Food for the season

One of the best parts of wintertime, is the warmth that is shared by sharing a meal. I have had fun this wintertime experimenting with classic winter recipes and modifying them to my fancy. One of my favorite modified recipes is a spiced cranberry sauce.

Wisconsin is the largest producer of cranberries in the U.S., so there are plenty of local sources for the tart little berries. Also, they store like a dream, so it is simple to buy them in bulk and store them for the winter, through. There are so many things you can use cranberries for, as we have tried scones, stuffing and other treats. Perhaps you too, will enjoy this spiced version of the classic cranberry sauce!

Spiced Cranberry Sauce
12 ounces of whole cranberries
1 cup of water
1 cup of sugar
1 orange, juiced
1/2 tablespoon of cinnamon (more or less, its up to you!)
1 teaspoon of nutmeg (more or less, depending on your preferences)

1. Rinse the cranberries and then place them in a small sauce pan. Cover with water and bring to a boil. Using a potato masher, crush the berries. This is not an art, so don't be afraid to get messy! Also, they don't have to be perfectly smashed.

2. Add the sugar and allow to simmer for 10 minutes. Towards the end of this time, add your orange juice and spices, and stir. Taste test your mix, and add spices accordingly. Pour into a dish, and allow to cool slightly. Enjoy!

I haven't tried this with a lot of other spices, since you can only eat cranberry sauce so often. However, I intend to try it with several others as well, including cardamom and cloves. I will let you know how it turns out!

I hope your holidays have been delightful.
Happy eating!