Thursday Thoughts 4: Sugar Intolerance and Vitamins
Something a bit different for Thursday Thoughts today... Rather than a bunch of random thoughts thrown at you (!), I thought I'd respond to some reader requests. A few of you pointed out that I have never actually done a post on my intolerance of sugar after I mentioned it again in this post. Doh. I refer to it so often in passing that I felt like I had, but looking through my archives I don't have any posts written specifically about that. I know I've gone into it in more detail in guest posts I've written for other bloggers, but nothing actually on here! Madness.
Guest Post: Coconut Sugar 101 by Naturally Sweet Recipes
Source The lovely sisters who blog at Naturally Sweet Recipes were pretty much the first bloggers I found who share my no-refined-sugar mentality. They bake their recipes with ALL natural sweeteners that are low on the glycemic index, like coconut sugar (which I learned about from them!), maple syrup, agave nectar, stevia and more. I asked the sisters if one of them would mind stepping in to guest post while I'm away and share some information on one of our favourite sweeteners. The youngest sister, Chelsea, obliged and has provided a great post with all you need to know about coconut sugar and some fabulous recipes to try out. I'm sure you won't mind taste testing these beauties! Anna xx
Christmas Cookie Times: Better-than-Starbucks’ Ginger Molasses Cookies
Have you seen those big ginger molasses cookies in Starbucks, and drooled? I have drooled, I'm almost certain. They are so big and perfectly coated in sugar crystals, and look so warm and inviting and like such a great accompaniment to a hot drink like, oh, I don't know...a gingerbread latte maybe? Or an eggnog latte? (*Update! Thanks to the coincidental timing of the universe, Chocolate-Covered Katie posted a recipe for a healthier, homemade Gingerbread Spice Latte on her blog today - check it out here - it's the perfect complement to one of these cookies!) The problem is, I give in, I have one, and I feel gross. Maybe some of you lucky ducks don't have this problem but with the sugar in them (41 grams! Wow. 41 grams = sugar high, and an inevitable - and bad - sugar LOW), the high calories (430! In ONE COOKIE! That's a whole dinner!) and the high fat content (12g baby), that cookie isn't looking so good anymore. But still - they LOOK so irresistible. And smell even better.
The Cookie Monster Strikes Again!…and the Amy’s Giveaway Winner
I've told you before that I love cookies. I officially turn into a Cookie Monster when they're around. Alas, the soft, gooey, chewy Mrs. Fields cookies I loved so much growing up now make me feel so ill from all of their truckloads of sugar that cookies are a rare treat to be enjoyed only when I bother to make a batch. I've been baking with stevia and agave, and both produce good cookies. Really yummy, delicious cookies, like these I made only a month or so ago. Oh they were delicious.