Recipe: Sassy Cranberry Sauce (using pears, dried cherries, raisins and ginger)

SASSY CRANBERRY SAUCE

1 (12 ounce) bag fresh cranberries
3 cups chopped pears (about 2 medium pears)
1 cup orange juice or apple juice
1/2 cup dried unsweetened cherries
1/2 cup golden raisins
1 cup sugar
3 tablespoons minced crystallized ginger (also called candied ginger)
1/8 teaspoon ground cardamom

Combine all ingredients in a large saucepan. Cover and bring to a gentle boil over a medium-low flame. Cook 12 minutes.

Uncover, reduce heat to a simmer and cook until sauce thickens, about 5 minutes.

Transfer the sauce to a heatproof bowl and cool 10 minutes. Cover and refrigerate at least 1 hour before serving.

Makes 3 cups
Source: J.M. Hirsch, Associated Press Published in The Dallas Morning News, October 27, 2007