0 Xylitol Recipes

Health Benefits of Xylitol

Xylitol is a natural sweetener and sugar substitute that is extracted from plants such as fruits, berries, vegetables and oats. It originated in Finland where it was extracted from birch trees and is still widely used in Finland today.

Xylitol is not a chemical sweetener so is far healthier to use than a lot of other sugar alternatives.

It has a very sweet sugar taste and looks the same as white sugar, it is so sweet that less xylitol can be used in recipes than the amount of sugar that the recipe calls for.

Here are 6 Facts about Xylitol
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1. Xylitol is very sweet in taste but is absorbed more slowly making is a low glycemic food. Xylitol has a glycemic index of 7 whereas sugar has a massive glycemic index of 100. This means that xylitol is metabolised slowly and does not cause a glucose levels to rise rapidly (unlike sugar). Therefore xylitol can help in the prevention of diabetes.


2. Researchers in Finland found that xylitol can actually help prevent weakening of the bones and improve bone density. It has potential in treating Osteoporosis.



3. Xylitol increases white blood which helps fight many types of bacteria.



4. Xylitol can help prevent candida unlike sugar which actually promotes candida and yeast problems.

Because xylitol helps prevent candida and yeast problems xylitol will not rise yeast so you can not use it to bake bread unless it is just for sweetening purposes.


5. Xylitol helps to prevent bacteria in your ears and nose. It helps stop bacteria that grows in the tubes that connect your ear and nose together. Xylitol can even be used in a saline solution for nasal irrigation.



6. If you think eating xylitol will rot your teeth then think again, in fact xylitol helps prevent tooth decay. Research even showed that mothers that who chewed xylitol chewing gum from 3 months after giving birth to 2 years had a 70% reduction in tooth cavities. Xylitol is widely promoted as a tooth friendly product.

Cooking with Xylitol

Using xylitol in cooking is very easy. You can use it in replacement of sugar in many recipes.

Xylitol is very sweet tasting so less can normally be used in recipes where it replaces sugar.

Xylitol is great for baking cakes and biscuits and other baking. It is also great to sweeten yogurts or custards with even homemade ice cream.

You will not gain weight using xylitol like you would using sugar so enjoy some guilt free treats.

See my tasty coconut infused Madeira cake recipe that uses xylitol instead of sugar.

0 Madeira Cake Recipe Infused with Coconut

My Madeira cake recipe is infused with coconut yet still has the beautiful lemon flavour which is moist and spongy in texture.

Taking only 35 minutes to cook this Madeira cake recipe takes only half the time of a traditional Madeira cake recipe to bake.

My cake recipe uses xylitol instead of sugar so my cake is sugar free.

I cooked this cake today and there is only cake crumbs left, it is a very tasty cake indeed!

Ingredients for Jeenas Kitchen Madeira Cake with Coconut Recipe
4oz Self Raising Flour
4oz Sunflower Margarine
3oz Xylitol (or 3-4 ounces caster sugar)
1 Small lemon
1oz Fine Cornmeal/Polenta
2 Eggs
1oz Unsweetened Desiccated Coconut

'note...After the cake is cooked you can brush the top of the cake with fresh lemon juice and sprinkle with coconut if desired, you can even sprinkle on a little lemon zest for decoration.'

How to make Jeenas Kitchen Madeira Cake with Coconut

Cream together the margarine and xylitol until light and fluffy.

Add the zest of one small unwaxed lemon and squeeze in approximately 1-2 tablespoon of fresh lemon juice.

Add eggs, flour and coconut.

Mix very well.

Pour Madeira cake batter into a small greased and floured tin.

Place into a hot oven at 180C cook for 35-40 minutes or until golden and spongy to the touch.

Do not open the oven door for at least 25-30 minutes or else the cake will sink.

Leave the Madeira and coconut cake in the cake tin for 5-10 minutes before removing it and leaving the cake to cool.

Your lemon Madeira and coconut cake will have cracks on the top, this is how it is supposed to be.

Slice and enjoy Jeenas delicious lemon Madeira and coconut cake recipe.

See more cake recipes cooked by Jeenas Kitchen.

0 Spicy Lamb with Buckwheat Recipe

Buckwheat groats are a very healthy grain to eat.

Although we use the word 'wheat' in buckwheat the grain itself is actually a fruit seed related to the rhubarb family and contains no wheat or gluten. See the link here to read my health benefits of eating buckwheat page.

My spicy lamb and buckwheat recipe is a real wholesome dish and quite versatile. You can eat it as a lamb and buckwheat curry dipping in bread or other accompaniments. Also you can drain off the curry gravy and serve my lamb and buckwheat with a salad. It can be drained and eaten in a bowl as it is or even served with plain rice.

This lamb and buckwheat recipe is a one pot meal recipe that takes only 8 minutes to cook in a pressure cooker.

This recipe is very delicious and there is plenty to share if you eat it with some nice side dishes.

Ingredients for Jeenas Kitchen Lamb and Buckwheat Recipe
4-5 Tbsp Buckwheat Groats
2 Lamb Steaks
1 tsp Cumin Powder
1 tsp Coriander Powder
1/2 tsp Paprika
1/4 tsp Turmeric
1/4 tsp Cayenne Pepper or Chilli Powder
1 tsp Fresh Ginger (grated/minced)
2 Garlic (crushed)
Large Pinch Ghormeh Sabzi (dried methi/coriander/chives)
Salt and Pepper
1 +1/2 Cup Water
Rice Bran Oil (or other healthy oil like rapeseed/olive)


How to Make Jeenas Kitchen Spicy Lamb with Buckwheat Recipe

Cut the lamb steaks into even bie sized peices disarcding the fat.

Drizzle some oil into the ressure cooker and brown the meat by gently frying it on all sides.

Add garlic, ginger and spices.

Stir well and turn off the heat.

Add buckwheat then water..

Add ghormeh sabzi.

Give the lamb and buckwheat a slight stir.

Place lid onto the pressure cooker and bring to full pressure, turn down heat to the lowest heat setting and cook for 7-8 minutes.

Place cooker under cold water and release pressure bu taking the lid off.

Add salt and pepper to season once spicy lamb and buckwheat is cooked.

Serve with bread, rice or drain and serve with salad.

Enjoy Jeenas delicious spicy lamb with buckwheat recipe.

See my vegetarian stuffed peppers recipe for more delicious ways of cooking with buckwheat.