Food, Recipe and Activity of the Week - November 25, 2007
This week's features include:
Food - Cranberry
Recipe - Cranberry salsa
Activity - Grab the tail
Cranberries are today a popular food item and is commonly seen on the dinner table on holidays but also yearly in combination with other foods. Cranberries were fruits commonly used by Native Americans as a food, a clothing dye, and a wound-healing agent. Most northern states, where the soil is very suitable for cranberries, grow the fruit. Wisconsin and Massachusetts are the largest growers, but states such as Minnesota, Michigan, Oregon, British Colombia, New Jersey, and Washington state also contribute to the total 36 600 acres of cranberry production. The berries are grown under special conditions in what is called a bog. The bog consists of layers of clay, gravel, peat, and sand. On the contrary to many people's belief, cranberries do not grow in water. The growing season starts in the winter when water is pored over the bogs to let the ice isolate the vines from frost. As the snow and the ice melts in the spring water is pored out of the bog and the vine starts to flower. In the middle of July green nodes develop and after weeks of sun the nodes turn into red cranberries. The cranberries are then harvested in September and October and can be stored for up to one year.
Cranberries are one of the most versatile fruits grown and is commonly seen fresh, as juice, as jelly or jam, and dried. The berries are tart in character and provide a distinct red color and a refreshing taste.
Cranberries are also believed to serve as an anti bacteria agent in the urinary tract and prevents ulcers and oral diseases related to bacteria. Cranberries also contain phytochemicals, some which have antioxidant effects, thus can help prevent cancer and heart disease cased by free radicals. The recommended dose to obtain these benefits are 10 fl oz of cranberry juice, 1.5 cups fresh or frozen cranberries, 1 oz dried, or ½ cup of cranberry sauce. Cranberries virtually do not contain any fat, and are low in sodium. The berries were used to treat scurvy due to its vitamin C content in the 1800s.
Nutrition fact (per 100 g of cranberries) Energy 57 kcal, Carbohydrates 14.4 g, Fiber 0.1 g, Fat 0.1 g, Protein 0.0 g, Water 85.5 g, Calcium 3.0 mg, Iron 0.15 mg, Potassium 18.0 mg, Vitamin C 35.4 mg
Makes 8 servings
Ingredients:
- 4 oz 100% cranberry juice blend
- 1 1/2 cups diced tomatoes
- 1 cup fresh cranberries, sliced thin1
- 1/4 cup ripe medium avocado, diced
- 1/2 cup pineapple, diced
- 1/2 cup scallions (including green tops), sliced thinly
- 2 Tbsp. lemon juice
- 1/4 cup jalapeno peppers, chopped fine
- 2 cloves crushed garlic (1 tsp)
- Fresh ground pepper, as desired
Directions:
Place juice into a saucepan. Boil for about 5 minutes until reduced to about 1 Tbsp of syrup. Place the reduced juice and all remaining ingredients into a medium bowl and stir until incorporated. Chill and serve immediately with favorite chips and vegetables.
Nutrition information per 1/2 cup serving: Calories 40, Protein 0g, Fat 0g, Calories From Fat 0, Carbohydrates 8g, Cholesterol 0mg, Fiber 1g, Sodium 76mg
Reprinted with permission from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 5 a day website. More recipes are available at www.5aday.gov/month/index.html
Grab the tail is a fun game that can be enjoyed by children as well as adults. If you are planning a party and would like your guests to move around, this is a great and entertaining game.
Grab the tail is very similar to tag football. The only equipment you need is bands that are big enough to stick the head and one arm through. To start off, each person makes itself a tail by putting half of the band in the lining of its pants. The band needs to stick out at least 6 inches. Then the game can begin! Everybody is chasing everybody's tails with the goal to grab them and collect as many tails as possible. When a person grabs someone else's tail he/she puts the head and one arm through the band wearing it diagonally over the chest. This needs to be done before he/she can chase after another tail. If a person loses its tail it is out of the game and has to leave the floor.
You can either time the event, or run until only one person has its tail left. When the game is over everybody counts how many tails they have collected and the person with the most tails wins.
Some precautions to consider include, wearing the collected tails diagonally to prevent choking on the band, not getting the band at the cost of the other person's health, and disabled or older persons should be excused from participating in the game.
The game is great to keep people active and if you are participating actively you may burn anywhere from 100 to 300 calories.
Enjoy the game!