Oh, cranberry, how do we love thee? Let me count the ways. In the health arena, you make our hearts go pitter-pat--and not just because you may lower bad cholesterol and increase good. You're also packed with immune-boosting antioxidants, urinary health-protecting antibacterial properties, and even--if you believe one Rutgers researcher--a compound that prevents plaque from binding to your teeth. Super-food, anyone?
But Foodie Friday is about more than mere healthy eating, it's about feel-good, taste-great foodie joy. And there, we're smitten too. Because not only do you contain a major dose of pectin, which, once released, brings you from firm fruit to delectable, just-burst gel in mere minutes. You're also so perfectly tart so as to act as the perfect foil in sweet desserts, and a delightful zing to savory dishes. Is there anything you can't do?
I'm lucky enough to live in cranberry country--New England--where my store stocks several brands of local berries fresh from the bog. Seeing as how 'tis the season for all things cran, I thought I'd share my 5 favorite ways to enjoy this tiny super-fruit. What are yours?
5 Ways to Enjoy Cranberries
1. Drink 'Em. Cranberry juice + sparkling wine + lime juice = fizzy, tarted-up perfection. Also, you know cranberry juice is a chief ingredient in a Cosmo, right?
2. Sauce 'Em. As if I have to tell you.....boil a bag of crans with a cup of water, a cup of sugar, and the zest of an orange. Some crystallized ginger never hurt anyone either!
3. Bake 'Em. Toss in a handful of cranberries to your apple pie filling, or use them instead of blueberries a crumb cake or breakfast bread for little bursts of tart-sweet goodness (note: you may need to adjust the sugar because crans are so tart).
4. Savor 'Em. Concocting a wild rice, quinoa, or wheat berry salad? Try some chopped roasted vegetables, dots of goat cheese, and a handful of dried cranberries. A splash of lemon juice, a few glugs of olive oil, and you're on your way to Savory City!
5. Snack 'Em. Dried cranberries are pleasantly chewy, super-sweet, and very happily eaten by the handful with salted nuts, sunflower or pumpkin seeds, chocolate chips, and any other dried fruits you like. Wait, did I just describe a trail mix? Take dried cranberries with you on a fall hike or winter snowshoe, and you'll be rarin' to go!
Still hungry? Click here for more Foodie Friday tidbits.
(image via: http://www.goodguide.com/)
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I just had dinner but reading this article about cranberries makes me hungry again and makes them sound so good! I hate cranberry sauce because it is so tart, but I've never eaten cranberries any other way. Oh and as for Cosmos I don't like them either, but your drink idea sounds good. (I'd substitute the wine for something else) All of these suggestions sound great, especially the trail mix! :)
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