The Weblog
Place Your Market Order Now; It's Cranberry Season!
Good afternoon to all of our friends within The Wednesday Market.
The Market is open! Please place your orders by 10 p.m. Monday. Orders are ready for pick up on Wednesday between 3 and 6 p.m. Check the website to see all of this week’s product offerings. Here is the link: http://wednesdaymarket.locallygrown.net/market
The holiday season is almost upon us, and my favorite holiday is Thanksgiving, when we, along with all of my brothers and sisters, their husbands and wives, and the grandchildren (and their “significant others”!) gather at our parents’ home for a traditional family celebration. Mom and I work days ahead of time to prepare the buffet meal to serve our clan – now 28 members strong!
One of my favorite contributions to the meal is homemade cranberry sauce, so I thought that I’d share some tips about cranberries with you. The following information is from: http://www.whfoods.com
How to Select and Store Cranberries
A fruit with a short season, fresh cranberries are harvested between Labor Day and Halloween and appear in markets from October through December.
Choose fresh, plump cranberries, deep red in color, and quite firm to the touch. Firmness is a primary indicator of quality.
Fresh ripe cranberries can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 20 days. Before storing, discard any soft, discolored, pitted or shriveled fruits. When removed from the refrigerator, cranberries may look damp, but such moistness does not indicate spoilage, unless the berries are discolored or feel sticky, leathery or tough.
Once frozen, cranberries may be kept for several years. To freeze, spread fresh cranberries out on a cookie sheet and place in the freezer. In a couple of hours, the fully frozen berries will be ready to transfer to a freezer bag. Don’t forget to date the bag before returning to the freezer.
Once thawed, frozen berries will be quite soft and should be used immediately.
Dried cranberries are sold in many groceries and may be found with other dried fruits.
Tips for Preparing Cranberries
While not as fragile as blueberries, fresh cranberries should be treated with care. Just prior to use, place cranberries in a strainer and briefly and gently rinse under cool running water.
When using frozen berries in recipes that do not require cooking, thaw well and drain prior to using. For cooked recipes, use unthawed berries since this will ensure maximum flavor. Extend the cooking time a few minutes to accommodate for the frozen berries.
Cranberries retain their maximum amount of nutrients and their maximum taste when they are enjoyed fresh and not prepared in a cooked recipe. That is because their nutrients are unable to withstand the temperature (350°F/175°C) used in baking.
A Few Quick Serving Ideas
- Take advantage of cranberries’ tartness by using them to replace vinegar or lemon when dressing your green salads. Toss the greens with a little olive oil and then add color and zest with a handful of raw cranberries.
- To balance their extreme tartness, combine fresh cranberries with other fruits such as oranges, apples, pineapple or pears. If desired, add a little fruit juice, honey or maple syrup to chopped fresh cranberries.
- For an easy-to-make salad that will immediately become a holiday favorite, place 2 cups fresh berries in your blender along with 1/2 cup of pineapple chunks, a quartered skinned orange, a sweet apple (such as one of the Delicious variety) and a handful or two of walnuts or pecans. Blend till well mixed but still chunky. Transfer to a large bowl. Dice 3-4 stalks of celery, add to the cranberry mixture and stir till just combined.
- Combine unsweetened cranberry in equal parts with your favorite fruit juice and sparkling mineral water for a lightly sweetened, refreshing spritzer. For even more color appeal, garnish with a slice of lime.
- Add color and variety to your favorite recipes for rice pudding, quick breads or muffins by using dried cranberries instead of raisins.
- Sprinkle a handful of dried cranberries over a bowl of hot oatmeal, barley, or any cold cereal.
- Mix dried cranberries with lightly roasted and salted nuts for a delicious snack.
I hope you find this information helpful and will include cranberries in your holiday menus.
We’ll see you at the Market on Wednesday. Have a great Sunday!
Beverly