Cinnamon Apple Cranberry Sauce

(Courtesy of Aaron McCargo Jr.)

Ingredients:
2 c. cranberry juice
1 bag (6 oz.) sweetened dried cranberries
1 cinnamon stick, broken in half
1 c. sugar
2 Gala apples, peeled, cored and diced
2 tsp. cornstarch

Directions:
In a medium saucepan over medium heat, add the cranberry juice, cranberries, cinnamon and sugar.  Bring to a boil and let cook for 5 minutes.  Add the apples and cook, stirring occasionally, until the cranberries have softened and apples are tender, about 5 minutes.

Remove 8 oz. of the liquid to a small bowl and whisk in the cornstarch.  Slowly add the cornstarch-juice mixture (slurry) to the cranberry mixture, stirring constantly.  Cook for an additional 5 minutes.

Remove from heat and pour into a serving bowl.  Refrigerate until thickened, about 30 minutes.  Remove the cinnamon sticks and serve.