Strawberry Rhubarb Jam

  

Ingredients

5 cups rhubarb, washed, ends trimmed and cut into 1/2 inch cubes

3 cups strawberries (fresh or frozen), hulled and cut into halves

3 cups cane sugar

Juice of one lemon, seeds reserved and placed in a sachet, tea bag or piece of tied cheesecloth(lemon seeds are a natural pectin replacement) 

 

Preparations Place all of the ingredients in a medium heavy saucepan.  Bring the ingredients to a boil.  Reduce the heat to medium-low, add the lemon seeds/sachet in the mixture.   Continue to gently simmer the jam for about an hour, stirring occasionally, or until it reaches 220 degrees F.  If not canning, allow the jam to cool, pour into jars, cover and refrigerate.  The jam will keep for up to a month.   Makes 4-5 cups of jam. For long-term storage (at least one year) can the jam as follows:  Sterilize 4 half-pint jars (or 2 pint jars) and their lids and bands.   Bring a water canner to a boil. Fill the jars with jam leaving 1/4 inch headspace from the top.  Use a wet cloth or paper towel to wipe the rim to make sure it’s clean.  Place the lids on the jars and screw on the bands. Carefully place the jars in the canner so they are not touching and so that they are covered by at least an inch of water.  Boil for 10 minutes.  Carefully remove the jars and let them sit undisturbed for 24 hours before storing them.  Store them in a dark, cool place and they will keep for at least a year.

https://gscrochetdesigns.blogspot.com. one can see my crochet creations  

https://kneereplacement-stickclub.blogspot.com. for info on knee replacement

https://cancersupportindia.blogspot.com  for info on cancer and health related topics

https://GSiyers home remedies.blogspot.com   is the latest addition to my blogs

 

Lemon Olive OIl Cake

 Ingredients

Olive oil 1 ½ cup + more for the pan

Eggs 3 large

Granulated sugar 1 ¼ cups

Whole milk 1 ¼ cups

Lemon juice 2/3 cup

Lemons 2 large

All-purpose flour 2 cups

Baking soda 1/2 tsp

Baking pdr ½ tsp

Amaro del capo 1 tbsp * OR Vanilla extract

Orange zest 1 tsp

Kosher salt 1 tsp

Raw sugar for topping ¼ cup OR cane sugar

Pdr sugar for dusting

* The Amaro is made with 29 different herbs, flowers, roots, and fruits. The recipe includes juniper, ginger, laurel, anise, orange peel, mint, cardamom, elder, saffron, cinchona, gentian, bitter orange, citrus zest, angelica, sage, liquorice, chamomile, cloves and cinnamon. OR any German Liqueur

 

Preparations

Preheat oven to 350 deg. F/ 180 C

In a springform pan, oil and line with parchment paper

In a medium bowl whisk egg, oil, granulated sugar until smooth. Then whisk in milk, amaro / vanilla, orange zest, lemon juice, lemon zest and vanilla.

In a separate large bowl, mix in all dry ingredients. Whisk until smooth.

Pour the batter into the prepared pan. Sprinkle with cane sugar  over the top and bake for about 50 minutes to an hour.

Remove the cake from the oven and cool. When cooled, dust with powdered sugar and a scrape of lemon zest.

 

 

https://gscrochetdesigns.blogspot.com. one can see my crochet creations  

https://kneereplacement-stickclub.blogspot.com. for info on knee replacement

https://cancersupportindia.blogspot.com  for info on cancer and health related topics

https://GSiyers home remedies.blogspot.com   is the latest addition to my blogs

 

 

Egg-less Lemon Cake

 Ingredients

 ¼ cup Lemon Juice - + zest from the same lemon 

 1 ¼ cups canned coconut milk

 ¾ cup unrefined cane sugar\

 1 ¾ cups all purpose flour

• 
  

To decorate

pdr sugar 

 

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C). Line an 8-inch baking pan with non-stick parchment paper on the bottom and sides. Set aside. 

In a small bowl, whisk together the lemon juice and canned coconut milk. Set aside. 

In a mixing bowl, add sugar and grate lemon zest. Use your fingertips to rub the zest into the sugar. 

Add the whisked flour and the coconut milk mixture made earlier. 

Use a rubber spatula to stir and form a smooth cake batter. 

Pour the cake batter into the prepared pan. 

Bake for 30-35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean. The top will stay pale, lightly golden on the edges. That's normal. 

Cool down for 10 minutes in the pan, then for 1 hour on a wire rack. 

Once the cake has cooled to room temperature, you can dust powdered sugar on top to decorate, and add a few extra slices of lemon in the center for decor.

 

https://gscrochetdesigns.blogspot.com. one can see my crochet creations  

https://kneereplacement-stickclub.blogspot.com. for info on knee replacement

https://cancersupportindia.blogspot.com  for info on cancer and health related topics

https://GSiyers home remedies.blogspot.com   is the latest addition to my blogs

 

Coconut Syrup

 INGREDIENTS

 400 millilitres coconut milk full fat, tinned 

3 tablespoon sugar

Instructions 

• In a medium saucepan, whisk coconut milk and sugar then heat on medium heat.
• As it comes to a gentle boil, lower the heat and continue to cook until just thick and syrup.3. Remove from the heat when it thickens to your desired consistency but note that it thickens further as it cools. You’re aiming for a maple syrup consistency so it isn’t too thick.
  4.For a thicker syrup similar to condensed milk, cook the mixture for longer.
  5. Pour in a mason jar ready for use

Notes

It is important to continually stir to prevent the mixture burning and sticking to the pan Stick to a good brand of coconut milk and ensure it is well in date.  Note that this recipe requires tinned coconut milk which is thicker than the dairy free coconut milk that comes in bottles.  Do not substitute coconut extract in this recipe. To speed up the process, you could add a quarter teaspoon of cornstarch to 1 tin of coconut milk to thicken it quicker without needing to heat for too long. I have garnished coconut syrup with coconut flakes for photographic purpose only. It doesn’t require in making the recipe.

Storage

Store leftover syrup in an airtight container and keep in the refrigerator for up to 1 week. 

As it is a homemade syrup, it may not last as long as store bought versions which often contain preservatives. 

How to use coconut syrup

Add it to a cold drink such as a cold brew for amazing taste or to warm coconut lattes. It is also great in cocktails or mocktails. 

Top on french toast or your favorite pancakes with fresh fruit for next level fun flavor! I love it on these Mango and Coconut Pancakes!

It is also brilliant with these Buckwheat Banana Pancakes – just add some chopped macadamia nuts and almonds.

Drizzle it over vegan ice cream or sorbet with extra toasted coconut flakes

 

Pro Tips

Stick to a good brand of coconut milk and ensure it is well in date. 

Note that this recipe requires tinned coconut milk which is thicker than the dairy free coconut milk that comes in bottles or cartons. 

Do not substitute coconut extract in this recipe.

To speed up the process, you could add a quarter teaspoon of cornstarch to 1 tin of coconut milk to thicken it quicker without needing to heat for too long.

 

https://gscrochetdesigns.blogspot.com. one can see my crochet creations  

https://cancersupportindia.blogspot.com. feel free to view for easy, simple and health tips  

https://kneereplacement-stickclub.blogspot.com. for info on knee replacement

https://GSiyers home remedies.blogspot.com     is the latest addition to my blogs.

 

 

8 Methods Companies Use To Hide Sugar In Foods

 It’s no secret that eating too much added sugar can harm your health in a variety of ways, with excess sugar consumption being linked to a variety of conditions like diabetes, heart disease, and cancer. But even if you use little to no added sugar in your cooking, you might be consuming way more of it than the recommended daily amount. How is that possible? One major reason why that might be happening is that companies add a lot of sugar to their products, but they try to conceal it in a variety of ways to be able to pass them off as healthy foods.

And while the maximum daily amount of added sugar for men should be no more than 37.5 grams (9 teaspoons) and for women it should not exceed 25 grams (6 teaspoons), 1 protein bar can contain as much as 30 grams (7.5 teaspoons) of added sugars, which is over the daily recommended allowance for women. Let’s investigate how it is possible for companies to sell you junk food under the premise of healthy food, and how you can use food labels to make smart purchasing decisions that would promote and not harm your health.

1. They Use a Different Word For Sugar 

When you want to find out how much sugar a product contains, let’s say, a box of cereal, you usually look at the back of a cereal box and scan the ingredients list for keywords like sugar, sucrose, glucose, and fructose. If you don’t find those, or find them in the middle or at the end of the ingredients list, which means that there isn’t a lot of it in the product, you make the conclusion that it’s a healthy choice, right? 

 

Well, not entirely, as many companies nowadays use many “alternative” names for sugar in an attempt to deceive a consumer that is used to scan the ingredients list before purchasing a certain product. Here is a list of such alternative names that you should watch out for when it comes to powdered added sugar.

Added sugar is also often used in syrup form rather than powdered form, in which case they commonly appear as the following ingredients on nutrition labels.

2. Adding Sugar to Things That Aren’t Sweet  

You would expect to see added sugar appearing as an ingredient on a box of cookies, but not so much on a can of tomato sauce, salad dressings, and soups. The truth is that humans simply love sweet food because our brains run on sugar and it’s addictive, and for companies, it’s a cheap way of making a product tastier for consumers. 

 

Unfortunately, all of the foods we mentioned above can actually contain a lot of sugar, which adds up and can be the culprit behind excess sugar consumption. For example, 100 grams of some ketchups can contain as much as 38 grams of sugar, which is higher than the daily allowance for men. That’s why it is always important to always check the sugar content of a product, be it sweet or savory. 

 

3. Adding Health-Related Claims on Product Packaging 

You’re better off completely ignoring claims like natural, zero, healthy, low-fat, diet, and light that often appear on the packaging of products. Instead, look directly at the label and analyze the ingredient list. These products are often lower in fat, calories, and sugar, but they’re often way too abundant in sugars.

4. Using So-Called “Healthy” Sugars  

Certain products use labels like refined sugar-free or contains no refined sugar. What these labels mean, however, is that a product doesn't contain white sugar. While it may be true that these so-called “healthy” sugars have a slightly lower glycemic index (GI), they still have little to no additional nutrients compared to whole foods and, at the end of the day, they are still added sugars. A list of popular sugars marketed as healthier can be found in the picture below.

The bottom line is that like white sugar, fructose or corn syrup, these sugars should not exceed the overall amount of 37.5 g for men and 25 g for women. So, it doesn’t matter if you consume 25 g of white sugar, or 10 g of coconut sugar, 10 g of agave syrup and 5 g of honey as a woman, both equal your daily recommended amount. That doesn’t mean that you cannot choose these alternatives, but remember that they are just as damaging to your health as any other sugar.

5. Using a Few Types of Sugar 

As we mentioned previously, ingredients appear in any ingredients list according to their amounts in a product, so the first ingredient is usually the most abundant one, whereas there will be very little of the last ingredient on the list. Companies learned to take advantage of this regulation and often use several types of sugar in smaller amounts, which makes them appear lower on the ingredients list. 

 

This can trick a consumer into believing that there is very little sugar in the product. So, if you see a few different types of sugar in the middle or at the end of the list, know that the added amount of all these sugars may be way higher than you expect. For example, if you look at the picture below, you will see that this cereal uses a variety of sweeteners, such as sugar, honey, and brown sugar syrup that appear in different places on the list.

6. Not Distinguishing Between Naturally-Occurring and Added Sugars 

There is a difference between eating an orange and drinking a glass of soda, even if both of these products contain a lot of sugar. While products containing added sugars, like a glass of soda, do not contain anything apart from whatever is listed on the packaging, whole foods are packed full with fiber, vitamins, antioxidants and essential nutrients that not only mitigate the damage caused by the sugar they contain, but improve your health. 

 

Ingredient labels don’t distinguish between the added and naturally-occurring sugars, but you should keep in mind that choosing whole, unprocessed foods is always better. 

 

7. Changing the Nutritional Facts With Time 

If you know that a specific brand makes a great low-sugar product, don’t assume it applies to comparable products by the same brand. It is often the case that a similar product, but with a different flavor or simply one that is sold in a different country will not have the same nutritional content the original did. 

 

It is also often the case that brands change the content of their products when they update the packaging, so always be critical of any changes or variations in the product you know is good, as it may actually turn out to be not so low in sugar.

8. Check the Serving Size 

The last, but definitely crucial line in the nutrition facts portion of a product is the serving size. Food companies often manipulate the serving size of a product, making it too small to be realistic, but this makes the product look like it’s not that high in sugar. So, for example, 1 small can of soda that even a child can gulp down in a matter of seconds often contains multiple servings, which means that by drinking the whole thing you’re actually consuming double or triple the amount of sugar mentioned on the packaging. Be careful and make smart food purchases.

https://gscrochetdesigns.blogspot.com. one can see my crochet creations  

https://cancersupportindia.blogspot.com. feel free to view for easy, simple and health tips  
https://kneereplacement-stickclub.blogspot.com. for info on knee replacement

8 Methods Companies Use To Hide Sugar In Foods

It’s no secret that eating too much added sugar can harm your health in a variety of ways, with excess sugar consumption being linked to a variety of conditions like diabetes, heart disease, and cancer. But even if you use little to no added sugar in your cooking, you might be consuming way more of it than the recommended daily amount. How is that possible? One major reason why that might be happening is that companies add a lot of sugar to their products, but they try to conceal it in a variety of ways to be able to pass them off as healthy foods.

And while the maximum daily amount of added sugar for men should be no more than 37.5 grams (9 teaspoons) and for women it should not exceed 25 grams (6 teaspoons), 1 protein bar can contain as much as 30 grams (7.5 teaspoons) of added sugars, which is over the daily recommended allowance for women. Let’s investigate how it is possible for companies to sell you junk food under the premise of healthy food, and how you can use food labels to make smart purchasing decisions that would promote and not harm your health.

1. They Use a Different Word For Sugar  

When you want to find out how much sugar a product contains, let’s say, a box of cereal, you usually look at the back of a cereal box and scan the ingredients list for keywords like sugar, sucrose, glucose, and fructose. If you don’t find those, or find them in the middle or at the end of the ingredients list, which means that there isn’t a lot of it in the product, you make the conclusion that it’s a healthy choice, right? 

 

Well, not entirely, as many companies nowadays use many “alternative” names for sugar in an attempt to deceive a consumer that is used to scan the ingredients list before purchasing a certain product. Here is a list of such alternative names that you should watch out for when it comes to powdered added sugar.

Added sugar is also often used in syrup form rather than powdered form, in which case they commonly appear as the following ingredients on nutrition labels.
 

2. Adding Sugar to Things That Aren’t Sweet 

You would expect to see added sugar appearing as an ingredient on a box of cookies, but not so much on a can of tomato sauce, salad dressings, and soups. The truth is that humans simply love sweet food because our brains run on sugar and it’s addictive, and for companies, it’s a cheap way of making a product tastier for consumers. 

 

Unfortunately, all of the foods we mentioned above can actually contain a lot of sugar, which adds up and can be the culprit behind excess sugar consumption. For example, 100 grams of some ketchups can contain as much as 38 grams of sugar, which is higher than the daily allowance for men. That’s why it is always important to always check the sugar content of a product, be it sweet or savory.

3. Adding Health-Related Claims on Product Packaging 

You’re better off completely ignoring claims like natural, zero, healthy, low-fat, diet, and light that often appear on the packaging of products. Instead, look directly at the label and analyze the ingredient list. These products are often lower in fat, calories, and sugar, but they’re often way too abundant in sugars.

4. Using So-Called “Healthy” Sugars 

Certain products use labels like refined sugar-free or contains no refined sugar. What these labels mean, however, is that a product doesn't contain white sugar. While it may be true that these so-called “healthy” sugars have a slightly lower glycemic index (GI), they still have little to no additional nutrients compared to whole foods and, at the end of the day, they are still added sugars. A list of popular sugars marketed as healthier can be found in the picture below.
 

The bottom line is that like white sugar, fructose or corn syrup, these sugars should not exceed the overall amount of 37.5 g for men and 25 g for women. So, it doesn’t matter if you consume 25 g of white sugar, or 10 g of coconut sugar, 10 g of agave syrup and 5 g of honey as a woman, both equal your daily recommended amount. That doesn’t mean that you cannot choose these alternatives, but remember that they are just as damaging to your health as any other sugar.

 

5. Using a Few Types of Sugar 

As we mentioned previously, ingredients appear in any ingredients list according to their amounts in a product, so the first ingredient is usually the most abundant one, whereas there will be very little of the last ingredient on the list. Companies learned to take advantage of this regulation and often use several types of sugar in smaller amounts, which makes them appear lower on the ingredients list. 

 

This can trick a consumer into believing that there is very little sugar in the product. So, if you see a few different types of sugar in the middle or at the end of the list, know that the added amount of all these sugars may be way higher than you expect. For example, if you look at the picture below, you will see that this cereal uses a variety of sweeteners, such as sugar, honey, and brown sugar syrup that appear in different places on the list.

6. Not Distinguishing Between Naturally-Occurring and Added Sugars 

There is a difference between eating an orange and drinking a glass of soda, even if both of these products contain a lot of sugar. While products containing added sugars, like a glass of soda, do not contain anything apart from whatever is listed on the packaging, whole foods are packed full with fiber, vitamins, antioxidants and essential nutrients that not only mitigate the damage caused by the sugar they contain, but improve your health. 

 

Ingredient labels don’t distinguish between the added and naturally-occurring sugars, but you should keep in mind that choosing whole, unprocessed foods is always better.

7. Changing the Nutritional Facts With Time  

If you know that a specific brand makes a great low-sugar product, don’t assume it applies to comparable products by the same brand. It is often the case that a similar product, but with a different flavor or simply one that is sold in a different country will not have the same nutritional content the original did. 

It is also often the case that brands change the content of their products when they update the packaging, so always be critical of any changes or variations in the product you know is good, as it may actually turn out to be not so low in sugar. 

 

8. Check the Serving Size  

The last, but definitely crucial line in the nutrition facts portion of a product is the serving size. Food companies often manipulate the serving size of a product, making it too small to be realistic, but this makes the product look like it’s not that high in sugar. So, for example, 1 small can of soda that even a child can gulp down in a matter of seconds often contains multiple servings, which means that by drinking the whole thing you’re actually consuming double or triple the amount of sugar mentioned on the packaging. Be careful and make smart food purchases.

https://gscrochetdesigns.blogspot.com. one can see my crochet creations  

https://cancersupportindia.blogspot.com. feel free to view for easy, simple and health tips  
https://kneereplacement-stickclub.blogspot.com. for info on knee replacement

How To Make Moist Chocolate Cake Out Of Avocado Instead Of Eggs And Dairy

Avocados are rich in nutrients and fiber, antioxidants and good fats. Therefore, they assist weight loss, prevent blood sugar spikes, and lower blood pressure, cholesterol and triglyceride levels.
Avocados also contain lutein and zeaxanthin, two antioxidants that improve eye health.
Yet, let’s not forget we are here for the dessert!
First, here is how to use avocado instead of butter and eggs in recipes:

• Remove the skin and pit, and scoop it into a blender or food processor
• Add 2 tablespoons to each cup of avocado puree to prevent it from turning brown
• Substitute 1 cup of mashed avocado for 1 cup of butter, and 2 tablespoons to 1/4 cup for each egg.

Lactose-Free Chocolate Cake Recipe with Avocado
Cake Ingredients:

• 1 ripe avocado (blend until smooth)
• 3 cups of almond flour
• 2 teaspoons of baking soda
• ¾ teaspoon of sea salt
• 5 tablespoons of cacao powder
• 2 teaspoons of baking powder
• ¼ cup of avocado or coconut oil
• 2 cups of water
• 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar
• 1 ½ cup raw cane sugar
• 2 teaspoons of vanilla extract
• 2 tablespoons of maple syrup

Frosting Ingredients:

• 2 ripe avocados (blend until smooth)
• 6 tablespoons of cacao powder
• 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
• 2 cups of powdered sugar

Preparation:

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F, and grease and flour two 9” round cake pans.
2. Mix all the dry cake ingredients in a large bowl, but leave the sugar aside.
3. Mix all the wet ingredients in another bowl, and add the sugar. Pour this mixture into the dry one, and combine everything well until you get a smooth batter.
4. Divide it between the two pans, and bake for half an hour.
5. Meanwhile, mix the frosting ingredients in a bowl.
6. When baked, leave the cake to cool for about 15 minutes, and frost it.                                                                              
   
    
   https://gscrochetdesigns.blogspot.com. one can see my crochet creations  
   

   https://cancersupportindia.blogspot.com. feel free to view for easy, simple and health tips  
   https://kneereplacement-stickclub.blogspot.com. for info on knee replacement

source-www.healthyfoodhouse.com/