Craisins™ – May Be Better Than Raisins!

Craisins™ , those fabulous dried cranberries which look very much like red raisins, just might be a better alternative in some cases.  If you love a little tartness instead of the super sweetness of the shrunken grape, try a pack of Craisins™ .

How Are Craisins™  Used?

Like their more well-known cousins, these luscious berries are great in breads, cakes, and cereal, to name a few.  I much prefer them in breads.  A hot slice of Craisins™   bread, topped with whipped honey butter, is luscious beyond belief!  I find adding orange juice as the liquid, along with grated orange rind, adds tremendously to the flavor in just about any recipe.  And in most, rehydrate Craisins™  with orange juice.  However, the easiest way to use them is as a quick, nutritious snack.

And If My Pet Gets Into the Craisins™ ?

If your dog happens to sneak a few Craisins™  , that is perfectly alright and, in fact, is good for him!  They are rich in nutrients and antioxidants you pup needs.  However, as with anything, give them in moderation.  These dried berries might relieve itching problems and some think they help the pet’s cognitive function. Giving them to man’s best friend raw, cooked or dried is good, but stop at feeding them cranberry sauce.  This and other items, with additional large amounts of sugar, are not good for canines or humans.  Sometimes these berries are used in dog food.

Aren’t Raisins Better For My Diet?

When it comes to a showdown between the raisin and the Craisin™ , the Craisin™  wins, dried side down.  They have fewer calories, more fiber, and lower carbs.  Raisins have a boatload of potassium that, depending on your health, might be a bad thing or a good thing.  The dried cranberry  has very little.  On the other side of the equation, raisins are so naturally sweet, they do not require added sugar. The tart berry has sugar added when dried.  Yet, even with the extra sugar to take the edge of the tartness, the Craisin™  still has less sugar than its dried grape competitor.

Recipes

My Favorite Salad

1/2 head of iceberg lettuce

1/2 small bag of baby spinach leaves

1/3 cup shredded carrots

2 spring onions, sliced into relatively thin pieces, from the white root to the green section

generous portion of sliced almonds

equal portion of Craisins™ 

equal portion of cinnamon-covered roasted pecans, cut in halves

I find that the Craisin™  tartness works really well with the sweetness of the cinnamon-covered pecans, adding an unexpected touch.  I use a light Italian dressing or a balsamic-based dressing. For a special touch which looks and tastes good, serve it on Bibb Butterhead Lettuce leaves.

Bread

Instead of putting a specific bread recipe here, if you are making almost any raisin bread, try reconstituting the same amount of Craisins™  and using in place of the raisins.  Grate two tablespoons of orange peel into the dough, and substitute one/third of the necessary liquid for pulp-filled orange juice.  When you are ready to try your first slice, slather it with whipped cream cheese.  You might want to test various cream cheese flavors to see which best suits your taste buds.

Oatmeal

Follow directions on the box of oatmeal, adding to a large batch:

• One teaspoon vanilla flavoring

• One teaspoon cinnamon

• One large teaspoon butter (NOT margarine, real butter)

• 1/3 C. mixed Craisins™  and raisins the last couple of minutes the oats are soaking up the liquid

My personal taste is to add a touch more butter along with sugar to taste in the individual bowl

 

I highly recommend going online to several cooking sites and looking for the usual and unusual recipes for this surprisingly versatile ingredient – the Craisin™ .