Friday Recipes

Today's six recipes include Blueberry Torte Dessert and Twice Baked Sweet Potatoes with Bacon and Chives. Enjoy!

CORN AND BLACK BEAN TAQUITOS

This recipe begins, “Minimum prep and bake time makes homemade taquitos a healthy 'fast food' for busy days. Couple with a side salad for a balanced meal.”

To view this online, go to http://www.diabeticconnect.com/diabetic-recipes/general/7259-corn-and-black-bean-taquitos

Ingredients

8 low carb tortillas

15 oz. black beans, drained

1 cup fresh spinach, chopped

1/2 cup frozen corn

1 cup shredded Monterey jack cheese

3 TBSP salsa

2 TBSP lime juice

1/2 tsp cumin

Pepper to taste

Directions

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.

Slightly mash beans with a fork. Add all ingredients together and mix well.

Spoon 3-4 TBSP of mixture into the center of each tortilla. Tightly roll and place on greased baking sheet. Spray the taquitos with olive oil or coconut oil cooking spray.

Bake 15-20 minutes or until taquitos are lightly brown and crisp.

Nutritional Facts: Servings: 8; For 1 taquito: Calories – 102; Total Fat – 6g; Saturated Fat – 3g; Sodium – 149mg; Carbohydrates – 12g; Dietary fiber – 4g; Sugars – 2g; Protein – 7g

BLUEBERRY TORTE DESSERT

Servings: 6 (1 Serving = 1/2 cup)

View this online at https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipes/blueberry-torte-dessert

Ingredients

3 eggs, separated

1 tbsp sugar

1/3 cup ground almonds

2-1/2 cup fresh blueberries

2 tsp cornstarch

1/2 cup whipping cream

1 tsp sugar substitute

1/2 cup vanilla yogurt

Directions

Beat egg yolks and sugar until light. Add almonds. Beat egg whites until stiff. Fold egg whites into egg yolk mixture.

Line a 13 x 9 inch baking pan with waxed paper. Pour batter into the pan. Bake in a 325F oven for 12 to 15 minutes.

Remove from the pan and cool. Cut into small squares.

To make blueberry sauce, puree 1/2 cup blueberries in a food processor or blender. Dissolve cornstarch in cream. Cook cream, remaining blueberries, and blueberry puree over low heat until thickened, about 5 minutes. Cool. Stir in sugar substitute.

To serve, line a serving dish with 1/2 of blueberry sauce; arrange cake squares over blueberry sauce. Top with remaining sauce. Spoon on yogurt. Serve immediately.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 177; Fat: 10 g; Sodium: 357 mg; Protein: 8 g; Carbohydrates: 14 g

Diabetic Exchanges: 1 Skim Milk; 2 Fat

CHICKEN AND SPINACH SALAD

Recipe Yield: Yield: 14 cups (7 - 2 cups servings)

Source: Cooking Healthy and Fast

Book Title: Cooking Healthy and Fast

View this online at https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipes/chicken-and-spinach-salad

Ingredients

6 oz. fresh spinach

2 oranges, peeled and cut into chunks

2 cups cooked and cubed chicken

2 cups fresh strawberries

Dressing:

2 Tbsp. red wine vinegar

3 Tbsp. orange juice

1-1/2 Tbsp. canola oil

1/4 tsp. dry mustard

1/3 tsp. poppy seeds

Directions

Mix dressing ingredients and regrigerate. Wash spinach and tear into bite size pieces. Add oranges, chicken and strawberries. Serve with dressing.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 135; Fat: 4 g; Sodium: 46 mg; Cholesterol: 31 mg; Carbohydrates: 10 g

Diabetic Exchanges: 1 fruit, 1 1/2 lean meat

TWICE BAKED SWEET POTATOES WITH BACON AND CHIVES

This recipe begins, “Serve these tasty, twice-baked sweet potatoes as a meal, side or appetizer.”

Servings: 8

http://www.diabeticconnect.com/diabetic-recipes/general/7336-twice-baked-sweet-potatoes-with-bacon-and-chives

Ingredients

4 sweet potatoes (medium, rinsed and scrubbed)

6 slices cooked bacon

1/4 cup sour cream

2 tbsps chopped fresh chives

1/2 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese

Directions

Heat oven to 400 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with foil. Poke sweet potatoes all over with a fork, then place on prepared baking sheet. Bake sweet potatoes 1 hour until soft and baked through. Set aside until cool enough to handle.

Cut cooled sweet potatoes in half lengthwise, then use a spoon to scoop out pulp, leaving a 1/4-inch wall. Transfer pulp to a large bowl, and return sweet potato shells to baking sheet. Crumble 4 slices cooked bacon and add to bowl. Add sour cream and 1 tablespoon chopped chives. Stir to combine.

Spoon filling into shells. Sprinkle tops with shredded cheese. Bake at 400 degrees F 5 to 10 minutes until cheese is melted. Top with remaining 2 slices bacon, crumbled, and remaining 1 tablespoon chopped chives.

Nutritional Facts: Calories: 187; Total Fat: 12g; Saturated Fat: 5g; Sodium : 226mg; Carbohydrates: 14g; Fiber: 2g; Sugars: 3g; Protein: 6g

TUSCAN CHICKEN BREASTS WITH POLENTA

Recipe Yield: Servings: 8

View this online at https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipes/tuscan-chicken-breasts-with-polenta.

Ingredients

4 cups defatted low sodium chicken broth

1 cup yellow cornmeal

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

1/2 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon pepper

8 skinless chicken breast halves (3 pounds)

Nonstick cooking spray

Fresh spinach leaves, steamed (optional)

Tuscan Tomato Sauce (recipe follows below)

Directions

In a large nonstick saucepan, heat chicken broth to a boil; slowly stir in cornmeal. Reduce heat to low; cook, stirring frequently, 15 to 20 minutes or until mixture is very thick and pulls away from side of pan. (Mixture may be lumpy.) Pour polenta into greased 9x5-inch loaf pan. Cool; refrigerate 2 to 3 hours or until firm.

Heat oven to 350 degrees F.

Combine garlic powder, Italian seasoning, salt and pepper in small bowl; rub on all surfaces of chicken. Arrange chicken, breast side up, in single layer in 13x9-inch baking pan. Bake, uncovered, about 45 minutes or until chicken is no longer pink in center and juices run clear.

Remove polenta from pan; transfer to cutting board. Cut polenta crosswise into 16 slices. Cut slices into triangles, if desired. Spray large nonstick skillet with cooking spray; heat over medium heat until hot. Cook polenta about 4 minutes per side or until lightly browned.

Place spinach leaves, if desired, on serving plates. Arrange polenta slices and chicken over spinach; top with Tuscan Tomato Sauce.

TUSCAN TOMATO SAUCE

Makes: About 3 cups

Ingredients

Nonstick cooking spray

1/2 cup chopped onion

2 cloves garlic, minced

8 plum tomatoes, coarsely chopped

1 can (8 ounces) tomato sauce

2 teaspoons dried basil leaves

2 teaspoons dried oregano leaves

2 teaspoons dried rosemary

1/2 teaspoon pepper

Directions

Spray medium nonstick saucepan with cooking spray; heat over medium heat until hot. Add onion and garlic; cook and stir about 5 minutes or until tender.

Stir in tomatoes, tomato sauce, basil, oregano, rosemary and pepper; heat to a boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer, uncovered, about 6 minutes or until desired consistency, stirring occasionally.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 240; Fat: 4 g; Sodium: 345 mg; Cholesterol: 69 mg; Protein: 29 g; Carbohydrates: 22 g

Diabetic Exchanges: 1 Starch/Bread, 2-1/2 Lean Meat, 1-1/2 Vegetable

CHILI-BEAN SOUP

Recipe Yield: Servings: 8

Source: Deliciously Healthy Favorite Foods Cookbook

Book Title: Deliciously Healthy Favorite Foods Cookbook

View this online at https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipes/chili-bean-soup

Ingredients

1/3 cup chopped green bell pepper

1 small onion, chopped

1/3 pound lean round steak, sliced into very thin 1" long strips

4 cups low-sodium beef bouillon

1-1/2 teaspoons each: chili powder and dried parsley flakes

3 cups canned peeled tomatoes (with juice), cut into pieces

3 tablespoons cornstarch, dissolved in 1/2 cup water

1 can (15 oz.) pink or pinto beans with juice

Directions

In a large, heavy soup post sprayed with nonstick spray, stir-fry pepper and onion over medium-high heat until soft but not browned. Remove from pot and set aside.

Re-spray pot with non-stick spray and brown beef strips over medium-high heat. Add cooked pepper and onion to pot. Add beef bouillon, chili powder, parsley, tomatoes with juice, cornstarch dissolved in water and beans with juice. Cover and simmer for 1 hour.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 101; Fat: 2.9 g; Sodium: 395 mg; Cholesterol: 9 mg; Protein: 7.1 g; Carbohydrates: 12 g

Diabetic Exchanges: 1 Lean Meat, 1 Bread/Starch