The "Richer Than Honey," Cookbooks have been in testing about 7 years.

Sugar had been my comfort zone for many years, and I didn't feel that I could ever give it up, nor find a substitute that I would be happy with.

Even to miss one day of familiar sweets was very unusual, for me.

At first, I tried a mixture of pecans and raisins... which did satisfy, but was not like, "dessert."

But when I repeated this, I began to notice that I was dropping weight, without exercise or dieting. That gave me much incentive to continue.

It was time to look at sweeteners in the supermarket. Honey was the most natural one, though at that time, I had no idea it would replace the desserts that I missed, nor that a cookbook would ever follow. The recipes that I made with honey were to help myself to stay off sugar.

And so, my first recipe was for Unsweetened Chocolate- a wonderful mix of chocolate covered raisins and pecans which were sweetened by a raisin syrup. (And approx. a TBSP of honey). This was my go-to dessert for quite a while, and is included in the cookbook.

As one recipe failed, I replaced it with a new, and better one, and my recipe box is filled, today, with wonderful honey recipes to share with you. (And a 2nd Cookbook is well into the works).

Friends, I know of nothing on the market like this, because most honey recipes (and store products with honey) also include sugar. Unfortunately, there is no benefit of honey when sugar is combined.

The REASON for this is that the body immediately absorbs honey, while it must break down sugar.

After 7 years of using it, I believe it has changed my life. I lost about 30 lbs., due to cutting out sugar, and replacing it with honey.

My taste buds have changed to appreciate honey products, whereas before, I would have turned my nose at them. I wasn't a honey fan... nor did I like raisins, dates, or fruits. Sugar tastes exceptional, and there is no comparison. But once it is gone, and honey is introduced, the mind becomes very satisfied. Fruits taste better. The sugar aisle in the store has a strange, chemical smell to it. Sweets become occasional- not addictive. Many studies have proven that sugar is addictive.

My old thinking was that sugar was cheaper, so I must give that to my family, to be frugal.

Now I ask, is it wiser to fill the kids with sugar (with the known side effects), and to purchase weight loss programs for yourself? The self-esteem issue alone with being overweight makes honey a GOOD CHOICE.

Honey is precious... it is more costly, but compared to the health that you are buying, and the smaller amounts that you use, it is so worthwhile. (And a good incentive to keep bees!)

Compare 2 1/2 cups sugar + 4 cups of powdered sugar to make a regular cake, to 1/2-3/4 cup honey + 1/2-3/4 cup for frosting for a delicious cake made with honey.

No doubt it is cheaper, but as I look at some of my older pictures, I can see the sugar that I was wearing...

It truly is, "The mind over sugar."

And honey is the way to help you to have, "Anytime Sweets," with the health benefits that God gave to honey.