Emerald Forest - Candies & Artificial Sweetener

Emerald Forest makes goodies for your sweet tooth - gum, mints, sour candies as well as an artificial sweetener. They also offer various flavors of coffee shots. Their low carb products are sweetened by Xylitol.

Xylitol is a sweet derivative from non-genetically modified, pesticide-free corn. It has no toxicity, is not linked to any diseases and, in fact, is actually great for dental health because it creates an alkaline pH in the mouth which fights off bacteria and plaque. Don't eat too much, though, because it has a mild laxative effect.

Emerald Forest products are safe for diabetics because Xylitol has fewer than 3 calories per gram. There is no glucose spike in the blood because it's glycemic index is only seven.

If you love to bake, click HERE for some delicious recipes from Emerald Forest. Check out their recipe contest, too!

Best Brownies-

Ingredients:

½ Cup melted butter or vegetable oil

¾ Cup xylitol or more to taste

1 Tsp vanilla

2 eggs

½ Cup whole wheat pastry flour

1/3 Cup cocoa

¼ Tsp baking powder

¼ Tsp salt

½ Cup chopped walnuts

Directions:

Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees. Stir oil or melted butter, xylitol and vanilla together in a large bowl. Add eggs, beat until well blended using a spoon. Combine flour, cocoa, baking powder and salt; gradually add to egg mixture. Add nuts if desired. Spread into a greased 9 inch square pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes or until brownie pulls away from the edge of the pan. Cool in pan and frost with chocolate cream cheese frosting. Makes 16 brownies.

Creamcheese Frosting-

Ingredients:

3 Tbsp butter

3 Tbsp cocoa powder

½ Cup xylitol

6 Tbsp light cream or canned milk

4 Oz light cream cheese

1 Tsp vanilla

Directions:

Place butter, cocoa, and xylitol in a double boiler over bowling water. Heat until xylitol is dissolved. Pour into blender and add cream cheese, cream, and vanilla. Blend until smooth. Let stand or cool until spreadable.

Sugar Substitutes

And now a note from our sponsor:

Did you know that during World War II there was a sugar shortage? In the search for anything sweet, a German scientist discovered XYLITOL which can be derived from plants. Finland was the first to start using xylitol. They started extracting/processing their xylitol from birch trees.

Today we have plenty of sugar to go around but now everyone's in search of a sugar substitute to cut calories. Xylitol can be derived from berries, fruits, corn cobs and birch trees. It has a 1 for 1 substitution for sugar and is just as sweet. Xylitol has only 2.4 calories per gram.

There is also ERYTHRITOL, a sweetener that derives from grapes, melons, mushrooms and some fermented foods. This product has a glycemic index of 0 with only 0.2 calories per gram. One cup equals 2/3rds cup of sugar in baking. At the end of this article is a delicious scones recipe using Erythritol.

Several companies sell alternative sweeteners but only one is "green" about it. EMERALD FOREST goes to extra lengths to protect their customers and the environment:

• Trees are not used in order to preserve our world's forests
  
• Farms do not use pesticides or genetic engineering


• These farms are visited regularly by Emerald Forest inspectors
  
• Waste water from the production facilities is cleaned up before leaving the plant

If you are interested in Xylitol or Erythritol, visit Emerald Forest's website- http://www.emeraldforestxylitol.com/. There is alot of information about this Colorado company and their products as well as a way to buy online.

Here's the recipe I promised-

Creamy Scones

Ingredients:
3 ½ cups pastry flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
½ teaspoon salt
½ cup erythritol
2 eggs
½ cup (1 stick) butter
⅔ cup milk
½ cup orange juice
¼ cup raisins, cranberries, currants, or nuts

Directions:
Preheat oven to 375°.
Line a baking tray with parchment paper or oil the tray lightly.
Mix dry ingredients together in a large bowl.
Add the butter to the mixture with a pastry cutter until crumbly.
Stir in the liquid ingredients and add fruit or nuts.
Mix with a fork until well blended.
Turn onto a floured surface.
Flour your hands and shape the mix into two circles.
Cut the circles into quarters or eighths. Place on the baking tray.
Bake 15-18 minutes.
Note: Frost with a blend of erythritol or powdered sugar, maple syrup/substitute and vanilla extract.
Add a small amount of milk as needed.
Time to Prepare: 20 minute
Yield: 8-16 small scones
Recipe courtesy of Jules Marie© 2008


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