The Demon Lord Forced to Marry the Female Leader

Chapter 400: How to Make Winter Melon Candy

Winter melon candy, also known as winter melon preserves or winter melon candy, is a traditional Chinese dessert, usually made from winter melon flesh through a candied process. Winter melon candy has a unique taste and flavor, with both the fragrance of winter melon and the sweetness of sugar, and is a popular snack and dessert ingredient.

 Production Method

The following is the basic method of making winter melon candy:

1. **Ingredients**: Choose fresh, firm winter melon, wash it, peel and remove the seeds, leaving only the winter melon flesh.

2. **Slices/Strips**: Cut the winter melon flesh into thin slices or long strips, about 0.5 cm thick, to facilitate candiing and drying.

3. **Pickling**: Put the sliced ​​winter melon into a container and add enough sugar (white sugar, brown sugar or brown sugar), usually 50% to 100% of the weight of the winter melon. Then gently mix well so that each slice of winter melon is coated with a layer of sugar.

4. **Standing**: Leave the pickled winter melon for a while (usually a few hours to a day) to allow the winter melon to release moisture and form syrup with sugar.

5. **Cooking**: Pour the pickled winter melon and syrup into the pot and cook slowly over medium-low heat, stirring constantly to prevent sticking to the pot and the bottom. Cook until the winter melon becomes transparent and the syrup is thick.

6. **Drying**: Take out the cooked wax gourd candied slices, spread them flat on a baking tray or drying rack, and place them in a ventilated and dry place to dry naturally, or use an oven to dry them at low temperature until the surface of the wax gourd candied slices is no longer sticky and becomes slightly hard and crisp.

7. **Packaging**: After the winter melon candy is completely dry, it can be packaged for storage and consumption.

 How to eat

Winter melon candy can be eaten directly as a snack, or used to make winter melon tea, or as an ingredient in cakes and desserts. In some places, winter melon candy is also used in festivals or as gifts.

 Attention points

- When making winter melon candy, the proportion of sugar is very important. Too much sugar will make the candy too sweet, while too little sugar will make it difficult to preserve.

- Pay attention to the heat during the cooking process to avoid the syrup from burning.

- During the drying process, make sure the winter melon candy slices are completely dry, otherwise they will easily become moldy and deteriorate.

Winter melon candy is a delicious handmade dessert that not only tastes sweet but also has certain nutritional value. It is suitable for people who like traditional desserts to try making and tasting.

Winter melon candy is relatively high in calories, mainly because a lot of sugar is added during the production process. Sugar is a high-energy carbohydrate, providing about 4 kcal per gram of sugar. Therefore, when winter melon is candied, its calorie content increases significantly.

The specific caloric value depends on the recipe and proportion of winter melon candy. Generally speaking, the caloric value of winter melon candy may be between 100 and 300 kcal per 400 grams, or even higher, depending on the amount of added sugar and other possible additives (such as honey, fructose, etc.). In contrast, the caloric value of fresh winter melon is very low, with only about 100 kcal per 13 grams of fresh winter melon.

Due to its high calorie content, winter melon candy is not suitable as a regular low-calorie food or a snack during weight loss. If you are trying to control your weight or have a health condition such as diabetes that requires you to limit your sugar intake, you should consume winter melon candy with caution and watch the amount you consume.

In conclusion, although winter melon candy is a delicious dessert, due to its high calorie and sugar content, it is recommended to consume it in moderation and treat it as an occasional dessert rather than a regular food. In your daily diet, it is best to choose healthier foods with lower calories and less sugar.

Eating too much winter melon candy will indeed affect blood sugar levels. This is because a large amount of sugar is added during the production process of winter melon candy, which will be quickly absorbed by the human body, leading to an increase in blood sugar levels. For diabetics or people with poor blood sugar control, excessive consumption of winter melon candy may cause drastic fluctuations in blood sugar and increase the risk of complications.

Even for non-diabetic people, frequent or large intake of high-sugar foods may lead to insulin resistance, a prediabetic state that may increase the risk of developing type 2 diabetes over the long term.

To help maintain stable blood sugar levels, here are some suggestions:

1. **Eat in moderation**: Even healthy people should eat winter melon candy in moderation to avoid consuming too much sugar at one time.

2. **Monitor blood sugar**: Diabetic patients should monitor blood sugar changes after consuming sugary foods so that they can adjust their diet and medication in a timely manner.

3. **Balanced diet**: Keep a varied diet and make sure you get enough dietary fiber, protein and healthy fats. These nutrients help slow down the absorption of sugar and help maintain blood sugar stability.

4. **Regular and quantitative intake**: Try to consume sugary foods at fixed times and in fixed amounts, and avoid random or uncontrolled intake.

5. **Combined with exercise**: Moderate exercise can help consume excess sugar and help control blood sugar.

6. **Consult a professional**: If you have problems with blood sugar control, you should consult a doctor or nutritionist to develop a personalized diet plan.

In conclusion, although winter melon candy is delicious, it should be consumed with caution due to its high sugar content, especially for people who need to pay special attention to their blood sugar levels.

The calories and fat content of winter melon candy depends on its specific production method and ingredients. Generally speaking, the main ingredients of winter melon candy are winter melon and sugar, and the fat content of winter melon itself is extremely low and almost negligible. However, a large amount of sugar is added during the production process of winter melon candy, which makes its calories relatively high.

Here are some estimates of the calorie and fat content of winter melon candy:

- **Calorie**: The calorie content of 100g of winter melon candy may be between 300 and 400 kcal, which mainly comes from the added sugar. The actual calorie content may vary depending on the proportion of sugar and whether other ingredients (such as honey, fructose, etc.) are added.

- **Fat content**: The fat content of winter melon candy is usually very low, perhaps less than 100 gram of fat per 1 grams. This is because winter melon itself contains almost no fat, and no oil is added during the production process.

It should be noted that these values ​​are estimates, and the actual calorie and fat content may vary depending on the brand, recipe, and preparation method. If you need precise data, you can check the nutrition facts on the product packaging, or refer to the ingredient ratios in a specific recipe to calculate.

Due to its high calorie and low fat content, winter melon candy is more suitable as an occasional dessert rather than a major part of your daily diet, especially for those who need to control calorie intake or blood sugar levels. When consuming it, you should pay attention to the amount and combine it with a healthy diet and lifestyle.

As a traditional dessert, winter melon candy can be eaten directly as a delicious snack, and has the following uses:

1. **Snacks**: Winter melon candy is often used as a dessert snack due to its unique sweetness and taste, especially in some parts of Asia.

2. **Festival food**: In some traditional festivals or celebrations, winter melon candy is used as festival food, symbolizing sweetness and happiness.

3. **Gift**: Due to its unique flavor and handmade characteristics, winter melon candy is sometimes packaged into exquisite gifts and given to relatives and friends.

4. **Cooking ingredients**: Winter melon candy can be used as a sweet seasoning in cooking and can be used to make sweet soups, cakes or other desserts to add flavor.

5. **Tea pairing**: In some places, people put winter melon candy into tea and let it dissolve to make a sweet tea, similar to the effect of rock candy.

6. **Medicinal food ingredients**: In traditional Chinese medicine, winter melon candy is sometimes used as part of medicinal food because it has certain heat-clearing and detoxifying effects.

7. **Baking ingredients**: In baking, winter melon candy can be used as a source of sugar for making cakes, biscuits and other desserts.

8. **Beverage making**: Winter melon candy can also be used to make winter melon tea or other beverages. By dissolving the winter melon candy in water, a sweet drink can be obtained.

Although winter melon candy has many uses, it is recommended to be consumed in moderation due to its high sugar and calorie content, especially for people who need to control their sugar intake, such as diabetics or those who are losing weight. While enjoying the deliciousness of winter melon candy, the principles of a balanced diet and healthy living should also be taken into account.

Winter melon candy itself is a high-sugar dessert, so it is relatively high in calories. If you are looking for low-calorie or no-calorie alternatives, here are some possible options:

1. **Natural sweeteners**: Use natural sweeteners such as stevia leaf extract (stevia), erythritol, xylitol, allulose, etc. These sweeteners are usually low in calories or not fully absorbed by the human body, and have less impact on blood sugar.

2. **Fruits**: Choose some fruits with higher sweetness, such as apples, pears, peaches, etc. They are high in fiber, can provide a sense of fullness, and are relatively low in calories.

3. Vegetables: Some vegetables, such as carrots and beetroots, can be made sweeter by cooking (such as baking) and serve as a low-calorie dessert alternative.

4. **Sugar-free jelly**: Use sugar-free juice or water and add sugar-free jelly powder to make jelly, which can be used as a low-calorie dessert.

5. **Yogurt**: Choose sugar-free or low-sugar yogurt and pair it with fruits or nuts as a healthy dessert option.

6. **Dark Chocolate**: Choose dark chocolate with a high cocoa content (more than 70%). Compared with milk chocolate, it has lower sugar and calories.

7. **Homemade desserts**: When making desserts yourself, you can use healthy ingredients such as whole wheat flour and oats, reduce the amount of sugar used, and increase the protein and fiber content.

8. **Sugar substitutes**: There are many sugar substitutes on the market, such as sucralose (Splenda), aspartame (Equal), etc. They are low in calories, but be careful to use them in moderation, as excessive use may cause adverse reactions.

When choosing alternatives, you should consider your personal health and taste preferences, as well as your overall diet. If you have special health needs, such as diabetes management, it's best to consult a doctor or dietitian before making any dietary changes.

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