If there is one thing you should make from scratch on Thanksgiving, it is cranberry relish. Yes, I know. You have a laundry list of other items you are making and so it’s not the end of the world if you buy canned cranberry sauce, right? It’ll save you some time, right? No one really likes the stuff anyway, right? Wrong!

If you have a food processor, and can devote ten minutes of your life to this simple process, I guarantee that your guests will clean the bowl and ask you for the recipe on their way out. It’s so easy, it tastes delicious, the ingredients will be on sale this week, and you can brag to your friends about how you always find the time to make meals from scratch—so just do it! (This would also be a great recipe to make with a child who wants to help out with the Thanksgiving meal!)

Here’s the recipe:

Fresh Cranberry Relish

1 – 12 oz. Bag Fresh Cranberries
1/2 Navel Orange – do not peel, roughly chop into 1/2” pieces
1/2 – 3/4 cup Granulated Sugar (start with half a cup and add the rest to taste)
1/2 cup chopped pecans or walnuts (optional, but adds a nice texture)
Salt and Black Pepper (to taste)

∑ In the bowl of your food processor, combine the cranberries and orange and puree until coarsely chopped. Add the sugar and continue to puree until just combined—a minute or so.

∑ Transfer the cranberry puree from the food processor into a large mixing bowl and fold in the pecans. Season the mixture with salt and pepper to taste. Voila! Store in refrigerator until ready to serve. (If you choose to make this a day or two ahead of time, simply store the relish in an air-tight container and fold in the pecans just before serving so they will retain their crunchy texture.)

Filed Under: FUN Kid Food Talk!, Food Talk