Like blueberries, cranberries are high in antioxidants which are known to prevent cellular damage protecting us from disease and illness. Cranberries have been best known for their antibacterial benefits in fighting off urinary tract infections however their health benefits extend much further.
Chemicals found in cranberries have been found to shrink tumors in lab tests, prevent plague from forming on teeth, and promote positive changes in cholesterol levels as well as the antibacterial properties mentioned above. This miracle fruit should be included in our diets frequently to help fight disease.
Cranberries by themselves are a bit tart. Although cranberry juice is a popular drink, it is often loaded with sugar and chemicals and doesn’t contain the high concentrations of the cranberry itself. Dried cranberries have been gaining in popularity but here again we find a lot of sugar added to them to make them sweet.
Personally, I like my cranberries made into a sauce. Cranberry sauce can be made sugar free using stevia to sweeten. Since cranberries are only available for a short time, I like to buy several bags when they go on sale and stock up for the entire year. They freeze great and will keep all year. Once frozen you can defrost them first or prepare your sauce from the frozen berries.
Below is the simplest recipe for cranberry sauce however you can be creative and add other fruits to this tasty condiment.
Clean Cranberry Sauce
1 package fresh or frozen cranberries, rinsed well
1 cup water
4-5 packages stevia (or to taste)
Bring water to a boil. Add cranberries and cook stirring frequently until cranberries pop open and soften. The more you cook them the thicker the sauce will get as the cranberries become mushy. This entire process only takes 10-15 minutes.
Remove from heat at add stevia to taste. Store in airtight container in the refrigerator.
Enjoy your sauce as a condiment on turkey, chicken, burgers or even sandwiches. Try using a little hummus with cranberry sauce as condiments in a sandwich or wrap. The hummus and berry combination is delicious!
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