Friday Recipes

Ever have one of those mornings when you're not sure why your blood glucose was high?

If you're like many diabetics, you probably have wondered this. According to a tip from Diabetes Self-Management, the best thing to do is to "go over them with a diabetes educator or your health-care provider." (Click here for the short tip. You can also find out more about blog glucose monitoring from Diabetes Self-Management by clicking here.)

And now, on to today's six yummy recipes to help you through the weekend, including Moroccan Chicken with Eggplant-Zucchini Ragout and Classic Beef Stew. Enjoy!

CINNAMON BUN BREAKFAST FOCACCIA

Recipe Yield: Serves: 16

Source: Equal

View this online at https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipes/cinnamon-bun-breakfast-focaccia

Ingredients

1 package (16 oz.) Pillsbury Hot Roll Mix

1/4 cup Equal Spoonful or Granulated*

2-1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon, divided

1 cup very hot tap water

1 egg, slightly beaten

5 tablespoons stick butter or margarine, melted, divided

3/4 cup dried cranberries

1/4 cup Equal Spoonful or Granulated**

1 cup reduced-fat granola cereal

4 ounces reduced-fat cream cheese, softened

2 tablespoons Equal Spoonful or Granulated***

1/2 teaspoon vanilla

1 to 2 tablespoons 2% milk

* May substitute 6 packets Equal sweetener

** May substitute 6 packets Equal sweetener

*** May substitute 3 packets Equal sweetener

Directions

Combine hot roll mix, yeast packet, 1/4 cup Equal and 1-1/2 teaspoons cinnamon. Stir in hot water, egg and 3 tablespoons melted butter. Mix until a soft dough forms. Turn out onto lightly floured surface and knead in cranberries. Continue to knead until dough is smooth and elastic, about 3 minutes. Shape into a ball. Cover with a bowl and let rest 5 minutes.

Press dough evenly into a well sprayed 15 x 10-inch baking pan. Combine 1/4 cup Equal, remaining 2 tablespoons melted butter and 1 teaspoon cinnamon. Spread over surface of dough. Sprinkle with granola, pressing lightly into dough. Cover with waxed paper and let rise until puffy, about 25 minutes.

Bake in preheated 375F oven 18 to 22 minutes or until edges are golden. Cool in pan on wire rack 5 minutes.

Meanwhile, beat cream cheese, 2 tablespoons Equal, vanilla and enough milk to form a spreading consistency. Drizzle cream cheese mixture over warm focaccia. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Notes:

Hot roll mix makes this breakfast bread easy to prepare. Low fat granola cereal and colorful dried cranberries along with a cream cheese glaze add appetite appeal.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 198; Fat: 7 g; Sodium: 228 m; Cholesterol: 27 mg; Protein: 5 g; Carbohydrates: 30 g

Diabetic Exchanges: 2 starch, 1 fat

CRANBERRY ORANGE CHEESECAKE

Recipe Yield: Serves: 16

Source: Equal®

View this online at https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipe/cranberry-orange-cheesecake.

Ingredients

Crust Ingredients:

1-1/3 cups gingersnap crumbs

3 tablespoons Equal Spoonful or Granulated*

3 tablespoons stick butter or margarine, melted

Cheesecake Ingredients:

3 packages (8 ounces each) reduced fat cream cheese, softened

1 cup Equal Spoonful or Granulated**

2 eggs

2 egg whites

2 tablespoons cornstarch

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 cup reduced-fat sour cream

2 teaspoons vanilla

1 cup chopped fresh or frozen cranberries

1-1/2 teaspoons grated orange peel

Additional grated orange peel (optional)

*May substitute 4-1/2 packets Equal sweetener

** May Substitute 24 packets Equal sweetener

Directions

For Crust, combine gingersnap crumbs, 3 tablespoons Equal® and melted butter. Reserve 2 tablespoons crumb mixture. Press remaining crumb mixture onto bottom of 9-inch springform pan. Bake in preheated 325° F oven 8 minutes. Cool on wire rack while preparing cheesecake.

For Cheesecake, beat cream cheese and 1 cup Equal® in mixing bowl on medium speed of mixer until smooth and well combined. Mix in eggs, egg whites, cornstarch and salt. Fold in sour cream and vanilla until combined. Gently stir in cranberries and orange peel.

Pour batter over baked crust. Sprinkle with reserved crumb mixture. Bake in preheated oven 45 to 50 minutes or until center of cake is almost set. Cool on wire rack. Gently run metal spatula around rim of pan to loosen cake. Let cheesecake cool completely. Cover and refrigerate several hours or overnight before serving. To serve, remove side of pan. Garnish top of cheesecake with grated orange peel, if desired. Cut cake into wedges.

Notes:

Chopped fresh cranberries, grated orange peel and the tang of gingersnaps make this a festive looking and delicious cheesecake variation.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 196; Fat: 13 g; Sodium: 268 mg; Cholesterol: 62 mg; Protein: 7 g;Carbohydrates: 13 g

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

GREEN BEANS WITH POPPY SEED DRESSING

Recipe Yield: Yield: 4 servings (3/4 cup each)

Source: The Eating Well Diabetes Cookbook

Book Title: The Eating Well Diabetes Cookbook

View this online at https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipes/green-beans-with-poppy-seed-dressing

Ingredients

1 teaspoon poppy seeds

2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

1 teaspoon white-wine or rice-wine vinegar

1 teaspoon Dijon mustard

1/2 teaspoon honey

1 tablespoon minced shallot

1/8 teaspoon salt, or to taste

Freshly ground pepper to taste

1 pound green beans, stem ends trimmed

Directions

To prepare dressing: Heat a small dry skillet over medium-low heat.

Add poppy seeds and toast, stirring, until fragrant, about 1 minute. Transfer to a small bowl (or jar) and let cool. Add oil, vinegar, mustard, honey, shallot, salt and pepper; whisk (or shake) until blended.

To prepare beans: Cook beans in a large pot of boiling water until just tender, 5 to 8 minutes. Drain. Warm the dressing in a large skillet over medium heat. Add beans and toss to coat.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 113; Fat: 8 g; Fiber: 4 g; Sodium: 104 mg; Protein: 3 g; Carbohydrates: 11 g

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

MOROCCAN CHICKEN WITH EGGPLANT-ZUCCHINI RAGOUT

This recipe begins, “The word ragout refers to a main dish, French-style stew. It is typically hearty and features well-seasoned meat or fish, often stewed along with vegetables. This is a very flavorful ragout which features chicken, eggplant, zucchini, tomatoes and olives.”

Recipe Yield: Yield: 4 servings

View this online at https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipe/moroccan-chicken-with-eggplant-zucchini-ragout

Ingredients

1-1/2 to 2 pounds chicken leg quarters

3 tablespoons olive oil, divided

1 teaspoon salt, divided

1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, divided

1 small eggplant, cut into 1/2-inch dice

1 medium zucchini, cut into 1/2-inch dice

1 small onion, diced

2 cloves garlic, minced

1/4 cup white wine or water

1 (14.5 ounce) can diced tomatoes with juices

1/4 cup pimento-stuffed green olives, roughly chopped

2 tablespoons capers, rinsed

2 tablespoons red wine vinegar

1 teaspoon sugar

2 tablespoons parsley, minced

Directions

In large skillet over medium high-heat, warm 2 tablespoons olive oil. Season leg quarters with 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon black pepper. Add leg quarters to pan, skin-side down. Brown chicken, turning once, 8 to 10 minutes per side. Remove chicken to plate and drain off all but 2 tablespoons oil.

Add eggplant to hot pan and cook, stirring, 5 minutes. Add remaining tablespoon olive oil, along with zucchini, onion and garlic. Cook 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Raise heat to high and add white wine to pan, stirring to scrape up any browned bits. Add all other ingredients, except parsley, and place chicken legs in mixture. Bring to boil, reduce heat to medium-low, cover and simmer for 35 to 40 minutes or until cooked through or until an instant read thermometer reads 170F.

To serve, place some of the eggplant ragout onto plates, top with a leg quarter and sprinkle with parsley.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 370; Fat: 20 g; Saturated Fat: 4 g; Fiber: 6 g; Sodium: 900 mg; Protein: 28 g; Carbohydrates: 17 g; Sugars: 8 g

CLASSIC BEEF STEW

Recipe Yield: Makes 8 servings.

Source: Lauras Lean Beef

View this online at https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipes/classic-beef-stew.

Ingredients

1 tablespoon oil

2 pounds Laura's Lean Eye of Round Roast cut into 2-inch cubes

2 cups sliced onions

4 cloves garlic, chopped

1 green bell pepper, sliced

4 large celery stalks, cut into 2-inch pieces

8 medium carrots

4 large baking potatoes (about 2 pounds) cut into eighths

1 28-ounce can whole tomatoes

1 15-ounce can tomato sauce

1 tablespoon soy sauce

1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

1 cup fat-free beef stock (double strength)

1 tablespoon dried basil

salt and pepper to taste

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Heat oil in skillet. On medium-high heat, sear meat cubes in skillet until browned on all sides.

In a separate bowl, combine canned tomatoes, tomato sauce, soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, beef stock, basil, salt and pepper. Mix thoroughly. Pour mixture over meat and vegetables in roasting pan.

Cover and bake for 45 minutes at 350 degrees. Reduce heat to 250 degrees and bake for 2 hours or until meat is very tender to the fork. Baste occasionally.

Notes:

Prep Time: 25 minutes; Cook Time: 2 hours, 45 minutes. This recipe could be cooked in a crock-pot on low heat for 8 hours. Put it on before leaving for work and you’ll have it ready to eat when you get home.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 260; Fat: 4.5 g; Saturated Fat: 1.6 g; Fiber: 8.8 g; Sodium: 547 mg; Cholesterol: 51 mg; Protein: 31.9 g; Carbohydrates: 27 g

Diabetic Exchanges: 1 starch; 2 vegetable; 4 very lean meat

APPLE AND SQUASH BAKE

This begins, “This recipe combines all the best fall flavors and makes a great alternative to the candied yams often served for Thanksgiving dinner.”

Recipe Yield: Yield: 8 servings; Serving Size: 3/4 cup squash and apple bake

Source: Splenda

View this online at https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipes/apple-and-squash-bake.

Ingredients

1/3 cup Splenda No Calorie Sweetener, Granulated

1 teaspoon molasses

1/4 cup light butter

2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon ground mace

2 pounds butternut squash - peeled, seeded, and cut into

1/2 inch slices

2 large apples - cored, and cut into 1/2 inch slices

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

In a medium bowl, stir together Splenda Granulated Sweetener, molasses, butter, flour, salt, and mace. Arrange squash in an ungreased 9x13 inch baking dish. Top with slices of apple, then sprinkle with the sugar mixture. Cover with a lid or aluminum foil.

Bake for 50 to 60 minutes in the preheated oven, or until squash is tender.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 120; Fat: 3.5 g; Saturated Fat: 2 g; Fiber: 4 g; Sodium: 340 mg; Cholesterol: 10 mg; Protein: 2 g; Carbohydrates: 24 g; Sugars: 9 g