Bud’s Apple Pear Cranberry Compote
It’s that time of year to enjoy a nice helping of sassamenesh. You haven’t heard of sassamenesh? You’ve probably enjoyed several helpings at Thanksgiving dinner. Or perhaps you’ve enjoyed them in their dried form in a morning muffin or scone. Sassamenesh is the Algonquin name for Wisconsin’s state fruit and number one fruit crop: the cranberry.
The tiny tart berry also holds the title of one of our country’s original native fruits. Early settlers referred to the fruit as “crane berry” due to the cranberry bud’s resemblance to the sandhill crane. Crane berry ultimately morphed into cranberry; a bit easier to pronounce than sassamenesh.
Here’s one of my favorite ways to enjoy fresh cranberries during the holiday season.