Diana's Cranberry Salad -Diabetic Friendly Version

Photo by Muffet

No Thanksgiving or Christmas are complete for me without my mom's Cranberry Salad.  Folks often rave about this holiday side dish both for its taste and for how well it presents on the table.

I'm posting my own diabetic take on how to make this dish a bit healthier for those avoiding sugar.

• 1 bag of fresh cranberries
• 1 3/4 cup Splenda or equivalent stevia or other sugar substitute
• 1 small box of sugar free strawberry gelatin
• 1 1/4 cup hot water
• 1 cup chopped pecans
• 1 small can of unsweetened pineapple

Remove a handful of cranberries from the bag and reserve for later.

Cut up the remaining cranberries in a blender until a rough chop but not a puree.

In a bowl mix the chopped cranberries, the Splenda, and the handful of reserved whole cranberries.  Cover and let rest in the refrigerator overnight. 

The next day mix the gelatin, hot water, pecans and pineapple.  When the gelatin has dissolved, pour the cranberry-sugar mixture and gelatin mixtures together into a clear serving dish.  

Let the salad congeal in the refrigerator -usually overnight.  The resulting dish has the brilliant reds of Christmas and a tart, sweet crunchiness that leaves that other cranberry sauce where it should remain -in a can on a far, back shelf.

OPTIONS:  My aunt Susie prefers to make her cranberry salad with cherry gelatin.  

My mother's original recipe calls for 1 3/4 sugar instead of Splenda and has 1 cup small marshmallows and about 1 cup coconut generously sprinkled on top of the gelatin to create a red and white layer effect.  Marshmallows are pure sugar, and most baking coconut is sweetened with sugar.  You may, however, add unsweetened coconut on top.  

In full disclosure, I also am not a fan of nuts in food so I usually leave out the pecans.  The nuts also are rather high in calories if you are trying to slim down the caloric punch of your Thanksgiving.

DIETS:
Diabetic:  yes
Gluten Free:  yes
Nightshade Family Free:  yes
Paleo:  yes* (if you allow yourself to have Splenda or similar)
SugarBusters:  yes
Sugar Free:  yes
Vegan:  yes*  (if you can find a gelatin made without animal products)
Vegetarian:  yes*  (if you can find a gelatin made without animal products)
Wheat Free:  yes
200 Calories or Under:  yes* (if you leave out the pecans)

Notice:  Be sure to check with your doctor and nutritionist about the safety of any eating plan for you.  Also, check ingredients as different brands and products may have different ingredients or have changed them since this post.  Some calories are estimates based on packaging.