Cranberry Sauce

We don't eat this often, but when we do it is essential.

Ingredients (8 quarter-pints)

• 2 cups sugar
• 2 cups water
• 4 cups fresh cranberries
• ½ cinnamon stick
• 1½ tsp orange zest

Directions

1. Bring water and sugar to a boil over medium-high heat and simmer for 5 minutes.
2. Add in the cinnamon stick and simmer the cranberry sauce for about 15 minutes, until it begins to thicken and sheets off the back of a metal spoon. Add the orange zest (if using) in the last few minutes of cooking.
3. Ladle the cranberry sauce mixture into canning jars, leaving ¼" headspace. Remove air bubbles and seal with 2 part canning lids.
4. Process in a water bath canner for 15 minutes. Turn off the canner and wait 5 minutes before removing the jars.