Treats for Diabetics was Re: [Sca-cooks] Creme Brulee

[Philip & Susan Troy]

"Laura C. Minnick" wrote:
>
> Philip & Susan Troy wrote:
>
> > Splenda is fairly good stuff. It doesn't turn into salt when you heat
> > it, as aspartame does, and tastes slightly less like old sweat socks
> > than the other artificial sweeteners I've encountered. The manufacturers
> > claim this is because the stuff is made from sucrose, anyway, and
> > whether this is all true I don't know, but as these things go it is
> > somewhat less god-awful than most products in that line.
> >
> > The liquid is the best, as far as I'm concerned (although I recall that
> > at the moment it is unavailable in the USA, or some such), because my
> > own particular needs are such that I wish to avoid the maltodextrin they
> > add to give the dry stuff a granular look and feel. Which it doesn't
> > have, anyway, because it dissolves so fast.
> >
> > It makes a pretty good cheesecake... ;  )
>
> But how does it behave chemically? It is my understanding that sugar
> isn't just a sweetner, but reacts with other ingredients in ways that
> substitutes don't, which is why baked goods tend to be weird when made
> with subs. Is there enough sucrose in it to supply the needed reaction?
> Is it truly safe then for diabetics? And since we were talking earlier
> about creme brulee and sekanjabin syrup- will it carmelize or form a
> syrup?

As I recall, it is a sucrose molecule with a chlorine atom stuck on it
somehow, so your taste buds think it is something pretty close to sugar,
but the body doesn't metabolize it. Therefore it ought to be safe for
diabetics  (and since Margali is a diabetic who uses it, I expect she
would know).

As for its behavior in baking and such, as fas as I've been able to tell
it provides only a sweet taste. No adding of any significant gravity to
water to make syrup, no dough tenderization, no caramelization. So it
doesn't behave exactly like sugar, but there are some baked goods,
custards, etc., that it does just fine in.

Adamantius
--
Phil & Susan Troy

troy at asan.com

"It was so blatant that Roger threw at him.  Clemens gets away with
things that get other people thrown out of games.  As long as they
let him get away with it, it's going  to continue." -- Joe Torre, 9/98