Tuesday, September 15, 2009

Stevia Extract in the Raw!


I cut regular sugar out of my diet years ago. I just try my best not to eat anything with white sugar in it. When I was researching sugar alternatives (I do not mean atrificial sweeteners - YUK!!), I came across Stevia.

From Stevia Extract in the Raw's website:

Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni is an herb in the compositae family that grows as a small shrub in parts of Paraguay and Brazil. The glycosides in its leaves make it incredibly sweet, a property that is unique among the nearly 300 species of stevia plants. Stevia has been used to sweeten beverages and medicines for over 400 years. A scientist named Antonio Bertoni first recorded its use by native tribes in 1887.

Stevia is now grown and harvested in many countries around the world, predominantly China and Brazil. It has also been vastly popular in Japan for more than three decades, now representing 41% of that country's sugar substitute market. Stevia is also found as an ingredient in many products, such as ice cream, bread and soft drinks, throughout Asia and South America.

In the past, I have used the stevia sweetener, but it had a bit of an aftertaste that I didn't really like. I continued to use it in my tea and in some recipes, but it wasn't my go-to sweetener. Since I've tried Stevia Extract in the Raw, I am loving it. There is no aftertaste at all!

Unlike certain other stevia brands, Stevia Extract in the Raw does not add sugar alcohols (like Erithrytol) and or other sucrose based sweeteners (like isomaltulose) to mask what nature intended. Stevia Extract in the Raw simply delivers the natural sweet flavor of the stevia plant.

Click here to find a store near you that carries Stevia Extract in the Raw or you can purchase it online here.

I keep a few packets in my purse to use when I am dining out. It's easy to carry and so much better for you than artificial sweeteners.

Stevia Extract in the Raw has been kind enough to send me a box of their Stevia Extract in the Raw to give to you!

I will make it easy to enter the giveaway:

1) Go to Stevia Extract in the Raw and find your favorite recipe and leave a comment about it

2) Become a follower of my blog - leave a comment to let me know

3) Become a follower of my facebook fan page - leave a comment to let me know

4) Grab my button and post it on your blog - leave the link for me to check it out

Winner will be chosen on Sept. 30 by random.org!


This looks really yummy and it only has 5 calories:

100% Natural Lo-Cal GINGER ALE

Homemade soda is a treat that you can feel good about. To make this thirst-quenching low calorie Ginger Ale, all it takes is five ingredients and five minutes.

INGREDIENTS:
• 2 liters plain seltzer water
• 1 tablespoon pressed fresh ginger juice
• 1 fresh squeezed lemon (medium-sized)
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 5 packets Stevia Extract In The Raw

DIRECTIONS:
Cut small pieces of peeled ginger root and place in a press (like the kind used for garlic). Press ginger root to produce 1 tablespoon of juice and place in small bowl. Add lemon juice, vanilla extract and Stevia Extract In The Raw. Stir to combine.

Open 2-liter bottle of seltzer and pour out 1/2 cup to make room for soda flavor mixture. Using a funnel, pour mixture into soda bottle and quickly screw on cap.

Careful! The carbonated water will react "explosively" with the natural ingredients in flavor mixture.

Allow for ingredients to mix with water and for some gas to be released from bottle prior to uncapping - by unscrewing cap just a small amount to hear “hissssss”. Pour over ice and enjoy!

Makes 8 servings.

4 comments:

  1. I would like to try making the Peanut Butter cookies. A lot of times substitutes used in baking recipes don't turn out right, so it would be interesting to see how this one fared.

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  2. I would love to try the pan seared ahi tuna. Sounds yummy!

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  3. I became a fan on facebook! I would love to try this:)

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