“A fruit is a vegetable with looks and money. Plus, if you let fruit rot, it turns into wine, something Brussels sprouts never do.”  P. J. O’Rourke

How many servings of fruit are you eating each day?

In the middle of its street, and on either side of the river, was the tree of life, which bore twelve fruits, each tree yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.  (Rev. 22:2; NKJ)

Most everyone, young and old enjoys fruit salad.  Where did fruit salad come from originally?  In ancient times, combinations of various fresh, dried, candied, and stewed fruit were used to create the salad.  The ingredients and recipes used depended on what was available during the different seasons, the specific country of origin, and the socio-economic status of the people.

Fruit salad, as we know it today is a product of the mid-19th century, with one of the most popular examples being Ambrosia.  The name “fruit cocktail” was developed when fruit was mixed with sugar and alcohol.  Non-alcoholic versions of fruit cocktail were very popular in the 1920’s. Also popular in the 1920’s were jellied fruit salads. How many of us remember all the various “jellied” salads?  Believe it or not, I could have been the “Jell-O Queen” in the 1970’s, until I began to see the light about real food!  In case you’re wondering, a Jell-O salad is not considered real food for those interested in living a healthy lifestyle.

Today we have so many varieties of fresh fruit available to us all year that we can enjoy fruit salad in any season.  However, there are times when certain fruits are more plentiful and thus a little less costly.  Although we’ll soon be entering the most prolific fruit season, today’s recipe is more designed for the winter months when we don’t have access to as many fresh fruits.  The recipe uses some fresh fruit and some canned pineapple and mandarin oranges.  Feel free to make substitutions with any of the fruit listed.  I’ve created a sauce that makes the salad creamy and rich, but it’s good without it too.

Always buy pineapple in it’s own juice as opposed to heavy syrup.  I’ve also found mandarin oranges packed in pear juice as opposed to heavy syrup.  Coconut is a nice addition to this salad.  Always buy unsweetened coconut, preferably organic and unsulfured.  Sulfur dioxide is a preservative added to commercial coconut and not something that I recommend consuming.

Prayer Power
Lord we’re so grateful for all of the many wonderful fruits that You have created.  Thank You for the beautiful color, texture and taste of it all.

Link of the Day
Easy Creamy Fruit Salad

Blessings on you as you enjoy your Easy Creamy Fruit Salad.
 

“The Indians and English use them much, boyling them with Sugar for Sauce to eat with their Meat, and it is a delicious sauce.” John Josselyn, while visiting New England in 1663

How can you make your Thanksgiving meal healthier?

And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth: and it was so.  (Gen 1:11; KJV)

Since this is the first week of November, there are three “recipe Tuesdays” before Thanksgiving.  Each week I’ll feature a recipe that can be made for your Thanksgiving meal.  We’ll begin with the cranberry.  

The name “cranberry” derives from the Pilgrim name for the fruit, “craneberry”, so called because the small, pink blossoms that appear in the spring resemble the head and bill of a Sandhill crane. European settlers adopted the Native American uses for the fruit and found the berry a valuable bartering tool.

Contrary to popular belief, cranberries do not grow in water. Instead, they grow on vines in beds layered with sand, peat, gravel and clay. These beds are commonly known as “bogs.”   However, the bogs are flooded in the fall to facilitate harvest and again during the winter to protect against low temperatures.

Cranberries contain bacteria-blocking compounds that are believed to be helpful in preventing urinary tract infections, and in blocking the bacteria responsible for ulcers and certain oral bacteria that can lead to gum disease.

In addition to their urinary tract health benefits, cranberries also contain phytochemicals that assist in maintaining health.  Some of these phytochemicals act as antioxidants, compounds that help neutralize harmful free radicals in the body. These antioxidants reduce oxidative damage to cells that can lead to cancer, heart disease, and other degenerative diseases.  For example, anthocyanins, compounds that give cranberries their red color, are powerful antioxidants that may be stronger than vitamin E.

When buying or drinking cranberry juice, it’s important to buy only pure, unsweetened cranberry juice, usually found in health food stores.  The “cocktail” varieties are loaded with high fructose corn syrup and sugar, negating any positive benefits from the cranberry.  If you need to add any sweetener, try adding some organic apple juice to the pure, unsweetened cranberry juice.

You’ve heard me mention over and over how beneficial it is for us to eat more raw fruits and vegetables.  Most of our Thanksgiving meal consists of cooked food.  So, today’s feature recipe is a raw cranberry relish using some other wonderful fruits as well.  Enjoy.

Prayer Power
Father, thank You for Your grand design and for not only making wonderful tasting foods but ones that are pretty to the eye as well.  May You be glorified as we begin to reflect on what we are thankful for during this time of year.

Link of the Day
Cranberry Relish

Blessings on you as you look for ways to have a healthy Thanksgiving meal.