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SOLERA DIAMOND VALLEY | NOVEMBER 2021 11 By Sherrie Chaparro, Resident Have you ever wondered why we eat cranberries at traditional Thanksgiving feasts? For one thing, cranberries are native to America. Native Americans were known to eat cranberries regularly and use them as a natural dye for clothing, so chances are they were available on Thanksgiving Day, 1621. They also pair well with poultry, pork, and venison, all of which were abundant in the forests of early America. Nature has a way of doing that. Sweetened cranberry sauce was not an invention until later. The first cranberry sauce recipe was found in the 1796 cookbook American Cookery by Amelia Simmons, which calls for serving roast turkey with "boiled onions and cranberry-sauce," according to The Washington Post. Reports of original Native American cranberry sauce recipes — made simply with sugar and water — date back as far as the mid-to-late 17th century, and by the 18th century, cranberry sauce was a known accompaniment to game meat like turkey. By the early 19th century, farmers were dry-harvesting cranberries from vines, which was an arduous process. It wasn't until Ocean Spray reinvented the cranberry game in the 1930s by introducing the wet harvest that cranberries became more commercially viable, and a staple at the Thanksgiving table. Easy Cranberry Sauce 12-ounce bag fresh cranberries ¾ cup sugar ¾ cup fresh orange juice Zest of one orange Add cranberries, sugar, and orange juice to a small saucepan over medium- high heat. Cook until sugar is dissolved, and cranberries begin to burst (4-6 minutes). Stir, add orange zest, and cook 2-3 minutes longer. Remove from heat, cover, and let cool. Place in a serving bowl, cover and refrigerate for at least two hours, until set. Can be made up to one week in advance, but if you like to add nuts (pecans are great), wait until a few hours before serving. Why Cranberries? Carving the Thanksgiving Turkey (A Photo Essay) By Dick Roppé, Resident By Cindy Ponce de Leon, Resident This year is especially hard for me. It was a year ago that I went to Arkansas to "put my mother on hospice," as I thought at the time. Her decline was so rapid, within two weeks. She had done what so many people do. They hide the truth of what is happening from their loved ones, either to avoid hurting them, or because they think they have more time. Often for us who are left behind the first year is an unbearable. We're like a mobile being spun by the wind but we're off balance. So what can we do to become more balanced as we strive to become "Normal" or accept our new normal? One thing my mother and I shared was the love of fall colors. My Mom's wish last year was that I would make her a fall arrangement in her leaf dish before I went home. That arrangement ended up being the centerpiece for her memorial service. This year, I bought myself a beautiful fall arrangement. I had to give myself permission to buy it, even though I could have easily made one. Sometimes you have to invest in something that your loved one may have also loved. Not only did I lose my mother, two weeks later we lost my father- in-law. Three months after that, I lost my father. Coming on the first year anniversary has been difficult beyond measure. My husband and I didn't want to focus on loss, we instead traveled out of town and spent time visiting his family. Spending time comforting other family members and focusing on them brought all of us tremendous joy. If you're struggling with grief the best advice I can give you is to make a plan not to be alone. Do something that will make yourself happy as you honor the memory of your loved one. Focus on gratitude every day. And if you yourself are not grieving, but you know someone who is… Love your neighbor as yourself. A kind word does things to a person's self esteem and state of mind that is immeasurable. THE HOLIDAYS AND GRIEF

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