Cranberries, A Superfood That Is Tasty And Healthful.
Author: rwakefield
What is the 'cranberry', and what makes it as good as everyone says?
The Cranberry shrub is a humble dwarf shrub customarily found in sharp swamps in the cooler areas of the northern parts of the USA.
The cranberry 'berry' begins as a simple pale white, but as it grows older and becomes ripe it turns a rich burgundy hue.
Even though it is part of exactly the same botanical group as the blueberry and the bilberry, the cranberry berry is somewhat supplementary tart, which, as a consequence seems to balance out the pleasant sweetness, a fact which puts it in that strange group in the food world of ingredients that can accompany meat and poultry based recipes in addition to sweet desserts.
Cranberries possibly got the name 'cranberry' from the fact that they are frequently consumed by cranes (ie 'crane-berry') - although some people hold the view that the true etymology of the name is based on the undeniable fact that in the earlier stages of the flower's development, it has a resemblance to the shape of a crane. Whatever the true etymology, the name is now well known throughout the known world.
Cranberries represent a significant economic cash-crop in a few US States (in the north), and now have a special role in American culture as some people believe that they were offered to starving settlers by the native inhabitants. As a consequence, cranberry sauce is a principal piece of the much-loved thanksgiving meal prepared by the majority of Americans every year since.
Most of the yearly cranberry crop is processed into juice and cranberry jelly, however a larger proportion of it is now sold in its basic berry form as a consequence of medical claims that cranberry is one of the 'superfoods', believed to have extremely beneficial nutrition content and antioxidant qualities.
Historically, these tasty berries were cultivated in 'beds' in shallow wetlands, but more recently the beds are found in elevated regions with a water table that is on the shallow side. In these locations, contrary to percieved wisdom, the beds are not kept 'underwater' but are continually irrigated to ensure a significant moisture level in the cranberry beds.
Cranberry juice is now easily available every country, and in addition to the recognisable 'burgundy' juice, is also on the shelves in a 'white' form which is made from younger berries.
Medicinal benefits of cranberries
Some people think that cranberry juice is blessed with health properties that help in eliminating bacterialogical infections in the urinary tract.
In addition, it has been used for many other health problems, such as a remedy for open wounds, bowel complaints, diabetes mellitus, stomach upsets, and as an aid to a healthful liver. A little research has been carried out that proves that habitual consumption of cranberry juice might even help reduce the risk of coronary disease.
As with all such medicinal claims, one must practice exceptional cautiousness - expert opinion is not unanimous and the most sensible reason for eating these tasty berries is the undeniable fact that they actually are tasty, nutritious and versatile! As stated already, cranberries are used to make both sweet and savory recipes, with the best known use being as an accompaniment to the beloved roast turkey. Don't let this 'good old fashioned' use put you off though, these versatile and tasty berries are also quite superb when used in sweet dishes.
If you are looking for some scrumptious cranberry recipes there are many of these tasty meals online, but until you do, here is a delicious cranberry recipe:
A recipe for delicious cranberry crumble
Ingredients
1 Orange (preferably thick skinned)
one cup of water
half a cup Granulated sugar replacement
4 cup These versatile and tasty berries
one tablespoon Butter (far better than margarine)
1 x pack Biscuit dough (to create eight biscuits).
How to prepare
Grate the rind of the orange, and put one one side. Put the rest of the orange thru a juicer. Mix juice of the orange, grated rind, moisture, granulated sugar replacement, these tasty berries and butter in a deep non-stick pan. Heat until boiling and simmer for 1 min until you have a nice thick sauce.
Split the sauce evenly amongst 8 buttered baking dishes or a medium sized casserole dish. Spoon the biscuit dough on top of the cranberry sauce.
Oven bake at 450 f (230 c) for 10 minutes, reduce heat setting and bake at 180 c (350 f) for a further 20 minutes.
8 servings.
98 calories per serving
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R.Wakefield works for: recipe ideas, offering a wide range of ways to cook cranberries that are easy to cook at home.
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