Rachel's Delightful Diabetic Friendly Strawberry Banana Jam

Every year I make Jam to have on our shelves for the year AND to give as sweet homemade gifts for my friends. This year I made Strawberry Pineapple, but I have more friends now that are diabetic or like me and my family watching our diets for our healths sake, so having all of that sugar eleminates so many people from getting my special treat each year.

This year I decided to experiment and make a "Sugar-Free" Jam. The Jam has NO ADDED Sugar, only that which is naturally in the fruit and that is it. I was worried that it would be ok, but not great like the other sweet stuff. But, I was shocked, it turned out AWESOME, and the kids loved it too, so, I may in the future just make the Sugar Free stuff. It's really food and alot easier on the Diet and is Diabetic friendly , if your Dr. oks the fruits used. :)

Here is my Recipe:

1 package Ball No Sugar Needed Fruit Pectin
4 cup combination Chopped Strawberries and Bananas ( Fresh not frozen, it does make a differance in the set).
1 cup Unsweetened, No sugar added Apple Juice
1 tablespoon butter
2 tablespoons Lime Juice
3 Cup Splenda

mash the fruits in your pan over medium heat, but leave chunks, where as jam is suppost to be chunky and pureeing your fruit breaks down the natural pectin, causing the jam not to set properly. Heat to a nice simmer and add the apple juice and Lime Juice. As the fruit and juices simmer on a low boil, wisk in the pectin and continue stiring and cooking on a low rolling boil until the mixture thickens a bit. Slowly wisk in the Splenda a little at a time to prevent lumps and add the butter to prevent foaming and over boiling. Cook the mixture on a low rolling boil until it becomes a nice thick rich texture about 10 minutes. Remove it from the heat and ladel the fruit preserve into clean canning jars. This recipe made 4 8 oz. ball canning jars for me. Allow it to set until firm and cover with parafin wax, making sure all of the fruit is covered properly. Watch for wax shrinkage and top with more wax as needed to insure that the preseves are completely covered leaving none of the fruit explosed. Cover with the lid and some pretty cloth and a piece of twine with a tag and a bow with a little quote or poem to give to friends and family. ;)

Hugs.
Rachel