Sugar-free Cookies, Hot Chocolate & Whipped Cream

Inspired Living Expert & TV Host Leah Guy just released a special ZSweet® episode on her official site. In the video Leah & co-host, Jim O'Connor of the Food Network, mix up sugar-free hot chocolate almond milk, with sugar-free whipped cream from scratch on top (I suggest using a mixer instead of whisking it by hand) & a warm batch of "sugar" cookies made with ZSweet® to take to the streets for live reactions from people out & about. The public & the hosts unanimously agreed that they love ZSweet®!

Watch the video here.

Try these yummy ZSweet® recipes at home....
Sugar-free "Sugar" Cookies

2 3/4 cups sifted all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/4 cup ZSweet
1 cup butter (2 sticks)
1 egg, lightly beaten
3 tablespoons cream
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C)

2. Sift together all-purpose flour, baking powder, ZSweet and salt.

3. Cut in butter and blend with a pastry blender until mixture is crumbly. Stir in
lightly beaten egg, vanilla and cream. Blend well. Chill dough for one hour for easier
rolling.

4. On a floured surface, roll out dough to 1/4 inch thickness. Cut into shapes. Place on
ungreased baking sheet and sprinkle with ZSweet.

5. Bake for 6 – 8 minutes, or until lightly brown.

(I also sprinkled ZSweet packets on top of cookies after cool!)

Sugar-free & Dairy-free Hot Cocoa with Whipped Cream

Cocoa
1/4 cup ZSweet® granulated
6-10 ZSweet® supersweet packets (add to taste)
32 oz. unsweetened chocolate Almond Breeze® almond milk

Directions: Add ZSweet® to taste & stir. Heat in a pan on stove over a low-medium setting. Pour & serve! Top with sugar-free whipped cream.

Whipped Cream
1 cup heavy cream
1/4 cup ZSweet® granulated
1 tsp. vanilla

Directions
Pour heavy cream in a medium bowl and beat with electric beater until cream becomes stiff. Add ZSweet® and vanilla and continue beating until consistency and taste become whipped cream.

photo credit: leahguy.com

February Gluten-free / Sugar-free with Kelly Keough

Join Kelly at Whole Foods Markets in Southern California for hands on training in gluten & sugar-free "baking". Taste for yourself the surprisingly delightful results of Kelly's creative & simple alternatives to popular foods we know & love.

2/4, Thurs: 4-7 pm - 7871 West Santa Monica Blvd, Los Angeles - Demo

2/5, Fri: 11-2 pm - 6350 W 3rd St, Los Angeles - Demo
2/8, Mon: 11-2 pm - 239 N Crescent Dr, Beverly Hills - Demo

2/11, Thurs: 11-2 pm - 3751 E Foothill Blvd, Pasadena - Demo
2/12, Fri: 11-2 pm - 21347 Ventura Blvd, Woodland Hills - Demo

2/16, Tues: 4-7 pm - 19340 Rinaldi St, Northridge - Demo

2/18, Thurs: 11-2 pm - 11666 National Blvd, Los Angeles - Demo

2/23, Tues: 4-7 pm - 331 N Glendale Ave, Glendale - Demo

2/25, Thurs: 11-2 pm - 239 N Crescent Dr, Beverly Hills - Demo

Mmmm.... Cake.

photo credit: www.theyucadiaries.blogspot.com

How good does this cake look? Foodie-blogger Roxanne Buil adapted a sugar-free, gluten-free red velvet chocolate cake recipe from Healthy Indulgences to exclude the red food coloring, but the result is just as yummy & even healthier.
She used ZSweet® in place of sugar & graciously allowed us to share the fruits of her labors here with you.

Ingredients:
1/2 cup butter, softened
9 large eggs
1 cup ZSweet
1/4 teaspoon stevia extract ( I use the Now brand)
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1/2 cup yogurt
3/4 cup sifted coconut flour
3/4 teaspoon aluminum-free baking powder
2 tablespoons cocoa powder

Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Set out butter and eggs to bring to room temperature. Butter a cake pan and coat with cocoa powder removing the excess powder. Separate the egg yolks from the whites and beat the whites until they form stiff peaks. In a separate bowl, beat the yolks with vanilla extract. Mix the dry ingredients in a separate bowl. In another bowl , cream butter until it turns to a pale yellow color. Add the ZSweet in a steady stream and cream together for 2-3 minutes, or until light, fluffy, and close to the color of cream cheese. Make sure to incorporate well. Add the egg yolks to the butter and cream and beat. Once the yolks are added, add dry and wet ingredients until the mixture is combined well leaving the egg whites until the very end. Fold in the egg whites gently and once the mixture is combined, pour the batter into the cake pan. Bake for 40-45 minutes, and test with a toothpick. Remove and invert very gently onto a cooling rack. Once cool, use a cake leveler to cut the loaf evenly in half. Frost with cream cheese frosting.

Cream Cheese Frosting
2-8 oz packages cream cheese
1/2 cup ZSweet, powdered (using a coffee grinder combine ZSweet with a little arrowroot)
1 tbsp arrowroot powder
1/4 teaspoon stevia extract
1 stick butter
Pinch of salt

Bring cream cheese to room temperature. Beat until smooth and creamy, then add powdered ZSweet and beat until the mixture is combined well. This will take a little while because the ZSweet has to dissolve into the mixture well.

ZSweet® is "rather naughty"

European customers are loving ZSweet®. I get such a kick out of the charming phrases they use to describe ZSweet®. In a recent article, "Zero calorie sugar launches and claims 100% natural", the writer stated the following: "For all the 2 million people in the UK living with diabetes, sugar has become a scary no-no. But here’s for some great news! Zsweet (Zsweet®) is the first, natural, truly zero calorie, zero glycaemic sugar alternative that tastes, well just like sugar, instantly allowing you to devour some rather naughty puds...."

I had a chuckle and had to look up "puds" to be sure of what was being said, sure enough puds means desserts, like pudding, and yes, it's true, you can still have a lil' naughty dessert when you swap sugar for ZSweet®.

For customers within the European Union shop at www.ZSweet.eu.

ZSweet® & Suzanne Somer's Diet

I first heard about the Suzanne Somer's diet from a very close friend. She had so much success on the diet that her sister & her Mom got on board & also had amazing results. From what I recall, it was important to avoid sugar & to never mix your sugar with fat. (Please feel free to comment below if I've got that wrong).

Today I was reminded of the diet when I came across a recommendation for ZSweet® by one of Suzanne Somer's community members on her Somersize Support Forum under the section: Food Brands that are Good for Somersizing.

Like ZSweet®, Somersweet® (Suzanne Somer's sweetener) is made with erythritol. However, after tasting it myself I still believe ZSweet® tastes more like sugar. There is also a significant savings when you compare the two brands.

Somersweet® is $19.95 for 2 1 lb. canisters vs. $13.99 for a 1.5 lb. ZSweet® pouch ($2.98 Savings!) & $19.95 for 100 packets vs. $7.49 for 100 ZSweet® packets. ($12.46 Savings!)

I've seen firsthand that Somersizing really works & therefore I personally recommend it for anyone ready to lose weight & look great. I'm also excited that Suzanne Somers has used natural erythritol in her sweetener instead of an artificial alternative, but for those concerned with price or convenience it's good to know ZSweet® is an acceptable & affordable option that can be found in Whole Foods, Vitamin Shoppe & other natural retailers nationwide, as well as online.

Here's to looking as fabulous as Suzanne Somers in 2010!

photo credit: www.suzannesomers.com

"Low Carb Brownies That Taste Like Brownies"

Looking for a decadent brownie that won't make you feel guilty? Check out this low carb recipe made with ZSweet® that promises a brownie that tastes like the real thing at: www.lowcarbfriends.com.

Nutritional Info: Makes 6 servings. Each serving 108 calories. 5 g carb 3 g fiber. 4 g protein. 9 g fat.

Start Sugar-free in January!

Interested in learning easy ways to go sugar-free in 2010? Southern California residents can get quick tips from sugar-free / gluten-free chef Kelly Keough in person at Whole Foods Markets all month, see dates & times below. Not able to make it out to her classes? Get Kelly's cookbooks for simple & tasty recipes.

Kelly broke the sugar addiction, you can too!

1/5, Tues: 4-7 pm - 7871 West Santa Monica Blvd, Los Angeles - Demo

1/7, Thurs: 11-2 pm - 6350 W 3rd St, Los Angeles - Demo

1/12, Tues: 11-2 pm - 21347 Ventura Blvd, Woodland Hills - Demo

1/14, Thurs: 4-7 pm - 740 N Moorpark Rd, Thousand Oaks - Demo

1/18, Mon: 4-7 pm - 3751 E Foothill Blvd, Pasadena - Demo

1/20, Weds: 4-7 pm - 19340 Rinaldi St, Northridge - Demo

1/21, Thurs: 11-2 pm - 11666 National Blvd, Los Angeles - Demo

1/22, Fri: 4-7 pm - 331 N Glendale Ave, Glendale - Demo

1/30, Sat: 11 am - 2201 Wilshire Blvd, Santa Monica - CLASS

1/31, Sun: 11-2 pm - 239 N Crescent Dr, Beverly Hills - Demo