So with the big day being only a week away now this weekend will no doubt be hell on earth in town centres and supermarkets with shoppers buying presents and starting their huge food shop for the festive season. Being reasonably organised in the Rooster household we have been buying various bits and bobs in ready for Christmas including all our pickles and sauces. Cranberry sauce is a must have item for Christmas dinner and although there are cheaper alternatives available we always buy the Ocean Spray variety.

Contained in a glass jar designed similarly to the picture above you can see the deep red sauce through the clear glass. I am informed that my jar contains no artificial flavourings, colours or preservatives and that is confirmed in the list of ingredients that advise that the contents are 30% North American Cranberries, Glucose-fructose syrup, water and sugar.

Opening the screw top greets the eye with a deep red jelly like sauce, there is no smell evident and putting your knife into the jar to scoop the contents out you notice that the consistency is thick and not at all runny, my Cranberry sauce is the 'smooth' variety so the colour and texture is flat just like jelly.

Traditionally served with Turkey I tend to add Cranberry sauce with all cold meats at this time of the year even if I'm having a ham sandwich. The taste is fruity and sweet and adds a different taste to the normally savoury meat, Turkey for me is quite a bland and dry meat so I always make sure I add plenty of Cranberry sauce with it just to give it extra flavour and it's a must have for the boxing day turkey sandwiches that always seem to be made with the leftovers.

I have tried the cheaper alternatives in the past but have always been left disappointed, the depth of flavour isn't the same as Ocean Sprays' and other sauces tend to have hard bits left it presumably pieces of stalk or pips. At only 97p though for a 100 gram jar from Tesco this is hardly likely to break the bank and is a Christmas time must have sauce for me.

I do rate this very highly and would certainly recommend it to anyone who finds turkey to be a bit of a bland meat, it does add sweetness and lifts the flavour and is perfect for the leftovers. For me, Ocean Spray Cranberry Sauce rates a perfect 5/5 Dooyoo star rating. Good luck to those doing their food shopping this weekend and next week, don't forget your sauces!