Refined, processed sugar is known to be bad for teeth and for health. Natural products such as organic raw honey, dried fruits and other sugar substitutes such as Stevia, can be sourced to provide an excellent way of getting a sweet fix while at the same time providing goodness for the body.
Organic Raw Honey
Organic raw honey makes one of the best sugar substitutes available. It is one of the healthiest and sweetest treats of all and is delicious on its own, on a piece of healthy, lightly toasted seed bread or made into delicious candy.
The first step in the recipes that follow is to find good quality organic raw honey, that is, honey that is not filtered, irradiated or heat treated. Also, find good quality, heavy based cookware, so that the honey and nuts do not overheat or burn but can heat slowly and evenly.
Halvah Recipe made with Honey and Sesame Seeds
The Greeks and Jews among others, are famous for their honey deserts and candies such as Baklava and Halvah. This home-made Halvah recipe is guaranteed to satisfy any sweet tooth, the healthy way.
Ingredients:
- 700g (2 cups) good quality raw honey
- 340g (1 1/2 cups) tahini, which is a sesame seed paste, usually sold in a tin
- 1 cup of shelled nuts and skinned nuts, such as almonds (optional)
Method:
- Heat the honey, but do not boil.
- Add the nuts to the honey.
- Beat the tahini to ensure that any excess oil is blended, then warm up in a separate pan.
- Fold the warm tahini into the hot honey.
- Place the mixture into a oiled loaf tin and seal to keep out moisture, for at least 2 days.
- Cut into slices and serve.
Baklava Recipe
A famous middle eastern sweet cake, traditional baklava is made with unprocessed honey, phylo pastry and nuts. Guaranteed to satisfy a sweet tooth without the addition of sugar.
Ingredients:
- 20 sheets phyllo pastry
- 3/4 cup melted butter, unsalted
- 1 1/2 cups pure organic honey, warmed up to make it runny
- 3 cups finely chopped walnuts
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1 cup water
- 2 tbsp lemon juice
Method:
- In a greased baking pan, layer 2 sheets of phyllo pastry. Press into the pan and fold up any excess pastry up the sides. Brush the pastry with melted butter.
- In a separate saucepan, mix honey, 1/4 cup of butter, walnuts and cinnamon. Sprinkle 3 tbsp of this mixture over the surface of the buttered phyllo pastry.
- Continue placing two sheets of phyllo pastry, melted butter and mixed nut mixture until pastry and nut mixture is used up.
- Brush the top layer with melted butter.
- Bake at 190 degrees Celcius (375 F) for 30 minutes or until pastry is a golden brown. Be careful not to burn.
- Make a separate syrup by combining honey, water and lemon juice in a heavy based saucepan and boiling for 3 minutes. Pour over the baked baklava. Cool, cut into traditional diamond shapes and serve.
More Articles on Sugar and Sugar Substitute Recipes:
The article Dangers of Sugar examines why sugar is so bad for health and looks at some other, healthier alternatives.
Xylitol Chocolate Clusters and Date Squares: Delicious sugar free, sweet treat recipes.
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