Thanksgiving Recipe Break!

I just did my food shopping for Thanksgiving (early, I know, but I won't have any other day to do it) and got so excited thinking of all the wonderful family, friends and food (the 3 F's) coming up. This is a cranberry chutney recipe that I've made for a number of years at Thanksgiving. It's easy to make, yummy, keeps to eat on your ham (or duck or goose or turkey) at Christmas and makes a pretty gift. What more could you want?

Cranberry Chutney

Makes about 4-6 pint-size jars.

4 cups fresh cranberries, washed, picked over and stemmed

2 1/2 cups sugar

¼ orange juice or oj concentrate

6 whole cloves

2 (3-inch) cinnamon sticks

1 tsp. salt

2 (6-ounce) Granny Smith apples, peeled,   cored, and cut into 1/2-inch dice

2 firm (6-ounce) Bosq or Anjou pears, peeled, cored, and cut into 1/2-inch dice

1 small yellow (5-ounce) onion, diced

1/2 cup golden raisins

3 teaspoons orange peel

1/3 cup diced crystallized ginger

1. In a deep 6-quart saucepan, combine cranberries, sugar, 1 cup water, ¼ cup orange juice or orange juice concentrate, cloves, cinnamon sticks, and salt. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring frequently to dissolve sugar. Cook until berries begin to pop open, 10 to 12 minutes. Adjust heat so mixture barely simmers. Stir in apples, pears, onion, raisins, and ginger. Continue to cook, stirring frequently, until thick, 10 to 15 minutes longer. Remove from heat and allow mixture to cool to room temperature. Discard visible cinnamon sticks and cloves.

2. Refrigerate in tightly sealed jars for up to 2 months. Attach a ribbon and gift tag with suggested serving ideas for a great gift.