Christmas Eve Food

Tomorrow is Christmas, and, if you're like me, you might be looking for one or two more recipes to add to tomorrow's main meal. Here are a few possibilities, including Turkey Breast Provencal with Vegetables and Glazed Ham with Dried Cheery Caramelized Onions. Enjoy!

Note: Merry Christmas! And for anyone who celebrates other holidays this time of year, may they be wonderful, too! Here's to peace, happiness, love...all the good blessings we need.

Also, since tomorrow is Christmas, I'll be taking the day off, but will return on Wednesday, December 26.

BAKED ACORN SQUASH WITH APPLE STUFFING

Yield: 4 stuffed squash halves (4 servings)

Source: The New Family Cookbook for People with Diabetes

Book Info: http://diabeticgourmet.com/book_archive/details/26.shtml

Ingredients

2 small acorn squash (1-1/2 pounds total), halved and seeded

1 large or 2 small apples, peeled, diced

2 tablespoons diced celery

2 tablespoons finely chopped onion

2 teaspoons margarine, melted

Pinch of salt

Pinch of freshly ground pepper

Directions

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.

Prepare a square baking pan with nonstick pan spray.

Place the squash cut side down in a baking pan. Bake 20 minutes.

While the squash is baking, combine the apples, celery, onion, margarine, and 2 tablespoons water in a medium bowl; mix well.

Turn the squash, cut sides up. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Divide the apple mixture to fill the cavities of the squash. Bake the stuffed squash halves, covered with foil, for 30 minutes more. Serve hot.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 87; Protein: 1 g; Fat: 2 g; Sodium: 63 mg; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Dietary Fiber: 5 g; Sugars: 10 g; Carbohydrates: 18 g; Exchanges: 1 Starch

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

GLAZED HAM WITH DRIED CHERRY CARAMELIZED ONIONS

Serves 10.

Source: NPB

Find this recipe at: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/971.shtml

Ingredients

3 pound fully-cooked boneless smoked ham

2 tablespoons honey

1 tablespoon stone-ground mustard

1 teaspoon cider vinegar

5 medium onions, halved lengthwise and thinly sliced (about 5 cups)

3 tablespoons butter

1/2 cup dried tart cherries

1/3 cup cider vinegar

2 tablespoons honey

1/2 teaspoon cardamom

1/4 cup almonds, sliced or slivered, and toasted

Directions

Heat oven to 325 degrees F. Place ham on rack in shallow baking pan. Roast 45 minutes to 1 hour or until a meat thermometer registers 140 degrees F. (about 15 to 18 minutes per pound).

Meanwhile, for glaze, in a small bowl combine 2 tablespoons honey, 1 teaspoon cider vinegar and 1 tablespoon mustard. Brush ham with glaze during the last 5 minutes of baking.

To caramelize onions, cook onions in a covered Dutch oven in hot butter over medium heat for 12 to 15 minutes or until onions are just tender, stirring occasionally. Stir in 1/2 cup dried cherries, 1/3 cup cider vinegar, 2 tablespoons honey and 1/2 teaspoon cardamom. Simmer, uncovered, for 5 minutes. Stir in toasted almonds. Slice ham; serve with onion mixture.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 277; Protein: 26 g; Fat: 10 g; Sodium: 1337 mg; Cholesterol: 43 mg; Saturated Fat: 4 g; Dietary Fiber: 2 g; Carbohydrates: 20 g

TURKEY BREAST PROVENCAL WITH VEGETABLES

Yield: 12 servings

Source: The National Turkey Federation

Find this recipe at: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/507.shtml

Ingredients

1 Cup TURKEY BROTH or reduced-sodium chicken broth

1/4 Cup dry white wine

1/4 Cup freshly squeezed lemon juice

1 Head garlic, cloves separated, unpeeled

1 Bag (10 ounces) frozen whole petite onions

2 Teaspoons dried rosemary, crushed

1 Teaspoon dried thyme leaves

1/2 Teaspoon kosher salt

1/4 Teaspoon fennel seeds, crushed

1/4 Teaspoon black pepper

6 plum tomatoes, quartered

1 Box (9 ounces) frozen or fresh artichoke hearts, slightly thawed

10 ounces frozen or fresh asparagus spears, slightly thawed

1 Can (3-1/4 ounces) pitted black olives, drained

As needed olive oil, salt and black pepper

1 (4-1/2 pounds) BONE-IN TURKEY BREAST

Directions

In 9-X 13-inch baking pan combine broth, wine, lemon juice, garlic, onions, rosemary, thyme, salt, fennel seeds and pepper. Cover pan with foil. Heat 20 minutes in a preheated 325 degree F oven.

Remove pan from oven. Add tomatoes, artichoke hearts, asparagus and olives in a pile in the center of the pan.

Rub turkey breast with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Place turkey breast, breast side up, on top of vegetables. Float foil over top of turkey and roast 1 hour. Remove foil and roast an additional 1 hour or until food thermometer inserted in thickest part of breast registers 170 degrees F. Baste turkey and vegetables frequently with pan juices.

Remove turkey and vegetables to a serving platter. Reserve 6 cloves of garlic and pan juices.

Remove any skin from reserved garlic. Combine garlic with pan juices in food processor bowl, fitted with metal blade. Process 30 to 60 seconds until mixture is smooth. Reheat sauce to piping hot.

To serve, pass sauce to pour over turkey and vegetables.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 289; Protein: 36 g; Fat: 12 g; Sodium: 349 mg; Cholesterol: 100 mg; Carbohydrates: 9 g

CORN BREAD

Servings: 12

View recipe: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/176.shtml

Print Friendly: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/bin/print.cgi?ID=176

Ingredients

2 cup cornmeal

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp baking Soda

2 tsp baking Powder

1 tbsp honey

1 egg

1 tbsp vegetable Oil

1 cup buttermilk

Directions

Combine the cornmeal, salt, baking soda and baking powder in a bowl. Mix well.

Pour into a lightly oiled 8-inch-square baking pan.

Bake in a 400-degree oven for 20 to 25 minutes.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 113; Protein: 3 g; Fat: 2 g; Sodium: 184 mg; Carbohydrates: 20 g; Exchanges: 1 Bread