A is for Aronia

Pampering Time!

Cheryl — Sat, 17 Sep 2011 17:27:37 +0000

This summer I made up a concoction of brewed green tea and aronia juice. As strange as it may sound it felt good being sprayed on my arms and neck after a day in the field or just being out in the heat. Now that temperatures are cooling I’m still using it only this time on my face. Since the aronia could stain fabrics it would be best to dapple it on with a cotton ball. Allow it to dry before having contact with fabric.

For my mixture I used two cups of strong steeped green tea and a tablespoon of aronia juice.

New Aronia Research Confirms Health Benefits

Cheryl — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 02:46:28 +0000

Poland researchers find additional benefits from aronia consumption. This study focuses on the lipid lowering effects of the berry. Exciting information and definitely worth reading.

http://www.nutraingredients-usa.com/Research/Aronia-berry-extracts-may-enhance-blood-flow-Human-data

How to Dehydrate without a Dehydrator

Cheryl — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 01:05:23 +0000

The oven can be used if that is the only alternative. The lowest setting for most ovens is around 170 degrees F. While exposure to this high a temperature for any lengthy time may decrease some of the antioxidant qualities it can be used if it is your only option. Just turn on the oven and set to this temperature. Whole berries will not dehydrate well in the oven so the berries should be chopped first in the food processor. Spread the berry mixture on a parchment paper lined cookie sheet and place in the oven. If the berries are somewhat dry to begin with you may be able to turn off the heat once you put the berries in the oven and let them sit in the oven for two to three hours. When you remove them toss them around with a metal spatula to test for moisture. If you need to dry them more repeat this process until they are dry.

The microwave can be used for pomace (remains after juicing). Spread the pomace on a paper plate and microwave on high for 2-3 minutes. Let the berries rest and check for moisture content. Often the pomace can be spread on a cookie sheet and allowed to air dry overnight without any processing. The pomace is rich in nutrients so it is definitely a keeper!

Gazpacho Aronia Style

Cheryl — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 17:35:07 +0000

Nothing celebrates the end to a garden season as much as gazpacho! The blend of sun-ripened vegetables with additional seasonings is pure Nirvana.

The base for gazpacho is the tomato. Most recipes call for 3 to 4 cups of tomato juice and about 6 tomatoes, cored and chopped. Heirloom tomatoes provide a rich flavor to this chilled soup. Sometimes I used Brandywine and at other times I use San Marzano which is a paste tomato. Your recipe may ask for the tomatoes to be peeled. Skip this step if you want to include all the nutrients in the skin. The rest of the recipe usually includes onions, peppers (bell and hot) cucumbers, celery, garlic and a blend of flavorings such as vinegar, olive oil, Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce….. Garlic is another ingredient which can be a spectacular addition when chosen from the heirloom varieties. My preference for gazpacho and salsas is the Spanish Roja. It’s a hardneck which is as easy to grow as daffodils so give it a try.

A fun twist is to add a quarter cup of chopped aronia to the mixture. And if you juiced some of your aronia berries replace about one-fourth of the amount specified for tomato juice with the aronia juice. Chill to allow the flavors to blend. Great taste and soooooo good for you!!!

The Book: A is for Aronia

Cheryl — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 23:59:00 +0000

A is for Aronia

A Guide for Black Chokeberry Edibles and Sundries

Aronia Berries – What do you do with them? That’s the question first-time tasters of Aronia berries (black chokeberry) ask most often. If Aronia berries are new to you or you are a long time aficionado this book is a unique guide to the many uses of this nutritious fruit.

Included in this book are the following:

Recipes for a variety of food uses from breakfast to snacks
Treats to make for your pets
Methods to preserve the Aronia berries including freezing, juicing and dehydrating
Products to make for skin care
Use of Aronia as a fabric dye

The author has combined her expertise in food and nutrition education with her background as a manager of an Aronia crop to develop a multitude of uses for the berry. Extensive research and recipe testing created some distinctive ways to incorporate the Aronia berry into a variety of uses.

Looking for A is for Aronia?

Available at www.createspace.com/3549301

Aronia in the Bath? Why Not?

Cheryl — Sat, 27 Aug 2011 08:29:21 +0000

Okay – it’s a little unusual but the same aronia benefits for the inside of our body should be available to the outside as well. There are several bath salt recipes online and the best part is you can customize the recipe to meet your fragrance preferences. We had a great harvest of lavender flowers this summer so I added lavender flowers and oil to my basic bath salt mixture. This is one situation where I use the dehydrated Autumn Magic cultivar to keep my Viking cultivar for culinary purposes. Add a hefty amount of the dehydrated berries. There are several packing options. Since there are pieces of aronia and lavender flowers it’s best to put the mixture in a large tea ball or organza bag. Or, purchase the large sealable tea bags which hold about 1/2 cup. They are easy to use and can be sealed along the edge with the tip of a hot iron. Warm bath water will create a marvelous “tea” for your body to soak in and relax.

Aronia Granola

Cheryl — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 21:54:08 +0000

Dehydrated aronia berries don’t last long in our house. First on the list to make is granola. LOVE granola! It can top yoghurt, ice cream, go into cookies, cakes or quick breads (just add about 1/2 cup to your batter). The best part of making your own granola is that the dried aronia berries and other fruits are added AFTER the oats/honey/oil mixture is toasted in the oven. That means the berry power stays intact without high heat. Today’s granola has some coconut, chopped apricots, dried cherries, pumpkin seeds, flax seeds, and lots of other goodies. A large amount of dehydrated aronia berries is included. For this particular batch I used quick oats because as the weather chills I will add some hot water to the granola for an oatmeal and fruit breakfast. Since there are no preservatives the granola should be refrigerated in an airtight container.
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Dehydrating Aronia Berries

Cheryl — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 14:34:01 +0000

This is my favorite form for using the berries! I toss them on yoghurt or mix them into oatmeal (the breakfast of champions), use them in baking so the product isn’t purple, and on and on… Also, depending on the cultivar you will have a more concentrated form which means you use a lesser amount to receive the same benefit. When I dehydrate the ‘Viking’ cultivar I usually have the initial weight reduced 50%. Autumn Magic has less juice to begin with so the dehydration rate is less.

Process: Place frozen berries in a food processor using the metal blade attachment. It’s best to process small quantities at a time. Pulse the blade to chop the berries until coarse. There may still be large pieces but they can be removed later if desired. By using frozen berries you prevent the mixture from becoming a paste.

Place the chopped berries on parchment paper or a dehydrator liner and dehydrate until the mixture is dry but not brittle. Timing will vary withe the berry cultivar and type of dehydrator. Keep the dehydrator temp on low to maintain the integrity of the berry’s antioxidants.

Store the dehydrated berries in an airtight container in the refrigerator or return to the freezer to use as needed.

Autumn Magic Use

Cheryl — Sat, 20 Aug 2011 11:38:54 +0000

It seems that Aronia melanocarpa (black chokeberry) growers have their favorite cultivar. Vintners do look for those with more juice but one cultivar often used for ornamental purposes, Autumn Magic, provides nice sized berries, spring flowers, and the lovely fall reddish hue in the leaves. I appreciate the Autumn Magic berries for dehydration. Since they have less juice than say the ‘Viking’ – less time is used in the drying process. My 5 Autumn Magic shrubs in my yard have produced an abundant amount of berries this year. To dehydrate them I’ll merely chop them in the food processor (after cleaning) and put them in the dehydrator until they are dry but not brittle. They have the same nutritional offerings and are great for adding to quick breads such as pancakes. They even work as a salad garnish!

Organic Farmer listed as #3 Job for the Future

Cheryl — Sat, 20 Aug 2011 14:23:04 +0000

It’s been a long time since author Rachel Carson wrote Silent Spring but “sustainability” and “organic” are certainly the buzz words in agriculture. Hats off to Washington State University for creating a Certificate in Organic Agriculture. Only 18 hours and available online. Our other land grant institutions need to follow this example and provide a similar offering.

http://css.wsu.edu/undergraduate/undergrad_cert_organic_ag.html