Cranberry Sauce; Not Just for Holidays

Whole cranberry sauce

Whole cranberry sauce, so easy , so good for you, why is it only served at Thanksgiving?

Cranberry sauce is more than a great companion to turkey, the holiday super food, called      "bounceberries" by some (that's how you can tell a good cranberry, it is shiny, firm, and it bounces when dropped.) These bouncy berries are high in free radical fighting antioxidants and vitamin C, store for long periods of time, and contain high levels of pectin, a natural thickening agent, making them an ideal ingredient for sauce.


 Whole cranberries do more than make a great sauce, they are rich in vitamin C an essential component in overall health, and antioxidants, your body's Allie in fending off cancer.

Vitamin C is one of the safest and most effective nutrients, experts say. It may not be the cure for the common cold (though it's thought to help prevent more serious complications). But the benefits of vitamin C may include protection against immune system deficiencies, cardiovascular disease, prenatal health problems, eye disease, and even skin wrinkling. http://www.webmd.com/diet/features/the-benefits-of-vitamin-c

Cranberries are typically sold in 12 ounce plastic bags during peak cranberry season (September-December) during this time they can also be found for sale at local Farmers Markets. While, frozen whole cranberries are available year round, now is a good time to stock up, because of their acidity, whole cranberries store easily and for long periods of time, approximately, 1 month in the refrigerator and up to 1 year in the freezer.

This sauce is great on toast or served w/pork

The following whole cranberry sauce recipe is one I found on the back of an Oceanspray whole cranberry bag (about $2.00 for 12 oz.bag)

Whole Cranberry Sauce

• 1 bag whole cranberries rinsed and drained
• 1 cup water
• 1 cup sugar (I bet you could add just 1/2 a cup and it would still be quite sweet)

1. Bring water and sugar to a boil in a medium sauce pan.
2. Add cranberries
3. Let mixture gently boil for 10 minutes
4. Transfer to a bowl and let cool at room temperature.
5. Chill in the refrigerator, then serve.

http://www.webmd.com/diet/features/the-benefits-of-vitamin-c

 http://shine.yahoo.com/shine-food/thanksgiving-superfoods-you-should-be-eating-year-round-2409021.html