Holiday Cranberry Sauce Recipes:

Real Fresh Cranberry Sauce

Ingredients:

• One package of fresh cranberries (approximately 1 pound bag)
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 cup cold water

Directions:

1. Heat water to Boiling
2. Cook uncovered berries over medium high heat
3. Cook until berries pop open and sauce slightly thickens (about 7 to 10 minutes minutes).
4. Cool and serve or refrigerate.

Makes about 4 cups.

Fresh Cranberry Sauce With Orange Zest

Ingredients:

• One pound cranberries
• 2 cups sugar
• 1/2 cup water
• 1/2 orange juice
• 2 teaspoons grated orange zest

Directions:

1. Heat to boiling
2. Cook, uncovered, over medium heat until most of the berries pop open and the mixture is somewhat thickened, approximately 7 to 10 minutes

No Sugar Cranberry Sauce

Ingredients:

• 12 ounce bag of fresh or frozen cranberries
• 1 to 1 1/2 cup orange juice
• 1/2 tsp dried ginger
• 2 tsp orange zest
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• dash of dried cloves
• 1/2 cup crushed pineapple
• 1/2 to 3/4 cup honey (dependent on taste)

Directions:

1. Bring orange juice, ginger, zest and cinnamon to a boil on high heat in a medium saucepan.
2. Add cranberries to boiling liquid.
3. Reduce heat to medium and cook uncovered for about 10 to 15 minutes.
4. When mixture starts to thicken, add the crushed pineapple and honey.
5. Remove from heat and cool.

Leftover Cranberry Sauce Suggestions:

• Try stirring left over cranberry sauce in a container of vanilla yogurt. Top with chopped pecans or walnuts for added protein.
• Holiday Pancake Breakfast - Top pancakes with warmed cranberry sauce. Serve with a side of smoked sausage.

Sources Cited:

American Federation for Aging Research

ScienceDaily

Cranberry Sauce

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