I love the fall! Who doesn’t on the east coast? I’m actually ready for cooler weather and all the fantastic produce coming in. Cranberries are amongst my favorites because they are versatile and full of nutrition.
Indigenous people have used cranberries for medicinal purposes for ages. Cranberries are especially used for urinary tract infections. Research has shown that the unique proanthocyanidins (PACs) in the cranberry actually inhibit the adhesion of bacteria, including E. coli, to the urinary tract epithelium. These antioxidant compounds specific to the cranberry are critical in the prevention of UTI rather than the acidification of the urine as was previously hypothesized.
Additionally, cranberries are being studied for their beneficial effects on the heart, the gums and teeth, gastric ulcers and protection of the brain.
This is the time of the year to hoard organic cranberries as they are harder to come by than conventional berries. I buy many bags of these organic berries and freeze them for holidays in the spring and even early fall of the next year. They seem to stay indefinitely in the freezer.
This recipe is a good compliment to any holiday meal of meat or poultry. It is a little different from other cranberry sauce recipes and adds variety to the meal.
Ingredients
- 1 cup cranberries
- 2 apples, skinned, cored and chopped
- 1/2 cup raisin and date blend (50/50)
- ½ cup chopped white onion
- 1 TBSP lemon juice
- 1/2 cup water
- 1/4 cup raw honey
- 1/4 tsp sea salt (where to buy spices)
- 1/4 tsp mace (or use nutmeg if you are not AIP)
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 1 large clove garlic minced
- 1 teaspoon finely minced ginger
Instructions
- Place the cranberries in a pot with about 1/2 water at the bottom
- Cook at a simmer until soft
- Pass through a sieve to remove skins (if you don't mind skins skip this step) and place back in the pot
- Remove the pits of the dates and mix with the raisins in a mini processor to form a paste
- You can soften the dates by heating in a small pot with some water for a few minutes
- Add the rest of the ingredients except the honey to the pot with the cranberries and cook at a low simmer for about 15 minutes, stirring every few minutes
- There should still be chunks of apple
- Hold honey aside until cooled before adding and mix well
- Serve with meat or poultry
- This may be made ahead and frozen until needed
Equipment
- 3 – 4 quart pot (where to buy)
- Sieve
- Mini Processor (where to buy a mini food processor)
Here is a recipe for CranApple Sauce made with raw honey!
