Cranberry Clementine Sauce
I’m an introvert.
I’m told that I don’t seem that way online, but it’s the truth. Just cause I’m super open and friendly with you guys doesn’t mean that translates into real life. It doesn’t. I’m actually kinda uncomfortable around strangers and my default reaction is to fall completely silent. You know one of those girls you saw inn public once that you think are ‘stuck up’ because they don’t talk to anyone and have a mean ‘resting face’? Yeah, I’ve probably been that girl you saw once or twice somewhere.
I can’t help it. And frankly, I don’t want to. 9 times out of 10, I’d rather be the person that no one ever hears from because they don’t talk rather than the person that you hear from ALL THE TIME because they just don’t know how to stop talking.
However, starting tomorrow, all of that is going to change. I’m gonna become the super outgoing girl that always seems to have something to say and kinda sorta maybe doesn’t know how to shut up. At least online. And for the next 12 days.
Know why?
Because tomorrow will mark the start of the 12 Days of Christmas on Cooking is My Sport.
What’s the 12 Days of Christmas, you ask? It’s the series I started last year where I share 12 Christmas-themed recipes of sweet, sugary goodies to commemorate this holiday season. I’m doing it again this year, and have been working my behind off in the kitchen to try and make sure I’ll be on time for each post.
It’s not an exaggeration, guys. I said “12 Days of Christmas”, and 12 days is what y’all are gonna get. 12 straight days of me, my rambling posts and a crap-load of high sugar cookies, cake, candy and other Christmas treats. Think you can handle it? Cause I’m not so sure.
Actually, I’m not even sure if I can handle it myself. Most of you are bloggers, so you can appreciate how…challenging it’s gonna be to bake, photograph, edit and write up posts for 12 sets of goodies. I’ve already said a prayer and knocked on wood. Hopefully I’ll be successful.
Anyway, this series basically means that for the next 12 days (by blogging standards) I’m gonna be the annoying person that never stops talking, because my goal will be to put a post a day until Christmas Eve.
Hopefully the content of the posts will make up for me constantly popping up on your blog reader….I kinda think they will.
Oh, that’s right. You’ve been looking at cranberry sauce for the past several paragraphs. Isn’t it pretty? It’s also friggin delicious. I first made it for our Thanksgiving dinner this year and my grandma announced that it was good enough to eat all by itself on a spoon. I concur.
In fact, I concurred so much, that I went ahead and made a second batch of it soon after (which is what you’re looking at in the pictures). That second batch gave me an idea for the first post in the 12 Days of Christmas series….
Which you guys will have to wait until tomorrow for.
For now, let’s just sit tight and focus on the cranberry sauce itself. It’s sweet, tart and ‘citrus-y’ all at once. The addition of cinnamon and star anise cuts through both the sweetness and tartness by giving it an earthy, licorrice-y after-taste. The consistency of the sauce is also key here- it’s gotta stay on the spoon all by itself so that you can almost chew it. Anything else just isn’t acceptable.
Right now this is my favorite cranberry sauce- especially when it’s versatile enough to transform into a completely new, delicious recipe.
But like I said: that’ll have to wait til tomorrow.
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Cranberry Clementine Sauce
Recipe Courtesy of Anne Burrell
Ingredients
- 12 oz. fresh cranberries
- 6 clementines, peeled and sectioned
- 1/2 cup orange juice
- 1/2 cup cranberry juice
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 1 star anise pod
- 1 cup dried cranberries
Directions
1. In a small saucepan combine fresh cranberries, clementines, orange and cranberry juices, sugar, cinnamon stick, and star anise.
2. Bring to a boil and reduce to a simmer. Simmer for 20 minutes.
3. Add the dried cranberries and simmer for 10 to 15 more minutes, or until the sauce has thickened.
Wow what a challenge! Good luck! Loving the look of your cranberry sauce… I would love to make it for Christmas! 🙂
Thank you- it’s an easy recipe that would be perfect for Christmas dinner 🙂
I love the addition of citrus fruit – I will so copy you 😉
Looking forward to the next 12 days!
Go right ahead Ginger- thanks 🙂
Well… here we go again…this just proves that we are twins….I have a “Mean resting face” too! Actually…when we were younger, my older cousin told the rest of us cousins that we tend to have mean faces, so we have to make up for it with our personalities!! Hahaha!!
I’m so excited about your 12 days of Christmas…and cannot wait to see what you have up your sleeve, Jess! I LOVE it!!
This cranberry sauce looks and sounds so wonderful. You have me so intrigued with the cinnamon and anise.. I have to make this. We are cranberry fanatics in this house. Well, at least the girls and I are. I think they’re going to love this.
See you tomorrow you little jibber jabber!! And I know you’re not stuck up. <3 Love you.
I’ve known you were my ‘other’ twin for a really long time now. Totally my other twin. Thanks Prudy-Love you too <3
Wow, Jess…great flavors! If this cranberry sauce is an indication of what’s to come, I can’t wait for the next 12 posts! Quite a challenge, for sure, yet there’s no doubt in my mind that you’re more than up to it. 🙂
Thank you Nancy- I’m hanging in there 😉
I’m super excited to see your 12 Days of Christmas! And no worries! I feel like I’m shy and occasionally introverted in real life, but you can never tell online! lol. This cranberry clementine sauce looks amazing, Jess! Can’t wait to see what other holiday recipes you have up your sleeves! Which means I’ll be reading every single one of your 12 days of christmas posts! =)
Thank you Andrea!
Yum! I’m an introvert too and I totally get where you’re coming from.
Thanks Jessica- Introverts unite! lol
I have often been asked if I am “mad”. I respond no, I am just thinking. I generally am not that outgoing unless I am with people I know. I am looking forward to seeing your 12 days of posts!
That’s it EXACTLY Julie! My thinking face gets misinterpreted so often. Thank you 🙂
I will make this next time I need a cranberry sauce and look forward to your next twelve days.
Thank you Hilda, I guarantee you’ll love it 🙂
So wonderful, Jess! I adore making my own cranberry sauce and have noticed the fresh clementines have just made it into the stores! I’m going to give your recipe a go, for sure! 😀
Thanks Julianna- this one really is a keeper for sure 😉
Yummm! I had never had cranberry sauce before a couple of weeks ago – homemade or otherwise. I made some and decided that I love it! Though I can’t stand fruit and meat together, so I used it strictly for dessert purposes only. Looking forward to hearing all about this super secret 12 days of Christmas series tomorrow!
I’ve come to love the combination of the fruit with turkey- just as long as there’s a rich gravy to go with it. The mixture of flavors is so awesome to me. Thank you Alice!
You are a very brave blogger to post 12 days in a row! We won’t hold it against you if you need to sleep through the whole month of January! I also am an introvert. Thanks for sharing that about yourself. I never would have guessed it. I think there are more of us out there than we realize. Probably because we are all so quiet!:) Your cranberry sauce sounds wonderful. I’m really looking forward to seeing what you post next!
Haha thank you Shari-it’s been hectic at times, but I’m still having fun. Thanks for following along 🙂
You go girl!
Thanks Melissa 😀