Meatless Monday

Were you aware that diabetic neuropathies are on the rise? According to an article on Diabetes Self-Management's website, they are.

What, exactly, is diabetic neuropathy? It "is a type of nerve damage caused by diabetes," with symptoms such as numbness, tingling, or pain in one's extremities.

To read the entire article ("Diabetic Neuropathies on the Rise"), click here.

And now on to today's recipes. Since it's Monday, officially Meatless Monday, it is time to check out what it's like to go a day without meat. Here are six vegetarian (and diabetic) recipes to try out, including Coconut Custard Pie and Pasta with Broccoli Rabe. Enjoy!

ORANGE AND KIWI SALAD

Recipe Yield: Yield: 6 servings (1 cup each)

View this online at https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipes/orange-and-kiwi-salad

Source: The Diabetes Food and Nutrition Bible

Book Title: The Diabetes Food and Nutrition Bible

Ingredients

3/4 pound romaine lettuce (about 1 small head)

3 small kiwi fruits, peeled and sliced into 1/4-inch rounds

2 oranges, peeled and sliced into 1/2-inch rounds

3 tablespoons apple cider or champagne vinegar

1 teaspoon lemon juice

Salt and pepper to taste

2 tablespoons walnut oil or olive oil

1 small red onion, sliced into rings

Directions

Wash the lettuce and tear into bite-sized pieces. Put the lettuce on a serving platter. Top the lettuce with the kiwis and oranges placed in a circular pattern.

Combine the vinegar, lemon juice, pepper, salt and oil in a small bowl. Whisk until blended. Drizzle the dressing over the salad.

Top the salad with red onion rings.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 103; Fat: 5 g; Protein: 2 g; Carbohydrates: 14 g

Diabetic Exchanges: 1 Fruit, 1 Fat

ORANGE CRANBERRY BREAD

Recipe Yield: 1 loaf (18 slices)

Source: The New Family Cookbook for People with Diabetes

View online: https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipes/orange-cranberry-bread

Print version: https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipes/orange-cranberry-bread/print/

Ingredients

2 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 teaspoon baking flour

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 medium orange

2 teaspoons margarine, melted

1 large egg, beaten, or 1/4 cup egg substitute

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

1 cup fresh or frozen cranberries, coarsely chopped

1/2 cup chopped walnuts

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Cut aluminum foil to fit the bottom of a 9x5-inch loaf pan and spray the sides of the pan with nonstick pan spray.

Sift the flour, sugar, baking soda, and salt together in a large bowl.

Grate the zest from the orange and set aside. Cut the orange in half and squeeze the juice into a measuring cup. Add the grated zest and melted margarine to the juice and add enough hot water to make 1 cup.

Stir the liquids into the dry ingredients. Add the egg, vanilla, cranberries, and walnuts; stir to mix.

Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake for 1 hour, or until a toothpick inserted in the top of the loaf comes out clean. Cool in the pan on a wire rack.

If time permits, let stand overnight for easy slicing. Cut the loaf into 18 slices.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 108; Fat: 3 g; Sodium: 109 mg; Cholesterol: 12 mg; Protein: 2 g; Carbohydrates: 19 g

Diabetic Exchanges: 1 Starch, 1/2 Fat

COUNTRY PEACH TART

This recipe begins, “Easier than a pie, but just as flavorful and appealing, you’ll like this quick to fix dessert filled with cinnamon and almond spiked peaches. Use a refrigerated pie crust for added ease in preparation.”

Recipe Yield: Serves: 8

View online: https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipes/country-peach-tart

Print version: https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipes/country-peach-tart/print/

Ingredients

Pastry for single-crust 9-inch pie

4 cups peeled, pitted, sliced fresh peaches or frozen unsweetened peaches, thawed

1/2 cup Equal Spoonful or Granulated*

1 tablespoon all-purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon almond extract

*May substitute 12 packets Equal sweetener

Directions

Roll pastry on floured surface to 12-inch circle. Transfer to an ungreased baking sheet.

Combine peaches, Equal®, flour, cinnamon and almond extract. Toss gently to coat. Arrange peach mixture on pastry, leaving 2-inch border around edge of pastry. Bring pastry edge toward center, overlapping as necessary.

Bake tart in preheated 425F oven 25 to 30 minutes or until crust is golden and peaches are tender. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 161; Fat: 7 g; Sodium: 100 mg; Cholesterol: 5 mg; Protein: 2 g; Carbohydrates: 23 grams

Diabetic Exchanges: 1/2 fruit, 1 starch, 1 fat

ORANGE CRANBERRY COOKIES

This recipe begins, “Two favorite Fall flavors – cranberry and orange – combined in an easy to make drop cookie.”

Recipe Yield: 24 cookies

View online with photo: https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipes/orange-cranberry-cookies

Print version: https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipes/orange-cranberry-cookies/print/

Ingredients

1/4 cup stick butter, softened

1 egg

3 tablespoons frozen orange juice concentrate, thawed

3/4 cup all-purpose flour, sifted

1/4 cup quick or old-fashioned oats, uncooked

1/3 cup Equal Spoonful or Granulated*

1/4 teaspoon baking soda

1/8 teaspoon cream of tartar

Dash salt

1 teaspoon grated orange peel

1/2 cup dried cranberries

1/2 cup chopped walnuts

*May substitute 8 packets Equal sweetener

Directions

Beat butter in a medium bowl. Beat in egg and orange juice concentrate.

Mix combined flour, oats, Equal, baking soda, cream of tartar, salt and orange peel into creamed mixture until blended. Stir in dried cranberries and chopped walnuts.

Drop by teaspoons onto ungreased baking sheet. Bake in preheated 375° F oven 8 to 10 minutes or until bottoms are lightly browned. Remove from baking sheet and cool completely on wire rack.

Store in airtight container at room temperature.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 65; Fat: 4 g; Sodium: 17 mg; Cholesterol: 14 mg; Protein: 1 g; Carbohydrates: 7 g

Diabetic Exchanges: 1/2 starch, 1/2 fat

COCONUT CUSTARD PIE

This recipe begins, “A baked custard pie with less carbs and calories.”

Recipe Yield: Serves: 8

View online: https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipes/coconut-custard-pie

Print version: https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipes/coconut-custard-pie/print/

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

** For added coconut flavor use the optional coconut extract.

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; Fat: 11 g; Sodium: 301 mg; Cholesterol: 115 mg; Protein: 6 g; Carbohydrates: 19 g

Diabetic Exchanges: 1/2 milk, 1/2 starch, 2 fat

PASTA WITH BROCCOLI RABE

This is fromDiabetes Self-Management and can be viewed online here.

Yield: 6 servings.

Ingredients

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 pound broccoli rabe*, stems trimmed

1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil

2 cloves garlic, minced

1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes

1 pound ziti pasta

2 tomatoes, seeded and chopped

Directions

Bring large pot of water to boil. Add salt and broccoli rabe. Cook until broccoli is tender-crisp and still bright green, about 5 minutes. Remove broccoli from pot, leaving cooking water in pot. Rinse broccoli quickly under cold, running water or dunk in ice-water bath. Set aside.

Heat oil in large, deep skillet over medium heat. Add garlic and red pepper and cook just until garlic begins to sizzle, about 1 minute. Turn off heat.

Bring pot with broccoli cooking water to boil. Add pasta and cook until just tender. Drain pasta, reserving 1 cup of cooking water.

Chop broccoli into 1-inch pieces. Add broccoli to skillet holding oil, garlic, and red pepper mixture. Cook mixture over medium heat until hot. Add pasta and tomatoes to skillet with broccoli mixture. Toss together, adding pasta water as needed to keep dish moist.

*Note: Broccoli rabe, also called rapini, has 6- to 9-inch stalks with clusters of tiny, broccoli-like buds. It has a stronger, slightly bitter flavor. Broccoli can be substituted for a milder flavor

Nutrition Facts Per Serving: Calories: 379 calories, Carbohydrates: 60 g, Protein: 11 g, Fat: 10 g, Saturated Fat: 1 g, Cholesterol: 0 mg, Sodium: 111 mg, Fiber: 2 g

Exchanges per serving: 4 Bread/Starch, 2 Fat.