SWEET 'N TART POPPIN' CRANBERRY SAUCE

SWEET 'N TART POPPIN' CRANBERRY SAUCE image

Yield 1 big bowl

Number Of Ingredients 9

2 packs of fresh cranberries
1 1/2 cups water
2/3 cups sugar (adjust to taste; do not exceed 1 cup, it'll be too sweet)
1/4 cup corn starch
6 oz. frozen OJ concentrate
2 T lemon juice
1 can bite size pineapple chunks
2 large tart apples, diced
1 tablespoon real vanilla extract (splurge on the good stuff! I guarantee you will find many uses for it later!)

Steps:

Rinse the berries and place in large pot. Pour in at least 2 cups water and place over heat until the berries start to pop; this can take up to 10 minutes. Here is where you can use your personal preference . Like your berries firm? Drain 'em quick. Like your berries a little softer? Stir for a few minutes then drain. It's up to you! But as long as they are popping, they are getting soft. Drain berries. Reserve 1 1/2 cup of the boiling liquid and return it to the pot. (you can also add the juice from the drained pineapple to make 2 cups total liquid goodness!) Over medium heat, stir in sugar and cornstarch until dissolved. (Remember, dissolve corn starch in a little cold water before adding it to HOT liquid. This prevents clumps.) Add oj and lemon juice. Bring to simmer, reduce heat to low, stirring to prevent sticking. It should thicken enough to coat the back of a spoon. Again, like it thick? Add a tablespoon more of corn starch to thicken if you so desire. Simmer for 5 mins. or until it reaches the desired thickness. In a large bowl, combine the drained cranberries, pineapple, apples, vanilla. Stir to combine. Add warm oj mixture to cranberries and stir. Voila! This'll be the easiest thing you will make this Thanksgiving.