Wednesday Recipes

Here are today's six recipes to help you through the day, including Low-Carb Chocolate Chip Cookies and Tandoori Chicken Skewers with Mint Raita. Enjoy!

CRANBERRY-ALMOND TARTS

This recipe begins, “Cranberries and almond nestled in a flaky pastry make a sweet ending for a holiday party.”

Recipe Yield: Servings Per Recipe: 24

Serving Size: 1 square tart

View this online at https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipes/cranberry-almond-tarts

Ingredients

1/2 (15 ounce) container refrigerated pie crusts

3/4 cup Splenda No Calorie Sweetener, Granulated

1/3 cup water

1 (12 ounce) bag fresh or frozen cranberries, thawed

1/4 cup chopped almonds, toasted

1/2 teaspoon almond extract

1 (8 ounce) carton non-dairy whipped topping

1/4 cup toasted almond slices

Directions

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.

Unroll pastry and roll to 1/8-inch thickness on a lightly floured surface; using a 2- inch square cookie cutter, cut out 24 squares, re-rolling pastry, if necessary.

Place squares in ungreased miniature muffin pans. Place in freezer.

Combine Splenda Granulated Sweetener and water in a saucepan, stirring until blended.

Stir in cranberries. Bring mixture to a boil over medium-high heat. Cook, stirring constantly 2 minutes or until berries pop.

Pour through a wire-mesh sieve, set over a bowl. Return liquid to saucepan; reserving berries.

Bring liquid to a boil; reduce heat and simmer 5 minutes or until liquid is reduced to about 3 tablespoons. Pour sauce over cranberries, tossing to coat.

Stir in almonds and almond extract. Spoon mixture into pastry shells.

Bake 15 to 20 minutes or until pastry is golden and filling is set. Carefully remove tarts from muffin tins; cool on a wire rack.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 100; Fat: 6 g; Saturated Fat: 2.5 g; Fiber: 1 g; Sodium: 55 mg; Protein: 1 g; Carbohydrates: 9 g; Sugars: 3 g

TANDOORI CHICKEN SKEWERS WITH MINT RAITA

Recipe Yield: Makes 4 servings for main course or a snack for 6 or 12 people

To view this online, go to https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipes/tandoori-chicken-skewers-with-mint-raita.

Ingredients

1 cup fat-free plain Greek yogurt, divided

1/3 cup reduced fat coconut milk, divided

2 tsp. curry powder, mild or hot

1-2 finely chopped garlic cloves

3/4 tsp. sea salt, divided

1 Tbsp. canola oil

1 lb. skinless and boneless chicken breast

2 Tbsp. finely chopped red onion

2 Tbsp. chopped fresh mint

1 tsp. fresh lime juice

12 (8-inch) bamboo skewers

Directions

In wide, shallow bowl or deep plate, combine 2 tablespoons of yogurt with 2 tablespoons of coconut milk, curry powder, garlic and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Mix in oil.

Cut chicken lengthwise into 12 strips. Insert skewer into bottom of one chicken strip and work it up lengthwise to top. Repeat with remaining chicken.

Place skewers in curry marinade and using your fingers, make sure it coats them. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 1 to 8 hours.

Arrange marinated chicken on paper toweling and blot dry, removing all excess marinade.

Heat large skillet over medium-high heat, then coat with cooking spray. Or heat stovetop griddle.

Arrange skewers in one layer in pan and cook for 2 minutes, browning chicken. Using tongs, turn skewers and brown on another side, 2 minutes. Turn chicken and cook until it is opaque and hot around skewer at thickest part of chicken. Transfer skewers to serving plate.

While chicken cooks, prepare the Raita (follows).

In bowl, combine remaining yogurt and coconut milk with onions, mint, lime juice and remaining salt.

When possible, make Raita 30 minutes before serving chicken to allow its flavors to develop and meld. Serve it the day it is made.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 121; Fat: 7 g; Saturated Fat: 3 g; Sodium: 297 mg; Protein: 8 g; Carbohydrates: 7 g

LOWER-CARB CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES

This recipe begins, “These reduced-sugar Chocolate Chip Cookies are quick & easy to make — and they’re delicious. Bake an extra batch for the freezer.”

Recipe Yield: Yield: 2 dozen; Serving size: 1 cookie

Source: Equal

View this online at https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipes/lower-carb-chocolate-chip-cookies

Ingredients

1/3 cup stick butter, softened

1 egg

1 teaspoon vanilla

1/3 cup Equal Spoonful or Granulated*

1/3 cup firmly packed light brown sugar

3/4 cup all-purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips or mini chocolate chips

*May substitute 8 packets Equal sweetener

Directions

Beat butter with electric mixer until fluffy. Beat in egg and vanilla until blended. Mix in Equal and brown sugar until combined.

Mix combined flour, baking soda and salt. Stir into butter mixture until well blended. Stir in chocolate chips.

Drop dough by rounded teaspoons onto ungreased baking sheet. Bake in preheated 350F oven 8 to 10 minutes or until light golden color. Remove from baking sheet and cool completely on wire rack.

Store in airtight containers at room temperature.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 68; Fat: 4 g; Sodium: 55 mg; Cholesterol: 16 mg; Protein: 1 g; Carbohydrates: 8 g

Diabetic Exchanges: 1/2 starch, 1 fat

HOLIDAY EGGNOG

This recipe begins, “Here’s a healthy, sugarfree version of an all-time Christmas Holiday favorite. This version is easy to make (with no cooking needed), and has about one-third of the carbohydrates and sugars that regular eggnog has.”

View this at https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipe/holiday-eggnog-recipe

Ingredients

1 cup egg substitute

12 packets Equal sweetener*

1-1/2 teaspoons rum extract

1-1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1 quart 2% milk

1 cup frozen lite whipped topping, thawed


*Substitute 1/2 cup Equal Spoonful for the packets.

Directions

Whisk together egg substitute, Equal and extracts.

Stir in milk. Whisk in whipped topping until blended.

Refrigerate, covered, at least 2 hours to allow flavors to blend.

Whisk just before serving.

Garnish each serving with freshly grated nutmeg, if desired.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 68; Fat: 2 g; Sodium: 80 mg; Cholesterol: 7 mg; Protein: 5 g; Carbohydrates: 7 g

Diabetic Exchanges: 1/2 Reduced Fat Milk; 1/2 Fat

20-MINUTE CHICKEN CREOLE

To view online, go to https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipes/20-minute-chicken-creole

Recipe Yield: Yield: 4 servings (1-1/2 cups per serving)

Ingredients

12 oz boneless, skinless chicken breast, cut into thin strips

1 cup canned whole peeled tomatoes, chopped

1 cup chili sauce (look for lowest sodium version)

1-1/2 cup green bell pepper, rinsed and chopped

1-1/2 cup celery, rinsed and chopped

1/4 cup onion, chopped

1 Tbsp garlic, minced (about 2–3 cloves)

1 Tbsp fresh basil, rinsed, dried, and chopped (or 1 tsp dried)

1 Tbsp fresh parsley, rinsed, dried, and chopped (or 1 tsp dried)

1/4 tsp crushed red pepper

1/4 tsp salt

Directions

Spray saute pan with cooking spray. Preheat over high heat.

Cook chicken in hot saute pan, stirring for 3–5 minutes. Reduce heat.

Add tomatoes with juice, chili sauce, green pepper, celery, onion, garlic, basil, parsley, crushed red pepper, and salt. Bring to boil over high heat, and then reduce heat to simmer.

Simmer, covered, for 10 minutes.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 274; Fat: 5 g; Saturated Fat: 1 g; Fiber: 4 g; Sodium: 383 mg; Cholesterol: 73 mg; Protein: 30 g; Carbohydrates: 30 g

BUTTERNUT SQUASH WITH APPLES, CRANBERRIES, AND WALNUTS

Yield: 4 servings. Serving size: 3/4 cup.

This is from Diabetes Self-Management.

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

2 teaspoons butter

3 cups cubed (about 1/2 inch) peeled butternut squash

1 tablespoon packed brown sugar

1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/8 teaspoon black pepper

1 cup water

1 cup cubed (about 1/2 inch) peeled Granny Smith apple

2 tablespoons dried cranberries

2 tablespoons chopped walnuts

Directions

Melt butter in large skillet coated with nonstick cooking spray over medium heat. Add squash; mix to lightly coat with butter. Add brown sugar, cinnamon, salt, and pepper; mix with large spoon. Add water; cover, bring to a simmer. Reduce heat and simmer 10 minutes. Add apple and cranberries; mix to combine. Cover and simmer 10 minutes or until squash is tender. Add walnuts; mix gently.

Nutrition Facts Per Serving: Calories: 129 calories, Carbohydrates: 23 g, Protein: 2 g, Fat: 4 g, Saturated Fat: 1 g, Cholesterol: 5 mg, Sodium: 170 mg, Fiber: 3 g

Exchanges per serving: 1 1/2 Bread/Starch, 1/2 Fat.