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Garden Gate:  Cranberries  |
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bramble
True Blue Farmgirl
2044 Posts
2044 Posts |
 Posted - Oct 19 2005 : 09:17:27 AM
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I have spent the last three weekends south of where I live in an area that is filled with cranberry bogs. Basically sandy fields are trenched out and then banked and flooded to provide the growing areas with "dams" that can be released to accomodate excessive rain .We got lucky and watched the harvesting one day and it was so interesting. This big skimmer type machine sweeps the bog surface and the berries are harvested and put into large grain type trucks to be sent to the receiving stations. At some they are washed and sorted, others just send them on to a larger facility. It was so neat to see these trucks roaring past us filled with these yellow and red berries au natural. I know New Jersey and Massachusetts are big cranberry growers, does anyone else know where they are grown?
We also got to go to "The" Cranberry Festival and I have never seen more uses for this berry! It was very interesting! Cranberry catsup is well...different!
with a happy heart |
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quiltedess
True Blue Farmgirl
296 Posts
Nancy
Priest River
ID
USA
296 Posts |
Posted - Oct 19 2005 : 09:21:56 AM
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Washington State ranks 5th in cranberry production. I love cranberries!
Nancy |
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quiltedess
True Blue Farmgirl
296 Posts
Nancy
Priest River
ID
USA
296 Posts |
Posted - Oct 19 2005 : 09:25:33 AM
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Oregon is 4th. Now you've got me going and I just found a bunch of recipes online. Are they in the stores yet?
Nancy |
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connio
True Blue Farmgirl
535 Posts
connie
springtown
texas
USA
535 Posts |
Posted - Oct 19 2005 : 11:35:43 AM
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Hey Farm Girls!!
I just love all of this cranberry talk. One of my favorite children's books is "Cranberry Thanksgiving" by Devlin. Seems like it even has a recipe for cranberry bread.
Connie
cozycottage |
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Eileen
True Blue Farmgirl
1199 Posts
Eileen
USA
1199 Posts |
Posted - Oct 19 2005 : 2:11:00 PM
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I love cranberries too and this week I barbequed a turkey breast. I made cranberry topping and had it on a sandwich this afternoon. OH so Yummy!!!
Eileen
Songbird; singing joy to the earth |
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mustbeteatime
Farmgirl in Training
39 Posts
Colette
MN
USA
39 Posts |
Posted - Oct 19 2005 : 2:35:08 PM
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Oooh you have made me long to visit "home" - my uncle's farm (which was my grand- and great-grandparent's) in Minnesota has a naturally occurring cranberry bog. My uncle still has a beekeeper keep some hives in the area because my grandfather found out years ago that they needed the bees to pollinate the cranberries. The beekeeper pays rent in honey - and I do get some of that whenever I visit!  Sadly, I was the only family member in recent years to pick any cranberries (requires waders, balance to cross the open water on a fallen tree, and a never-mind-that-it's-raining attitude), and now that we're so far away, I can't get back to do that. And wow, now that I think about it, they are "organic" - untouched by any chemicals or anything. I hope it is still there when we finally move back.
My kids and I also enjoy the "Cranberry" books by the Devlin's.
Thanks for the memories - and I saw fresh cranberries in the grocery store today.
Enjoy the good things in life - especially when there is time for tea! |
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Julia
True Blue Farmgirl
1949 Posts
Julia
Shelton
WA
USA
1949 Posts |
Posted - Oct 19 2005 : 3:27:24 PM
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Cranberries are on sale this week at the grocery store! Yeah!
I am only an hour from a cranberry bog. My hope is to get a box to freeze and can some cran sauce. Your sandwich sounds wonderful Eileen!
"...the setting sun is like going into the very presence of God." Elizabeth Von Arnim |
Edited by - Julia on Oct 19 2005 3:28:16 PM |
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Shirley
True Blue Farmgirl
734 Posts
Shirley
Olympia
Wa
USA
734 Posts |
Posted - Oct 19 2005 : 3:32:57 PM
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Oh good Cranberries
I want to make some cranberry jam.
and cranberry syrup, and, and ,and lol
shirley |
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ThymeForEweFarm
True Blue Farmgirl
705 Posts
Robin
An organic farm in the forest in
Maine
USA
705 Posts |
Posted - Oct 19 2005 : 4:31:36 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by connio
I just love all of this cranberry talk. One of my favorite children's books is "Cranberry Thanksgiving" by Devlin. Seems like it even has a recipe for cranberry bread.
It does have a recipe, Connie! And beautiful illsutrations. That was one of my childhood favorites.
Robin
www.thymeforewe.com |
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katie-ell
True Blue Farmgirl
1818 Posts
Katie
Illinois
1818 Posts |
Posted - Oct 19 2005 : 4:44:27 PM
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| Wisconsin grows lots of cranberries. I made a dried cherry and (fresh) cranberry chutney last year -- oh, my! Love love love cranberries!! |
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ladybugsmom6
True Blue Farmgirl
128 Posts
Tami
Horicon
WI
USA
128 Posts |
Posted - Oct 19 2005 : 4:59:09 PM
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I just had the very best apple cider that I have had in years! A friend invited my girls and me to a birthday brunch for our priest, she makes this homemade apple cider that starts with a brew of crannberries, and is sweetened with honey! She offered to share the recipe, and I just cant wait!
-Tami
livin' right and loven' life! |
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asnedecor
True Blue Farmgirl
1054 Posts
Anne
Portland
Or
USA
1054 Posts |
Posted - Oct 19 2005 : 6:20:42 PM
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Julia -
I figured you would have something to say about cranberries, since they are such a big thing down where you are. :) When we were in Bandon, OR two years ago on vacation, we ate our fill of cranberry candy - oh so many kinds. There was cranberry items everywhere. I love homemade cranberry sauce at Thanksgiving. Do you have a good recipe you can share?
Anne
"Second star to the right, straight on till morning" Peter Pan
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n/a
deleted
60 Posts
Tammy
Port Orford
Oregon
60 Posts |
Posted - Oct 20 2005 : 1:08:44 PM
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We are surrounded by cranberry farmers here in S.Oregon Coast. Everywhere I look I see bogs filled with water. It's harvest time!
When I feel spring coming I have to plant or I’ll go crazy! |
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Eileen
True Blue Farmgirl
1199 Posts
Eileen
USA
1199 Posts |
Posted - Oct 20 2005 : 2:50:42 PM
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My favorite Cranberry Sauce recipe is so simple. I get 2 cups of fresh cranberries and put them through my hand cranking meat chopper along with the pulp of one orange. To this mixture I add the zest from the same orange ( Usually valencia oranges if I can get them). I then add just enough brown sugar or unrefined cane sugar to this mixture to make it sweet enough. Everyone has a different tolerance for the sour flavor of cranberries so add and taste. YUMMY! If you add this sauce to a regular muffin recipie the muffins are from heaven!
Eileen
Songbird; singing joy to the earth |
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junebug
True Blue Farmgirl
2421 Posts
Sue
West Plains,
Mo.
USA
2421 Posts |
Posted - Oct 20 2005 : 3:38:09 PM
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I'm a big cranberry fan too, and Christmas just isn't the same without them! And don't forget about cranberry pie, it's sooo good, I make a Christmas jam that has cranberries in it too. I think there is a variety that can be grown in the garden and not a bog? They are high right now but I"m hoping they come down after Thanksgiving.
I'm not 40 something, I'm 39.95 plus shipping and handling! |
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Julia
True Blue Farmgirl
1949 Posts
Julia
Shelton
WA
USA
1949 Posts |
Posted - Oct 20 2005 : 9:34:14 PM
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Last night for church potluck I made a yummy pear tart.
Make pastry crust,put in pie pan, smather with butter,sprinkle with brown sugar, sprikle with chopped dark chocolate, add some cranberries. Peel and core your pears. Slice them and fan them out. put them in the pie pan and sprinkle with more brown sugar and a few more cranberries. bake at 425* for 25min. If you don't want red stained pears, dried cranberries work too.
Anne, I make more of a cranberry chutney.
16oz of cranberries, 3/4 cup brown sugar, 1/2 cup golden raisins, 1/2cup chopped celery, 1/2 cup chopped apples, 1/2 cup water,2 Tblsp. candied ginger, 2 Tblsp. lemon juice and 1/4tsp ground cloves. Bring to a boil in a saucepan.stirring constantly. Reduce heat and simmer, uncovered for 15 min. Yum!
"...the setting sun is like going into the very presence of God." Elizabeth Von Arnim |
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BlueEggBabe
True Blue Farmgirl
417 Posts
Susan
PA
417 Posts |
Posted - Oct 21 2005 : 03:55:23 AM
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Julia,
Your recipes have me salivating....I LOVE cranberries in any form but combined with pears and chocolate or chutney. WOW!! 
Thanks for sharing. I am definitely going to try both.
BEB
www.feedsackfarmgirls.blogspot.com
"If more of us valued good food, cheer and song above hoarded gold,the world would be a merrier place."
J.J.R.Tolkien |
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mustbeteatime
Farmgirl in Training
39 Posts
Colette
MN
USA
39 Posts |
Posted - Oct 21 2005 : 08:54:34 AM
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YUMMY! Julia - if ever I do travel up to Oregon, I'll let you know... tea, cranberries, chocolate - I think we have the best things in common.
Now that it is getting cooler, I keep a container of hot cereal topping on hand:
Toasted pecans - broken up or chopped
Dried cranberries
Brown sugar
Mix in any proportion and stir into your favorite hot cereal. |
Edited by - mustbeteatime on Oct 21 2005 08:55:06 AM |
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Mumof3
True Blue Farmgirl
3890 Posts
Karin
Ellenwood
GA
USA
3890 Posts |
Posted - Oct 21 2005 : 3:45:41 PM
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| I grew up in Massachusetts and loved going by the bogs at harvest time. Nothing but little bobbing berries floating on top and the men in waders with big wooden rakes ;eading them towards the conveyor. Cranberries are a favorite at our house. Connio- I have the same book-Cranberry Thenksgiving. I pull it out every year along with The Thanksgiving Visitor by Truman Capote. |
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asnedecor
True Blue Farmgirl
1054 Posts
Anne
Portland
Or
USA
1054 Posts |
Posted - Oct 21 2005 : 3:57:00 PM
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Julia -
Great, thanks for the recipes. I copied them and will put in my file. I do a big Christmas dinner every year for my husband's side. The chutney will definitely be on the table. The pear/cranberry desert will probably be made for Thanksgiving.
Thanks again
Anne in Portland
"Second star to the right, straight on till morning" Peter Pan
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Julia
True Blue Farmgirl
1949 Posts
Julia
Shelton
WA
USA
1949 Posts |
Posted - Oct 21 2005 : 5:43:37 PM
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Glad you liked them!
"...the setting sun is like going into the very presence of God." Elizabeth Von Arnim |
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bramble
True Blue Farmgirl
2044 Posts
2044 Posts |
Posted - Oct 25 2005 : 1:16:33 PM
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Glad this was a topic that struck a cord with alot of you. We always have the whole berry or jellied cranberry sauce debate, and I usually end up making both, but I just might make that chutney too Julia! Thanks!
with a happy heart |
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Julia
True Blue Farmgirl
1949 Posts
Julia
Shelton
WA
USA
1949 Posts |
Posted - Oct 27 2005 : 8:30:26 PM
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It really is good, even with a spoon. I like it on nice hot homemade rolls! Yum!
"...the setting sun is like going into the very presence of God." Elizabeth Von Arnim |
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bramble
True Blue Farmgirl
2044 Posts
2044 Posts |
Posted - Nov 23 2005 : 07:25:57 AM
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Julia- Check your e-mail for our "Chutney Review"! It is delicious and my new favorite! Thanks!
with a happy heart |
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Garden Gate: Cranberries |
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Cranberries
