Make-Ahead Cranberry Sauce

The combination of orange juice, fresh cranberries, cinnamon and sugars create delicious flavors, and your house will smell amazing! Who needs a fall candle when you can make homemade cranberry sauce?!

It is so easy to make and it looks just beautiful. It can be made days in advance and stores well. There is such a difference between homemade cranberry sauce and the canned stuff, and once you make this you will never go back.

What you will need:

Juice and zest of 2 oranges (or ½ cup orange juice)

1 cup water

2 cups granulated sugar

1 ½ lbs fresh cranberries

2 cinnamon sticks

3 medium apples cut into chunks

2 inch piece of fresh ginger (optional)

Directions
Combine orange juice and zest, water, and sugar in a slow cooker and stir to combine. Add in cranberries and apple chunks, and stir. Add in cinnamon sticks and optional ginger and stir.

Cook on low heat for 3-4 hours, stirring once each hour. Alternatively, cook on high for 2 hours. Continue to cook until the sauce has thickened and most cranberries have popped.

Serve warm or cold!

Enjoy!

Slow Cooked Sweet Potatoes

These are the perfect side on a cold day! While they are cooking, the house smells amazing. 

What you will need: 

6 to 7 sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into chunks 

1 ½ tbsp cornstarch or flour 

4 tbsp canola oil or butter 

1 cup packed brown sugar

1 tsp pumpkin pie spice

1 tsp vanilla extract

¼ cup orange juice

¼ cup water

Pinch of kosher salt

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 350° if preparing in the oven.

Toss the sweet potatoes with the cornstarch in a bowl to coat well. Add the mixture to a ceramic baking dish, or slow cooker and dot with the butter or oil.

Sprinkle over the brown sugar and pumpkin pie spice. Pour in the vanilla, orange juice and water. Season with salt. If cooking in the oven, cover the ceramic dish with foil tightly and cook in the oven for about 1-1.5 hours. If slow cooking, place the lid on the slow cooker and cook on low, stirring once or twice, until the potatoes are tender, about 3 hours.

Toss the potatoes once more and transfer to a serving dish.

Enjoy!

Tahini Green Beans

This recipe is so easy to make and only requires a few ingredients! Makes an easy side for a weeknight dinner with fish!

What you will need: 
1/2 tbsp olive oil 
1 bunch green beans 
Kosher salt 
3 tbsp soy sauce 
3 tbsp tahini 
2 tbsp honey 
1 tbsp sesame oil 
2 cloves garlic or 1 tbsp garlic powder 
Sesame seeds optional 

Directions: 

I usually buy the haricot verts from Trader Joe’s in the steamer bag and snip the edge and microwave for 3 minutes. If you buy regular green beans, add olive oil to a large saucepan over medium heat. Add green beans and sauté, until just tender, about 3 minutes. Season lightly with salt to taste and remove from heat. 

Add soy sauce, tahini, honey, sesame oil, and garlic to a small bowl and mix until thoroughly combined. Add beans and lightly toss to combine. Sprinkle sesame seeds over the top.

Enjoy!