Meatless Monday

It's time for another Meatless Monday. Since we're in the middle of the holiday season, today's offerings include Gingerbread Muffins and Gingerbread Man Cookies. Enjoy!

CHOCOLATE CREAM PIE

Recipe Yield: Serves: 8

Source: Equal®

View this online at https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipes/chocolate-cream-pie

Ingredients

Pastry for single-crust 9-inch pie

1-1/2 cups Equal® Spoonful or Granulated*

1/2 cup cornstarch

1/3 cup European or Dutch-process cocoa

1/4 teaspoon salt

3 cups 2% milk

2 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla

Light whipped topping (optional)

Chocolate curls (optional)

* May substitute 36 packets Equal sweetener

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. Pierce bottom and side of pastry with fork. Bake in preheated 375F oven 10 to 12 minutes or until crust is golden. Cool on wire rack.

Combine Equal®, cornstarch, cocoa and salt in medium saucepan. Stir in milk. Heat to boiling over medium-high heat, whisking constantly. Boil and stir until thickened, about 1 minute.

Beat eggs in small bowl; whisk about 1 cup chocolate mixture into eggs. Whisk egg mixture into chocolate mixture in saucepan. Cook over very low heat, whisking constantly, 30 to 60 seconds. Remove from heat. Stir in vanilla.

Spread hot filling in baked crust. Refrigerate until chilled and set, about 6 hours. Garnish top of pie with dollops of whipped topping and chocolate curls, if desired. Cut pie into wedges.

Notes:

A rich chocolate pie that has 43% less calories than a traditional recipe, because it is flavored with Equal, unsweetened cocoa and lower fat milk. Indulge without the guilt!

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 235; Fat: 10 g; Sodium: 463 mg; Cholesterol: 66 mg; Protein: 7 g; Carbohydrates: 27 g

Diabetic Exchanges: 1 milk, 1 starch, 2 fat

JALAPENO BROCCOLI

Recipe Yield: Yield: 4 to 5 servings

Source: America's Everyday Diabetes Cookbook

Book Title: America's Everyday Diabetes Cookbook

View this online at https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipes/jalapeno-broccoli

Ingredients

1 teaspoon salt, optional

1 head broccoli, trimmed and separated into spears

1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar

2-3 tablespoons olive oil

2 fresh jalapeno peppers, thinly sliced (with or without seeds, depending on desired hotness)

1/4 cup toasted pine nuts

Few sprigs fresh coriander or parsley, chopped

Directions

Bring a pot of water to the boil and add optional salt. Add the broccoli spears and boil over high heat for 3 to 5 minutes (depending on desired tenderness).

Drain and transfer broccoli to bowl of ice cold water for 30 seconds. Drain and lay out the cooked spears decoratively on a presentation plate. Drizzle evenly with balsamic vinegar.

In a small frying pan, heat olive oil over medium heat for 30 seconds. Add sliced jalapeno peppers (with seeds, if using) and stir-fry for 2 to 3 minutes until softened.

Take peppers with all the oil from the pan, and distribute evenly over the broccoli. Garnish with pine nuts and herbs.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 142; Fat: 9 g; Fiber: 6 g; Sodium: 206 mg; Protein: 8 g; Carbohydrates: 14 g

Diabetic Exchanges: 2 Vegetable, 1/2 Lean Meat, 1-1/2 Fat

GINGERBREAD MUFFINS

Recipe Yield: 12 servings

Source: Equal®

View this online at https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipe/gingerbread-muffins.

Ingredients

1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour

2 cups Kellogg's Special K cereal, crushed to 1 cup

3/4 cup Equal Spoonful or Granulated*

1/2 cup raisins

1 tablespoon baking powder

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon ground ginger

1/4 teaspoon ground cloves

1/4 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 cup low-fat buttermilk

2 egg whites

2 tablespoons vegetable oil

3 tablespoons light molasses

* May substitute 18 packets Equal sweetener

Directions

Lightly coat 12 muffin cups with nonstick spray or line with paper-liners; set aside.

Combine flour, crushed cereal, Equal, raisins, baking powder, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, baking soda and salt in large mixing bowl.

Stir in buttermilk, egg whites, vegetable oil and molasses until all ingredients are just moistened. Spoon batter into muffin cups, filling 2/3 full.

Bake in preheated 400F oven 18 to 20 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pan 10 minutes. Remove muffins from pan and cool on wire rack. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 152; Fat: 4 g; Sodium: 273 mg; Cholesterol: 1 mg; Protein: 4 g; Carbohydrates: 26 g

Diabetic Exchanges: 2 starch, 1/2 fat

ROASTED CORN AND ROMA TOMATO SALAD

Recipe Yield: Makes 8 servings.

Source: Dreamfields

View this online at https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipes/roasted-corn-and-roma-tomato-salad.

Ingredients

1 box Dreamfields Penne Rigate

1 tablespoon plus 5 teaspoons olive oil

4 cups corn kernels (see note below)

1 medium bell pepper (red, orange or yellow), cut in half lengthwise, seeds and membranes removed

6 Roma tomatoes, cut in half lengthwise

1/2 cup sliced fresh basil

Coarsely ground black pepper

Dressing:

2 tablespoons olive oil

2 tablespoons white wine vinegar

1/2 teaspoon salt

Shredded Parmesan cheese (optional)

Note: Fresh or frozen corn kernels (thawed) may be used. Grilled corn, cut off the cob, may be substituted; omit roasting.

Note: The original recipe added 1/3 cup crumbled bacon as an optional ingredient for the dressing. Also, the variation also gave the option of adding cooked shrimp.

Directions

Preheat oven to 425°F. Line two rimmed baking pans (15x10x1-inch) with aluminum foil. Brush lightly with olive oil (about 1 teaspoon each).

Toss corn with 2 teaspoons oil. Spread in even layer on one baking pan, covering 3/4 of pan. Place pepper halves cut side down in pan with corn; brush with 1 teaspoon oil.

Place tomatoes cut side down in second pan. Brush with remaining 1 tablespoon oil. Place both pans in oven, using center rack and rack below center.

Roast corn and peppers about 30 minutes, stirring corn two times and turning peppers once until corn and peppers are lightly browned and peppers are tender. Roast tomatoes 30 to 40 minutes until tender and browned on top. (Switch rack positions after 15 minutes.)

Meanwhile, cook pasta according to package directions; drain. Rinse with cold water; drain again. Place in large bowl. Remove skin from peppers; chop. Remove skin from tomatoes; chop. Toss corn, peppers and tomatoes with pasta. Add basil; toss gently. Season with black pepper, as desired.

For dressing, whisk together 2 tablespoons oil, vinegar and salt. Toss with pasta mixture. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese, if desired.

Variations: If desired, add chopped avocado.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 308; Calories from fat: 51; Fat: 10 g; Saturated Fat: 1 g; Sodium: 172 mg; Protein: 9 g; Carbohydrates: 0 g

OMELET PROVENCAL

This recipe begins, “Create the perfect omelet with the savory French flavors of Provence: tomatoes, garlic, olives and herbs. Make one omelet for two, or two omelets for four. Either way, this easy main dish becomes the highlight of a quick, nutritious meal.”

Recipe Yield: Servings: 2

View this online at https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipes/omelet-provencal.

Ingredients

3 large eggs*

1 tablespoon water

Pinch of freshly ground black pepper

2 teaspoons olive oil

1/2 cup diced canned tomatoes with garlic and onion, drained

1/4 cup shredded Muenster cheese

2 tablespoons canned sliced black olives

2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley

1 teaspoon herbs de Provence Parsley sprigs, for garnish

* If you need to restrict cholesterol, use 3/4 cup egg substitute, or use some egg whites in place of a whole egg(s).

Directions

Combine eggs, water and pepper in a small bowl; whisk gently to blend the whites and yolks, but not to make them frothy.

Melt the olive oil in a 10-inch, non-stick skillet over medium-high heat, tilting to coat the bottom and sides.

Once the oil is hot, pour the eggs in.

As the eggs start to set, lift the edges so the uncooked egg mixture flows underneath. Cook until the eggs are set and no visible liquid egg remains, about 1 1/2 to 2 minutes.

Top half the omelet with tomatoes, cheese and olives; sprinkle with parsley and herbs de Provence. Flip the unfilled half of the omelet over the top.

Heat until lightly browned on the bottom, then slide onto a plate to serve.

Garnish with parsley sprigs.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 240; Fat: 17 g; Saturated Fat: 6 g; Fiber: 1 g; Sodium: 550 mg; Cholesterol: 330 mg; Protein: 13 g; Carbohydrates: 7 g

GINGERBREAD MAN COOKIES

Recipe Yield: Yield: 54 servingsServing Size: 1 cookie

Source: Splenda

View this online at https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipes/gingerbread-man-cookies.

Ingredients

6 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

4 teaspoons ground ginger

4 teaspoons cinnamon

1 1/2 teaspoons ground cloves

1 cup unsalted butter, softened

1 cup SPLENDA No Calorie Sweetener, Granulated

1 teaspoon salt

2 eggs

1 cup molasses

3 tablespoons water

Directions

Blend together flour, baking soda, baking powder, and spices in a large mixing bowl.

Cream butter, SPLENDA Granulated Sweetener and salt together in a large mixing bowl. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add the molasses and water. Stir well. Add the flour mixture and stir until well blended. Refrigerate dough 1-2 hours before rolling out and cutting into shapes.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Roll cookie dough out slightly less than 1/4 inch. Cut into desired shapes. Bake in preheated oven 8-10 minutes or until lightly browned on the bottom.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 100; Fat: 4 g; Saturated Fat: 2 g; Fiber: 1 g; Sodium: 75 mg; Cholesterol: 15 mg; Protein: 2 g; Carbohydrates: 16 g; Sugars: 4 g