Meatless Monday

It's Monday, exactly one week until Labor Day. While summer might technically be around for almost another whole month, Labor Day usually signals the end of summer around the U.S. (Sorry for reminding everyone of that!). But over the next week, I'll be posting several recipes to help you enjoy the Labor Day weekend.

In the meantime, it's Meatless Monday, time for six yummy meatless recipes to help you through the day, including Summer Ratatouille and Blueberry Yogurt Pops. Enjoy!

QUINOA SALAD

Yield: 4 servings (1/2 cup each)

Source: The Diabetes Food and Nutrition Bible

Online version: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/852.shtml

Ingredients

1/2 cup raw quinoa, rinsed

1/4 cup finely chopped yellow pepper

1/4 cup finely chopped red pepper

1/4 cup finely chopped carrot

1/4 cup finely chopped celery

2 tablespoons minced fresh parsley

1-1/2 tablespoons olive oil

4 tablespoons rice vinegar

2 cloves garlic, minced

2 tablespoons minced green onions

Fresh ground pepper and salt to taste

Directions

Prepare the quinoa. Rinse the quinoa in a fine sieve for 20 seconds.

In a 1-quart saucepan bring 1-1/2 cups water to a boil.

Add the quinoa and bring to a boil.

Lower the heat to simmer, cover, and cook for 15 minutes.

Meanwhile prepare the vegetables. Combine the chopped yellow pepper, red pepper, carrot, celery, and parsley in a medium bowl.

In a blender, combine the oil, vinegar, garlic, green onions, salt, and pepper. Blend for 15 seconds.

Once the quinoa is cooked, add it to the vegetables. Pour the dressing over the quinoa and vegetables and toss well.

Refrigerate for 1 hour. Serve over lettuce if desired.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 125; Protein: 3 g; Fat: 6 g; Sodium: 12 mg; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Dietary Fiber: 3 g; Sugars: 2 g; Carbohydrates: 16 g; Exchanges: 1 Starch, 1 Fat

CALIFORNIA AVOCADO TZATZKIK

Yield: 8 servings

Source: California Avocado Commission

Online version: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/847.shtml

Ingredients

1-1/2 cups plain yogurt

1/2 English cucumber, seeded and diced

2 Tbsp. finely chopped fresh dill

1 ripe Fresh California Avocado, halved, seeded and cut into 1/4-inch cubes

1 tsp. finely chopped garlic

Salt, to taste

Directions

In a small bowl, combine all ingredients. Refrigerate to allow flavors to blend.

Garnish with avocado and dill, if desired.

Serve with vegetable dippers or toasted pita bread triangles.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 65; Protein: 3.25 g; Fat: 3.4 g; Sodium: 100 mg; Cholesterol: 3 mg; Saturated Fat: 0.7 g; Dietary Fiber: 0.8 g; Carbohydrates: 6 g

EGGPLANT POLENTA STACK

This recipe begins, “Purchase package flavored polenta in the produce section; choose any favorite flavor for this dish.”

Yield: 4 servings

Source: 1,001 Delicious Recipes For People with Diabetes

Online version: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/846.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

CANTALOUPE COOLER

Preparation time: 5 minutes.

This is from Diabetes Self-Management, and can be viewed online here.

Ingredients

1 cup cubed cantaloupe

1/2 cup nonfat, no-sugar-added vanilla yogurt

1/4 teaspoon lemon juice

1 packet NutraSweet

Dash cinnamon

Directions

Combine all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth.

Yield: 1 serving. Serving size: 1 cooler.

Nutrition Facts Per Serving: Calories: 108, Carbohydrates: 20 g, Protein: 6 g, Fat: less than 1 g, Saturated Fat: 0 g, Sodium: 128 mg, Fiber: 2 g, Exchanges per serving: 1 fruit, 1/2 skim milk. Carbohydrate choices: 1 1/2.

BLUEBERRY YOGURT POPS

Only three ingredients make up this natural and healthy treat.

This recipe is from Diabetic Connect, and can be viewed online here.

Ingredients

1 cup plain Greek yogurt

2 teaspoons honey

1 cup frozen blueberries

Directions

Place all the ingredients into a bowl and mix well.

Spoon the ingredients into the mold and place the lid on top or add in some ice-cream sticks.

Place in the freezer overnight.

To remove easily, run a little hot water over the mold to release the popsicle.

Nutritional Facts: Servings: 4; Calories – 64; Total Fat – 0 g; Saturated Fat – 0 g; Sodium – 26 mg; Carbohydrates – 11 g; Fiber – 1 g; Protein – 6 g

SUMMER RATATOUILLE

Yield: 4 (1 cup) servings

Online version: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/857.shtml

Source: Express Lane Diabetic Cooking

Ingredients

1 tablespoon olive oil, divided

3 cups combination sliced zucchini and yellow squash

1 cup sliced onion

1 cup halved cherry tomatoes

1/3 cup minced fresh mint leaves

1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice

1 (4.75 oz) can prepared eggplant caponata

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper

Directions

In a large skillet over medium-high heat, heat 1/2 tablespoon olive oil. Add the zucchini and yellow squash and onion and saute for 5-7 minutes until tender, stirring often.

Remove the zucchini-yellow squash saute to a salad bowl. Add remaining ingredients and let stand at room temperature for 1 hour.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 105; Protein: 2 g; Fat: 6 g; Sodium: 299 mg; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Dietary Fiber: 4 g; Sugars: 7 g; Carbohydrates: 11 g; Exchanges: 2 Vegetable, 1 Fat