I prepared this for a Thanksgiving dinner.It will harden when cooled, so keep this in mind and stop simmering when it's just a bit softer than you'd like, then store in a glass container.If you're using it as a sauce, add a bit of water to the cranberry jam and heat in the microwave to make a warm sauce. Recipe by Sala.

The holiday meal is to be at our house this year. I received several canned food items. Most don't know that I refer to cook my meals from scratch and not use cans nor boxed foods when possible. Someone gave me more cranberry sauce than I could eat in a year so I decided to make my own and donate the cans to the needy. I hope everyone notices that they're not eating canned cranberry sauce! Let me know what you think of my very first shared recipe.

This recipe came from my mother and was always my favorite.

This has been a huge hit on my table during the holidays and makes a great tasty gift too. Use on toast or peanut butter and jelly sandwiches when the family goes home. Excellent on vanilla ice cream too. Easy, quick and you can make it in advance. A true little gem to your table and sooooo much better than the canned stuff.

Cranberry Sauce

Inspired by Bob Belcher's (of the show Bob's Burgers) love of fresh cranberries; here's my favorite version. This is quick, easy, and endlessly customizable.Notes:•Less sugar will give you a tangier sauce. Add more for a sweet sauce.•You can use water instead of orange juice for a lighter orange taste.•Cooking time will vary based on whether your berries are fresh or frozen.•Vanilla extract also works really well.

Absolutely my favorite part of a holiday dinner. The smell of this cooking is amazing.

A side dish that is very easy to make and compliments the holiday meal when serving it with most fowl and meats. The spices give it that “holiday” taste. Can be made 1-2 days in advance.

I dislike canned cranberry sauce, but love this side dish.

This recipe was handed down to me from my mother. I have no idea where she got it from. Since my husband is very traditional when it comes to Thanksgiving, this cranberry sauce fits the bill.

This will give you a good deal more flavor than canned cranberry sauce.