Ameri-cran

Uses, Recipes and Events involving Cranberries

admin — Mon, 25 Apr 2011 00:00:00 +0000

One of the best things about fruits is that you can use them in almost everything. They can be used in main dishes, desserts or even just by themselves. You can find plenty of recipes online with satellite internet from http://www.wildbluedeals.com.

The best part of all is that fruits are healthy for you. One of the sweetest fruits that’s used in a lot of different recipes and juices is cranberries. Cranberries are good for your bladder system and can even fight off certain bacterias.

The first uses many people think of are cranberry sauce with their Thanksgiving meal, or as a mixer with their alcoholic drinks, but there are so many more ways to use cranberries. Home-made jam is becoming more popular, and many people consider it better than the jam that you can buy in a grocery store. And it only takes about twenty minutes to make. All you need is a saucepan, butter, sugar and of course cranberries. You can add almost any other fruit with it to make it more delicious, or just leave it by itself.

Of course, cranberry muffins are a great substitute for other fruits in your favorite recipes. For example, you can turn blueberry muffins into cranberry muffins. Use your imagination and see what else you can come up with.

Delight your taste buds with cranberries!

admin — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Among the traditional Thanksgiving dinner of turkey, mashed potatoes, and fresh baked rolls, are the delicious scarlet red cranberries. All other foods may pale in comparasion when your eye is drawn and your mouth waters at the sight of this stimulating food.

Of course, cranberries aren’t just for Thanksgiving. They can be enjoyed other times of the year, giving your taste buds relief until November.

Also known as bounceberries (they bounce when they are ripe), only 5 of cranberries are sold fresh to the anxious consumer. The rest are processed into juices, sauces, and other foods. Cranberries not only have anti-inflammatory, and anti-cancer properties, they are also good for the immune system, cardiovascualr health, digestive track, and of course the one most of us have heard about, the dreaded UTI. Talk about a multipurpose berry. This may be due to the healing phtonutrients they possess, including phenolic acids, flavonoids, and triterpenoids, to name a few. They also have ample vitamin C and fiber to heighten there appeal for balanced living.

So, now that you’ve fallen in love with the refreshing and healthy cranberry please submit your favorite recipes, uses, and even events, and I’ll incorporate them into the site.

A Christmas Cranberry Treat

www.americran.com — Thu, 09 Dec 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Christmas time is peak season for mainstream cranberry consumption. Though many healthy individuals enjoy cranberries as a part of their everyday diet, countless more will enjoy the inimitable taste of cranberries over the course of the holiday season. From sweets to spreads to decorative flair, cranberries make a very visible appearance not only on the table and in the kitchen but throughout the house. We still maintain cranberries are best when eaten, so in the spirit of Christmas here’s our gift to you. Enjoy this delicious recipe for a take on cranberries you may have never tried before…Christmas Cranberry CobblerPreheat your oven to 345 degreesApply non-stick cooking spray to a deep-dish pie plate (10 inches in diameter)Mix 3 cups of cranberries, cup of sugar and a 1 cup of pecans in a large bowlEmpty the bowl into the bottom of the pie plate, then flatten the mixtureWith your now empty bowl, crack two eggs then beat them until fluffyAdd 1 cup of sugar, 1 cup flour and an optional stick of butter (recommended) to the beaten eggs and stir until smoothPour the bowls contents evenly over the pie plate on top of the cranberry/pecan layerPlace in oven for approximately 45 minutes or until the crust is a dark shade of golden brown.Merry Christmas and enjoy!

National Cranberry Festival

www.americran.com — Fri, 08 Oct 2010 19:53:59 +0000

If only there were an entire event in which the nation could converge on a small cranberry harvesting town to celebrate the delicious diversity cranberries bring to everyday life. Thankfully, such a celebration starts tomorrow outside Carver, Massachusetts, at Edaville USA where the National Cranberry Festival will span 3 days of cranberry bliss. From 10:00 a.m. to 5 p.m. on October 9^th, 10^th and 11^th, cranberries will come to life, set on 1300 acre cranberry farm plantation. Live music, dance shows, cooking lessons and more will all take place across three stages, with fresh events each day. The festival will also feature a variety of games and activities, fun for the whole family, including Pony Rides, Irish Step Dancing, Dog Demonstrations and Helicopter Rides. A two miles scenic train ride is also available to take gawking riders around the cranberry plantation, showcasing the cascading beauty of thousands of soon to be picked cranberries growing naturally in their bog harvesting habitat.Attendees will also be able to take advantage of the Edaville USA amusement park, complete with the same rides and attractions that are available year round. Classics like The Flying Turtles, AJ’s Express, The Caterpillar, Jumbo The Elephant, Tilt a Whirl, The Scrambler, The Red Baron and The Ferris Wheel will have children riding along with smiles tattooed across their little faces. Only about an hour outside of Boston, the National Cranberry Festival should be either a great event for locals or a spectacular weekend for commuting cranberry aficionados. General Admission is 3 for seniors over the age of 60 and 5 for children/adults. Unlimited access passes cost 16 for children, 18 for adults and 16 for seniors. Unlimited access is only limited in that helicopter rides will cost 30 and are not included.

The Cranberry Institute: where cranberries go to learn

admin — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 20:15:18 +0000

Actually, the Cranberry Institute is a non-profit organization formed in 1951 to bring together cranberry growers and cranberry fans. The Institute promotes research on related health, agricultural, and environmental issues, and promotes continuous cranberry education. Based in East Wareham, Massachusetts, the Cranberry Institute takes its funding from volunteer members involved with the cranberry trade.The Institute’s website is a treasure trove of information on every aspect of cranberries you can imagine. Cranberries were first used as food and medicine by early Native Americans, and the first commercial bed was planted in 1816 in Dennis, Massachusetts. It can be harvested either “wet” or “dry.” In the “wet” process, the cranberry beds are flooded and the fruit is beaten off the wine with a special harvester. In the “dry” process, the fruit is removed with a mechanical picking machine.Besides interesting factoids on the making of cranberries, there’s also a wealth of information on what cranberries can do for you. The Institute brings together laboratory studies from different universities highlighting the cranberry’s effect on cancer, aging, heart health, ulcers, and dental health. Ulcers and dental health, you wonder? Cranberry juice has been shown to prevent the adhesion of the Helicobacter pylori ulcer-causing bacteria, and mouthwashes containing cranberry NDM reduced the colony sizes of Streptococcus mutans, a bacteria commonly associated with cavities.If you’re interested in getting regular news updates, or simply chatting with a fellow cranberry lover, you can contact cinewsearthlink.net. You can also start getting ready for the 2011 Berry Health Benefits Symposium, held June 27-29, 2011. It’s bi-yearly, so don’t worryyou didn’t miss it this year. The Cranberry Institute sponsored the 2009 event, along with the 2009 4^th Cranberry Institute Health Research Conference.

Health Benefits of Cranberry Juice

admin — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 15:28:11 +0000

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.Cranberry juice is loaded with natural vitamins and minerals, in addition to large doses of dietary fibers, antioxidants and phytochemical nutrients, which help to combat heart disease and cancer. The large quantities of Vitamin C combined with high amounts of acid can help to prevent kidney stones from forming and break down existing ones. Your mouth benefits beyond your already thankful taste buds as cranberry juice can help to fight off the formation of oral bacteria, often leading to plaque buildup and gum disease.While everyone has a lot to gain from drinking a lot of cranberry juice, it is particularly important for women to incorporate it into their daily diet. An estimated one quarter of all women will be affected by a urinary tract infection at some point, with an elevated risk found in older women. Cranberry juice has been used both as a prevention method and remedy to urinary tract infections, dating back to what used to be an old wives’ tale. Scientific research, however, has substantiated this claim and cranberry juice is now widely recognized as viable aid.

Adding Cranberry to your Diet

admin — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 15:26:29 +0000

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.

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.
Strawberry-Cranberry Jam – Using 2.5 quarts of chopped strawberries, 12 ounces of chopped cranberries, 4 ounces of powdered fruit pectin, 1 teaspoon of margarine and 5 lbs of white sugar, this beautiful jam comes together as the perfect spread for crackers and bread alike. Once its boiled, stirred and jarred, this dark red jam can be easily preserved, providing an everyday snacking alternative to popcorn and potato chips.
Cranberry Pancakes For the lazier chef wanting to get his or her family a cranberry fix without having to start from scratch, chopped up cranberries can be stirred directly into store bought pancake batter at the discretion of the cook. Whether you want your pancakes to sparkle with cranberry red or just have a hit here and there, this one step solution adds a tasty touch of cranberry to a breakfast classic.

Harvesting Cranberries

admin — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 15:22:52 +0000

It is easy to tell when it’s time for cranberries to be harvested because of their signature red hue, shining out to the world that the berry is ripe for the picking. If the berries are still lighter in color, you will need to wait a few more weeks before harvesting your cranberries. For those who don’t have the patience or will power, mature but not fully ripe cranberries can still be made into white cranberry juice, a very healthy and popular drink. In general, most cranberries reach their peak ripe stage in late September or early October.The majority of cranberries in the United States are wet-picked once they are ripe. Wet-picking is the safest and easiest way to pick a large number of cranberries at one time. The process requires for the bog or marsh in which the cranberries are growing to be flooded an estimated 6 to 8 inches above the vines. The amount of water is predetermined and adjusted based on the total acreage used for cultivating cranberries. After the area is filled with water, a motorized picking machine, or harvester, is driven through the beds in order to separate the berries from the vine. The driver must continue in circles, slowly spiraling towards the center in order to ensure that every vine is amply picked. Once the individual cranberries are detached from the vine, the fruit will float to the top making it much easier to mass-collect the cranberries. The floating cranberries are herded to the corner of the bed so that they can be collected in a single area for transportation.Though over 90 of cranberries are wet-picked, there is still a smaller contingent of dry-picked cranberries. This process is much more expensive as it is more labor intensive. Individual dry-picking does have its benefits; dry-picked cranberries are generally in better condition with less bruising and can be sold directly as fresh fruit, not requiring prior freezing or processing.

Other Holiday Ideas

admin — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 15:21:14 +0000

While Christmas decoration is starting to become a cranberry staple, there are plenty of other holidays on the calendar for which the beautiful coat of cranberries could be put to good use. After all, there’s no reason Santa should have a stranglehold on the entire cranberry market. In the giving spirit of the Christmas season, here are a few ideas you can share to help make other dates on the calendar equally elegant.

Valentine’s Day – When February 14^th roles around and you need to impress the significant other in your life, a lot of lovers turn to rose petals to provide the dark red shade of romance. Cranberries can fill in on short notice or can be used in combination with roses to create an entirely new visual experience. While possessing the same rich exterior color, cranberries are a lot more versatile than roses. For starters, you can eat them which, when used correctly, can enhance the romance all by itself. Cranberries also float better, and easily maintain their figure without getting soggy. This comes in handy in case you might want to run a candlelight bath to set the mood.
4^th of July Who says Independence Day is just for fireworks, lawn chairs and light beer? Our national colors are red, white and blue you can probably guess how the cranberries might fit in. Try mixing a bowl of cranberries and blueberries to stay within the theme. This can serve as either a patriotic centerpiece or a healthy snack for everyone to enjoy.
Thanksgiving While you might already might already make cranberry sauce as part of your Thanksgiving spread, the lovely berries can also nestle up next to pumpkins, dried corn husks, and amber leaves, adding a helpful hint of color to the standard holiday arrangement.

Cranberries Around the house

admin — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 15:15:38 +0000

Sure cranberries can be a great snack, a complement a main course, squeezed to make juice or even blended into a smoothie, but the versatility of the cranberry goes far beyond simple consumption. The strikingly deep red coat of the perfect cranberry not only indicates it is ripe for the plucking but can also be a beautiful accent to a number a rooms dcor or holiday decoration around the house. Here are a few ideas that might help you use cranberries to adorn even the most simplistic of set-ups.

Centerpieces The beautiful red hue of the cranberry is very complementary to any white table cloth or fine dining spread. In order to make an elegant cranberry centerpiece you don’t have to embark on a complex arts and crafts project. Some of the best centerpieces are very basic, using items you probably already have in a cabinet or lying around the house. For example, you can take a nice glass vase or even an upscale drinking glass and fill it to the top with cranberries and voila, you have a centerpiece. For added effect, sprinkle a few extra cranberries around the base.
Holiday Decoration – When the leaves start to fall and all the turkey leftovers are safely in the freezer, it is time to finally get in the Christmas spirit. When getting your house ready for the most wonderful time of the year, cranberries can be easily incorporated to spruce up the endless evergreen. From wreaths to mistletoe, cranberries can add a perfect touch of red to offset the shades of natural green. Cranberries can also be added directly to your tree give it a more natural splendor amid the ornaments.
Flower vases Instead of filling a vase with unsightly dirt, cranberries will both hold the stems of flower arrangements in place and allow for water just as well, all while adding a subtle hint of charm.