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Mackfam
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| Posted: Sept 17 2009 at 1:34pm | IP Logged
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I'm trying to seriously curb the amount of sugar consumed here. I'm looking for ideas for something that takes care of the sweet craving but isn't loaded with sugar. I'm not looking for sugar substitutes by the way, and I don't mind something that uses a little sugar for sweetening, or say honey.
One thing I'm going to make a bit more of are Jodie's oatmeal bars:
Quote:
I usually double these and make them thicker in a slightly bigger pan.. and cook longer. Poking with your finger to see if it bounces back usually works.
Oatmeal Bars
1/2 c oil
1/2 c applesauce
1/2 c brown sugar
2 eggs
1 t vanilla
2 t cinnamon
1/2 t baking soda
1/2 t baking pwd
1/2 t salt
1 1/2 c. whole wheat flour
3 c. oats
1 c raisins (optional)
mix together and spread in a greased 9x11 cake pan. bake at 350 for 20 min.
or
1/2 c oil
1/2 c apple sauce
1/2 c honey
1 t vanilla
2 t cinnamon
1/2 t baking soda
1/2 t baking pwd
1/2 t salt
1 1/2 c. whole wheat flour
3 c. oats
1 c raisins (optional)
mix together and spread in a greased 9x11 cake pan. bake at 350 for 20 min |
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I'm thinking of using carob chips and coconut in our bars to sort of give them more of a dessert look and taste.
What other ideas do you gals have?
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Jen Mackintosh
Wife to Rob, mom to dd 19 , ds 16, ds 11, dd 8, and dd 3
Wildflowers and Marbles
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JodieLyn
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| Posted: Sept 17 2009 at 1:39pm | IP Logged
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apple crisp can make a nice dessert.. and you can reduce the amount of sugar in your topping.. or increase the number of apples under the topping 
The topping I use is
1/4c flour
1/2c butter
3/4c brown sugar
1 c rolled oats
Hmmm what about popcorn? the kettle corn is when you mix sugar into the oil and pop it.. I use an air popper mostly so I've added a small amount of sugar in with the butter and it gives the popcorn a sweet and salty taste like kettle corn without needing to eat a lot of sugar.
oh what about a topping like mixing a bit of honey into cream cheese.. I like a bit of honey and chopped walnuts. It's sweet but you control how sweet and can make a yummy topping on just about any sort of bread/cracker for a snack.
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Jodie, wife to Dave
G-18, B-17, G-15, G-14, B-13, B-11, G-9, B-7, B-5, B-4
All men who have turned out worth anything have had the chief hand in their own education.
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Mackfam
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| Posted: Sept 17 2009 at 1:46pm | IP Logged
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I'm sharing (on my own thread  ) my Apple Crisp recipe which I love. This is the perfect time of year to make it and it works well for dessert or breakfast.
Quote:
Apple Crisp
Mix the following together in a bowl until apples are coated...
8 apples - peeled, cored, sliced thin into bites
juice of 1 lemon
2 tablespoons whole wheat flour
apple juice
Mix the rest together in a large bowl...
1 2/3 cups oats
1/3 cup flax
1 cup whole wheat flour
1 teaspoon salt
3 teaspoons cinnamon
3/4 cup brown sugar
2/3 cup butter
Divide in half. Press half into the bottom of a 9x13 dish. Cover with apple mixture. Cover apples with remaining topping mix. Bake at 375 for 25 minutes. |
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Just so the hat tip goes to the right place...this recipe is an adaptation from the one in
Laurel's Kitchen.
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Jen Mackintosh
Wife to Rob, mom to dd 19, ds 16, ds 11, dd 8, and dd 3
Wildflowers and Marbles
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CrunchyMom
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| Posted: Sept 17 2009 at 2:13pm | IP Logged
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Dried fruit is good for this. We like larabars, but they are pricey; so, I've gone through phases where we rely on variations of this homemade for snacks. Instead of making bars, sometimes we'll roll them into balls and roll in coconut.
I don't have a good recipe, though I've used this one as a guide before homemade lara type bar
You could probably google around to find other more specific recipes for larger amounts. I usually put a half pound of dates, a half pound of raisins (since dates are $$) and a pound (two?) of cashews and some unsweetened coconut (optional) in the food processor. I add a little tiny bit of water if necessary.
They are actually pretty when rolled in the coconut, and I've added them to cookie displays for holidays to have something without straight sugar to snack on.
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Lindsay
Five Boys(6/04) (6/06) (9/08)(3/11),(7/13), and 1 girl (5/16)
My Symphony
[URL=http://mysymphonygarden.blogspot.com/]Lost in the Cosmos[/UR
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CrunchyMom
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| Posted: Sept 17 2009 at 2:19pm | IP Logged
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Here are some variations I just came across that look yummy to try. Larabar recipe with variations
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Lindsay
Five Boys(6/04) (6/06) (9/08)(3/11),(7/13), and 1 girl (5/16)
My Symphony
[URL=http://mysymphonygarden.blogspot.com/]Lost in the Cosmos[/UR
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amyable
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| Posted: Sept 17 2009 at 2:21pm | IP Logged
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I don't have anything to add yet, but I just wanted to  you people for sharing egg-free, dairy-free (or easily sub-able) recipes! I'm always  through recipe threads because inevitably I can't use 99% of what is shared.
So, thank you!!
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Amy
mom of 5, ages 6-16, and happy wife of 
The Highly Sensitive Homeschooler
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stefoodie
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| Posted: Sept 17 2009 at 2:57pm | IP Logged
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I made Jocalat bars for the fam this week.
I used
about 1 pound dates
2 handfuls chopped almonds
2 handfuls craisins
2 tablespoons cocoa powder
Next time, I'll add some hemp protein powder. I'm also thinking of adding
crystallized ginger
dried bing cherries
dried blueberries
sesame, pumpkin and sunflower seeds
toasted wheat germ
dried apples
dried apricots
black pepper or cayenne
melted 70% bittersweet choc
I love that it's no-bake and I can make it as healthy as I want.
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stef
mom to five
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mary theresa
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Oo, I love the links to homemade Lara bars -- my girls LOVE them and love the healthy, filling, on the go-ness of the snack, but they are $$$. I'm so excited to make my own!
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Mary Theresa
mother to 3 little girls --March '06, Dec '07 and Jan '10
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SusanJ
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I was just going to start a thread like this. I really love "Coconut Fudge"
1.5 c. coconut oil, gently liquefied
1.5 c. sucanat (I've heard honey works as well)
1 c. cocoa powder
1/2 t. salt
1 t. vanilla
Gently heat coconut oil. Using a blender, powder the sugar and then mix in all other ingredients. Pour into pan and let harden. Keeps 12 mos. in fridge.
It's amazing though not very fudgy in consistency. It is quite hard cold and melts in your hand easily. But it is so good. And sucanat is much easier on blood sugar than refined sugar.
I also love making maple coated popcorn or pecans (soaked a la Weston Price). I cook equal parts butter and real maple syrup with a bit of salt over medium heat until it boils. Stirring constantly cook about three minutes and then toss with whatever. Using half brown sugar gives a more satisfying "toffee" consistency but I'm really trying to avoid refined sugar.
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SusanJ
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| Posted: Sept 17 2009 at 3:25pm | IP Logged
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I also just discovered liquid stevia and it's pretty good to sweeten a glass of milk, hot cocoa, or ricotta mousse w/cocoa powder. I don't like fake sugar substitutes either but I think stevia is a pretty different thing.
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Mom to Joseph-8, Margaret-6, William-4, Gregory-2, and new little one due 11/1
Life Together
[URL=http://thejohnstonkids.blogspot.com]The Kids' Blog[/UR
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Tami
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I like peanut butter popcorn: boil equal parts peanut butter and honey. Pour over popped corn.
It's from More With Less, but the original recipe calls for 1/2 tsp. vanilla and sugar as well. I've never added the sugar, personally (or the vanilla).
Nice way to get fiber and protein together.
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Tami
When we are crushed like grapes, we cannot think of the wine we will become. (Nouwen)
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organiclilac
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My son and I have been enjoying yogurt smoothies with frozen fruit. I make his with whole milk vanilla yogurt (Brown Cow brand is the BEST) and mine with whole milk plain yogurt. Soooo good with a handful of frozen berries, banana chunks, peaches, or whatever you like! I make extra to freeze in popsicle molds, which he and his friends love when they get hot playing outside.
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Tracy, wife to Shawn, mama to Samuel (4/01) and Joseph (11/11), and Thomas (2/15)
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stefoodie
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agave nectar is an excellent sweetener as well -- low glycemic index, etc.
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stef
mom to five
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JodieLyn
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Jennifer have I ever posted some of the variations I use with the oatmeal bars?
Like.. using a can of cranberry sauce for the apple sauce and mixing in dried cranberries and chopped walnuts?
using peanut butter and peanuts was too salty.. peanutty but if you used peanut butter in place of the applesauce (I'd have to check just how I did that) with something like chocolate chips mixed it.. it would probably be good.
I've also used pears or peach or apricots mashed up in place of the applesauce.. hmmm using crushed pineapple in place of the applesauce and mixing in some shredded coconut might be real yummy.. I'll have to hold onto that to try sometime.
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Jodie, wife to Dave
G-18, B-17, G-15, G-14, B-13, B-11, G-9, B-7, B-5, B-4
All men who have turned out worth anything have had the chief hand in their own education.
-Sir Walter Scott
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Nina
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| Posted: Sept 17 2009 at 4:50pm | IP Logged
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We use agave nectar, use it like you would sweeten with honey. It gives more sweetenes than the same amnt of reg sugar.
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MarilynW
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Here's some quick one handed ideas Jen
- frozen blueberries, plain yogurt and raw honey/maple syrup
- crockpot applesauce made with cinnamon and brown sugar - with a dollop of creamy yogurt
- celery stalks with almond butter
- crackers with almond butter
- almonds with unsulfured raisins or apricots
- homemade granola with yogurt
- homemade snack mix - goldfish, oatios, chocolate chips, rice cereal, raisins, pretzels
- baked bananas - with brown sugar and butter - yum
- rice cakes with jam/almond butter
- apples and swiss cheese
- homemade muffins - blueberry/banana/morning glory are our favorites
- cream cheese and jam mini sandwiches
...ok - can you tell I am a nursing mama....
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MarilynW
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...ps - you never did say "low fat"...
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Mackfam
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MarilynW wrote:
| ...ps - you never did say "low fat"... |
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Oh no indeed!!!  I love good fats!!
These are all awesome ideas ladies!!  I almost bought some Larabars from our grocery buying club this past week because I could get them for $1.39 a bar, but I decided against it. I'm glad I waited...I can't wait to try a few on my own! I'm really interested in trying Stef's Jocalat bars as well.
And, I had heard your cranberry idea, Jodie, but the peanut butter/chocolate chip and pineapple/coconut ideas sound perfect!!!
Wonderful ideas all!!! Keep brainstorming ladies!
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Jen Mackintosh
Wife to Rob, mom to dd 19, ds 16, ds 11, dd 8, and dd 3
Wildflowers and Marbles
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CrunchyMom
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| Posted: Sept 17 2009 at 9:35pm | IP Logged
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stefoodie wrote:
| agave nectar is an excellent sweetener as well -- low glycemic index, etc. |
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I've used agave a lot, but at the health food store, they recently changed the brand they carry. Apparently, there are questions about how it is processed and the gist I got was that some believe that it is too much like the way corn syrup is processed?
Anyway, they still sell it, but they don't "recommend" it as enthusiastically as they once did (and actually, i think that most of the employees there have stopped using it). I am using up a bottle of it as my coffee sweetener, but I'm thinking of switching to liquid stevia (as rec'd above) once I need to replace it. I do like how easily a syrup mixes into the coffee.
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Lindsay
Five Boys(6/04) (6/06) (9/08)(3/11),(7/13), and 1 girl (5/16)
My Symphony
[URL=http://mysymphonygarden.blogspot.com/]Lost in the Cosmos[/UR
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Mackfam
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| Posted: Sept 17 2009 at 9:43pm | IP Logged
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I have been considering using stevia more...maybe that'll be my next thread!
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Jen Mackintosh
Wife to Rob, mom to dd 19, ds 16, ds 11, dd 8, and dd 3
Wildflowers and Marbles
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4Real Forums : Our Lady's Loom, Larder, and Laundry
Topic: No Sugar/Low Sugar Treats and Snacks
