My Sweet Spot

Have you noticed the addition of more sugar substitutes on the market? As an HGTV/Food Network junkie, I’ve noticed more commercials for stevia products. Stevia has been around for years…however it has just become palatable (in my humble opinion). It is made from the leaves of a plant from South America…with a very intense sweet taste. A very small amount…1/2 tsp or a few liquid drops would render some recipes too sweet to eat…...and don’t make a mistake and use a teaspoon.

Stevia is generally recognized as safe by the FDA; However you won’t see it on the tables at restaurants…like the yellow packet (Splenda), blue packet (Equal, NutriSweet) and pink stuff (Sweet’N Low).   After attending a diabetes conference last month, where food manufactures sign you up to receive a mountain of samples on your door step weeks later.  I finally got the opportunity to try one of the newest Stevia products. The brand name was Truvia.  I used it in my coffee…one packet was plenty and there was no aftertaste. WOW…it was pretty good.  

It’s packaged like the other non-nutritive sweeteners (calorie free)…but it’s green & white!

I suspect we won’t be seeing it on the tables at restaurants soon… Still a bit pricey!

Most of the other sugar substitutes have information about their cooking or baking ability.  PureVia and Truvia hasn’t been released in a useable form for cooking…well, I‘ll take that back. An apple pie recipe I found for Truvia calls for 24 packets. That’s a little inconvenient.

But it does live up to the advertisement… “Our new sweetener is more than splendid. It’s natural.”

I just found my sweet spot!

Le Greta