dried organic cranberries. anyone have any ideas what i can use them in?

[weatherlyn]

i have been given a few packets of dried organic cranberries, and i have no idea what other fruits they complement. Does anyone have any recipes or ideas for a fruit compote or puree ? my ds is just over 7mths.

[Samuel's mum]

Have you eaten one? My experience of dried cranberries is that they are either 'spit-them-across-the-room-in-horror' bitter or sweetened with a lot of sugar in their processing.

Cranberries and apple are a good combo or in natural yoghurt. Are they an allergen? Maybe worth checking that out too.

[MDHmommy]

Try Baked Oatmeal (for you, not DD...) it's YUMMY with dried cranberries rather than rasins. You could also do oatmeal cookies with cranberries rather than rasins.

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Baked-Oatmeal-II/Detail.aspx

[carybear]

I put them in rice as I'm cooking it, I also use Orange Juice as part of the water so it's kind of sweet and tangy at the same time yummy!  it softens up the cranberries.  My kids LOVE it.  You can also throw a couple of almonds on top for you.
I also throw them on top of my cereal all the time

[weatherlyn]

thanks everyone for the great ideas! carybear can i just ask, when you say rice, it that still rice cereal?or normal rice? my ds is 7 . 5 mths.

[rooby-rooby-roo]

for you:

Happy Chick Cake:

250g Flour (I use a mix of Spelt and wholemeal)
1 Tbsp baking powder
1 Tsp ground ginger
1 Tsp ground cinnamon
75g linseeds
60g each of pumpkin seeds
                 sunflower seeds
                 sesame seeds
125g raisins
125g dried cranberries (or other dried fruits)
600ml milk
1 tbsp honey
100ml apple puree

1. Combine all of the dry ingredients
2. combine milk, honey and applepuree and warm gently
3. Stir wet ingredients into dry. Combine and leave for 30 mins.
4. Pour into a greased and lined loaf tin
5. Bake at 160 degree C for 1 hour

No fat and very yummy!!!

[carybear]

Yeah I use the normal rice for everyone.  Yeah, You can use regular, long grain rice, brown rice, instant rice, whatever, is yummy!  Just replace about 1/2 of the water with OJ.  so if you're using 1 cup water to 1/2 cup rice then you'd use 1/2 water and 1/2 cup OJ then your 1/2 c rice.  Does that make sense?

[weatherlyn]

awesome! i am going to try it, is it safe to give him normal rice at7.5 mths, sorry just phobic about him choking, happened to my friends little one on a bit of rusk...

[carybear]

you know, I'd ask your pediatrician before giving regular rice. also I don't think you're supposed to give citrus juice to babies under a year, but I could be wrong about that one.  And honestly if you're worried about chocking on rice you really don't want to be giving him the cranberries either.  That just happens to be a recipe I feed my family.

[waffler]

What about in a summer bircher muesli? Soak some oats in apple juice with the cranberries overnight. They'll turn soft. Then in the morning add some grated apple/pear/peach/banana whatever tickels your LO's fancy?

[weatherlyn]

good one!!! this is really daft, but normal things are thin on the ground in italy, all i can get is like oat flakes here, do i soak those overnight too?

[waffler]

hmm.. yea i'd try that, perhaps maybe for less time? No harm trying! The softer the oats end up being then just add slightly crunchier fruit to give it some texture (all up to the likes/dislikes of your LO of course)

[CharLie979]

Here's a recipe I have: Cranberry Apple Mush
4c sliced peeled apples (about 3 large) 1L
1/2 c  fresh or frozen cranberries 125mL
1/2 C sweetened apple juice 125 mL
1 tsp ground cinnamon 5 mL

1. In a med saucepan, over medium-high heat, bring apples, cranberries, apple juice and cinnamon to a boil. Cover, reduce heat and simmer until apple are very tender, about 25 min. Let cool.
2 Transfer to blender and puree on hign speed until smoooth.

* with dried cranberries you'll have to rehydrate them first you can do this in some warm juice and let them soak for about 1/2 hr or so.

[weatherlyn]

tried it and very tasty, also added some sultanas!!