Produce & Pantry

Erythritol is a natural and low-glycemic sweetener. Studies show that it does not have the same effect as regular sugar on tooth enamel or blood sugar, and that it doesn't cause indigestion the...

Although brown sugar and sugar in the raw are both brown in color, they are very different products. Brown sugar is highly refined, while sugar in the raw is less processed. The two sugars taste...

Sure Jell is fruit pectin that cooks use to make homemade fruit jams and jellies. Pectin is a natural thickening agent that you add to fruits during the jam-making process to thicken the fruit and...

Cranberries are a type of small red fruit that grows in North America. They are commonly sold frozen, dried or canned, so you may not be used to the fresh variety. Fresh cranberries are much more...

The stevia plant is an herb that has been used as a natural sweetener for centuries. It is becoming popular worldwide as a sugar alternative.

Agave nectar has a thick, syrupy texture and adds more moisture and sweetness than granulated sugar. When substituting one for the other in a recipe, you might need to make some adjustments to the...

Making jams and jellies at home is much easier when you add pectin to your preserves. Pectin is a thickening agent derived from apples or other natural sources--it helps to gel your homemade fruit...

The stevia plant is a shrub-like plant with purple or white flowers found primarily in Paraguay, where it has been used for centuries as a natural sweetener. Most frequently, extract from the...

If you have ever glanced through the ingredients list on the packaging of various kinds of foods and beverages, you may have noticed some list one or both of two similar sounding ingredients: corn...

Golden syrup is a type of inverted sugar syrup, a byproduct of refining sugar cane juice that was created in the 1800s. It is commonly found in certain parts of Europe and Africa, and to a lesser...

Corn syrup is made from corn starch and glucose. It is used in many dessert recipes and as a cost effective substitute for cane sugar in mass produced foods, sodas and candies.

Xylitol is a sugar-alcohol often used as a sugar substitute in cooking and baking. The substance is extracted from various berries, plums, corn, oats and mushrooms, and it contains roughly the...

Apple picking season is a delight. Fragrant wafts of Macintosh, Granny Smith, Delicious and Honey Crisp apples fill the air. It’s tempting to pick every last globe on the tree – but then you have...

With the sweet taste of molasses, brown sugar adds a unique flavor to any dish. Use this recipe in any cooking or baking application requiring brown sugar. Aside from baking, add this brown sugar...

Brown sugar is a blend of pure, white sugar and molasses. Dark and light brown sugars are most commonly found in home kitchens and are used in a number of recipes from baked goods to savory sauces...

Corn syrup is used in a variety of products made and sold today. High-fructose corn syrup is a primary ingredient in soft drinks and other beverages and has generated much attention in recent...

Sucanat is a type of cane sugar that is naturally light brown in color. Popular at natural foods stores for its lack of commercial processing, Sucanat can be used in place of brown sugar in most...

It's clear, sticky and sweet. It's an indispensable ingredient in some of your favorite treats. But exactly what is in corn syrup, and how does it get there? It all starts with corn starch, which...

Cane sugar is sucrose that has been extracted from the sugarcane plant that has not been refined; it is also referred to as raw sugar. Because of the higher price and a distinct taste, cane sugar...

Marmalade is a type of preserve made of fruit, a substance called pectin, and a sweetener, similar to a jam or a jelly. Unlike jams and jellies, however, marmalades are usually made with citrus...

Agave syrup comes from the heart of the agave plant, the same plant that tequila comes from. Sugar is either derived from sugarcane or sugar beets. Agave syrup is preferred by many because it has...

Turbinado and Sucanat are the world's foremost types of unrefined sugars. Refined sugar is heavily processed to remove its natural molasses content, resulting in the snow-white sugar we see on...

Turbinado sugar is not a common household ingredient, yet some cooks might encounter it in a recipe. It is a large-grain sugar that is naturally light brown in color. Sometimes called raw sugar,...

According to 2007 figures, almost half of all American households use some kind of no-calorie sweetener. Artificial sweeteners have been around for years, but as yet, no one has been able to...

Vanilla sugar is growing in popularity among cooks and bakers. While vanilla sugar can be purchased throughout Europe, it is quite uncommon in the United States. Bakers in the U.S. who are...

Honey naturally tends towards crystallization. It is primarily a mixture of water and a variety of sugars, mostly glucose and fructose. In fact, there is more sugar in honey than the water can...

This was my grandmother's recipe, but I really think it was her mother's so this dates back to the 1800's. My grandmother was married at age 14 and my great grandmother always lived with them. ...

Orange jam has a fresh, sweet citrus flavor, different than marmalades in that there is no bitter peel added to this particular jam. Orange jam is ideal for spreading on toast as part of your...

Apricots are delicious when eaten fresh, dried or baked in cobblers. Apricots are particularly tempting when made into a thick, fruity jam and spread on buttered toast for afternoon tea or even...

Are you up to your eyeballs in strawberries and wonder what the best way to freeze them is? Do you wish you knew what sort of strawberries go great in Frozen fruit salad or on top of pancakes,...

Have you ever wondered how you can have fresh tasting peaches all year long? Well me and my mom love peaches and the best way to have them is fresh frozen. This is a great quick alternative to...

Crystallized ginger, or candied ginger, is sliced or chopped ginger root boiled in a sweet syrup and then rolled in sugar crystals. Properly stored in an airtight container, crystallized ginger...

White and brown sugar are two types of sugars commonly used in baking recipes. Although essentially the same, they have a few differences.

Chocolate comes from the beans of a tropical South American tree, theobroma cacao. The beans have been harvested and made into chocolate for eating or drinking for 3000 years.

Grapefruits provide a welcome burst of fresh flavor during the dark winter days when other fruits are hard to come by, and some people are totally addicted to their tart, slightly bitter taste....

Fructose is a simple, naturally occurring sugar. A normal component of berries, melons, honey and sweet potatoes, it has been marketed as a healthful alternative to regular sugar. Ounce for ounce,...

Turbinado sugar has become more prevalent in the United States in recent years. The flavor lies somewhere between those of refined white sugar and brown sugar.

Strawberries are one of the joys of summer, but their season is fleeting. That doesn't mean you can't enjoy strawberries the rest of the year. Strawberries are an easy crop to preserve just as...

Many people want to avoid sugar for personal reasons and so they turn to more natural sources which have not been as refined. Honey and agave nectar are two popular sweeteners which can be used...

Primarily known for its integral role in the production of tequila, agave juice is becoming popular in Western kitchens for its healthy properties as a diet food and a natural sweetener. Made from...

Health officials are always looking for better and healthier sweetening options. A chemical solution and sweetener known as Erythritol recently originated and has been imported from Japan.

Gum is made of confectioner sugar, corn starch, chewing gum base, corn syrup, natural peppermint flavor and natural fruit flavors. Find out how sugar-free gum is made with artificial sweeteners...

There can be several reasons to substitute honey for white sugar. Some wish to avoid white sugar for health reasons, and others simply find they do not have any sugar in their pantry to make a...

We've all done it. Gone to the cupboard in the middle of a recipe and realized the brown sugar is hard as a rock! There are a number of things you can do to soften and refresh your brown sugar...

As the leader in strawberry production, the U.S. strawberry industry is $1.2 billion a year strong and growing. This sweet berry, which contains only 45 calories per cup, is the perfect accessory...

Corn is a renewable, earth-friendly resource. The production of corn syrup is one of the many 3700 uses of corn today. Extracting sweeteners from corn is more economical than cane sugar...

Honey is a natural sweetener. The sugary syrup is made from the nectar of flowers by industrious bees pollinating our crops. Honey is drizzled over hot biscuits, spread over peanut butter...

Don't you just hate it when you go to use your brown sugar only to find it is hard as a rock? Here is an easy solution to soften up your brown sugar without it costing you a thing! This is a...

Candy sweet potatoes for holidays

We are all bombarded with sugary treats every day. Isle after isle at every major store is designed to dazzle and allure consumers with pretty packages containing high-fructose corn syrup or...