Whether it’s Ocean Spray, Juicy Juice or a host of other natural beverage providers, cranberry juice has been successfully marketed to a wide base of thirsty consumers.  However, what you are drinking in these store bought containers is usually not pure cranberry juice.  In its purest form, cranberry juice has a distinctively tart taste, bitter to some palettes.  In order to make cranberry juice more enjoyable for the average drinker, sugar, artificial sweeteners or other fruit juices are usually added to give it the common taste you’ve come to expect.  Even in this diluted form, cranberry juice still retains valuable health-enhancing incentives provided by natural cranberries, rewarding those who drink it regularly.  If you want to take advantage of the cocktail’s healthy benefits, make sure whatever brand you buy actually contains a large percentage of authentic cranberry juice, with no preservatives, artificial flavors or artificial coloring. Read More »

Enjoyed both individually and as part of a side or main course dish, cranberries provide a very distinctive flavor many people find irresistible.  Not only are they delicious, cranberries are actually good for you as well, believed to combat both heart disease and cranberries.  Unfortunately, a lot of picky eaters will try anything to keep what they perceive as “health food” at least a full arm’s length away from their mouth at all times.  Here are some old standbys and a new, innovative idea to make cranberries more enticing so that the whole family can enjoy them.

1. Cranberry Sauce – With 12 ounces of cranberries, 1 cup of white sugar and 1 cup of orange juice or water, this Thanksgiving classic will satisfy any sweet tooth.  The thick relish can either be enjoyed on its own or as a complementary topping or side item.  Just dissolve the sugar in the orange juice or water, then stir in the cranberries.  Cook about 10 minutes until the cranberries begin to pop.  Finally, transfer the hot saucepan’s contents into a bowl so the cranberry sauce can thicken as it cools. Read More »