My First Encounter with Fresh Cranberries + Fresh Cranberry Juice

After eating all those tart dried cranberries, I naturally thought fresh cranberries would be tart. I was wrong. My first fresh cranberry (I chose the reddest one out of the bag) was comparable to a lime. Manufactured dried cranberries must have a TON of sugar in them! So after realizing I did not like eating cranberries by itself, I set out to make my next favorite cranberry product, cranberry juice! I love cranberry juice but sometimes begrudged the sweetness of store-bought bottled juice, and making my own was the best way to fix that. I made a big pot and in one day, with my aunts coming over and my mom scrounging the fridge, the juice was gone!

Fresh Cranberry Juice
Savor. Devour.

Materials:

· 2 cups fresh cranberries, rinsed

· 8 cups water

· 4 tbsp agave syrup* (I like the taste of this more than sugar, and it is healthier too)

** If you do not have this, you can just substitute it with 3 tbsp sugar, or more, if you like a sweeter juice.

Procedures:

· In a pot, add 8 cups of water and heat until boil on high heat.

· Add the cranberries and cover the pot with a lid. Turn the heat down to medium, make sure the water is on a rolling boil. In about 5 minutes, you will hear popping coming from the pot. That is the sound of the cranberries cracking open. Let the cranberries cook for 15 minutes. Turn off heat.

· Lift the lid and add whatever sweetener you are using. I recommend adding the sweetener in parts and tasting the juice after you stir, so you can stop when you feel the juice is right for you.

· Let cool and store in the fridge.

Milkshakes: Avocado, Soursop, and Durian

I remember being shocked when saw people use avocado in savory dishes like guacamole and placed in salads in America. In Vietnam, avocado is irrevocably a fruit, and is used as such. I grew up drinking these avocado milkshakes and still have random cravings for them. They are extremely easy and fast to make. Then, there are the other fruits, some more pungent than others, that are a classic in Vietnamese non-alcoholic drinks.

Avocado Milkshake
Savor. Devour.

Materials:

· 1 ripe hass avocado, peeled and pitted

· 1 tbsp condensed milk (I use the “Longevity” brand)

· 2 tsp sugar

· 1 cup water (can substitute for 2% milk if desired)

· 4 ice cubes

Procedures:

· Add in a blender and blend until well mixed.

· Serve.

*For other two milkshakes, replace avocado with 1/2 cup of respective fruit