How many recipes do you know that take five minutes to prepare start to finish?

Photo by jess4freedom

Well, here’s one from the recipe blog, jess4freedom, and it just could not be simpler.  Of course, you will find FruitFast Tart Cherry Juice Concentrate added to the mix for exceptional color and real cherry taste.  My favorite option is using the more condensed, thicker CherryFlex Liquid Fruit Supplement which you will also find delicious in salad dressings, meat sauces or poured straight from the bottle over ice cream. Note this soup requires two hours to chill.

Ingredients:

1 quart tart cherries
1/3 cup ginger ale
1/4 cup milk
1/4 cup FruitFast Cherry Juice Concentrate or 4 Tbsp CherryFlex Liquid
1/3 cup sugar
1 Tbsp lemon juice
1  tsp vanilla extract
1  cup sour cream

Directions:

Place cherries in a food processor or blender: cover and process until smooth. Add ginger ale, milk, sugar, cherry juice concentrate or CherryFlex Liquid, lemon juice, and vanilla: cover and process until blended.

Pour into bowl: whisk in sour cream until smooth. Cover and refrigerate until thoroughly chilled, about 2 hours. Prep Time: 5 minutes.

Servings:  4

It’s time to plan the big one – Thanksgiving Dinner – and here’s a suggestion to spruce up the menu from the same old, same old.

This recipe from Bon Appétit called for currants, but is equally delicious with your favorite dried fruit from Brownwood Acres/ FruitFast.  Select dried cherries or dried blueberries for a different and unique stuffing that’s flavorful and fluffy.

Photo by Elinor Carucci

Ingredients:

1-pound loaf rustic country-style bread
2 Tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
2 garlic cloves; 1 pressed, 1 minced
4 Tbsp (1/2 stick) butter, divided
1/3 cup pine nuts
2 cups chopped onions
6 cups coarsely chopped stemmed red mustard greens
1 Tbsp chopped fresh thyme
2 cups turkey stock or low-salt chicken broth
1/3 cup Brownwood Acres Dried Blueberries or Tart Cherries
1/2 tsp finely grated lemon peel

Directions:

Position rack in center of oven and preheat to 375°F. Cut bottom crust and short ends off bread and freeze for bread pudding another day.  Cut bread into 3/4- inch cubes; place in large bowl.  Whisk oil and pressed garlic clove in small bowl. Add to bread cubes; toss to coat.   Spread bread cubes in single layer on large rimmed baking sheet; sprinkle with salt and freshly ground pepper.   Bake until slightly crunchy, stirring occasionally, about 15 minutes. Cool slightly, then return to same large bowl.

Generously butter 13 x 9 x 2-inch glass baking dish.  Melt 1 tablespoon butter in heavy large skillet over medium heat.

Add pine nuts; stir until golden, about 2 minutes.  Add to bowl with bread cubes.  Melt remaining 3 tablespoons butter in same skillet over medium-high heat.  Add onions; sauté until brown, about 10 minutes.  Add mustard greens, thyme, and minced garlic; sauté until greens are wilted and tender, 3 to 4 minutes.  Transfer to bowl with bread cubes.  Add 2 cups stock to same skillet; boil until reduced to 1 cup, about 5 minutes.  Pour stock over bread mixture and toss.  Mix in blueberries and lemon peel. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper.  Transfer stuffing to prepared baking dish. Can be made 6 hours ahead.  Cover; chill.

Preheat oven to 350°F.  Bake stuffing uncovered until heated through and starting to brown on top, 20 to 30 minutes.  Let stand 5 minutes and serve.

Yield:  Serves 6-8

This recipe comes from Better Homes & Gardens. Bring it to your next family gathering or potluck, serve it as a side salad or with a bowl of tortilla chips for quick dipping. Then be prepared to share the recipe when asked!

Ingredients:

6 ears fresh sweet corn, husked
1 cup fresh blueberries
1 small cucumber, sliced
1/4 cup finely chopped red onion
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
1 jalapeño pepper, seeded and finely chopped*
2 Tbsp lime juice
2 Tbsp olive oil
1 Tbsp FruitFast Mixed Berry Liquid (optional)
1 Tbsp honey
1/2 tsp ground cumin
1/2 tsp salt (optional)
Directions:

In Dutch oven bring salted water to boiling.  Add corn.  Cook, covered, 5 minutes, or until tender.   When cool enough to handle, cut corn from cobs.

In a serving bowl combine corn, blueberries, cucumber, red onion, cilantro, and jalapeño. For dressing, in screw-top jar combine lime juice, oil, Mixed Berry Liquid, honey, cumin, and salt. Cover; shake well to combine. Add to salad; toss. Cover and refrigerate overnight (up to 24 hours).

Yield: 6 to 8 servings.

*Hot peppers, such as jalepeños, contain oils that can burn skin and eyes. Wear plastic gloves when working with them. If using bare hands, wash well with soap and water.

A favorite reference cookbook I have in my library is “Fat-Free Holiday Recipes” by Sandra Woodruff, RD.  It is a wonderful resource.  For Thanksgiving, I adapted an Apple-Raisin Stuffing (substituting Brownwood Acres dried cherries for the raisins), which turned out quite nice.  The apples, cherries and walnuts blend well and the stuffing is a perfect accompaniment to your traditional turkey dinner.  In fact, it is so tasty you will want to serve it throughout the year as a side to pork or chicken.   The recipe serves 12 (prepare and freeze half); or cut ingredients by half when preparing, for a smaller serving size.

Ingredients:
9    slices stale whole wheat bread
3    large tart apples, peeled and coarsely chopped
3/4    cup Brownwood Acres Montmorency Dried Tart Cherries
1    cup finely chopped celery (include leaves)
1/2     cup finely chopped onions
1    tsp poultry seasoning
1/4    tsp ground white pepper
1/2    cup chopped walnuts (or pecans)
2    eggs (lightly beaten) (to reduce fat, use egg whites only)
1/2     cup chicken broth
3    pats of butter (optional)

Directions:
Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.  Tear 6 pieces of the bread into small pieces and place in a food processor or blender.  Process into coarse crumbs and measure, there should be 3 cups.  Adjust as necessary.

Cut the remaining 2 slices of bread into 1/2-cubes.  Measure, and again you should have 3 cups.  Adjust as necessary.  Place the bread crumbs and cubes in a large bowl.  Add remaining ingredients, except the chicken broth.  Toss to mix well.  Slowly add the broth while tossing.

Coat a 2-quart casserole dish with nonstick cooking spray.  Loosely spoon the stuffing into the dish.  Place pats of butter on top.  Bake uncovered for 45 minutes to an hour, until heated through and lightly browned.  Serve immediately.

Yield:  12 servings

Ingredients:
4       cups cubed (1 inch chunks) peeled butternut squash (1 small squash about 1-1/4 lb)
3/4   cup Brownwood Acres Dried Tart Cherries
1/2   cup boiling water
1       small onion, cut into thin wedges
2       Tbsp unsalted butter
2       Tbsp maple syrup
1/4    tsp salt

Directions:
Heat the oven to 375 degrees. Spread the acorn squash in a single layer on a greased or sprayed 15×10-inch jelly roll pan or shallow roasting pan. Bake for 15 minutes. Meanwhile, combine cherries and boiling water; set aside to plump.

Add the onion wedges to pan with the squash. Drizzle butter over the vegetables; toss well. Bake 10 minutes. Drain cherries; add to pan. Drizzle syrup over vegetables; toss well. Continue baking 5 to 10 minutes or until vegetables are tender and glazed. Sprinkle with salt.

Yield:  8 (1/2 cup) servings

Tip: to cut preparation time, look for 18 ounce packages of peeled, diced butternut squash at some supermarkets

Soups are a great way to utilize vegetables that are about to pass their shelf life.  They can be prepared any time and placed in freezer containers for use at a later date.  Soups make great lunches or as starters/appetizers at your next dinner party.

The following recipe freezes well; just thaw, whisk until smooth, reheat and serve with a salad for a simple lunch or dinner.  This soup is creamy and delicious without the addition of any milk or butter.  The FruitFast Liquid Fruit Supplements gives it a sweet, fruity kick.  I used Mixed Berry Liquid, but feel free to experiment with FruitFast Wonderful Pomegranate or FruitFast Cherryflex Liquid Fruit Supplements.

Ingredients:
1-2    Tbsp olive oil
1    medium onion
1    Tbsp minced fresh ginger or 1/2 tsp ground ginger
1    medium butternut squash, peeled and cut into 1-inch cubes
1    large or 2 medium sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into cubes
1    large or 2 medium russet potatoes, peeled and cut into cubes
6    cups chicken broth
salt and white pepper to taste
10    tsp FruitFast Mixed Berry Liquid Fruit Supplements
10    Tbsp chopped walnuts

Directions:
Heat the olive oil in a stock pot over medium heat. Add the onion and cook, stirring constantly until tender; about 5 minutes. Add the ginger and continue stirring for another minute. Add the squash, potatoes and chicken broth.  Bring soup to a boil then reduce heat to low; cover and simmer 45 minutes, or until the squash and potatoes are tender.

Using an immersion blender CAREFULLY puree the soup.  Or use a food processor and working in batches (handling very carefully) process until smooth.   Return to the stock pot and stir with a whisk to even out the texture.  Salt and add pepper to taste.

Ladle soup into bowls and drizzle each bowl with 1 tsp of the FruitFast Liquid Fruit Supplements.  Top each bowl of soup with 1 Tbsp chopped walnuts; serve hot.

Yield: 10 (1 cup) servings

Are you looking for something new for a side dish for your evening meal?  Try sweet potatoes, they make a healthy alternative to the white potato.  Sweet potatoes are high in beta-carotene and vitamin C and low in calories.  The sweet potato is a great source of fiber, too.  They can be simply prepared and are deliciously sweet.

To prepare potatoes in the microwave; wash them well, pierce with a fork and place on a paper towel in the microwave about 1 inch apart.  Microwave time for 1 potato is 4-6 minutes, 2 potatoes—6-8 minutes, 3 potatoes—8-12 minutes and 4 potatoes—12-16 minutes.   To bake in the oven; rub clean, dry sweet potatoes with a little oil (oil will make the cooked potato easier to peel) and place on a baking sheet.  Bake in preheated 400 degree oven until soft, about 30 to 50 minutes.

Top your baked sweet potato a with the fruit glaze below.  The following recipes are not the typical fattening casserole or pie we usually associate with sweet potatoes.  These recipes ramp up the flavor without adding extra calories from large amounts of butter and sugar. The fats are greatly reduced and some of the sugars are replaced with fruit concentrates or dried fruit.

Sweet Potatoes With Cherry Glaze
In this recipe, sweet potatoes are glazed with healthful cherry juice concentrate.

Ingredients:
2 medium sweet potatoes
2 Tbsp FruitFast Montmorency Tart Cherry Juice Concentrate (undiluted) OR
2 Tbsp FruitFast Montmorency CherryFlex Liquid Fruit Supplement
1 Tbsp brown sugar
1 Tbsp butter, melted
1/8 tsp ground ginger
1 green onion, sliced
Cooking spray

Directions:
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.  Bake the sweet potatoes in the microwave (6 minutes) or in the oven for 30-40 minutes.  While the potatoes are baking, stir together the FruitFast Montmorency Tart Cherry Juice Concentrate OR FruitFast Montmorency CherryFlex Liquid Fruit Supplement, brown sugar, butter and ginger.

When the sweet potatoes are finished baking, place the potatoes cut-side up on a baking sheet sprayed with non-stick cooking spray and brush with cherry mixture.  Bake 5 to 10 minutes longer or until soft.  Remove from the oven and sprinkle with green onion. Serve immediately.

Yield: 4 servings

Roasted Sweet Potatoes with Pomegranate-Balsamic Drizzle

This recipe was adapted from a recipe from EatingWell Magazine December 2005/January 2006.

Ingredients:
3 medium sweet potatoes
1 Tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
1/4 tsp salt
freshly ground pepper to taste
1 cup balsamic vinegar
2 Tbsp honey
1 tsp butter
2 Tbsp FruitFast Wonderful Pomegranate Juice Concentrate
Cooking spray

Directions:
Preheat the oven to 425 degrees.  Spray baking sheet with cooking spray or line with foil. Peel the sweet potatoes and cut into wedges (about 1/2 inch thick).  Place potatoes in a large bowl, drizzle with oil and toss well. Spread the wedges on the prepared baking sheet in a single layer and bake until tender about 25 to 30 minutes. Remove the baking pan from the oven and season with the salt and pepper.

While the potatoes are baking, combine the vinegar and honey in a saucepan. Bring the mixture to a boil over medium-high heat and cook 12 to 15 minutes or until reduced to 1/3 cup.

NOTE:  BE CAREFUL, watch the syrup during the last few minutes as it can go burn very quickly.

Mix in the butter and remove from heat.  Add the FruitFast Wonderful Pomegranate Juice Concentrate and stir to incorporate into the syrup mixture.  Drizzle over the roasted sweet potatoes.

Yield: 4 servings

Sweet Potatoes With Dried Cherry Glaze

Sweet potatoes, not just for Thanksgiving!  Try one of these recipes (adapted from recipes found on the sweetpotato.org website) at your next evening meal.

Ingredients: 
1 Tbsp butter
2 Tbsp olive oil
1 cup chopped onion
1 cup Brownwood Acres Montmorency Dried Tart Cherries
1/4 cup light brown sugar
1 Tbsp ground ginger
4 medium sweet potatoes
9 inch round cake pan
Cooking spray

Directions:
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Line the cake pan with aluminum foil and spray with cooking spray.  In a medium skillet, heat butter and oil and sauté the onions about 5 minutes or until tender. Add the Brownwood Acres Montmorency Dried Tart Cherries, brown sugar and ginger, and stir until mixed. Peel the potatoes and slice thinly (a food processor works great for slicing the potatoes very thin).  Separate potatoes into thirds.  Spoon 1 Tbsp of the cherry mixture in the center of the prepared pan. Layer (overlapping slices) sweet potato slices along the bottom of the pan. Spread 1/2 of the remaining cherry mixture over the potatoes. Layer (overlapping slices) the second 1/3 of the sweet potato slices. Top with remaining cherry mixture and layer final 1/3 of the sweet potatoes over the top. Spray another sheet of aluminum foil with cooking spray and tightly cover the potato/cherry mixture.  Bake for 40 minutes; remove the foil and bake for 20 minutes longer or until the potatoes are brown and crisp.  The sweet potatoes should be tender.  Remove the pan from the oven and immediately invert over a plate; remove the bottom foil; serve hot.

Yield: 8 servings

Sweet Potatoes With Dried Cherries and Onions

Ingredients: 
6 medium sweet potatoes
3 medium onions
2 Tbsp butter
1/2 cup Brownwood Acres Montmorency Dried Tart Cherries
1/2 cup white wine
1/2 cup chicken broth
3 Tbsp fresh thyme (1 tsp dried)
salt and pepper, to taste

Directions:
Peel onion and cut into chunks.  Peel the sweet potatoes and cut into chunks (about 1-inch).  In a large skillet over medium heat, melt the butter; add the onions and potatoes.  Cook, stirring frequently for about 20 minutes or until the onions are light brown.  Add wine, broth, thyme and Brownwood Acres Montmorency Dried Tart Cherries.  Bring to a boil.  Cover and reduce heat to simmer.  Cook an additional 15-20 minutes or until the sweet potatoes are tender and the liquid is almost absorbed.  Salt and pepper the potatoes to taste; serve while hot.

Yield:  8-10 servings

Sweet Potatoes With Dried Cherries and Pecans

Ingredients:
3 Tbsp butter, melted
1/3 cup light brown sugar
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
2/3 cup Brownwood Acres Montmorency Dried Tart Cherries
1/3 cup chopped pecans
4 medium sweet potatoes
9 inch round cake pan
Cooking spray

Directions:
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Line the cake pan with aluminum foil and spray with cooking spray.  In a small bowl, mix together the butter, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, Brownwood Acres Montmorency Dried Tart Cherries and pecans; set aside. Peel the potatoes and slice thinly (a food processor works great for slicing the potatoes very thin).  Beginning with 1/3 of the cherry/nut mixture, spoon the cherry/nut mixture in the bottom of the cake pan. Top the mixture with overlapping potato slices.  Continue layering (2 more times) the cherry/nut mixture and potatoes; ending with potato slices.  Spray another sheet of aluminum foil with cooking spray and tightly cover the potatoes.  Bake for 45 minutes, then remove foil and bake for 20 minutes longer or until the potatoes are brown and crisp.  The sweet potatoes should be tender. Remove the cake pan from the oven and immediately invert over a plate; remove the bottom foil; serve hot.

Yield: 8 servings

Helpful Hints:
When baking sweet potatoes, top each potato with lemon juice or lemon slices this helps retain their color and also improves flavor.

Time saver:  On the weekend, bake a large pan of sweet potatoes, then store in freezer or refrigerator for later use.  Potatoes will keep in the fridge for 7-10 days.

Calorie Counters:  Reduce the fat and sugar calories in your favorite sweet potato recipe by using the next lower measure on your measuring cup.  For example, if a recipe calls for 1 cup of sugar reduce to 3/4 of a cup.  Experiment with your recipe and see how much you can reduce the sugar and fat content.  Try replacing some of the sugar with fruit juice concentrates.

A super simple side dish to any entrée. Purchase packaged grated carrots to cut prep time.

1 /4 cup Brownwood Acres Dried Tart Cherries
2 Tbsp white wine vinegar
1 Tbsp olive oil
2 tsp lemon juice
1 tsp honey
1 small package grated carrots or 4 large carrots, grated
1 /4 cup chopped walnuts
1 /8 tsp salt

Soak the dried cherries in hot water for 20 minutes to plump; drain. In a bowl, combine, vinegar, oil, lemon juice and salt, whisk. In a medium bowl, combine raw carrots, walnuts, cherries and vinegar and oil dressing. Toss to coat.

Yield: 4 servings

This is a favorite holiday salad and pairs well with turkey.

1     can whole cranberry sauce
1     3 /4 cups water
2     3 oz packages cherry jello
2     cups red seedless grapes, halved
2     cups celery, finely chopped
1     large can crushed pineapple, undrained
1-2  cups FruitFast Dried Tart Cherries

Boil water and add jello to dissolve.  Add cranberry sauce. Stir to break up. Let cool. Add grapes, celery, pineapple and cherries. Pour into mold and refrigerate. Makes about 2 quarts.

Part two of focusing on healthy sides is this incredible recipe from Better Homes and Garden for Spaghetti Squash, which incorporates dried cherries. A 1 /2 cup serving is approximately 100 calories.
Yield: Approx 10 (1 /2 cup) servings

JEWELED SPAGHETTI SQUASH

Ingredients

1 3 to 3-1/2 lb spaghetti squash
1 /2 Cup orange juice
3 /4 Cup FruitFast Dried Tart Cherries
1 Tbsp butter
1 /4 Cup chopped walnuts
1 /4 Cup snipped fresh Italian (flat-leaf) parsley
1 /2 tsp salt
1 /8 tsp ground black pepper

Directions:
Microwave squash by slitting the skin of the squash with a sharp knife. Microwave squash on high for 10-12 minutes. Remove from microwave, cut in half and spoon out seeds. With a fork, scrape stringy squash pulp from shells into a serving bowl.

The cooked squash can be cooled first; otherwise protect your hands with oven mitts.
To bake squash in the oven, preheat oven to 350 degree F. Cut squash in half and remove seeds. Place squash halves, cut sides down, in a shallow baking pan. Bake for 75 to 80 minutes or until tender. Remove the pulp as directed above.

In saucepan bring orange juice to boiling. Remove from heat. Add cherries; let stand 10 minutes. In skillet cook nuts in hot butter over medium heat 2 to 3 minutes or until toasted, stirring occasionally.

Add cherries and juice, toasted walnuts, parsley, salt, and pepper to squash pulp. Toss to coat. Serve warm.