Grandma Erma's Spirited Cranberry Sauce

Prep: 5 min., Cook: 10 min., Cool: 15 min., Chill: 8 hr.

You'll need about 1 lb. of cranberries. Most are sold in 12-oz. bags, so pick up two and freeze the extra.

This recipe goes with Turkey Tenderloins With Cranberry Sauce

Yield: Makes about 3 1/2 cups
Ingredients

2  cups  sugar
1/2  cup  port
4  cups  fresh cranberries
1/4  cup  orange liqueur

Preparation

1. Stir together sugar, port, and 3/4 cup water in a heavy 3-qt. saucepan until blended. Add cranberries; bring to a boil, and cook over medium-high heat, stirring often, 8 to 10 minutes or until cranberry skins begin to split. Remove from heat, and let cool 15 minutes.

2. Pulse cranberry mixture in a food processor 3 to 4 times or until cranberries are almost pureed; stir in orange liqueur. Cover and chill 8 hours before serving. Store in refrigerator in an airtight container up to 2 weeks. Serve chilled or at room temperature.

Note: For testing purposes only, we used Grand Marnier for orange liqueur.

Turkey Tenderloins With Cranberry Sauce: Preheat oven to 400°. Sprinkle 1 1/2 lb. turkey tenderloins with 1 tsp. each salt and freshly ground pepper. Place tenderloins in a lightly greased 15- x 10-inch jelly-roll pan. Bake 20 to 25 minutes or until a meat thermometer inserted into thickest portion registers 170°. Brush tenderloins with Grandma Erma's Spirited Cranberry Sauce. Garnish with fresh sage or rosemary and currants, if desired. Makes 4 servings. Prep: 10 min., Bake: 25 min.

Leslie Sutherland, Fort Worth, Texas, Southern Living, NOVEMBER 2008