Stevia
Stevia:
a food that's not a food
Have you ever heard of stevia? Well if the FDA had had its way about a
year ago, when it ordered the seizure and destruction of a book called
"Cooking with Stevia" (http://www.fastlane.net/~kirkland/stevia/stevia.htm),
by James and Tanya Kirkland, you never would. According to "Cooking
with Stevia,"stevia has been used for centuries in South America and is
the most popular non-caloric sweetener in Japan. Stevia is a leafy green
plant which is related to lettuce, marigold and chicory. It is exceptionally
sweet, but has no calories or fat. It's totally safe for both diabetics and
dieters to use, yet the FDA will not allow it to be marketed as a food --
it can only be sold as a dietary supplement. The book was seized because
it had the audacity to feature stevia in recipes -- a no-no for a dietary
supplement (tell that to all those companies adding ginseng and other
vitamins to their products!). The whole mess with stevia is quite
bizarre, and it's really unfair that the FDA would prevent a perfectly
safe product, which is a FOOD, from being sold as a food. James the
author of the Stevia book, is also involved with a website called:
http://www.steviapetition.org, which has more info about the stevia/FDA
debacle.
So how about a recipe from the book which the FDA tried to burn?
Blueberry Syrup
1 cup blueberries
½ cup apple juice
1 ½ teaspoons cornstarch
2 teaspoons stevia blend or 1/4 tsp. stevioside
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 tablespoon non-hydrogenated margarine
Combine berries and apple juice in a blender or food processor; blend
till pureed. In a heavy saucepan, combine blueberry puree, stevia, and
cornstarch; mix well. Cook, stirring constantly, till thick and bubbly.
Continue cooking and stirring for two more minutes. Remove from
heat. Stire in lemon juice and margarine. Makes 1 cup. Serve over
pancakes, waffles, or French toast.
NOTE; AS WITH ALL HERBS BEFORE USING PLEASE, I CANNOT STRESS ENOUGH, PLEASE
CHECK WITH YOUR DOCTOR BEFORE USING IT AS A REPLACEMENT FOR SUGAR
ESPECIALLY IF YOU ARE A DIABETIC.
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