Here is my Spiced Nut Recipe: Spiced Nuts 2-TBSPs. Butter 3- cups nuts ( I use a combo of walnuts, pecans,peanuts and almonds) 1-TBSP. Worcestershire sauce 1-tsp. Chili powder ½-tsp. Garlic salt ¼- tsp Cayenne pepper Melt butter in pan in a 300 degree oven. Add Worcestershire sauce and nuts. Mix well. Bake for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove nuts from oven and sprinkle with spices.

Gluten-gree is THE way to go. I dropped 20 pounds in 4 weeks doing nothing but eating gluten-free. have the "Wheat Belly" book, and I've read most of it. I have tried only two recipes, the Crab Cakes and the Pizza. The Crab Cakes were heavenly, the Pizza was... passable. My grand-daughters ate it (they're 6 and 2), but if it looks like pizza, they'll eat it. In my experience, nothing that is SUPPOSED to taste like bread tastes like bread. It's not soft, not doughy and yeasty, just... not. The breads you can buy or make are great for toast, french toast, breadcrumbs for cooking, etc. But they're not good for sandwiches or pizza doughs if you want a soft crust. I just had to learn to live without. I don't even save them for "special treats" because I'd rather just lose my taste and craving for such things. In ALL other recipes that aren't breads/muffins/bagels, I just replaced wheat flour with soy flour. I can't tell a difference really, or it feels so much better in my stomach that it SEEMS to taste better.

I just made blueberry sugar-free jam. I used Splenda as a sugar-substitute. I knew that commercial pectins wouldn't work to thicken it so I just cooked it until it was thick enough (about 220 degrees on a candy thermometer if you want to check it that way). It took about 30 minutes but came out great. Just remember to cook it down and then let it cool to see how thick it really is. It won't get any thicker when you put it in the jars. I then put it in sterilzed jars and hot water bath processed it for 5 minutes. You have to be really careful when using Splenda, as far as sterilizing, etc. Splenda does not have the anti-bacterial properties that sugar does.

Don't forget salty snacks like popcorn, nachos, pickles... As for sweets, I'm just as "bad" as anyone else who doesn't have diabetes. In fact, having diabetes seems to make me crave sweets more than I ever did before (I was diagnosed with type 1 at age 23, not overweight)! Soon after I was diagnosed with diabetes, I remember reading that once-in-a-blue-moon, for a very special occasion, I could have a SMALL slice of birthday/wedding cake IF I was careful to scrape all the icing off!!! Forget that! Instead of following a "diabetic" diet, I just try to eat healthy. I prefer a good cheesecake-bite or brownie to any special diabetic snack. The trick is just not to eat too much. But I feel better, more satisfied, with a truly sinful delicious cookie than with a funny-tasting larger snack. Besides, I simply rearrange my carb-intake for the day (all carbs turn to sugar eventually) or even adjust my insulin-dose, or take a longer walk to make up for the extra carb. But, as for your quest, Jell-o is good, sometimes. Yogurt with all-fruit jam (or granola) stirred in, cheese & crackers, veges w/ranch dressing, PB on graham cracker, beef jerkey... Protein helps stabilize blood sugars. Remember that Fruit, though healthier than processed sugar, is still Sugar! Good luck in compiling more ideas - I'd like to hear them as well. : ) Holly