In a message dated 3/2/01 1:53:27 AM Eastern Standard Time, mistral@centurytel.net writes:

<< Have you ever tasted peanut patties? Flat, pink, sugary discs chock full of those cheap peanuts? I've only once managed to find them outside of Texas and New Mexico, but those things are Heaven on Earth. If I weren't allergic to peanuts, I'd probably spend far too much money on having cases of them shipped from Texas. Vila would smuggle them onto the Liberator and then hide them somewhere, so as not to have to share them.<<

Thanks for the head's-up. If I'm ever out that way, I'll seek them out (although goddess knows what I'll chew with, anymore). I'll reserve judgement on altering my statement until then.

...

Agree totally about the nastiness of high fructose corn syrup, which can

cause a whole range of problems for diabetics and the overweight, besides the ones you mentioned. >>

It was the very same American sugar industry that blocked the admission of Stevia into our country, until a couple of years ago. Even now, it isn't widely seen in supermarkets; you generally have to seek it out in health food stores. They are perfectly aware that if the average American knew that this natural sweetener has A) no calories B) does not promote diabetes C) does not promote tooth decay D) can be cooked with exactly like sugar E) goes further than sugar by weight because it's 100 times sweeter and F) actually tastes *better* than sugar, their entire industry would be in danger of collapse.

Read about it online...type in "stevia" on any favorite search engine.

Leah