Update and Yummy Dessert

We have addressed the issue of artificial sweeteners, but I just read an article about Stevia, which is a natural sweetener. Stevia has been used by the Japanese and South Americans for 1,500 years. However in the USA, it's only been approved as a supplement, and not a sweetener. Recently, Stevia-based products have been approved as an artificial/natural sweetener. The following article makes some interesting points with regards to its use.

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2009/01/10/fda-approves-two-new-stevia-based-sweeteners.aspx

Yummy Dessert: Apple Crisp

I will show you the original recipe first, followed by my healthy alterations.

Apples-peeled and cored--cut up (cubed)-enough to fill a square 8x8 or 9x9 baking dish.
1/2 cup sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon

**Mix sugar and cinnamon and stir with apples.

Crisp
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup butter
1 cup flour

**Mix sugar, flour, and butter with a pastry blender. Sprinkle on top of apple mixture. Bake 30 minutes at 350 degrees.

Healthy alteration:

Apples-peeled and cored--cut up (cubed)-enough to fill a square 8x8 or 9x9 baking dish.
1/4 cup honey
1 teaspoon cinnamon

**Mix honey and cinnamon and stir with apples.

Crisp
1 cup sucanat
1/2 cup butter ( I use organic when I can)
1 cup flour (freshly milled)

**Mix sucanat, flour, and butter with a pastry blender. Sprinkle on top of apple mixture. Bake 30 minutes at 350 degrees.

One neat thing about honey is that you only need half the amount you would typically use for sugar. See, it wasn't that hard to make a few modifications for a healthier dessert. Next time, I will share our ice cream recipe and a delicious recipe for brown rice custard. Both contain healthy modifications.