Homemade Cranberry Relish

This homemade cranberry relish is a refreshing and tangy addition to your Thanksgiving or Christmas table. It's both easy to make and full of flavor. Ingredients:

• 12 ounces fresh cranberries
• 1 large orange, zested and juiced
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1/4 cup chopped walnuts or pecans (optional)
• 1/4 cup finely chopped red onion (optional)
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves

Instructions:

1. Begin by rinsing the fresh cranberries thoroughly under cold water. Drain them well.
2. Zest the entire orange and set aside the zest.
3. Cut the orange in half and juice it. You should have about 1/4 to 1/3 cup of orange juice. You can adjust the amount to your taste.
4. In a food processor, combine the cranberries, orange zest, orange juice, and sugar. Pulse the mixture until the cranberries are finely chopped but not pureed. You can adjust the texture to your liking, from chunky to more finely ground.
5. Transfer the cranberry mixture to a bowl and add the optional chopped nuts, red onion, ground cinnamon, and ground cloves. Stir everything together to combine. If you prefer a milder onion flavor, you can soak the finely chopped red onion in cold water for a few minutes, then drain it before adding it to the relish.
6. Taste the cranberry relish and adjust the sweetness or tartness by adding more sugar or orange juice, if needed. You can also adjust the spices to your preference.
7. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate the cranberry relish for at least 2 hours or overnight. Chilling allows the flavors to meld and develop.
8. Serve the cranberry relish as a side dish with your holiday meals. It pairs wonderfully with turkey or chicken.