- Cranberries contain proanthocyanidins (PACs) that can prevent the adhesion of certain bacteria, including E. Coli, associated with urinary tract infections to the urinary tract wall. The anti-adhesion properties of cranberries may Also inhibit the bacteria associated with gum disease and stomach ulcers. cranberries are packed with Vitamin C and are a source of fibre.
Cranberries
Recipe: Cranberry Sauce
2 cups fresh cranberries
½ cup apple or orange juice
½ cup honey
Grated rind of ½ orange
Mix cranberries, juice and honey in a pot. Cook on low heat for about 5 minutes, until cranberries pop.
Remove from heat. Stir in orange rind.
Let cool at room temperature, then refrigerate, or bottle hot and seal.
If desired, add ½ cup of chopped pecans, walnuts, mixed dried fruit or chopped up apricots, pineapples or pears to the sauce when adding the orange rind for variety.
Recipe: Cranberry-Orange Loaf
1½ cups flour
2/3 cup oat bran
½ cup lightly packed brown sugar
1 tbsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp ground cinnamon
½ tsp salt
2/3 cup chopped dried cranberries
1/3 cup chopped walnuts or pecans
1 cup low-fat plain yogurt
3 tbsp vegetable oil
2 eggs
2 tbsp frozen orange juice concentrate, thawed
2 tsp grated orange zest
1 cup each grated carrots and grated, unpeeled zucchini
In large bowl combine first 7 dry ingredients and stir in cranberries and nuts.
In medium bowl whisk together yogurt, oil, eggs, orange juice concentrate and orange zest. Stir in carrots and zuccini.
Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients and mix just until dry ingredients are moistened.
Spoon batter into 9 x 5 inch loaf pan sprayed with cooking spray and bake at 350º F for 45 to 50 min., or until loaf is lightly browned and a toothpick inserted in center of loaf comes out clean.
Cool loaf on wire rack for 10 min. then remove from pan and cool completely on rack.