How I Make My Own Sugar Free Dried Cranberries And Cranberry Juice.

Making Your Own Sugar Free Dried Cranberries And Cranberry Juice.

A few days ago I found cranberries on sale at Aldi food store for 15 cents a bag.  So I bought a box of 25 of them.  My plan is to  dry some, freeze some, and give some to my mother..  When I announced my victorious results on my Facebook page my friends wondered how I was able to do that.  So without further ado, this is how it's done.








1 bag of whole fresh  cranberries (2 or 3 cups)
8 cups water
1 c. Splenda or the sweetener of your choice.

1. Empty the cranberries into a large pot
2. Pour the Splenda into the pot.
3. Pour the water into the pot and mix.
4. Cook until the berries burst and mash slightly with a potato masher.
5. Remove from the heat.
6. Put a fine mesh strainer on top of a larger pitcher or another pot.
7. Slowly pour the the berries and juice through the strainer until they are separated..
8. Dry the cranberries on a fruit roll up tray in a dehydrator or on a cookie sheet in an oven at 170 degrees for 12 to 24 hours.
9. Refrigerate the juice.

Monkey Butter

Monkey Butter

I found this recipe on a video on YouTube here's the link.   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A2z5kfULzX4reported
It's been reported that the jam lasts anywhere from a month to three months in the fridge.  You can use it as a topping on ice or oatmeal, as a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, in crepes, or on french toast to name a few uses.

5 medium-size perfectly ripe bananas (no brown spots)

20 oz. can of crushed pineapple, not drained (I used the sugar free variety). Or a half of a fresh pineapple skinned, cored and diced.

1/4 cup coconut (you can ground it up if you like)

3 cups of white sugar 

3 Tbsp lemon juice, or the juice of 1 lemon

1. Peel and slice bananas, then add all ingredients to a heavy saucepan.

2. Bring to a boil, stirring often, and then reduce to a simmer. Or you can place all of the ingredients in a crock pot on high uncovered for two or three hours. 

3. Cook until thick. 

4. Mash with a potato masher. 

5. Spoon mixture immediately into a refrigeratable container.

6. Other fruits can be added, particularly tropical fruits such as mango  
7. Also, it is common for the butter to take on a light pink hue when cooked.  
8. I assume you can omit the coconut if you don't like it. 
9. Makes about 5 cups .