Spicy Cranberry and orange jam

Last minute gift,  it takes about 30 minutes to make.  All you need is cranberries, mandarins, sugar, spices and a cheese cloth.

Cranberry and orange jam

with oven canning technique 

Ingredients 

2 (12 oz.) bags                                    Fresh cranberries 

Zest of 4 oranges or the peel of 1 mandarin. 

4                                                           Oranges peeled, cut in half, segments separated or mandarins. 

2 cups                                                 Turbinado sugar or white sugar. 

3                                                          Cinnamon sticks

6                                                          Star anises

6                                                          Cloves

10                                                        Black peppercorns

1                                                          Bay leaf

1 teaspoon                                        Ginger or a 2 inches fresh piece

You need a cheese cloth for the spices.

Directions 

Preheat the oven and the jars to 250°F. (120°C.)

Put the lids in a sauce pan, cover with water, bring to a boil and turn off the heat.

Put the 2 bags of cranberries in a large pot with 8 mandarins peeled and cut, 2 cups sugar and the 3  cinnamon sticks.  Cut a square of cheese cloth and put 6 star anises, 6 cloves, 10 peppercorns and a bay leaf in the middle, tie and add to the pot.

Cook on medium high heat, stirring often.  When it comes to a boil, reduce to simmer for about 10 minutes, stirring often.

Transfert in the hot jars (don't fill them too much), put the lids on, using tongues. Screw the bands only slightly.  Put back in the oven for half an hour.  Turn off the heat and leave them in the oven for another 30 minutes.  Take them out and enjoy the sound of success,  that's what the pop is to me.  If some didn't pop in, eat them first and keep in the fridge.  I store the ones that popped in, in the basement for months.  Screw the bands tight.

I have different size jars, I would says the recipe yields 6, 8 oz. ones.

Do you know that 90 % of star anise crop is used for Tamiflu?... I just learned that... I'm not telling you that this jam will heal anything.  I just think that those spices give it some warmth. 

Let me know if you try it and have a great winter!

December 2021 update : 

Isn't pretty!  I think red and orange is my new favorite color combination.

I like it in a parfait with my scrumptious pumpkin granola, click below for the recipe:

https://alascott.blogspot.com/2020/12/scrumptious-pumkin-granola.html

If you are interested in new healthy recipes visit my blog, I make miracles with string beans and carrots for my picky husband :

https://alascott.blogspot.com