While I was in Aruba I won Jennifer of Knack for Nutrition’s giveaway for NuNatuals Stevia.
I adore stevia. But, I never used to like it. In fact, I thought it tasted kinda awful.
I was, however, using other brands and that was one issue. Bad stevia is really bad!
But, stevia is one of those foods or items that has really grown on me and now I can’t imagine my life without it! I have an entire post dedicated to my Stevia Recipes
I use these drops in everything.
Especially in Vanilla Iced Coffees or just in coffee in general.
I brought down a couple bottles of my beloved Vanilla Stevia Drops to Aruba.
I buy the vanilla stevia drops from iHerb.com because they have the best prices on them. Use coupon code AVE630 at checkout to save $5 on your order and never pay retail price again on everything from nutritional yeast to protein powder to vitamins to stevia.
I love stevia so much that I traveled down to Aruba with a suitcase full of white powder. Try explaining that one to Customs. Seriously, I’ve done it many times and there’s never been an issue. The only issue is I usually underestimate how much I will go through and wish I had brought a bit more!
The stevia was buried underneath the chocolate chips.
Speaking of chocolate chips, Enjoy Life Foods sent me some of their Double Chocolate Crunch Granola and their Semi-Sweet Mega Chocolate Chunks
I love that their products are free from so many allergens (nuts, gluten, dairy, eggs, kosher) and that tastes is not compromised. The granola I tried is chocolatey and definitely crunchy. I tend to prefer chewier granola in general like this one. Just my own little personal preference. But chocolate anything is music to my ears and this was tasty.
I love these!
Normally I don’t splurge on allergen-friendly chocolate because rumor has it TJ’s chocolate chips are dairy free, vegan, and gluten free (even though they are not labeled as such and are not tested like the Enjoy Life products are nor are they processed on special equipment), but it’s what I usually buy because at $1.99/bag, I can’t beat it. Unless Enjoy Life wants to send me more Chunks. Love em!
I think I will make up a batch of No Bake Vanilla Cake Batter Chocolate Truffles with the chunks to be used for melty dippage for the cake batter portion of the truffles.
Or maybe just put chunks into
No Bake Toffee & Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Bites
My last post Quickly, Grateful was a speed-blogging special. I was on the fly but not too busy to be grateful. Even for some silly things.
Questions:
1. Do you like stevia?
As I said in the post, I adore stevia now, but I never used to like it. In fact, I thought it tasted kinda awful and chemically!
I was, however, using other brands and that was one issue. Of all the brands I’ve tried, NuNaturals is my favorite however there are others like flavored SweetLeaf brand stevia drops that are quite good, too.
Stevia is one of those foods or items that has really grown on me and now I can’t imagine my life without it!
I also like real sugar (brown and white), agave, honey, dates, and other sweeteners, too. You can read my thoughts on “healthifying” desserts, and why I take no great pleasure in that. So stevia is just one tool in my toolbox. But it’s a great one!
2. Do you like chocolate?
Silly question, right? I know there are a few people who are just meh about chocolate. <–who are you people if that’s really the case. I’ve only “heard” of people like this.
I love chocolate.
See my Chocolate Recipes compilation if you need proof!
Including Raw Vegan Chocolate Chocolate-Chip Cookies (you can bake them in the oven or dehydrate them)
P.S. Thanks for the entries on the Coconut Oil Giveaway. Keep ’em coming!
hey averie!
stevia gets a big meh from me; i don’t like the aftertaste it leaves in my mouth. :-(
i’m a big chocolate fan! i make your coconut oil ‘chocolate’ regularly and keep in the fridge for … emergencies (well, a piece or four every day ;-) ).
xo
sabina
Ah I am so far behind on blogs so of course I am the last one to comment, but I am happy you received your stevia. I think I may tap into your recipe arsenal this weekend and use up some of my supply. :) Thanks for the link back.
Hello! I have been reading and following your blog for months now, but have just recommitted to my own blog (and the blogs I follow) so, I’M BACK :)
I am so apprehensive about artificial sweeteners, and I haven’t done enough research about Stevia. However, the few times I’ve tried it, it’s had a kind of funny taste and after taste to it. But now I feel like I may just try it again!
And chocolate?! I was born in Hershey, PA! I grew up with the smell of chocolate literally in the air! I don’t have a choice, but to love chocolate!
I’ve been wanting to try Stevia (glad you mentioned that the namebrand makes a difference!) but I am leary-is it all natural?
I love chocolate very very much!
love stevia! Just wish it wasn’t so pricey… and I LOVE chocolate!! In fact I just ate pretty much an entire bag while my cookies were baking!!
heck yes i love chocolate!! i don’t normally take stevia, but i do like it. that iced coffee looks amazing!!
xoxo~ kristina
https://beancakes.wordpress.com/
p.s. check out my blog post tomorrow… i will email you the details averie ;)
comment back to me with a link if there’s something you want me to see. that’s the best way :)
Hey Averie, I’m back. :-) My transition back from running my Yoga retreat this past weekend has been much slower than your shift back from Aruba. Alas, it’s all good.
I love stevia, but I agree, it used to taste bad. I think the stevia technology has really involved. Yes, brand is one issue. I clearly remember it tasting like slightly bitter licorice as recently as about 3 years ago. It’s come a long way. Thank goodness, because it’s a staple in my house.
LOL at white powder/clearing airport security. How about bags and bags of green herbs? They were Persian cooking herbs stashed in my suitcase, but they gave the airport security peeps pause at LAX a few years back. Ha!
Chocolate is practically a food group to me. ‘Nuff said.
hahaha i use nunaturals vanilla stevia SO much that its probably running through my veins along with my blood. sometimes i just add it to things and don’t even realize thats what i’m doing. its probably one of the best things to happen to my food life haha
we could be related…I am the SAME on all fronts :)
That vanilla stevia is good, but pricey. I actually like the Whole Foods brand dropper, it’s considerably cheaper and not bitter at all. SweetLeaf stevia is a little bitter to me.
The granola looks good.
1. Yes, great for desserts, smoothies and coffee.
2. Yup, I go through a lot of cacao powder making raw chocolate desserts.
I hear you on stevia just being another tool in the toolbox. There’s so much available sweetener-wise these days that I would be foolish to choose just one to work with ;) I do prefer stevia in my iced coffee, though! Just a drop, and I like the cocoa bean best. Not even sure if that’s stevia though, or just cocoa bean extract! The stuff I’ve baked with it (using NuNaturals) has come out well thus far, too! I’ll admit it – I was surprised. I wasn’t expecting to like it!
Chocolate? I’m sorta meh. Sometimes I’ll get the hankering for something chocolatey (mainly dark!) but usually just a bite or two will keep me happy. And then there are times when I need to make carob-pb brownies/cookies, like yesterday :P
(reading over that sounds like an oxymoron. First I say I like the cocoa bean extract and then I say I’m meh about chocolate. i guess the cocoa bean extract in the amount i use doesn’t really taste cocoa-y! haha.)
Enjoy Life makes choc chunks! That’s awesome! I’ll pick some up when I see them. Chunks are fun, as are mini chips.
I love nunaturals stevia. It blows the competition out of the water.
Fg and ts hate me today. :(
TS hasnt liked me in a month. No worries. It’s 2 to 1, FG to TS for me. And now that I am not in Aruba with tons of extra cooking time, the actual recipe submissions are few and farther between so a rejection is a double whammy. I feel you!
What are these secret codes?! TS? FG?! ;)
Chocolate? YES.
I wish NuNaturals was sold here. Not in my part of Canada. I have a hard time nailing down a good brand as well. Many have maltodextrin and inulin and stuff in it too I think? Not sure if that’s good or not but i still use it.
Maple syrup is my ultimate fave though :)
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NuNaturals is my absolute FAVORITE Stevia brand. I had bought a bottle of Kal and that stuff is absolutely wicked (in my opinion). The taste seemed off and didn’t work for anything unless it was a baked item.
Also have tried the flavored SweetLeaf and those are pretty good in coffee/tea. I bought a little tin of the Sweet Leaf dissolving tablets that fit perfectly in my purse. Very convenient for using at the restaurant.
I switched away from stevia in the raw because I was told it contains other sugars besides stevia. Need to do more research to confirm though.
i do like stevia but you are right, bad stevia is really bad as in it makes me pull an awful face it’s so chemically tasting!
chocolate? um yes. i love it!
Averie!! I have been such a bad bloggy friend! I am SO behind on your posts…please don’t hate me! :(
“I love stevia so much that I traveled down to Aruba with a suitcase full of white powder. Try explaining that one to Customs” <– Haha! Love it! Uh, sure ma'am…sure that is just powdered sweetener!
Until recently (I got lucky enough to win a NuNaturals giveaway on Spabetti's blog), I had only tried the SweetLeaf brand liquid and loved it. I've tried a few unknown brands of the powder and you're right…bad Stevia is awful! Ick! I can't wait to try out all the new products from the giveaway! I'll definitely be looking into some of your lovely recipes!
I could take or leave chocolate…I realize recently I'm becoming more of a fan of carob everyday! Which is weird because the first time I tried it, I hated it! Funny how things grow on you…same thing goes with SSB and I LOVE that stuff!
no apologies necessary! hi and welcome back :)
i LOVE that vanilla stevia… its the best! esp in iced coffee and plain greek yogurt :)