Wednesday, January 18, 2012

All-Natural Alternative Sweeteners

Expectation: That there was somebody else out there who wasn't afraid to make a few substitutions.

I came across this fantastic article on npr.org with some tips about using all-natural, alternative sweeteners. Here are some of those tips, but I encourage you to read the whole article here.

Alternative Sweetener advice from Nicole Spiridakis
Agave nectar, extracted from the agave cactus plant, is a little sweeter than sugar.
Barley malt syrup, from sprouted barley, roasted and cooked down to a syrup with a maltlike flavor, is great for using in more savory recipes, such as a barbecue sauce, rather than baking.
Brown rice syrup tastes about half as sweet as white sugar, with a mild flavor.
A host of organic cane sugars, including muscovado sugar (made from unrefined, evaporated cane juice), organic, whole cane sugar (unrefined and unbleached); turbinado sugar (made by heating sugar cane juice, then spinning it in a centrifuge or turbine to extract moisture and molasses for large, golden crystals) and demerara sugar (similar to turbinado, with large sugar crystals).
Honey
Maple syrup
Molasses, a byproduct of refining sugar cane, is slightly sweet and a source of iron and calcium.
Stevia, derived from a perennial shrub with leaves 30 times sweeter than sugar and calorie-free.
Xylitol, a sweetener made from corncobs that is low in calories and tastes similar to cane sugar, is available online and in some health food stores.

Friday, January 6, 2012

Partnering with Community Fitness

Along with my bakery business in Seattle, WA, I also work at Seattle's best fitness club, Community Fitness (no really, it's the best). I am absolutely thrilled to announce that Grain Expectations is partnering with Community Fitness to help expand options for healthy living in the Pacific Northwest.

In honor of this partnership, Grain Expectations is offering 50% OFF YOUR FIRST DOZEN to all Community Fitness participants!

Click here to see the menu, and check back for more offers in the coming months.

Cheers to a healthy 2012!