Coconut Palm Sugar makes Caramel Popcorn

Those who know me, know I'm a big sweet tooth and in May of 2014, I gave up refined sugar products.   I'm insulin resistant and so my body doesn't know how to process refined sugar especially. Though I don't have the intense cravings anymore, once in a while something sweet still sounds really good.  And to prevent myself from running back to my former Refined Sugar Addiction, I've learned ways to create sweet treats with low glycemic natural healthy sweeteners.    You may question me on this, "How do you know Coconut Palm Sugar and Agave nectar doesn't effect your blood sugar and body the same way as Refined Sugar...."    Well, I did a little personal test.    Last May, I started a life changing lifestyle, I became a Beachbody coach and started replacing one meal a day with Shakeology, eating clean and doing intense fitness programs from Beachbody.   I was very successful in losing my first 38#.   Then I decided to see if these new low Glycemic sweeteners really were better for my body.    Here's what I did, I quit exercising for a few months, drank Shakeology off and on, those months, continues to eat clean, but I did pick up on the amount of sweet treats that I was eating,  though I still avoided refined sugar sweets, I instead made my own with Coconut Palm Sugar and Agave Nectar.   Over those months my weight fluctuated by a pound or two on any given day,  I did not binge and become out of control with my sweets intake like I use to when I consumed refined sugar sweets, I didn't have the desire to binge, I didn't become addicted  as I did with refined sugar, which use to result in headaches when I didn't have sugar.   And I DID NOT GAIN ALL MY WEIGHT BACK!    Had I gone back to eating refined sugar sweets, as I have many times before after losing weight, I would very rapidly gain all my weight back and more.   It was a sad and depressing cycle.     This time, imagine the joy, when I am still able to enjoy a sweet treat without fearing instantly becoming addicted again and binging on sweets till I was back at square one.  Yes, sheer Joy, Excitement and Taste bud pleasure with no guilt!    Though I do still have several pounds to lose to reach my ultimate goal and weight, I'm so excited to jump back into my fitness programs and on a lower calorie intake to lose the rest of my weight, without having to start at the beginning again!

*Note, this is just my personal experience, I'm not a Dr, I can't treat or diagnose you, this is just my findings from what I know about my own body.   

So, would you like to learn how to make delicious sweets without refined sugar? You've come to the right place!  I'm going to start posting recipes for Coconut Palm Sugar and Agave Nectar Sweet Treats and sauces!  

Caramel Popcorn

Popcorn:

1/2 C. Unrefined Coconut Oil
2 tbsp Butter  (I never use margarine)
1/2 tsp salt
1 C popcorn

I just use a regular soup pot to pop my popcorn, but you can pop it however you choose.   As a clean eater, I never use Microwave popcorn, because of the chemicals they use on the inside of the bags.  

Once your corn is popped, pour it into a large bowl and pick out the unpopped kernels, this is very important, you don't want those hard unpopped 'old maids' stuck in your caramel, biting down on those are cruel!

Caramel

1/4 C Unrefined Coconut Oil
1 tbsp Butter
1/2 C Coconut Sugar
2 tbsp Agave Nectar

In a small sauce pan, over medium heat, melt and stir until combined, bubbly and smooth.  It will look grainy at first, but keep cooking and stirring and it will become smooth and caramelly looking!

Pour over your popcorn and stir until well coated.   I then poured it out on sheets to cool and crisp up, it takes longer to do that, if you want it crisper faster, you can bake it in a low oven and stir every 10 minutes for about 45 minutes.   Take it out and let it cool.   And ENJOY YOUR GUILT FREE SWEET TREAT!