Q: I recently returned from New Orleans with a bottle of Steen's Pure Cane Syrup. Other than gingerbread and pecan pie, what are some ways to use this truly Southern ingredient? I am not that familiar with it, having lived in the Pacific NW all my life!

Sent by Mary More

Specialty: Offering raw, unfiltered varietal honey for the American table.
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Honey can elevate a cheese plate, fruit bowl or recipe to desert status. Needless to say, as a dedicated appetizer enthusiast with a serious sweet tooth, I consume quite a bit. Bee Raw takes this sweet treat and turns it into a true experience More

According to Gourmet Live, Americans down 22 spoonfuls of sugar a day. That sounds like a lot! Do you avoid sugar? Or do you use sugar substitutes? What's your take on the whole issue? More

If one of your New Year's resolutions was to nix the processed white sugar from your diet, by now you've discovered that a wide and wily world of alternative natural sweeteners awaits. It's exciting, but it can also be pretty overwhelming. Take a look inside the pantry of someone who's already forged the path. More

Have you taken a look in the baking section at the grocery store lately? There are more options for sweeteners than ever before. Whether you're looking to cut back on refined sugars or just want to play around with recipes, the Columbus Dispatch has a handy guide to get you started. More

As an alternative to sugar, stevia seems almost too good to be true. It is naturally-derived, nearly calorie-free, and made with no additional ingredients. It's also even sweeter than sugar, so we don't need to use as much of it. Do you use stevia? More

Q: Can I use Splenda or other low-cal sweetners to make simple syrups and lower the calorie count in summer treats like sorbets?

Sent by Sarah via Facebook More

Take a look at this homemade raw sweetener from Zoe, the food blogger at ZOMTBakes. She made this sweet syrup herself — out of dates! More

Q: I was hoping to get some low-sugar rhubarb recipes and suggestions. I love the stuff, but every recipe calls for at least a cup of sugar. I'm on the specific carbohydrate diet, and the only sweetener I'm supposed to use is honey.

I'm willing to cheat a bit for my favorite food, but I'd like some recipes that use sugar alternatives or are lower in sugar if they exist. Could I use honey instead of sugar?

Sent by Allison More

When agave nectar burst onto the health food market, many people were excited about it as a substitute for refined sugar. But a growing body of research indicates that agave nectar — which is not, in fact, a nectar and is processed in much the same way as high-fructose corn syrup — might be as unhealthy as HFCS is purported to be. More