The History Of Cranberries

What is it? Thanksgiving dinner wouldn’t be the same without them and they also look great on a traditional Christmas tree strung with popcorn. The answer is cranberries. Cranberries have went hand in hand with Thanksgiving dinner for years but today there are several dishes that can be prepared with this little berry. Cranberries were served at the first Thanksgiving dinner with the Pilgrims and the Indians.

Cranberries are usually harvested between September and December. Cranberry farms use a certain tool that resembles a large electric egg beater to sort through the cranberries after they are harvested. Only good quality cranberries will pass the test and be sent on to your local stores to be purchased by the consumers.

Cranberries can be used in so many different ways. The power of the cranberry is becoming part of the social network. Berries are something that is not only good but versatile. You can use cranberries for-

- Main courses: Roast Chicken and Cranberries, Salmon and Spiced Cranberry glaze, crock pot beef, and more. Make the best cranberry sauce to pour over your main dish to give it a desirable taste that you can’t get anywhere else.
- Side dishes: salads and puddings
- Desserts: There are a lot of ways to use cranberries in a dessert. Use cranberries to replace any type of berries. Truffles, cookies, cheesecake, pie, biscotti, fruit crisp, cupcakes and more.
- Appetizers: Use cranberries for Bruschetta, shrimp cocktail sauce, meatballs, glaze, finger foods and more.
- Drinks/cocktails: You can add cranberries to your favorite shake or fruit splash. Make your favorite smoothie, punch or add a kick to your next Margarita.
- Crafts: Don’t forget the fact that cranberries can be used in all types of arts and crafts so even kids can learn to like these little berries.
- Breakfast: crock pot oatmeal with cranberries is a delight.

Over the years cranberries have only been served a few different ways but it seemed as though people were afraid to experiment with them that is until today.

Cranberries for other reasons

Cranberries have also been known to help with health issues as well. For example, cranberries can help prevent Urinary Tract Infections, or UTI, kidney stones, as well as removing the toxins that may be in the blood when consumed. Because of its nourishment cranberries can also be purchased in capsule or in a concentrated liquid form for easy consumption of the right amount each day. Cranberries should not be used as the only method of curing UTI or breaking up kidney stones. Cranberries should never take the place of antibiotics and other medication that your doctor may have recommended.

Even though cranberries are part of the berry family, people still don’t like the taste of a cranberry as much. It tastes a lot better when you add it to something to get the cranberry taste that you can handle. If you want to experiment with cranberries, simply look through any cookbook to find a recipe that contains cranberries or be creative and add them to any dessert to give it a different taste.