Cherry cranberry sauce for ham or pork

Need a tasty sauce for springtime ham or pork tenderloin? This ready-in-a-flash nutritious sauce is even great with beef, poultry and seafood. Cherries are one of the top superfoods, providing antioxidants called anthocyanins, which ensure heart health and ease arthritis pain, and quercetin, a natural antihistamine and anti-inflammatory compound. Cranberries also contain natural compounds beneficial to your heart, mouth, stomach, urinary tract and bones.

Makes 2½ cups (10 servings, about ¼ cup sauce per serving)

Ingredients

1 can (14.5-16 ounces) unsweetened tart cherries
½-1 cup light cranberry juice cocktail
2 tablespoons cornstarch
¼ cup brown sugar          
¨÷ cup dried tart cherries
¨ø cup dried cranberries
1½ teaspoons Dijon mustard

Directions

1. Drain cherries and reserve juice.

2. Add cranberry juice to reserved cherry juice, making 1½ cups total.

3. In a small bowl, stir cornstarch into ¼ cup juice mixture.

4. Add cornstarch-juice mixture to small saucepan along with drained cherries, brown sugar and dried fruits.

5. Cook over medium heat, stirring frequently, until mixture thickens and comes to a boil. Remove from heat and stir in mustard. 

Nutrition information (per serving)

Calories: 80
Protein: 0g
Carbohydrate: 20g (100%)
Fat: 0g
Saturated Fat: 0g
Cholesterol: 0mg
Sodium: 30mg
Calcium: 12mg
Iron: trace
Vitamin A: 1145 IU
Vitamin C: 7mg
Fiber: 1.5g

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Kim Galeaz is a registered dietitian, culinary-nutrition consultant and owner of Galeaz Food & Nutrition Communications, located in Indianapolis and Jacksonville, Fla. She has worked with such companies as Coca-Cola, Kroger, National Pork Board, Florida Department of Citrus and United Healthcare to help promote smart and healthy food, beverage and lifestyle choices. As a co-author of 4 Weeks to Maximum Immunity (Rodale 2008), she created 30 days of immune-boosting meal plans and snacks.