By Carleton Rivers, RD
Have you always wanted to help Mom or Dad in the kitchen on Thanksgiving Day but not been sure what you can do? This article will highlight some easy recipes and tips for showing off your skills in the kitchen while helping the Chef in Charge.
Cranberry sauce is a great dish to help out with; however, many of these sauce recipes ask for at least a half cup of sugar. To lighten things up, I have found this healthier cranberry sauce recipe which uses fresh fruit as the sweetener.
{No Sugar Added} Cranberry Sauce 
Recipe from Simply Real Health: The Blog:
http://simplyrealhealthblog.com/2012/11/18/no-sugar-added-cranberry-sauce/
Makes 6 cups cranberry sauce
Ingredients:
12 cups fresh cranberries (about 5 bags)
12 dates, pits removed and chopped
2 sweeter apples (Gala or Fuji), chopped
3 fresh cinnamon sticks
1 ½ cups water
Directions:
- In a large soup pot, add cranberries and one and one-half cups water. Turn the heat up and cover the pot until the water starts to boil. Stir berries and turn the heat down to medium-low. Cover and cook for about 10 minutes.
- Add dates, apples and cinnamon sticks to the cranberry mixture. Cook until apples are softened through, approximately 10 to 15 minutes. Depending on your preferences, leave the sauce as is, or blend with an immersion blender for a smoother texture. If your holiday crowd prefers a sweeter tasting sauce, add a tablespoon or two of raw honey and stir.