Cranberries grow on long-running vines in acidic waterlogged bogs all across North America. Dried cranberries are made by partially dehydrating fresh berries. Although widely used to refer to dried cranberries, the word 'craisin' is a registered trademark of Ocean Spray Cranberries,Inc. and cannot be officially applied to dried cranberries from other manufacturers.
History of Cranberries
Documented use of cranberries dates back to the 17th century. Cranberries were not originally looked upon as a food source but rather collected for medicinal purposes. Cranberries were used for protection against scurvy and as a restorative for blood disorders, stomach complaints and problems with the liver.
Native Americans used cranberries as a dye and as a wound poultice. They also mixed deer meat and mashed cranberries to make the survival food, pemmicana. Early settlers blended cranberries with other fruits and juices to make a sweetened sauce. By the 1800's cranberries were cultived as a crop and stewed and preserved with crab-apples to which sugar or molasses was added. The resulting sauce was served with roasted meats. Early German and Dutch settlers started calling it the 'crane berry' because the flowers looked a lot like the head and bill of a crane.
Nutrition and Health Benefits of Cranberries
Cranberries are high in vitamin C and fiber and contain an abundance of antioxidants, making it one of the highest of the antioxidant plants. According to the Encyclopedia Britannica antioxidants defend the body from free radical cellular damage by ending the free radical chain reaction before vital molecules are harmed. Tannins in cranberries prevent bacteria from adhering to the cells in the mouth, stomach and urinary tract, hence its use as a treatment for urinary tract infections. Such a healthy berry merits regular inclusion in the diet.
Craisin Orange Muffin Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups fresh or reconstituted frozen orange juice
- 2 cups 'craisins'
- 2 eggs
- 1 cup butter,melted
- 3 cups white flour
- 2 teaspoons baking soda
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 1/2 cups white sugar
- 1 3/4 teaspoons salt
How to Make Craisin Orange Muffins
- Preheat oven to 400F.
- Grease muffin tins and set aside.
- In a medium-sized bowl, mix together orange juice, craisins, eggs and melted butter.
- In a large bowl, mix together flour, baking soda, baking powder, sugar and salt.
- Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients and blend until moistened.
- Spoon batter into muffin tins, filling to about 3/4 full.
- Bake at 400F for between 15 and 25 minutes depending on tin size.Using regular muffin tins yields about 2 dozen muffins. Baking time will be approximately 15 minutes.Using large muffin tins yields about 1 dozen muffins. Baking time will be approximately 25 minutes.
Resource: Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc.
Linnea Heinrichs - After years of extensive research into the medieval period, Linnea's debut novel, The First Vial, was published in 2005 by Thistledown ...
