Cranberries need little preparation before cooking. No peeling or seeding is required; just rinse them thoroughly, cull out any mushy or soft berries, drain well, and cook.
For most recipes you will cook berries with a little water until they pop, typically 5 to 15 minutes depending on heat, altitude, and other factors. Add sugar as needed and continue cooking just until dissolved.
The addition of 1/4 to 1/2 cup of sugar per 12-ounce package of berries is adequate to sweeten the fruit. Even less may be needed if the fruit is sweet.
Sweet spices such as nutmeg, cardamom, ginger, cloves, and especially cinnamon, enhance sweet flavors. Whenever appropriate, include one of these spices and try decreasing the sugar. You can always add extra sugar later to taste.
Click here for the original article, A Feast of Cranberries: 5 Great Recipes.
