Those Tart Little Red Berries

The North American Cranberry

Thanksgiving is over, but for the next month, fresh cranberries will continue to be easily found in grocery stores and gourmet food emporiums. And that is good news!

Cranberries are one of the healthiest fruits that are available to us. Ok, so they may make you pucker up a little (is that a bad thing?) due to their tartness, but they are delicious and so nutritious. Packed with nutrients like antioxidants and other natural compounds, cranberries are a great choice for the health conscious consumer. In recent years we have even been able to enjoy sweetened, dried cranberries all year round.

Along with blueberries and the Concord grape, cranberries are one of 3 native North American fruits that are commercially grown.

According to the Cape Cod Cranberry Growers Association, “The cranberry helped sustain Americans for hundreds of years. Native Americans used cranberries in a variety of foods, the most popular was pemmican - a high protein combination of crushed cranberries, dried deer meat and melted fat - they also used it as a medicine to treat arrow wounds and as a dye for rugs and blankets.”

Contrary to popular TV commercials, cranberry vines do not grow in underwater. They grow in bogs and can live for a very long time. Some vines in Massachusetts are over 150 years old and they continue to produce fruit to this day.

Here’s a recipe for a delicious Cranberry Bread from the Cape Cod Cranberry Growers Association.

Servings: 1 Loaf

Ingredients:
1/2 C. Butter
1 Tbs. Grated Orange Peel
3 Large Eggs, Beaten
2 1/2 C. Flour
1 Tsp. Baking Soda
2 C. Fresh or Frozen Cranberries, Chopped
1 C. Sugar
1Tsp. Vanilla
3/4 C. Buttermilk
1/4 Tsp. Salt
3/4 C. Pecans, Chopped

Method:
Preheat oven to 350°. Spray bottom only of 9" X 5" loaf pan with cooking spray. Beat butter, sugar, orange peel and vanilla in a large bowl until light and fluffy. Add eggs, mixing well. Combine flour, baking soda and salt, add to creamed mixture alternately with buttermilk, beating at low speed just until blended. Fold cranberries and nuts into batter. Turn into prepared pan, spreading evenly. Bake until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean, about 50 to 60 minutes. Cool slightly in pan. Remove from pan and cool completely on wire rack.

See and Taste the Difference from the Fruit Arrangement Pros

How many times have you heard, "Practice Makes Perfect"? Or been told to persevere, to keep working at something?

Here's an illustration of the difference between the pro golfer and the amateur.

How much of a spread do you think there is between the number of strokes that a top pro and a top amateur take in any given golf round?

Usually, it is only a few, 2 or 3 shots.

What makes the pro the odds on winner of the round? His quest for perfection.

The amateur practices until he can hit a shot right. The pro practices until he can't hit it wrong.

Like the pro, Flowers to Eat has practiced our art of fruit design to perfect the look and taste of our arrangements. We think you will be able to see and taste the beautiful, delicious difference.

The Foodie and the Health Nut Together At Last: Scrumptious Healthy Meal Ideas

Thank you to contributing blogger, Carolyn Knight, for the following article on Healthy Eating!

The Foodie and the Health Nut Together At Last: Scrumptious Healthy Meal Ideas

It is unfortunate, but true, that plain veggies rarely inspire mouth-watering cravings, and French fries are not the best friend of hips and arteries. Do not despair. There is hope. Delicious food and healthy food are not mutually exclusive. Healthy meal ideas do exist to bring enjoyment, flavor, and nutrient-rich dishes to your table. If indulging in fatty foods can make you feel tired and cause long-term health concerns, then why not figure out a way to dress up disease fighting foods that will tempt your palate and leave you feeling energetic and guilt-free.

Even the healthiest of health nuts will cheat from time to time, so learning portion control can let you enjoy a taste without busting a seam.

1. Variety is the Spice of Life

Staring at a pile of boring lettuce will make anybody reach for the spaghetti; however, mixing all different kinds of flavors, textures, and food groups can turn a boring salad into a complex and interesting meal. Slice grilled flank steak, about 2-3 ounces per person. Then add it to a fresh salad with walnuts, dried cranberries, sliced mushrooms, shredded carrots, and beets with a good homemade champagne-shallot vinaigrette for a colorful, well-balanced salad that tastes a little different with each bite.

2. Size Matters

Now, even if you have the whole eating healthy, balanced meals thing down, inevitably someone will walk into the office with cupcakes for no good reason whatsoever. You are facing a difficult challenge, teetering on the verge of well behaved eater and no-holds-barred-vacuum ready to inhale the entire tray. There is good news: portion control is your friend. Halve the cupcake, put it on a napkin, and walk back to your desk. If you go to a dinner party, and the host is serving steak, not to worry—just know your portion sizes. A 3-ounce cut of meat will look roughly like a deck of cards.

3. You Cook It, You Control It

When you cook at home you get to decide what goes into your dishes, as well as how much of your dish goes onto your plate. Try new things and liven up dinner time by stocking your spice rack and choosing vibrant, colorful produce. Yellow fruits and vegetables contain beta-carotene and vitamin C, and blue and purple varieties house zeaxanthin, resveratrol and fiber.

Healthy meal ideas are the way to satisfy your appetite without feeling like ‘denial’ is your new food mantra. It is all about balance, portioning, and taking matters into your own hands. Fresh ingredients, variety, and spice are the key to boost flavor into an exciting and healthy meal, straight out of your very own kitchen.