Desserts! - And an Article

A recent article in The Diabetic News has some important information, especially if you use products with aspartame.

According to a study from Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), the sugar substitute aspartame might not promote weight loss. Even more troubling is that phenylalanine – one of the products in aspartame's breakdown – “interferes with the action of an enzyme previously shown to prevent metabolic syndrome – a group of symptoms associated with type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.”

Aspartame is the main ingredients in sugar substitute Equal®, and is added to many diet foods.

To read the article (“Aspartame Causes Weight Gain and Metabolic Syndrome, Says Study”) in its entirety, click here.

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

PEACH & RASPBERRY CRUMBLE

This comes from Diabetes Self-Management. I'm not really sure when, exactly, since I've had it kicking around for years. But it is definitely yummy. Prep time: 15 minutes. Baking time: 30-35 minutes. Yields 6 servings

Butter-flavor cooking spray

1 can (15 oz) sliced peaches in juice, drained

1 package (12 oz) unsweetened frozen raspberries, thawed

1 C quick-cooking oats, uncooked

2 Tbs brown sugar

1 1/2 tsp cinnamon

3 Tbs reduced-calorie stick margarine, melted

2 Tbs honey

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Coat 8”X8” baking pan with cooking spray. Arrange peach slices evenly in bottom of the pan. Sprinkle raspberries evenly over peaches. Set aside. In bowl, combine oats, brown sugar, & cinnamon & mix with fork, breaking up brown sugar clumps. Add margarine & honey; stir to combine. Sprinkle topping over fruit. Bake uncovered for 30-35 minutes, or until fruit is bubbly. Portion into 6 equal servings. Serve alone or over low-fat, no-sugar-added vanilla ice cream.

Per serving: Calories: 185; Carbs: 33g; Fat: 4 g (sat. fat: 1 g); Sodium: 70 mg; Fiber: 4 g; Exchanges: 1 starch, 1 fruit, 1 fat

DUTCH APPLE CAKE

Servings: 12

Source: Sweet Inspirations - A Sugar Free Dessert Cookbook

View recipe: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/160.shtml

Print Friendly: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/bin/print.cgi?ID=160

Ingredients

1/4 cup fruit sweetener**

1/4 cup apple butter or unsweetened apple sauce

1 egg

2/3 cup flour

1/2 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp salt

1 cup diced apples

1/2 cup chopped nuts

** To make this fruit sweetener, mix together 1/8 cup frozen apple juice concentrate (thawed) and 1/8 cup granulated fructose.

Directions

Combine fruit sweetener and apple butter. Beat in egg.

Combine flour, baking powder, and salt. Blend into creamed mixture.

Fold in apples and nuts.

Pour into 8" x 8" pan which has been sprayed with non-stick coating. Bake for 15-20 minutes at 325F.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 130; Protein: 4 g; Fat: 7 g; Sodium: 60 mg; Cholesterol: 23 mg; Carbohydrates: 15 g; Exchanges: 1 Fruit; 1 Fat

CRANBERRY APPLE CRISP

Yield: 8 servings

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

Ingredients:

Filling Ingredients:

3 cups peeled, cored, sliced apples

2 cups fresh or frozen thawed cranberries

1 cup Equal Spoonful*

Topping Ingredients:

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; Sodium: 67 mg; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Fat: 8 g; Carbohydrates: 18 g; Exchanges: 1 fruit, 1-1/2 fat

SPICY PUMPKIN PIE

Servings: 8

View recipe: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/154.shtml

Print Friendly: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/bin/print.cgi?ID=154

Ingredients

1 (9-inch) pastry shell

1 tsp ground cinnamon

1-1/2 cup pumpkin (canned)

1/2 tsp ground nutmeg

2 eggs; beaten

1/2 tsp ground ginger

1 cup low-fat milk

1/4 tsp Salt

3 tbsp liquid cal-free sweetener

1 pinch ground cloves

2 tbsp brown sugar, packed

Light vanilla ice cream

Directions

Prick pastry shell with a fork. Bake in 450F oven for 8 min.

Stir together pumpkin, egg, milk, sweetener, sugar and seasonings. Pour into partially baked pie shell.

Bake in 350F oven for 50 minutes or until center is almost set. Cool slightly and then refrigerate.

Cut into 8 wedges and serve each with 2 tbsp light vanilla ice cream.

Nutritional Information Per Serving; Calories: 173; Protein: 5 g; Fat: 9 g; Carbohydrates: 20 g; Exchanges: 1/2 Starch/Bread, 1-1/2 Fat, 1 Dairy, 1/2 Fruit

APPLESAUCE BROWNIES

Servings: 16

View recipe: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/169.shtml

Print Friendly: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/bin/print.cgi?ID=169

Ingredients

1/3 cup vegetable oil

1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce

1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

1/2 cup sugar

1 cup all-purpose flour

1 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp baking soda

2 large eggs

1 tsp vanilla extract

1/4 cup chopped nuts (optional)

Directions

Preheat oven to 375 F.

Combine oil, applesauce and cocoa. Add sugar and stir until dissolved. Add eggs and vanilla. Mix dry ingredients together and stir into the mixture.

Pour the batter into a greased and floured (or wax paper lined & sprayed) 9 inch square pan. Sprinkle on nuts (optional).

Bake about 20 to 30 minutes or until top is set but edges are not dried out. Toothpick will come out clean. Cut into 16 or 24 squares.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 165; Protein: 3 g; Fat: 7 g; Sodium: 84 mg; Carbohydrates: 27 g; Exchanges: 1 Starch; 1 Fat; 1 Fruit

PEACH FROZEN YOGURT

This comes from Diabetic Connect, and starts off, “This tasty dessert treat only has 3 ingredients! Not to mention it's incredibly easy to make and delicious.” Makes 8 servings.

View this online here.

Ingredients

2 cups peeled, chopped peaches

1/4 cup honey

2 1/2 cups non-fat plain Greek yogurt

Directions

Blend all ingredients together in a blender or food processor.

Pour into a ice cream maker. Freeze according to manufacturer's directions.

Pour into a freezer safe container and freeze for 1 hour until hard, but not frozen solid.

NOTE: frozen yogurt that is not eaten can be poured into Popsicle molds for a later treat.

Nutritional Facts: Servings: 8; For 1/2 cup of frozen yogurt: Calories 90; Total Fat 0g; Sodium 31mg; Carbohydrates 15g; Sugars 13g; Protein 7g