GOBBLE GOBBLE: Orange Ginger Cranberry Sauce

Welcome back to GOBBLE GOBBLE my annual Thanksgiving recipe series. This year to kickoff the series I wanted to share with you all a delicious take on the all time traditional Thanksgiving side dish... cranberry sauce. Great with turkey, on top of ice cream or just by itself! (DISCLAIMER: Please keep in mind that some of my recipes don't have exact measurements and no worries even without the measurements these recipes are so easy you can't possibly mess it up.)

You will need

Cranberries

White granulated sugar (1 cup of sugar per 1 cup of liquid)

Orange (1 per lb of cranberries, about 1/4 of the juice)

Finely grated ginger (powered will work as well, about 2 teaspoons per 1 lb of cranberries)

A liquid of your choice (cranberry juice, apple juice, or water)

Dark rum (2 teaspoons per lb of cranberries or more if you like, for kids you can opt out of this but the alcohol will cook out so worries)

How to make:

1. Juice the orange and keep the peels

2. In a large pot combine the cranberries, orange juice, orange peels, sugar, ginger and rum

3.Pour in your choice of liquid (just make sure there is just enough to cover the ingredients do not over fill)

4. Cover and slowly simmer until the cranberries have soften and popped.

5. Continue to cook until you get a gel sauce like consistency

6. If your sauce is too thin drain some of the liquid, if too thick add more liquid and simmer 

7. Once cooled it will be ready to serve

ENJOY!!!

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JINGLE JINGLE- Quick & Easy Cran-Orange Apple Sauce

A quick and yummy favorite of my mine during the holidays. This stuff tastes so much better than the can stuff and is so simple to make.

What You Will Need:

-1 Large Naval or Honeybell Orange (The sweeter the better)

-1 LB of Fresh Cranberries

-1 Granny Smith Apple (This apple holds up really well when cooked, if you want something a bit sweeter try a pink lady apple.)

-Water (Enough to cover the fruit)

- One to one and a half cups of fine white sugar

How To Make:

1. Wash all your fruits

2. Grate your orange for orange zest (Make sure you don't get any of the white part.) and the juice the orange. Keep the peels

3. Peel and cut your apple into tiny cubes

4. In a small sauce pot pour in your cranberries and just enough water to cover them

5. Add your apples and orange juice and throw in the orange peels for extra flavor

6. Add sugar (Just eyeball it but usually around a cup and of course depends on your sweetness preference

7. Bring to a boil and let it simmer for about an hour or so until the cranberries pop and it begins to form a sauce like consistency. 

8. Pour into a pretty bowl and serve! 

Holiday Tips & Tricks #1: How NOT to OVEREAT During the Holidays

Throughout the year, we always try our best to eat healthy and not necessarily because we want to be healthier but rather an excuse to stuff ourselves on delicious holiday food. However no matter how healthy you ate throughout the year, it is never good to overstuff yourselves on any occasion. Here are a few tips and tricks to help you not to overeat but still able to enjoy the food regardless!

1.) Stuffing or Dinner Rolls

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 VS.

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PICK ONE!!! Carbs and starches make up the majority of a holiday meal. When it comes to stuffing and dinner rolls try to stick with one (I prefer stuffing). This way you can still have your other delicious starches like mash potatoes.

2.) DO LOAD UP ON THE PROTEIN

Whether you eat turkey or ham during the holidays this is one area where you do not need to fret about too much. Between the starches and desserts our blood sugar rises significantly. Do load up on the meat. The protein will help you keep your blood sugars at bay and turkey is rather a healthier meat compared to others.

3.) Portion control

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If you are the chef during the holidays you have a lot of power on your hands. Some foods like stuffing or casserole can be easily portion sized. Instead of baking the stuffing or casserole in a giant dish bake them in muffin tins. Not only you will be saving some calories you also have a cute presentation for your family and friends (not to mention the muffin tins will crisp up the edges YUM).

4.) Cranberry Sauce...

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While cranberries are full of nutrients and antioxidants cranberry sauce is LOADED with insane amounts of sugar to combat the cranberries' tartness. Instead of so much sugar cut it in half and replace the other half with fresh squeeze fruit juice like apple or orange. If you don't have fresh fruit on hand use a natural sweetener like Stevia or Truvia. Also went eating cranberry sauce, even with the replacements do limit yourself to no more than 5 tablespoons. There is still a good amount of sugar even with the substitutes.

5.) Skip the Crust

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Pies Pies Pies the ultimate holiday dessert and the most dangerous around this time of year. When possible especially if you are having pumpkin pie skip the crust and just eat the filling. You will not only have yourself a bunch of calories but let's get real the filling is always the best part!