Sugar-Free Apple and Cinnamon Jam
By: Sanjana Modha
Published: Saturday, March 13, 2010 - 4:14am

Ingredients




medium Around 10  sized eating (not cooking) apples, peeled, cored and chopped into ½ inch pieces
3/4 cup sweetener (I used Candarel)
1 cup water
1/2 teaspoon agar-agar powder (the pectin in the apples will do the r
1 teaspoon cinnamon powder

Preparation

1 In a large saucepan combine the apples, sweetener and water and allow to boil for around 30-35 minutes or until reduced, stirring occasionally. This makes the house smell amazing. 2 When significantly reduced but still a little syrupy, add the agar-agar powder and cinnamon powder. Remove from the heat. 3 Allow to cool and transfer to sterilised jam jars. I sterilise my jars by wetting them a little and placing them on high power in the microwave until they’re dry. Be really careful when you’re doing this, folks. 4 Refrigerate and consume within two weeks.

About


So we have two jams on the menu tonight: Sugar-free Apple and Cinnamon Jam and Sugar-free Hibiscus (Rosella) Jam. For all of you who may be tutting at me for using artificial sweetener *makes puppy dog eyes at lovely, understanding readers and resembles that cutie pie, Gizmo from Gremlins and so cannot be judged* I would like to add that this is jam. Jam is sweet. Therefore you won’t be eating heaps of it in one go. Unless you’re a bit of a Bruce Bogtrotter (except that was chocolate cake). When you’re diabetic and you crave sweet things, I think it’s better to have a teaspoon of sugar-free jam with a little artificial sweetener than a Twix. Indeed, if you’re not happy with sugar-free apple jam because it uses sweetener then I suggest you just eat an apple. Sounds harsh, no? Well my friends, that’s the harsh reality of conserving and preserving. 
On the brighter side of things, there’s not too much artificial sweetener in the Apple and Cinnamon jam because the apples naturally contain their own sugar (which, if eaten in excess isn’t that great for you either but hey, I’m no food nutritionist). However, the hibiscus jam contains more because it is made from dried flowers, not fruit. The taste of hibiscus jam is sweet and sour like cranberries and reminds me of the taste of the fruit of the African baobab (ubuyu) tree; very lemony, berry-tasting and fragrant; it almost tastes like sherbet. Consuming hibiscus is commonly believed to lower blood glucose in those with type two diabetes. You can have a Google around and read up on this if you’re interested (like I said, I’m not qualified to give out health advice)… I’m just here to jam with you. 
And I hope you like jammin’, too.