New Year's Recipes

Happy New Year! Here's to another great year, along with more recipes. Here are six to start the year off. Enjoy!

EGGPLANT POLENTA STACK

Purchase package flavored polenta in the produce section; choose any favorite flavor for this dish.

Yield: 4 servings

View Online: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/846.shtml

Source: 1,001 Delicious Recipes for People with Diabetes

Book Info: http://diabeticgourmet.com/book_archive/details/22.shtml

Ingredients

8 slices (3/4 inch) eggplant (about 1 pound)

2 egg whites, lightly beaten or 1/4 cup no-cholesterol real egg product

1/2 cup Italian-seasoned dry bread crumbs

1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Olive oil cooking spray

1 package (16 ounces) prepared Italian-herb polenta, cut into 8 slices

Salt and pepper, to taste

2-4 ounces reduced-fat feta, or goat, cheese, crumbled

Directions

Dip eggplant slices in egg whites and coat with combined bread crumbs and Parmesan cheese. Spray large skillet with cooking spray and heat over medium heat until hot. Cook eggplant until browned on the bottom, about 10 minutes; spray tops of slices with cooking spray and turn. Cook until eggplant is tender and browned on other side, about 10 minutes longer.

Arrange eggplant in baking pan; top each slice with a slice of polenta and tomato. Sprinkle tomatoes with salt and pepper; sprinkle stack with feta cheese.

Bake at 450 degrees F. until tomatoes are hot and cheese lightly browned, about 10 minutes.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 222; Protein: 10.9 g; Fat: 4.5 g; Sodium: 624 mg; Cholesterol: 9 mg; Carbohydrates: 35 g; Exchanges: 1 Vegetable, 2 Bread/Starch, 1 Fat

CREAMY SPINACH DIP

Yield: 16 servings; Serving Size: 2 tablespoons.

View Online: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/842.shtml

Source: The Diabetes Food and Nutrition

Book Info: http://diabeticgourmet.com/details/11.shtml

Ingredients

1 (10 oz.) package frozen chopped spinach, thawed and drained very well

1-1/2 cups low-fat sour cream

2 tablespoons red wine vinegar

2 tablespoons minced mint

2 garlic cloves, minced

1/2 cup minced water chestnuts

1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper

Salt and pepper to taste

Directions

Prepare the spinach and set aside.

In a medium bowl, combine the sour cream, vinegar, mint, garlic, water chestnuts, cayenne pepper, salt, and pepper. Add the spinach and mix well. Cover and refrigerate for 1 hour before serving.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 33; Protein: 2 g; Fat: 2 g; Sodium: 27 mg; Cholesterol: 7 mg; Dietary Fiber: 1 g; Sugars: 1 g; Carbohydrates: 3 g; Exchanges: 1/2 Carbohydrate

CRANBERRY APPLE CRISP

Yield: 8 servings

View Online with Photo: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/876.shtml

Ingredients

Filling:

3 cups peeled, cored, sliced apples

2 cups fresh or frozen thawed cranberries

1 cup Equal Spoonful*

Topping:

1/3 cup all-purpose flour

1/4 cup chopped pecans

1/4 cup stick butter or margarine, melted

1/2 cup Equal Spoonful**

* Substitute 24 packets Equal sweetener

** Substitute 12 packets Equal sweetener

Directions

For Filling, combine apples, cranberries and 1 cup Equal in an ungreased 10-inch pie plate.

For Topping, combine flour, pecans, melted butter and 1/2 cup Equal. Mix until well blended. Sprinkle flour mixture over apples and cranberries in pie plate.

Bake in preheated 350F oven 55 to 60 minutes or until fruit is tender. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 145; Protein: 1 g; Fat: 8 g; Sodium: 67 mg; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Carbohydrates: 18 g; Exchanges: 1 fruit, 1-1/2 fat

CRUSTLESS BASQUE QUICHE

With tons of taste but little fat, this light and luscious quiche is the perfect choice for breakfast, brunch or lunch. Serve with fresh fruit salad.

Yield: 4 to 6 servings

View Online: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/843.shtml

Source: The Diabetes Food and Nutrition

Book Info: http://diabeticgourmet.com/details/12.shtml

Ingredients

3 tablespoons bread crumbs

1 teaspoon canola oil

1/2 cup green onions, chopped

2 medium Roma tomatoes, juiced and chopped (about 3/4 cup)

6 ounces ham, OR Canadian bacon, chopped (about 1 1/4 cups)

1/2 cup roasted red pepper, chopped, from a jar, patted dry

1 tablespoon cornstarch

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/8 teaspoon cayenne

1 cup nonfat half & half

1 cup egg substitute

1 cup mozzarella cheese, reduced fat, shredded

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350F. Spray a 9-inch glass pie pan with non-stick spray. Dust the bottom and sides of the pan with the breadcrumbs and set aside.

Heat the oil in a large non-stick skillet over medium heat. Add the onion; saute 1 minute. Add the tomatoes and saute until beginning to soften, about 3 to 4 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in the ham and bell pepper. Spoon into the bottom of the prepared pan.

Place the cornstarch, salt and cayenne in a medium bowl; slowly whisk in the half and half to blend. Whisk in the egg substitute and pour the mixture into the pan. Top with the mozzarella.

Bake for 40 to 45 minutes until puffed and set. Let the quiche rest for 5 minutes before serving. Sprinkle chopped parsley on top, if desired. Cut in wedges and serve.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 200; Protein: 16 g; Fat: 7 g; Sodium: 480 mg; Cholesterol: 40 mg; Saturated Fat: 3 g; Dietary Fiber: 1 g; Carbohydrates: 15 g

COCONUT CUSTARD PIE

This recipe begins, “A baked custard pie with less calories because it's sweetened with Equal and made with 2% milk. For added coconut flavor use the optional coconut extract.”

Serves: 8

Find this recipe at: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/987.shtml

Ingredients

Pastry for single-crust 9 inch pie

4 eggs

2 cups 2% milk

1 cup Equal Spoonful or Granulated*

2 tablespoons cornstarch

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup toasted flaked coconut

1 teaspoon coconut extract (optional)

* May substitute 24 packets Equal sweetener

Directions

Roll pastry on floured surface into circle 1 inch larger than inverted 9-inch pie plate. Ease pastry into plate; trim and flute edge. Set aside.

Beat eggs in large bowl about 5 minutes or until thick and lemon colored. Whisk in milk and remaining ingredients. Pour mixture into pastry shell.

Bake pie in preheated 375F oven 30 to 35 minutes or until sharp knife inserted halfway between center and edge of pie comes out clean. Cool on wire rack. Serve at room temperature, or refrigerate and serve chilled.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 194; Protein: 6 g; Fat: 11 g; Sodium: 301 mg; Cholesterol: 115 mg ; Carbohydrates: 19 g; Exchanges: 1/2 milk, 1/2 starch, 2 fat

MULLED CRANBERRY CIDER

This comes from Diabetes Self-Management's website. If you're not familiar with Diabetes Self-Management's website or magazine, I recommend checking both out. This recipe makes 8 servings.

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

8 cups (1/2 gallon) low-calorie cran-raspberry or cran-apple juice cocktail

3 cinnamon sticks

10 whole cloves

1 cup rum or brandy (optional)

Directions

Pour juice cocktail into slow cooker. Tie cinnamon sticks and cloves in cheesecloth. Add spice bundle to slow cooker. Cover and cook on HIGH 2 hours or on LOW 4 hours or until hot. (May be kept warm on LOW up to 3 hours.) Discard cheesecloth bag. If desired, stir in rum or brandy just before serving in mugs. Garnish with additional cinnamon sticks, if desired.

Yield: 8 servings. Serving size: 1 cup.

Nutrition Facts Per Serving: Calories: 32, Carbohydrates: 8 g, Protein: 1 g, Fat: 1 g, Saturated Fat: 1 g, Cholesterol: 0 mg, Sodium: 60 mg, Fiber: 1 g

Exchanges per serving: 1/2 Fruit.