Whole Earth Sweetener Co: A Life Much Sweeter

Dig In To Thanksgiving Dinner!

I've received more than my fair share of e-mails, cartoons, and links recenltly reminding me that this is the season of...er, indulgence.  To put a more positive spin on things, I wanted to share this article with you about all the goodness that's in your typical Thanksgiving dinner.  So load up on the sweet potatoes and cranberry sauce, help yourself to some bites of turkey if that's your thing, and don't feel the least bit guilty about that piece of pumpkin pie!

My Best Recipe

I've actually made time to cook a bit again, though mostly simple stuff right now.  Over the weekend I had a chance to cook my favorite dish--chili!  Every time I make chili it comes out just a bit different and I love coming up with different blends.  This batch was two types of beans, Boca crumbles, loads of onions, jalapenos, and poblano peppers I roasted myself--along with the standard cumin, chili powde, and salt.  The whole thing simmered all day long, filling my house with a tasty, spicy scent!  Unfortunately, I held off on having a bowl, having had a bit of an unstable stomach over the weekend.  I tasted it, though, and it's one of my best batches yet!  I froze the majority of it so that I can thaw it out (and sprinkle with a bit of chedar cheese!) whenever I need a warm up.
What's your favorite recipe to tuck away for a rainy day?

I Heart Cloverleaf Rolls

One of my favorite holiday foods is not a dessert, not a fancy dish, not even a casserole (although there's this family recipe cheesy-potato thing that has surfaced in recent years that's close to becoming quite a contender).  I have always loved the humble cloverleaf dinner roll.
When I was a kid, dinner rolls were always my youngest aunt's contribution to the feast.  And I mean the brown and serve kind.  What's really funny is that when I finally found the recipe, they are so amazingly simple that I had to chuckle over the choice to buy store-bought.  Though, if you've ever had a poorly made cloverleaf dinner roll, I supposed you'd understand.  It's like a hot buttered hockey puck.
But when made right...ohhhh, the light and fluffy buttery goodness is too much.  I have been known on many holidays to stuff myself silly on rolls alone.  There are fancy recipes that include cheese, or herbs, or some kind of filling, but I prefer the most basic roll with a pat of butter on top.  Here's one I found that meets the simplicity standard for me!

101 Things to Do With a Pumpkin

Okay, not QUITE that many.  More like 30 or so...
Regardless, I find it kind of funny that shortly after we've carved our pumpkins into Jack-O'-Lanterns  for Halloween, our thoughts turn to pumpkin pie for the holidays.  Coincidence, or the remnants of some really practical ancestors?
Anyway, beyond the pie (which I do love and look forward to!) there are a number of other things you can do with pumpkin.  Most of the recipes I read recommend using fresh pumpkins--if you have the patience to cook, peel, and cut one up, I say go for it!  I feel the need to try out the pumpkin pancakes, or the slightly more decadent pumpkn creme brulee...

Pom-e-Great

Last year I was introduced to the pomegranate for the very first time.  It's kind of cute, actually.  I went on a date with a guy who was telling me about how he loves them so much, he'd save them in his refrigerator for a special day, and daydream about slicing it open and enjoying it.  Pomegranates are quite the project to eat, so it's not something you're going to pick up and pack in your lunch.  I admitted I'd never even tried one.  On our next date, he brought me my very own pomegranate.  Cute!
I did enjoy it, too.  I love the texture of the pulp, and the slightly sweet/slightly sour flavor.  So I was really excited when I logged into Peapod yesterday and discovered pomegranates are not only in season, they were on sale.  Yay!  I only bought one though--I'll save it for a special day when I'm ready to sit down and savor it from start to finish.

Okey-doke Oats

As fall approaches, I’ve started thinking about the indulgences I enjoy in the colder months.  While most people don’t think of oatmeal as necessarily a guilty pleasure, it does have big “comfort food” connotations for some.  Oatmeal is a favorite of mine in the fall and winter because of its versatility.  Everyhing from blueberries stuck in the freezer during summer to heaping mounds of brown sugar and maple syrup can be used to flavor this rich, warming breakfast. 

And hey!  Oatmeal is wonderful for your skin, too, and gentle enough for the most fussy faces.  I’ve noticed the change in weather is already starting to impact my skin.  Take some time to make and enjoy one of these lovely skin treatments that sound good enough to eat! (the oat and brown sugar scrub sounds especially yummy to me)

A Guilt-Free Indulgence for Some...

I know some people can’t eat shellfish, choose not to eat shellfish, or are totally grossed out by shellfish. To you I apologize, and I promise more indulgences to come! For seafood lovers, I was tickled to find this collection of health-filled selling points for possibly my favorite, most indulgent food purchase…

Lobster is wholesome, nutritious and delicious! It is lower in fats, calories and cholesterol than even the light meat of chicken. Lobster contains 0.1 grams of Omega-3 fatty acids per 3.5 ounce serving. According to the American Medical Association, an intake of 5.5 grams of Omega-3 fatty acids per month was associated with a 50 percent reduction in the risk of primary cardiac arrest (edited to add that I believe Omega-3’s prevent depression, too--can anyone confirm this?). Lobster is also high in amino acids, potassium, magnesium, vitamins A, B12, B6, B3 and B2, calcium, phosphorus, iron and zinc. (info from www.eddylobster.com)