DD is really sensitive to sugar, I want to try natural alternative sweeteners , but I haven't been able to find any good cookbooks. Any suggestions ? Thanks :)

was Mani Niall's sweet and natural baking. He uses fruit juice reduction for most of his recipies. I also have a book called Sugar Free Toddlers which has ideas. I don't know that either of these are neccessarily ones I would buy--I got the Niall book from the library, and I just got his new book from the library on honey. I think the key is just getting ideas to get started and figuring out what you like, too.

I mostly use maple syrup for a sweetener, but also evap. cane juice (I don't know if that would work for you). Sometimes I use honey. I think what is probably key is a good from-scratch cookbook which makes it easier to make substitutions as needed.

Hope this helps.
:)

Cynthia Lair's Feeding the Whole Family is not specifically baking but does have a nice dessert section, all sweetened with maple syrup or brown rice syrup. I make the choc chip cookie recipe ALL the time. Plus it's my favorite cookbook, can't rave enough about it.:p

I second Feeding the Whole Family. The cookie and cake recipes are so good!

The baking section of Recipes From an Ecological Kitchen is great. She never uses sugar, eggs, or dairy. and they are REALLY good... I love it.

Love Val

Try using agave nectar as a substitute for sugar. I have been doing the following for our baked goods: a) cutting back on total sugar, like to 1/2 of what the recipe calls for and b) of that, using half agave nectar and half Rapadura sugar (unprocessed).

No one has noticed or complained, in fact I get compliments all the time! This even works for chocolate chip cookies.

The agave nectar is sweeter than honey or sugar, so you need less of it anyway. It does not raise blood sugar at all! If your dd is sensitive because of blood sugar increases, even honey or maple syrup or brown rice syrup could set her off (it does my daughter). The agave nectar has worked really well for us.

Wow, thanks for all the great information. You ladies are wonderful!! :)