What a Berry!

It was a sad day when you finally had to take down your Christmas tree (and some of you probably STILL haven't gotten to it).  You are no longer trading candy canes at work or buying clever gifts for your Secret Santa.  Nope, holiday season has come and gone.  But, what if I told you that there is a holiday staple that can stick around all year long? I am talking about a lovely, maroon-colored fruit.  Any guesses?

Drum roll please..... Cranberries!!!!!

Holly is in the back!

The Scoop:  I am willing to bet that whenever you had your first (yes, I am about to say it) Urinary Tract Infection (UTI), your mom told you to drink Cranberry Juice.  Am I right?  Heck, my mother has even been using cranberries (in pill form) for her dog Holly who gets UTI's regularly.  Cranberries have long been known for their role in promoting Urinary Tract health.

Did you know cranberries are also one of the top 5 foods with the highest antioxidant content per serving?  So cool!  And guess what? They are also heart healthy since they have no fat, no cholesterol, very little sodium, and are a good source of fiber.

Cranberries contain compounds called proanthocyanidins (PACs), which have strong bacterial anti-adhesion properties.  In non-scientific terms, what this means is that whenever bacteria want to stick to the bladder wall and cause infection, PACs interfere with bacteria's ability to stick and instead force the bacteria to be flushed out in the urine.  According to a webinar I recently viewed, cranberries are also being studied for their effect on other other bacterial infections.  Cranberry products are now thought to help reduce the incidence of stomach ulcers and promote dental health!    

Don't they look yummy?

Bri's Take:  My boyfriend has experience with stomach ulcers so have I been touting cranberries to him recently?  Absolutely!  Has he tried them yet?  Not quite.  But, I am still excited about incorporating more cranberries into our meals.  Like I said, many holiday dishes incorporate cranberries, but there is no reason why they can't be incorporated year round. 

I found two recipes that I can't wait to try.  Hopefully, you will be motivated to try them too OR find your own recipes.  And just to give you a few easy, quick options too, you can ALWAYS put dried cranberries in your morning oatmeal, your lunch time salad, or your go-to snack of homemade trail mix (think almonds, cranberries, pistachios, & dark chocolate chips).

Recipe #1: 

Couscous and Cranberry Salad

Ingredients

• 1 Pack Couscous
• 2 tablespoons Chives
• 1 twig Peppermint, the leaves only
• 1/2 cup sweetened dried cranberries
• Dressing:
• ½ cup Olive oil
• 3 tablespoons Vinegar
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 4 Peppermint sprigs, to decorate

Directions

1. Prepare the couscous following the pack directions, add a bit of olive oil and add the peppermint leaves; let cook.
2. Mix the dressing ingredients.
3. Place the couscous in a container and add chives and cranberries, pour the dressing. Serve and decorate with peppermint sprigs.

Serves 4 portions

Recipe #2

Cranberry Chicken Salad

Serve on butter lettuce leaves for a simple salad, in a tomato that has been cut open for a stuffed tomato, or on whole grain bread for a chicken salad sandwich.

Ingredients

• 2 cups chopped, cooked chicken breast meat
• ½ cup sweetened, dried cranberries, finely chopped
• 1 stalk celery, finely chopped
• ½ cup bottled poppy seed dressing
• 1 tablespoon fresh chopped tarragon Salt and pepper to taste

Directions

1. Poach about 1 ½ lbs of boneless/ skinless chicken breasts in a quart of salted (1 teaspoon) water, for about 20 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through. Remove from water, let cool, and then chop the meat into small chunks
2. In a small mixing bowl combine chicken with other ingredients. Adjust seasoning and serve.

4 servings

Eat well,
Bri

Resource & Recipes came from www.uscranberries.com