Vera Mangaudis, who was my neighbor for 10 years when we lived over on the coast, occasionally sends me recipes from her sister-in-law, Katherine. Vera's brother, John, is hypoglycemic and allergic to a lot of foods, including wheat. On top of that, they are strict Vegans, vegetarians who eat no animal products whatsoever. So Katherine is a queen of creative cookery. Some of the ingredients you may have to go to a health food store to get. Our local Publix supermarket has a large health food section where I can get almost anything, which is handy!

Katherine uses Stevia as a sweetner. It is not a cup-for-cup sweetner like Splenda or Sugar Twin. It is very strong, and you use only small amounts at a time. Stevia is the darling of people seriously into healthy eating.

Sugarless Crispie Treats

2 cups (Erewhon yellow box) Crispy Brown Rice
1/2 c rice syrup plus 2 heaping tsp Stevia
1/2 c peanut butter (or almond butter)
1/2 c chopped pecans
1 tsp vanilla (Katherine uses pure non-alcoholic)
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1/2 cup coconut (unsweetened)
1/2 cup carob chips, optional.

1. Put all ingredients in a bowl, fold together so crispies don't get crushed.
2. Put in square 8x8 dish, wet hand, press down, cut in squares.