Recipe ReDux Post # 60 Slow Cooker Taco Soup

July's Recipe ReDux challenge is "beat the heat" with recipes from your slow cooker and I was happy to participate as it has been awhile since I have used mine! Mexican themed dishes are always a favorite in our household so I decided to try my luck with a taco soup-ish recipe.  I simply browned  some turkey in a pan, added it + canned beans/tomatoes/corn and taco seasoning...and that was it.  7-8 hours later you have a hearty flavorful soup reminiscent of chili in a way.  It's great served with tortilla chips and topped with low fat cheese and avocado.  I hope you will try it out and also check out the other yummy recipes from the recipe redux crew!

Ingredients:

1.5 pounds extra lean ground turkey
1 tablespoon olive oil
two 28 ounce cans of crushed tomatoes
one 14 ounce can of black beans, rinsed well
one 14 ounce can of pinto beans, rinsed well
one 14 ounce can of kidney beans, rinsed well
one 14 ounce can of corn, rinsed well
2 tablespoon taco seasoning

Directions:

Coat a large skillet with the olive oil, put in the turkey and lightly brown it for about 7-10 minutes until mostly cooked through.  Add browned turkey, the beans, corn  and taco seasoning to the slow cooker and cook on low heat for 7-8 hours.

Makes 12 cups, 12 servings

Serving size: 1 cup  Calories  235 Protein 22 g Carb 36 g Fiber  g Sugars 9 g Fat 1 g Saturated fat less than 0.5 g Sodium 674 mg

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Cool Summer News From the Cranberry Institute

Hope you are all having a great Summer!I just returned from vacation and wanted to share some cool Summer news from the Cranberry Institute, enjoy!!

Follow That Bog!: A Day in the Life of a Cranberry Grower

Over the last few months, we’ve been learning from Jeff LaFleur at Mayflower Cranberries how cranberry growers across the country were gearing up for the growing season.

This summer, we’re taking a trip to Gottschalk Cranberry to visit Fawn Gottschalk and see the next step in the growing process. Last year, Fawnshared with us what it is like to own and operate a cranberry marsh. This year, Fawn will teach us about the bogs and the bees – and share more about how cranberry vines blossom and get pollinated each year.

Check out the video below!  CLICK ON THE PICTURE TO VIEW

Summer on the Cranberry Marsh: The Bogs and the Bees

Bog Bites: Cranberries & Health

Need a reason for cranberry season? Consider these bites from the bog (or lab):

  

• International Journal of Health Sciences & Research published an investigation that evaluated the efficacy of cranberry juice in improving urinary symptoms in women presenting with recurrent Urinary Tract Infection (UTI). In this one year, open label, single arm prospective study of 100 female participants, there was significant reduction (around 20%) in the UTI infections as a result of cranberry juice consumption. Moreover, there was also a significant reduction in the mean number of episodes of UTI between pre-Cranberry and post-Cranberry juice time periods. Study authors assert that cranberry juice is a suitable and safer option for women with a risk of UTI. Arain FR. Role of cranberry juice in improving symptoms of recurrent UTI in women of reproductive age group. Int J Health Sci Res. 2017; 7(4):176-182.
• New cranberry reason?! Researchers hypothesized that cranberry extract would improve the oxidative damage associated with a high-fat diet. They evaluated the effects of cranberry extract on food intake, adiposity, biochemical and hormonal parameters, lipogenic and adipogenic factors, hepatic morphology and oxidative balance in mice. They found that cranberry extract improved the metabolic profile and reduced oxidative damage and steatosis – indicating that it may be possible cranberry could play a role in managing obesity-related disorders. Peixoto, T.C., Moura, E.G., de Oliveira, E. et al. Eur J Nutr. 2017. doi:10.1007/s00394-017-1467-2.

RESOURCE REMINDER! 

Cranberry Health Research Library 

Browse the selections by year to find the most recent publications: http://cranberryinstitute.org/doclib/doclib_search.cgi

Entertain in Minutes with Cranberry Sauce 

Summer is all about relaxing, having fun – and spending time entertaining with family and friends. But with the weather so warm, why turn on the oven? Cranberry sauce can help you build the perfect no-cook dish that you and your guests will love! Just like jams and honeys, cranberry sauce can be an unexpected – but delicious – sweet addition to a classic cheese plate.

The Summer Guide to Entertaining in Minutes

1. Always keep a can of cranberry sauce on hand!
2. Grab some crackers, honey and brie (or your favorite cheese!).
3. Arrange on a cheese board.
4. Relax and enjoy!

Bonus: Serve alongside a cranberry spritzer (cranberry juice cocktail + seltzer + lime juice) for a refreshing pairing! 

Feeling inspired? We’ve got 5 More Underappreciated Ways to Enjoy Cranberry Sauce All Summer.

• Swap it in for mayo or mustard as an easy and delicious sandwich spread
• Create quick parfaits with layers of plain yogurt, cranberry sauce and fresh fruit
• Blend cranberry sauce and plain yogurt and freeze for on-the-go ice pops that will please moms and kids
• Add to a smoothie for a tangy, tart and PAC-filled boost 
• PB&C: Mix up the classic peanut butter & jelly sandwich by using cranberry sauce and your favorite nut butter

Cranberries for a Cause 

Don’t let your summer cranberry recipes go unnoticed!

The Cranberry Marketing Committee has teamed up with Chef Gaby from What’s Gaby Cookin’ to launch the #SummerCranFan Challenge, encouraging cran fans to share a favorite summer cranberry recipe (either a picture, video or description) to help raise funds for their local food bank. 

Here’s how it works:

1. Simply share your summer cranberry recipe on your social media with the hashtag #SummerCranFan
2. Tag or name your local food bank in your post
3. The top five mentioned food banks will each receive a $1,000 donation from the Cranberry Marketing Committee

The contest runs from June 12-July 31, 2017. For official rules, visit uscranberries.com.

Follow us! 

In case you missed it: The Cranberry Institute is on Twitter: @CranInstitute! Please follow us and tag @CranInstitute – along with #CranberryBogBlogger – in your cranberry-inspired posts!

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