Empty a 12-ounce bag of fresh or frozen cranberries into a saucepan and transfer 1/2 cup to a small bowl. Add 1 cup sugar, juice of 1/2 orange or splash of orange juice, add Cinnamon stick and cloves if you like. Cook over low heat, stirring occasionally, until the sugar dissolves and the cranberries are soft, about 10 minutes. Increase the heat to medium and cook until the cranberries burst, about 10 minutes. Reduce the heat to low and stir in the reserved cranberries. Let cranberries simmer for another 5 minutes.

Add sugar and orange juice to medium sized saucepan.  (Also add cinnamon stick and cloves if desired.)

Cook over low heat for 10 minutes, until the cranberries are soft.  Stirring occasionally.

Increase heat to medium and cook about 10 minutes, until the cranberries burst.

Add the reserved cranberries to the saucepan.

Turn off the heat and let the cranberries simmer and cool on the stove.

Serve warm or cold.