According to the Wisconsin State Cranberry Growers Association:

The cranberry, once called “crane berry” by settlers because of its blossom’s resemblance to the sandhill crane, is best known for its place on the Thanksgiving table.


Wisconsin produces more cranberries than any other state in the U.S.; almost 60% of the total production. The cranberry industry is the state’s largest fruit industry, contributing nearly $350 million annually to the state’s economy and supporting approximately 7,200 jobs.

Cranberries are also the Official State Berry of Massachusetts

The following recipe is a great classroom recipe to share with your state report project.

Ingredients for Cranberry Wild Rice Pilaf

• 3/4 cup uncooked wild rice
• 3 cups chicken broth
• 1/2 cup pearl barley
• 1/4 cup dried cranberries
• 1/4 cup dried currants
• 1 Tblsp butter or margarine
• 1/3 cup sliced almonds, toasted

Directions for Cranberry Rice Pilaf

1. Rinse and drain rice; place in a saucepan.
2. Add broth and bring to a boil.
3. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 10 minutes.
4. Remove from the heat; stir in barley, cranberries, currants and butter.
5. Spoon into a greased 1-1/2 qt. baking dish.
6. Cover and bake at 325 degrees for 55 minutes or until liquid is absorbed and rice is tender.
7. Add almonds and fluff with a fork.

6-8 servings

Recipe courtesy of the Wisconsin State Cranberry Growers Association

Tasty Organic Cranberry Treats for You

Newman's Own Organics Cranberries, 4-Ounce Pouches (Pack of 6) List Price: $21.00 Sale Price: $16.15 See details»

Pure Bar Organic Cranberry Orange, Raw Fruit & Nut Bar, 1.7-Ounce Bars (Pack of 12) List Price: $20.99 Sale Price: $16.64 See details»

Made In Nature Organic Cranberries, Dried and Unsulfured, 4-Ounce Bags (Pack of 6) List Price: $29.88 Sale Price: $22.98 See details»

Grown Right Organic Whole Cranberry Sauce, 16-Ounce Can (Pack of 6) List Price: $16.20 Sale Price: $12.46 See details»

Earth's Best Organic 2nd Seasonal Harvest Apple Turkey Cranberry, 4-Ounce Jars (Pack of 12) List Price: $16.80 Sale Price: $12.92 See details»

Nature's Path Organic Instant Hot Cereal, Cranberry & Ginger, Optimum Zen, 8-Count Boxes (Pack of 6) List Price: $24.00 Sale Price: $13.34 See details»

Nature's Path Organic Optimum Zen, Cranberry & Ginger Cereal, 12.5-Ounce Boxes (Pack of 6) List Price: $28.60 Sale Price: $22.00 See details»

Aurora Products Inc. Cranberries Organic, 9 Ounce Tubs (Pack of 4) List Price: $32.16 Sale Price: $24.74 See details»

Walnut Acres Organic Juice, Wild Cranberry, 32-Ounce Bottles (Pack of 3) List Price: $16.32 Sale Price: $16.32 See details»

Eden Dried Cranberries, Organic, 4-Ounce Pouches (Pack of 5) List Price: $22.80 Sale Price: $21.05 See details»

According to the Illinois State Museum:

The state animal was selected by a vote of Illinois schoolchildren in 1980. Candidates were nominated by the General Assembly and the Illinois State Museum. The children selected the White-tailed Deer, and a bill, effective January 1, 1982, was passed by the General Assembly and signed into law by Governor James R. Thompson.

Ingredients for Deer Barbeque

• 1- 16 oz bottle barbeque sauce
• 3 deer ham steaks
• 3 tablespoons honey
• barbeque seasoning

Directions for Deer Barbeque

1. Coat deer steaks with barbeque seasoning.
2. Place deer steaks in crock pot.
3. Pour in the remainder of the sauce and honey.
4. Cook on low heat for 10 hours.

Recipe courtesy of the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources

Tasty Treats for You

Venison Tenderloin - 4/Pack - List Price: Sale Price: $179.99 See details»

Buffalo Bills 10oz 100% Farm Raised 7" Venison Jerky Strips (20 venison jerky strips per bag) List Price: $25.80 Sale Price: $18.99 See details»

Venison New York Strip (short loin) List Price: Sale Price: $84.99 See details»

Venison Summer Sausage - 3 pack, 3 Original Flavor List Price: Sale Price: $39.00 See details»

ZiwiPeak Real Meat Grain-Free Jerky Treats for Dogs - Venison - 1 lb List Price: $22.99 Sale Price: $13.87 See details»

Zuke's Z-Filets High Protein Dog Treats, Venison, 3.25 Ounce List Price: $6.99 Sale Price: $3.30 See details»

Venison Denver Leg - Boneless - List Price: Sale Price: $179.99 See details»

Buffalo Bills 100% Farm Raised Venison Jerky Strips (25 individually wrapped 7" venison jerky strips per bag) List Price: $34.75 Sale Price: $23.99 See details»

Venison Osso Bucco - Frozen List Price: Sale Price: $39.00 See details»

Real Meat Venison Jerky Dog Treats List Price: Sale Price: $11.70 See details»

It is important to note that white-tailed deer meat can and is easily substituted for beef in recipes using tomatoes or tomato juice. Ground white-tailed deer meat makes for a tasty burger, but most people in our area like white-tailed deer meat either in a sausage form or in a stew.

White-tailed deer meat is lean and tends to be a chewier, tougher red meat than a finely fat-marbled red meat such as beef or pork. To tenderize white-tailed deer meat (also known as venison) tomato sauce or tomato juice is often used.

Slow cooking white-tailed deer meat (venison) in a slow cooker is an ideal solution for tenderizing and cooking this meat at the same time. The process of slow cooking breaks down the toughness of meat; thus a slow cooker recipe using tomatoes, salsa or tomato juice are ideal!

People who are “meat and potato” eaters tend to especially like this soup. The tomatoes in the salsa helps to tenderize the deer meat.

Ingredients for Venison & Potato Soup

• 4 cups water
• 1 (16-ounce) bag frozen, Southern style hash browns
• 1 cup frozen chopped onion or 1 medium onion, chopped
• 1 pound ground white-tailed deer, cut into bite-size pieces (Or extra-lean ground beef)
• 2 (4-ounce) cans mushroom stems and pieces, not drained
• 1 (2 1/2-ounce) envelope dry onion soup mix
• 1 (16-ounce) jar chunky salsa

Directions

1. Spray a slow cooker with nonfat cooking spray.
2. Put into the slow cooker the water, hash browns, onion, deer meat, mushrooms, onion soup mix, and salsa and stir until well mixed.
3. Cover and cook in the slow cooker on high for 4 hours or on low for 8 to 9 hours.
4. If desired, salt and pepper to taste.

Tasty Venison Treats for You

Venison Tenderloin - 4/Pack - List Price: Sale Price: $179.99 See details»

Venison (Cervena) Tenderloin 2 lb. Avg. (3 count) 6 lb. Package List Price: Sale Price: See details»

Wild Boar Tenderloin - 2 pcs List Price: Sale Price: See details»

This comfort soup satisfies the soul. Slow cooking and the tomatoes both help to tenderize the white-tailed deer meat.

Ingredients for Venison Barley Soup

• 1 (48-ounce) can beef broth
• 1 (28-ounce) can crushed tomatoes
• 1-1/2 pounds lean, cooked white-tailed deer steaks, cut into small, bite-size pieces (or grilled eye of round can be substituted.)
• 1 cup frozen chopped onion
• 2 cups frozen sliced carrots
• 1 cup chopped celery
• 1/2 cup quick-cooking barley, not cooked

Directions

1. Spray a slow cooker with nonfat cooking spray.
2. In the slow cooker mix together the broth, tomatoes, venison, onion, carrots, and celery.
3. Cover and cook on high for 5 hours or on low for 8 to 10 hours.
4. Stir in the barley.
5. Cover and cook for an additional 10 to 12 minutes or until the barley is tender.

Note: This is also a great way to use leftover beef. I especially like using steak that’s been cooked on the grill. You can also substitute 1 1/2 pounds ground eye-of-round beef that has been browned in a skillet and drained.

Delicious Venison for You

Venison New York Strip (short loin) List Price: Sale Price: $84.99 See details»

10-8oz Boneless Venison Strip Loins List Price: Sale Price: $81.00 See details»

Venison, Red Deer Loin - Boneless - List Price: Sale Price: See details»

White-tailed deer meat is lean and tends to be a chewier, tougher red meat than a finely fat-marbled red meat such as beef or pork. To tenderize white-tailed deer meat (also known as venison) tomato sauce or tomato juice is often used.

Slow cooking white-tailed deer meat (venison) in a slow cooker is an ideal solution for tenderizing and cooking this meat at the same time. The process of slow cooking breaks down the toughness of meat; thus a slow cooker recipe using tomatoes, salsa or tomato juice are ideal!

If you like stuffed cabbage rolls, you’ll like this. It’s a lot faster and easier to prepare than Cabbage Rolls.

Ingredients for Unstuffed Cabbage Soup

• 1 pound ground white-tailed deer meat or eye-of-round beef
• 6 cups beef broth (made with bouillon is okay)
• 4 cups low-sodium vegetable juice
• 2 (14 1/2-ounce) cans stewed tomatoes
• 2 cups frozen chopped onion, or 2 cups fresh
• 1 (1-pound) bag coleslaw mix, or 10 cups shredded fresh green cabbage
• 2 cups instant rice

Directions

1. Spray a slow cooker with nonfat cooking spray.
2. In the slow cooker mix together the deer meat ( or beef), broth, vegetable juice, tomatoes, onion, and coleslaw.
3. Cover and cook on low for 8 to 10 hours or on high for 4 to 5 hours.
4. Before serving stir in the rice.
5. Cover and let the soup sit for 5 minutes.
6. Serve hot.

Delicious Venison for You

Venison Steak 10/8oz List Price: Sale Price: $75.95 See details»

Venison Steaks List Price: Sale Price: See details»

Venison BC Flank 1.8 lb. Steak (Cervena), 5.4 lb. Package List Price: Sale Price: See details»

Paw Naturaw Organic Beef Diet for Dogs, Patties, Two-Count Pack, 80 Ounce Bags (Pack of 2) List Price: $98.58 Sale Price: $89.87 See details»

White-tailed deer meat is lean and tends to be a chewier, tougher red meat than a finely fat-marbled red meat such as beef or pork. To tenderize white-tailed deer meat (also known as venison) tomato sauce or tomato juice is often used.

Slow cooking white-tailed deer meat (venison) in a slow cooker is an ideal solution for tenderizing and cooking this meat at the same time. The process of slow cooking breaks down the toughness of meat; thus a slow cooker recipe using tomatoes, salsa or tomato juice are ideal!

From Busy People’s Slow Cooker Cookbook, By Dawn Hall from Swanton, Ohio

If you like stuffed green peppers, give this a try. You’ll love it, and it’s so much quicker and easier to prepare than Stuffed Green Peppers.

Ingredients for Unstuffed Green Pepper Soup

• 1/2 pound ground white-tailed deer meat or eye of round beef
• 3 cups beef broth (made with bouillon is okay)
• 2 cups or 3 (5 1/2-ounce) cans low-sodium vegetable juice
• 2 (14 1/2-ounce) cans stewed tomatoes
• 1 cup frozen chopped green peppers or 1 cup fresh
• 1 cup frozen chopped onion or 1 cup fresh
• 1 cup instant rice

Ingredients

1. Spray a large slow cooker with nonfat cooking spray.
2. In the slow cooker mix together the white-tailed deer meat (or beef), broth, vegetable juice, tomatoes, green peppers, and onion.
3. Cover and cook on low for 8 to 10 hours or on high for 4 to 5 hours.
4. Before serving stir in the rice. Cover and let sit for 5 minutes.
5. Serve hot.

Yield: 8 (1-cup) servings

Calories: 151

Fat: 3 grams (19% fat)

Cholesterol: 10mg

Carbohydrate: 21g

Dietary Fiber: 2g

Protein: 9g

Sodium: 593mg