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Quick: what are the four fruit species native to North America?
You probably immediately got blueberries and cranberries, for an instant two of four. After speculating about pumpkins before remembering that they are not exclusively indigenous to the Americas, you might have had a eureka moment about concord grapes (three of four). And if you grew up in the American south or plains, and if someone remembered to point them out, you deserve the back pat you gave yourself for remembering pawpaws (four of four, with extra credit if you've ever actually partaken).
Some hate on blueberries, which share the same genus as cranberries, but this time of year, everyone loves the species Vaccinium, whose call name is the cranberry. To Native Americans who introduced cranberries to hungry pilgrims, the plant was called sassamanash, and was known for the same cleansing properties that your urologist and your mother cite today. So, yes, we drink cranberry juice all year long, but along with stuffing (filling if you're Pennsylvania Dutch, or dressing if you're southern, or "pass the platter" if you're an avuncular distant uncle on his second beer before kickoff) cranberry sauce is the signature side dish of Thanksgiving. Here is a crash course on cranberries.
Cook with Them. First and last, nothing is easier or more appreciated than making your own cranberry sauce. Cranberry sauce is actually a jam, so make extra for packing into sparkling jars for holiday gifts. In addition, cranberries can enliven a quick bread, tart up a salad, top a turkey sandwich, nestle into a pie or tart, and suspend themselves in a chutney. Finally, if the holidays will find you serving punch, kudos, and a floating cranberry punch ring, for you.
Get Drunk with Them. Every barfly has swilled their share of Cosmopolitans, but why not ask your bartender for a Cape Codder, Sea Breeze, or Shore Breeze; Sugar Rose or Cranberry Smash; Flirtini, Metropolis, Gun Barrell or, if you're feeling sandy rather than boggy, Hawaiian Sunset, Rock Lobster or Sex on the Beach. If you live in a state where the import is legal, order yourself some cranberry wine. Finally, you can learn how to infuse your own cranberry vodka here.
Bog-gie Down with Them (sorry). The northeast's cranberry bogs are a tourist attraction of oceanic red; the New England equivalent of acres of California vineyards. If you can't make it that far north but happen to be in New York City, you can visit the cranberry bog anually installed at Rockefeller Center. If your Thanksgiving travel plans will not take you over New England rivers or through New York woods, then visit the online cranberry learning center at The Cranberry Institute. And, on Thanksgiving day, why not leave your computer logged onto Ocean Spray's very own bogcam?
What are some of your favorite recipes for our American berry?
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11-15-2008 @6:39PM Margo said... This is a great recipe for cranberry bread
http://chocolatebakeryblog.com
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11-15-2008 @6:44PM Mel said... Cranberry relish:
3 apples, peeled, quartered, and cored
3 navel oranges, peeled and quartered
1 bag cranberries, washed and culled
3 cups sugar
grind fruits, add sugar, let sit at least overnight, a week is better. Keeps LLOOONG time in freezer.
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11-16-2008 @12:28AM Katie said... Dude, what are you talking about? Squash are indigenous to the Americas. And squash are fruit. I'm just not sure if they are from North (vs. Central and South) America. And there are many more than four fruit species native to North America: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_culinary_fruits#Fruits_of_North_American_origin
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11-16-2008 @5:35AM don said... What, no Saskatoon berries?
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11-16-2008 @7:30AM zedvaint said... Cranberries are native not only to North-America but also to Europe. It is the same case with blueberries.
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11-16-2008 @12:13PM Jen Miller said... I LOVE cranberry wine from Valenzano (Shamong, NJ). I buy bottles of it every fall for holiday drinks and gifts.
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11-16-2008 @7:52PM Mark Stevens said... Vaccinium is not a species - it's a genus. Cranberries are one species within that genus.
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11-17-2008 @1:48PM Kitt said... Cranberries or rhubarb add such a nice tangy bite to sweeter fruits in any dish. I've been making Smitten Kitchen's apple cake with the addition of cranberries and it's absolutely delish.
Baked apples and cranberries also make a great topping for German pancakes, in a crumble or on ice cream.
Kitt
http://www.kittalog.com
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11-17-2008 @1:50PM Kitt said... Drat. Links got stripped.
Here's the apple-cranberry cake:
http://kittbo.blogspot.com/2008/11/apple-cranberry-cake.html
German pancakes:
http://kittbo.blogspot.com/2008/11/german-pancake-with-baked-apples-and.html
And crumble:
http://kittbo.blogspot.com/2008/10/cooking-in-hurry.html
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