We know the holidays season is around the corner, not because of the conflicting Christmas and Halloween decorations, but because fresh cranberries have arrived in the produce aisle.

Cranberry sauce, an indispensable part of traditional Thanksgiving menus, and is quick and easy to make from fresh berries. But the cranberry doesn’t stop at sauces. They pop up in all sorts of sweet and savory dishes from breads, to pies and crisps, to salsas and stuffings and even flavored vodkas. You can toss them in almost apple recipe to give it a holiday flair.

Now, fresh cranberries will disappear in the new year as the holidays fade. So put a couple of bags in the freezer to extend the season. They will store for up to a year, and there is no need to thaw them before use.