I'm excited to announce my first giveaway! The nice folks at Xagave have generously offered to send one of my readers an 18 ounce bottle of their delicious Xagave Agave Nectar along with a 129 page cookbook filled with delicious recipes and ideas on ways to use Xagave.
Xagave is a Premium Blend of Agave Nectar derived from organic Agave Salmiana (White Agave) and organic inulin from Agave Tequilana (Blue Agave). It is a low Glycemic Index food. It contains no artificial additives or artificial sweeteners. Xagave is 1.4 times sweeter than sugar so you use less. Typically, you substitute 1/2 cup of Xagave for every cup of sugar which saves between 25 to 40% in carbohydrate calories.
To enter just leave me a comment telling me changes you've made to make your baking/eating more healthy. Entries will be accepted until Saturday, August 22 at midnight. This giveaway is for US residents only.
This month I posted several great recipes using Xagave. One of my favorite recipes was Baked Blueberry French Toast. My family liked this raspberry peach version even better.
Baked Raspberry Peach French Toast
6 slices sourdough French bread, torn (I used some orange cranberry bread from the Farmer's Market - yum!)
4 eggs
1 cup 1% milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon cardamon
1/4 cup agave syrup
3 teaspoon cornstarch
2 cups peaches
1/2 cup raspberries
1/4 cup butter, melted
Place bread into a jelly roll pan. In a medium bowl, mix eggs, half-and-half and vanilla together, pour over bread, cover and refrigerate overnight. Combine agave, cardamon, and cornstarch together, gently mix in peaches and raspberries and place in a greased 13"x9" baking pan. Place chilled bread mixture on top of blueberry mixture; drizzle butter over bread. Bake at 400 degrees for 30 minutes or until golden brown.
Adapted from Baked Blueberry French Toast: Christy's Kitchen Creations (Gooseberry Patch "Hometown Favorites")
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Agave Nectar Giveaway & Raspberry Peach French Toast
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46 comments:
I've made my eating more healthy by trying to switch to whole wheat breads and going meatless a few times a week.
I am a terrible dieter but my husband has been trying to lose weight so I have been substituting olive olive for butter as much as I can. I have also been trying to up our vegie intake. What a cool giveaway!
I would love to win this, but alas I have not made any significant healthful changes, only small. I have a BIG sweet tooth so I have already switched to agave, using grape seed oil to cook with over other oils (healthier and we have a family member allergic to corn, peanut and soy oils. I started soy milk in MY coffee instead of cream. As I said small changes, but they will add up, I think.
Barbara, I just posted about my blog making me fat! Your timing is perfect! We have been watching our calorie intake but I still want us to enjoy our family time like we used to (which means the occasional dessert while we play games and watch movies). When I make dessert I have been sticking to very low calorie desserts like the jello whipped cream and Splenda peanut butter cookies (that I am going to blog about on Thursday). I would love to try your xagave though, I loved all desserts you made with it!
Great giveaway! I tend to use buttermilk so that I don't use as much oil or butter.
Oh wow! How perfect is this! We've recently switched to a non red meat diet, eating mostly fish, and chicken for protein sources. I have a crazy sweet tooth and love everything on the sweetish side however cannot digest splenda all that well. I've wanted to try Agave nectar but can't find a store around that sells it! I just think this would be a great addition on the road to our healthier lifestyle!
I am actually on day 8 of giving up carbs for a month. It is so hard. I never realized how much I love milk.
I've used applesauce in place of sugar in muffin. Works like a charm. ;)
I love this recipe too!
I have tried using whole wheat flour more often in my recipes.
Great 1st giveaway! ;0)
Hooray for your first giveaway:) I'm going to keep my fingers crossed I win! I have tried to lighten up my baking by trying to use lower fat dairy products instead of always using heavy cream. Although there are times when there is simply no substitution for heavy cream. I also try to space out my dessert cooking so I'm not overwhelmed with all the baked goods sitting in the kitchen...waiting to be eaten;)
I'd love to try the Xagave...congrats on your first giveaway...must feel good about it! Your fruity French toast looks delicious, what a great treat! Yummie!
I would LOVE to try Xagave...I have tried baking with other sweetners, but with mixed results. Congrats on your first giveaway...it's a good one!
I've been loving agave nectar lately. (When I talk myself into affording it.) I try to also use lower fat ingredients when I can and whole wheat flour instead of all purpose. Well, and I also try to not eat too much of thing goodies I make!
I've made a few changes; we now eat more whole grains, like brown rice and whole grain pastas. I also have upped the veggetables and fruits-we've always eaten them , but even more so now. And I don't bake as much, because I have an enormous sweet tooth!
I have been on the weight watcher band wagon this summer (well, I guess I "should" be on it since I'm paying for it :-)). And in the midst of lots and lots of good food with all the summer gatherings, I've been trying to eat a lot of fruits and veggies and opt for the whole grains.
I'm out of the running but what a great idea! I came across a recipe for an incredible cocktail that uses agave syrup so I'm going to look it up here :)
Hi Barbara,
Congrats on your first giveaway. Your French toast looks marvelous! Bravo. Have a nice day.
Hi Barbara! I would have to say the biggest change I have made in the last year is baking and cooking whole foods. I'm trying to use more whole wheat items and rarely use anything prepackaged anymore :)
Hey not sure if you heard yet, but I started a discussion list for food bloggers! It's gaining momentum and I'd love it if you joined us (if you haven't already!)! All food bloggers are welcome, so if you know anyone else who would like ot join please pass it along! http://groups.yahoo.com/group/foodblogs/
Wow..great giveaway Barbara..i too made some chages like,nowadays i am adding flax seed meal in almost everything..and i already told my hubby abt this agave nectar,so will be trying that soon...
I'm trying to incorporate more whole wheat into the diet. Last night we just had a big salad for dinner. With creamy blue cheese dressing-oops! ;) Is CREAMY blue cheese not a health food???
I almost bought some Agave just yesterday at Trader Joe's, but resisted. So I say, PICK ME, PICK ME!!!
I'll have to try that syrup once... Your baked French toast looks so delicious!
Cheers,
Rosa
Barbara! I can't win since I live in France? Oh, how sad! But I have to say that moving to France and then Italy did wonders towards making my det healthier - no more bad junk food, no more ready-made meals, more fresh fruit and veg bought more often, and I started doing a lot more cooking with a husband who loves to cook and hates anything that come in a package.
What a great give away! I have been interested for some time in using Agave Nectar. I have heard great things about it. The main substitutes I have made in my baking are applesauce cut in for oil and whole wheat for AP flour. Win or lose, I think I will try the Agave next!
Raspberry and peaches sound heavenly together! What a great giveaway! I am trying to include more fruits and veggies in our meals and controlling portions. I still have dessert just a much smaller portion.
I am really impressed with Xagave...This French toast looks amazing.
That French Toast is the ultimate! Good thing I'm having French Toast for dinner or I'd be envious!
Woo hoo! Your first give away. That is exciting! Probably the biggest change I have made in baking is substituting applesauce for recipes that call for oil. I would say overall to date I have had success in my results.
I have been substituting whole wheat flour instead of white whenever I can. Its made a huge difference.
I've actually started to try to use agave nectar in place of sugar in things like coffee and tea. I've even been substituting agave when cooking entrees that request honey. The other "healthy" things we are trying is "meatless Mondays" and having fish at least one day a week. Not always successful but we do try.
I find I can pretty much leave out a third of the butter and sugar from most baking recipes without missing it. I also slip in wheat or oat bran to my flour in cookies and cakes for extra fiber. No one has noticed that yet either. =)
I try to incorporate more vegetables into dinner (some by disquising them!). And if anyone wants seconds, they have to get veggies too. Finally, I don't give clean plate awards, I think we should eat till we are satisfied, not eat till our plates are spotless. (We use small plates too).
Hi Barbara, We try to eat smaller portions and more fruit and vegetables.
Fantastic giveaway!! I've tried substituting applesauce for oils, whole grains for white and adding ALOT more veggies to our diets. Food blogging has definitely taken its toll on my waistline! :) The stink of it is this....our kids are so LITTLE that they need the extra caloric intake and I can't sit and watch them savor all the goodies without me. HA!
Your French Toast looks and sounds amazing!! I love peaches and may just have to bake-up your variation!!
That french toast looks phenomenal!
Your french toast sounds lovely. What a generous giveaway. Changes made recently to eat more healthy.. I have been cooking a lot from Cooking Light recently, does that count:)
Great giveaway Barbara! As you well know I am a big Cooking Light advocate! Grumpy and I also have cut down on our meals and are eating more fresh fruits and vegetables and grilling our meat. Easy to do in the hot weather that finally decided to visit us at home!
I'm trying to add more whole grains to my diet along with fruits and veggies. It's easy when the farmers markets are open.
I've been wanting to try this! I've been doing more meatless dishes and eating more fresh fruits and veggies!
What a great giveaway Barbara. Healthy is the only way to eat...and I try very hard with the kids. I substitute a part of APF with whole wheat four in baking, use a lot of buckwheat flour, use a lot of yogurt in baking, and use a hung yogurt dip instead of cream cheese or mayonnaise. Have now started making quark, a soft cheese, at home which is almost fat free! The good thing is that it's rubbing off on the kids who now ask before they eat, 'Is this healthy?'...
;)
I'm working on incorporating more whole grains into my baking. King Arthur's White Whole Wheat flour is my favorite way to sneak whole grains in. Your French toast looks like a perfect breakfast treat.
Just one thing I've done? I've done so many many things as of late. I've started using alot more whole grains (thanks to Lorna Sass's wonderful book whole grains every day in every way). Spelt flour is amazing! Millet flour has such a wonderful fluffy texture. And who knew it was so easy to make your own oat flour? I've also started shopping almost entirely organically. I shop at the farmers market rain or shine on tuesday. It's made a huge difference. I could keep going but I'll leave it there :-)
Your French toast looks great :D
Wow! What a wonderful give away! I would love to win! I took a cooking class that uses this and it was wonderful!
Golden crisp good-looking French toast lots of fruit is the best for a lazy Sunday brunch!
I haven't seen Xagave here in Germany....or maybe I need to go checking some special stores for it....Saw many fellow foodies used Xagave in their baking and cooking, sounds pretty good.
Angie's Recipes
Have been feeding sourdough starter to bake bread for a couple of years, so rye, spelt, and buckwheat are my fav. flour to use in baking some natural levain bread.
Angie's Recipes
yummmm! this looks delicious!
I love your blog! One of my new favorites!
-Mini Baker :)
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