Riz Health Nut: Winter Olympic Special: Cranberry Chicken Satay and Falafel Lollies

Exciting week ahead for the sports fans.With Winter Olympics at Vancouver starting next Friday(Feb. 12th) ,now is the time to start thinking about ways to cheer on your favorite player or team.May the best teams win.
Very close to the home of Winter Olympics 2010,Vancouver Canada,is Richmond that is also home to one of the largest group of Cranberry farms( more than 60 family-owned farms), the majority of which are part of the Ocean Spray Cooperative.What better fruit than healthy versatile cranberries, to honor the winter games and the Cranberry farmers of the region.For the love of cranberries,don't miss the 13 Million Cranberries Spectacular Tribute in Front of the Richmond Olympic Oval,a special display to honor the Olympics,by Ocean Spray and Richmond�s cranberry growers ,in the shape of the Canadian Olympic Committee�s logo.

Now for the appetizing game time foods enriched by Canada's own Cranberries,the Cranberry Chicken Satay and Falafel Lollies.

Cranberry Chicken\Turkey Satays
Satay/Sate ,the succulent meatie appetizer and popular street from South east Asia(Thailand,Indonesia,Vietnam and Malaysia),is also a favorite game time snack on the stick.Thin strips of spiced meat are woven on the skewers ,grilled and enjoyed with a peanut dip.
Recipe adapted from Cranberry Turkey Satays .Find more cranberry recipes at www.oceanspray.ca
Ingredients
2/3 cup Ocean Spray� Whole Berry Cranberry Sauce or Homemade Cranberry sauce(see recipe below)
1 lb boneless, skinless Organic\Free range chicken or turkey breast
1/3 cup peanut butter or 1/2 cup roasted peanuts
4 teaspoon soy sauce
4 teaspoon lemon juice
1 garlic cloves, minced
1 thumb-size piece galangal or ginger, peeled and minced
1/4 of thumb-size piece fresh turmeric, or 1/2 teaspoon
turmeric powder
1/2 Teaspoon each of ground coriander and cumin
1 1/2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes or 3 dry red chillies
chopped cilantro, to taste
24 bamboo or metal skewers

Homemade Cranberry sauce
2 cups Ocean Spray Cranberries
1/2 cup water
2 tablespoon agave nectar
To make the sauce:Bring cranberries, water and Agave nectar to a boil on medium heat, reduce temperature to simmer for 5 to 6 minutes until cranberries pop and the sauce thickens,about 15-20 minutes.

Method
Combine Ocean Spray� Whole Berry Cranberry Sauce(or home made cranberry sauce), peanut butter, soy sauce, lemon juice, garlic and pepper flakes in a blender container. Cover and blend 30 seconds or until well mixed. Reserve 1/2 cup. Stir cilantro into remainder and set aside

Cut chicken or turkey breast crosswise into 1/4-inch slices. Combine turkey and the 1/2 cup cranberry mixture in medium mixing bowl. Cover and refrigerate 30 minutes. Soak bamboo skewers in water 30 minutes.

Thread chicken or turkey onto skewers. Broil or grill until turkey is no longer pink inside, turning once. Brush reserved cranberry cilantro mixture over satays and serve any remaining sauce as dip.

Baked Fat-free Cranberry Falafel Lollies with Hummus

A Vegan crunchy appetizer from Middle East,which can also be made fat free by baking them.Served with creamy hummus you'd want to make these more often.
Recipe
Make about 24 falafels
Ingredients
1/2 cup Ocean Spray cranberries
2 cups Chickpeas ,soaked over night and drained
1/4 cup mint, or cilantro or parsley, chopped
1 clove garlic clove,peeled
1/2 teaspoon cumin powder or seeds
1/2 teaspoon coriander powder or seeds
1/2 teaspoon sea salt

Method
Mix and blend chickpeas,cranberries, Mint, garlic, cumin, coriander and salt,until smooth,don't add any water.

Preheat oven to 350F.Take about a tablespoon of the mixture and shape in balls.Lay on baking sheet.Bake for 15-20 minutes until cooked through.Keep warm in oven until time to serve along with Hummus dip.I had these fancy drink mixers that were perfect to mount on the falafel to make an easy pick and dip appetizer.You could also use wooden toothpicks.