My Maine Ingredient: Cranberries

 

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My Maine Ingredient: Cranberries
Thanksgiving Dinner wouldn’t be complete without serving some form of cranberries. Most people think about opening a can of cranberry sauce, but I would like to share a delicious recipe our family makes every year using fresh cranberries that will add a festive touch to your menu.

Fresh Cranberry Relish (serves 4)
In a food processor, pulse together:
1 orange, seeded, and cut into 1/8th sections
½ cup of raw walnuts
1 ripe pear, unpeeled, cored, and diced
10 0z of fresh cranberries
1 pomegranate, peeled and set aside to add at the end.
Pulse for 30 seconds and then dump into a bowl. Add the pomegranate. Drizzle with ½ cup of honey and mix well. Chill before serving.

A gardening note from my mom:
Acidic soil, days that are warm during the growing season and nights that are cool, fresh water bogs or natural springs, all provided an ideal place to grow cranberries. Usually the berries are harvested sometime in October. There are a number of cranberry farms in Maine. If your local grocery store doesn’t carry Maine-grown cranberries, check your farmer’s market, natural foods store, or buy directly from the farmer. We purchased fresh cranberries today from Royal River Natural Foods in Freeport that were grown at Sparrows Farm in Pittston.

Here are some interesting health facts about cranberries:
* Cranberry extracts have shown promise in the prevention of tooth decay.
* Historical use of cranberry fruits for a variety of problems, such as wounds, urinary disorders, diarrhea, diabetes, stomach ailments, and liver problems have been validated by recent studies.
* Cranberry juice has also been used in conjunction with antibiotics to treat chronic kidney inflammation. Some people concerned about their intake of sugar have turned to dried cranberry capsules and powders. (You can buy organic cranberry powder in bulk at mountainroseherbs.com.)
* Another name for cranberries is “bounce berries” because they bounce when ripe.
(These facts have been found on anniesremedy.com and       healthdiaries.com)

Note: Always check with your health care provider before trying any alternative remedies or supplements.

Sienna Mazone

About Sienna Mazone

As a teen chef, I look forward to sharing my passion for eating great food and enjoying the benefits of a healthy lifestyle.