Tuesday Recipes

I hope everyone enjoyed their three-day weekend. This morning, I've got an article that I found in an email from The Diabetic News. I'm starting today's blog post with that, and then post today's six diabetic recipes.

Do you regularly monitor your blood sugar levels? If you're diabetic – or care for someone who is – you no doubt know the importance of testing your levels. Another level frequently tested – this time, by your primary health care provider – is your HbA1c. However, according to researchers at the Mayo Clinic, “the HbA1c level...may not actually lower the risk of kidney, vision and neuropathy complications for diabetics.” The findings, reported on August 30 in The Diabetic News (“Lower HbA1c May Not Prevent Diabetes Complications”), goes on to state that focusing on the HbA1c “may have short-circuited development of new diabetes therapies.”

To read the article in its entirety, click here.

And now for today's six diabetic recipes to help you through the day. Enjoy!

BONELESS BUFFALO WINGS

Yield: 4 servings

Serving Size: 2 oz. chicken per serving

Source: The Diabetes Food and Nutrition Bible

View recipe: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/658.shtml

Ingredients

1-1/2 teaspoon hot sauce

Pinch cayenne

1/4 teaspoon paprika

1/2 pound chicken tenders

Dressing Ingredients:

1/2 cup reduced-fat blue cheese dressing

1/4 cup low-fat mayonnaise

3 tablespoons crumbled blue cheese

Celery Sticks

Directions

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.

In a shallow bowl, combine the hot sauce, cayenne, and paprika. Roll the chicken tenders in the mixture.

Place the chicken tenders on a small nonstick baking sheet.

Bake, uncovered, for 15 minutes until chicken is tender.

Combine the dressing ingredients.

Serve the dressing with the chicken and celery sticks.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 192; Protein: 14 g; Fat: 12 g; Sodium: 572 mg; Cholesterol: 42 mg; Dietary Fiber: 0 g; Sugars: 4 g; Carbohydrates: 7 g; Exchanges: 1/2 Carbohydrate, 2 Medium-fat Meat

MEAT MARINARA SAUCE

Yield: 10 Servings

Serving size: 1/2 cup

Source: IHS

View recipe: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/690.shtml

Ingredients

2 tbsp vegetable oil

3/4 cup fresh chopped onion, chopped

1/4 tsp garlic powder

3/4 cup sliced green bell peppers, chopped

30 ounces whole-canned unsalted tomatoes, 2-15 ounce cans

30 ounces no-salt tomato sauce, 2-15 ounce cans

2 bay leaves

1 tsp dried basil

1/4 tsp black pepper

1/4 tsp ground thyme

1 pound 90% lean ground beef or ground turkey

Directions

Heat oil in sauce pan over medium heat. Add onion, garlic powder, and green pepper to oil. Cover and heat 2 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Mash tomatoes into small pieces and stir into tomato sauce.

Add spices and tomato mixture to sauce pan. Cover and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer.

Brown beef or turkey in skillet. Place in a colander or strainer.

Bring a tea kettle full or 3 quart sauce pan of water to a rapid boil. Place colander over a large bowl and pour boiling water over the meat to remove excess grease.

Add meat to tomato sauce mixture and continue to simmer another 20 minutes on medium heat.

Remove bay leaves and serve over pasta or rice.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 225; Protein: 14 g; Fat: 8.5 g; Sodium: 67 mg; Saturated Fat: 2.5 g; Dietary Fiber: 4 g; Sugars: 11 g ; Carbohydrates: 23 g; Exchanges: 3/4 Fat, 1 1/2 Meat, 4 1/2 Vegetable

SLOW COOKER SQUASH MEDLEY

Yield: 8 servings

Source: Fix-It and Forget-It Diabetic Cookbook

Find this recipe at: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/758.shtml

Ingredients

8 (up to 8 ounces total) summer squash, each about 4-inch long, thinly sliced

1/2 teaspoon salt

2 tomatoes, peeled and chopped

1/4 cup sliced green onions

Half a small sweet green pepper, chopped

1 chicken bouillon cube

1/4 cup hot water

4 slices bacon, fried and crumbled

1/4 cup fine dry bread crumbs

Directions

Sprinkle squash with salt.

In slow cooker, layer half the squash, tomatoes, onions, and pepper. Repeat layers.

Dissolve bouillon in hot water. Pour into slow cooker. Top with bacon. Sprinkle bread crumbs over top. Cover. Cook on LOW 4-6 hours.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 47; Protein: 2 g; Fat: 2 g; Sodium: 339 mg; Dietary Fiber: 1 g; Sugars: 2 g; Carbohydrates: 6 g; Exchanges: 1 Vegetable, 1/2 Fat

SQUASH MEDLEY

Yield: 8 servings

Source: Fix-It and Forget-It Diabetic Cookbook

Info: http://diabeticgourmet.com/book_archive/details/77.shtml

Print: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/758.shtml

Ingredients

8 (up to 8 ounces total) summer squash, each about 4-inch long, thinly sliced

1/2 teaspoon salt

2 tomatoes, peeled and chopped

1/4 cup sliced green onions

Half a small sweet green pepper, chopped

1 chicken bouillon cube

1/4 cup hot water

4 slices bacon, fried and crumbled

1/4 cup fine dry bread crumbs

Directions

Sprinkle squash with salt.

In slow cooker, layer half the squash, tomatoes, onions, and pepper. Repeat layers.

Dissolve bouillon in hot water. Pour into slow cooker. Top with bacon. Sprinkle bread crumbs over top. Cover. Cook on LOW 4-6 hours.

Nutritional Information (Per Serving): Calories: 47; Protein: 2 g; Sodium: 339 mg; Fat: 2 g; Dietary Fiber: 1 g; Sugars: 2 g; Carbohydrates: 6 g; Exchanges: 1 Vegetable, 1/2 Fat

BUFFALO TURKEY TACOS

Makes 8 servings

Source: Jennie-O

View online with photo and print version: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/1341.shtml

Ingredients

1 (16-ounce) package Jennie-O Lean Ground Turkey

1/3 cup hot pepper wing sauce

8 hard corn taco shells, heated as specified on package

1 cup shredded lettuce

2 tomatoes, diced

1 avocado, sliced

1/2 cup blue cheese dressing

Directions

Cook turkey as specified on package. Always cook to well-done, 165F as measured by a meat thermometer.

Add hot pepper sauce. Stir to combine.

Fill tacos shells with lettuce, turkey mixture, tomatoes and avocado.

Drizzle with blue cheese dressing.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 220; Protein: 14 g; Fat: 13 g; Sodium: 260 mg; Cholesterol: 45 mg; Saturated Fat: 4 g; Dietary Fiber: 3 g; Sugars: 1 g; Carbohydrates: 13 g

ROASTED ASPARAGUS WITH BACON

This recipe begins, “Crisp asparagus, roasted with turkey bacon creates an irresistible side dish.”

Makes 8 servings

Source: Jennie-O

View online with photo and print version: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/1340.shtml

Ingredients

2 pounds fresh asparagus, trimmed

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 (12-ounce) package Jennie-O Turkey Bacon, chopped

Directions

Heat oven to 425F.

Place asparagus on large rimmed baking sheet.

Toss asparagus with olive oil and turkey bacon.

Spread in single layer.

Roast 15 to 20 minutes or until asparagus in crisp tender.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 140; Protein: 8 g; Fat: 11 g; Sodium: 370 mg; Cholesterol: 30 mg; Saturated Fat: 2 g; Dietary Fiber: 2 g; Sugars: 2 g; Carbohydrates: 4 g