Good Morning!
Luckily, sunshine is in full effect today, which is making this Monday much more tolerable. After a weekend of eating mac and cheese, ice cream and other goodies, I was ready to start the week on a healthier foot.
I picked up a few yogurts this week and happened to come across Stonyfield Cherry Vanilla. This really is one of the best flavors I’ve had in awhile. I know some people are iffy about cherry flavored things, but I just love them. I poured it in a bowl and topped it with some granola and dried cranberries. And voila! Breakfast was served.
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First Giveaway!
Remember this cheesecake I made for Easter?
While I definitely can’t take credit for the recipe (it’s courtesy of the amazing Brown Eyed Baker), I got a chance to make it slightly healthier with the help of an awesome product called Xylitol.
Recently, Matt from Xylitol USA contacted me about trying Xylitol for the first time. I was so excited because I tend to use sugar substitutes, but I’d love to use something that’s got a funky list of ingredients and looks and tastes more like actual sugar. Xylitol is definitely it!
A little bit more about Xylitol:
“Xylitol is an all natural sweetener that looks and tastes like sugar. Xylitol is naturally occuring in many fruits and vegetables. Once extracted and processed it yields a white, crystalline granule that can be used in any recipe that calls for sugar. It’s good for your teeth, stabilizes insulin and hormone levels, promotes good health and has none of the negative side effects of white sugar or artificial sweeteners. It contains only 2.4 calories per gram and is slowly absorbed as a complex carbohydrate.”
I subbed Xyla for the same amount of regular sugar called for in the recipe, which is another plus of this product. Nothing’s more annoying than trying to figure out how to substitute measurements for a different ingredient! I couldn’t even tell the difference in the cheesecake. I’ve been using it in my coffee and tea in the morning and loving it.
So…do you guys want some sweet stuff to try for yourself?
Three lucky people will win their own bag of Xylitol. Just leave a comment and I’ll randomly select someone on Friday, May 13th. Good luck!
mm I love the sound of your cherry yogurt.
I’m not so big on xylitol so no entry for me but the cake looks lovely!
is it cheating if i win?
I love that it isn’t a powder like many sweeteners. Also loving that it’s a complex carb!! This sugar seems to good to be true!!!!
I’m curious to see how xylitol works in different recipe applications. As a sugar alcohol it can cause some “GI discomfort”, so be careful!
Hey Alexa, Not sure if you remember me from Panera, but I found your blog a few weeks ago and have been following it ever since! I love your smoothie recipes and can’t wait to try a few out this summer. I’d also love to try that sugar substitute
Hey Jen! Of course I remember you! I’m so glad you found my blog, and I hope you continue to enjoy reading
i’d love to win, this looks great! i’m trying to reduce my consumption of artificial sweeteners like Equal so this would be great
My mother in law uses xylitol and loves it. I’ve tried it a few times and you can’t tell a difference at all. Way better than refined sugar.
I have never tried that sweetener but have heard about it being used on a few blogs I read.
I love using different things to substitute sugar!
Sugar is in almost everything these days! I’m always trying to find ways to substitute sugar when I’m baking
And your cake turned out beautifully, by the way!
Congrats on your first giveaway!! Hope I win
I love Stoneyfield yogurt! Have you ever tried their frozen yogurt? I found it at Whole Foods a couple months ago, and I am in love!
Looking forward to reading more!
They have frozen yogurt?! I need to get my hands on that!
My goodness, I would love to win this!
A random selection on FRIDAY THE 13TH!? ahhhhh. I’m just kidding. I just wanted to be a goof. You don’t have to enter me into the contest, though, because I think that might be a little fishy if your wonderful, magnificent, dashing boyfriend won.
I would love to try Xylitol. I’m always looking for a good sugar substitute.
I’ve been looking for a Splenda substitute…I hope I win so I can try some!
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There’s a Friday the 13th coming up?! And I’d love to try that sugar, I’ve been looking for a good substitute.
i love the strawberry yummness!
and i have actually heard of Xylitol but never thought anything of it until here! i would love to try something new in my diet:)
interesting~! I didn’t know Xylitol came in like that either. I know that it’s in some of the yummiest and “best refreshing” gums from some Korean companies.
A slowly absorbed complex carbohydrate that tastes like sugar! Sign me up please
I recently bought stevia but trying to figure out how much to use is so annoying! Maybe Xylitol is what I buy next
Hey! I just found your blog and added it to my list
This is the first time I’ve seen xylitol for baking purposes, i am really intrigued!
That cheesecake looks to die for! I’ve been looking for a sugar substitute for baking, primarily for others cause I don’t really need it but if i want to share with others I must find a baking sugar! Or I don’t know how I’ll be eating all of my healthy baked goods
oooh i’ve had it in my gum and toothpaste before but i’ve never try-tried it! I’m beyond curious!!! =)
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