Fennel and Port Cranberry Sauce

Cranberry sauce should never be store bought. It's as easy to make as boiling 1 part sugar, 1 part liquid, and 1 part fruit. This year, I played around with this equation bringing you a new recipe just in time for the winter holidays. 

1 Bag Fresh Cranberries 
1 Cup Sugar
1 Orange 
Port Wine 
1 Tsp Ground Fennel

In a small pot, toss in the cranberries with a cup of mixed granulated and brown sugar. Next, squeeze the juice of an orange into a measuring cup. Add port wine to the orange juice until you have 1 full cup of liquid. Pour into the pot and boil, mixing regularly, until the cranberries pop - at which time I smash them with my wooden spoon. Turn the heat off, add a tsp of fennel, stir, and let cool.

Because of the port, this is a very sweet recipe. The fennel balances that sweetness but I also suggest pairing the sauce with chipotle, smokey, and savory flavors.