The last few times I’ve been in the grocery store, I’ve noticed that cranberries are still available. I’m tempted to buy a bag or two since cranberries can be such a healthy addition to the diet. Cranberries are very high in vitamin C. In fact, only one cup of raw cranberries contains about a quarter of the daily recommendation for vitamin C. That same cup of cranberries supplies about 5 grams of fiber which is about 20% of the recommended allowance for an adult. Additionally, cranberry juice can help prevent urinary tract infections. Cranberry juice makes urine more acidic which can prevent bacterial growth. With all those great qualities, I should plan to use more cranberries.
Fresh bagged cranberries are in season from the end of September until January. They keep in the refrigerator for about a month. But if you buy more than you can easily use in a month, consider freezing the berries. Sort through the berries, discarding any soft berries that you find. Wash and pack the berries into a freezer bag and freeze. It really doesn’t get much easier than this. Thawed berries will be softer than before the berries were frozen. They will be most appropriate for using in baked foods or in making a cranberry sauce or relish. Frozen cranberries do NOT have to be thawed before using.
I have only used cranberries for making cranberry sauce. Since that is not one of my favorite dishes, I plan to look for some different recipes. I know that many recipes combine cranberries with other sweeter fruits. Cranberry applesauce or cranberry apple pies are two foods that I think my family might enjoy. A cranberry orange relish also sounds like a treat we may enjoy.
Cranberry orange relish is easy to make. Combine one pound of ground or chopped cranberries and one ground or chopped orange (include the peel). Add one cup of sugar and mix well. Serve immediately or store it for up to 2 weeks in the fridge.
I can also put some cranberries into a tossed salad or our breakfast oatmeal.
Cranberry sauce is not my favorite food, but in case it is one of your favorites, here is a recipe for making it:
Use 2 cups of cranberries to one cup of sugar and one half cup of water. Put ingredients into a pan and bring to a boil. Boil gently for about 10 minutes. You will hear popping and see the skins of the berries crack. Skim off the foam and pour into a serving bowl. You can serve cranberry sauce hot or cold.
If you made a resolution to eat healthier this year, enjoy some cranberries today.
