Red Means Christmas!

Creative people like to shake things up, evidenced by the fact that I relinquished control over the Christmas tree and it is now sporting very untraditional midnight blue, teal and pink balls and sparkly strings of pink beads. Ba humbug!  There’s just something about the red balls nestled in the green boughs that compensates for the relative lack of significant southern California weather change to help bring in the feel of the season.  Fortunately there is another red sphere that shows up at this time of year, and for years its arrival has been a seasonal pleasure for my whole family. (No, I’m not talking about santa’s red covered belly!)

I’m talking about cranberries. Cranberry Walnut Cookies are absolutely wonderful, and I only make them this time of year using fresh cranberries, walnuts, and chunks of white chocolate.  They are so special to us and delicious that even I have not tried to make them more “healthy”.  Besides having a delicious tangy flavor, the cranberries in these cookies are remarkably nutritious all on their own.

Many plants like fruits and vegetables produce chemicals, which when consumed join our immune system in fighting the battle against disease and degeneration.  One of these chemicals produced in abundance by cranberries is called “proanthocyanidin”, a flavinoid antioxidant.  Research has shown its powers to prevent and treat E coli, viruses, cavities, ulcers, and even cancer.  (1)

Cranberries are also a friend to your liver and kidneys, listed along with green tea and dandelion root as natural cleansers of both. (2)

This is typically a crazy, busy week of the year, so take advantage of the time efficient, paired recipe combination of Black Bean Burritos and Tasty Turkey Chili, along with a very easy German Skillet Stew.  You can also jumpstart your own cranberry intake with Best Cranberry Walnut Cookies, Blake’s Shake from last week, or Pumpkinseed Cranberry Granola on this week’s menu. If you take advantage of MEAL EXTENDERS,  three nights of cooking could stretch into a week of meals!

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We’re going to go see Christmas lights soon, and I am expecting plenty of red. If you do the same, remember the season’s gift to your body of fresh seasonal cranberries.

Molly
Test Cook and Research Specialist for Orange Tree Lane

Molly

(1)  http://www.livestrong.com/article/22922-cranberries-diet/

(2)  http://www.livestrong.com/article/197535-natural-home-remedies-for-liver-kidney-cleanse/

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