Tuesday Recipes

If you or a loved one is diabetic, you're probably aware that low blood glucose (hypoglycemia) can be as dangerous as high blood glucose.

So what constitutes hypoglycemia? According to Diabetes Self-Management's tip from April 12, it's "below 70 mg/dl (80 mg/dl for very young children)". (The tip reads, "To avoid hypoglycemia, try to have no more than 10 percent of your blood glucose readings before meals or at bedtime below 70 mg/dl (80 mg/dl for very young children).")

For more about hypoglycemia, click here for Diabetes Self-Management's article.

And now, on to today's recipes, which include Baked Beef Empanadas and Mocha Cheesecake Bars. Enjoy!

APPLE PIE

Recipe Yield: Yield: 8 servings

Source: Equal

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

Ingredients

Pastry for double-crust 9-inch pie

3 tablespoons cornstarch

1 cup Equal Spoonful or Granulated*

3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

1/4 teaspoon salt

8 cups peeled, cored, sliced Granny Smith or other baking apples (about 8 medium)

* May substitute 24 packets Equal sweetener

Directions

Roll 1/2 the pastry on floured surface into circle 1 inch larger than inverted 9-inch pie plate. Ease pastry into plate.

Combine cornstarch, Equal, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt. Sprinkle over apples in large bowl and toss to coat. Arrange apples in pie crust.

Roll remaining pastry into circle large enough to fit top of pie. Place over apples. Seal edges, trim and flute. Cut a few slits in top of pastry to allow steam to escape. Bake in preheated 400F oven 40 to 50 minutes or until crust is golden and apples are tender.

Cool on wire rack. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 253; Fat: 10 g; Sodium: 224 mg; Cholesterol: 10 mg; Protein: 2 g; Carbohydrates: 42 g

Diabetic Exchanges: 1 fruit, 1-1/2 starch, 2 fat

BROCCOLI SALAD WITH PEANUT DRESSING

Recipe Yield: Makes 4 servings

To view this online, go to xhttps://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipe/broccoli-salad-with-peanut-dressing

This recipe begins, “This recipe takes a tip from Thai cuisine and the peanut dressing is a healthy substitute for high-calorie, high-fat cheese sauces (or butter) that many use to top their broccoli. It is a great tasting topping for this cool salad, and the red onion and red bell pepper provide added nutrition, flavor and color.”

Ingredients

4 cups broccoli florets

1 medium red bell pepper, cut in thin strips, about 1 cup

1/3 cup red onion, cut in thin crescents

3 Tbsp. smooth peanut butter, natural and unsweetened

2 tsp. roasted sesame oil

1-2 Tbsp. rice vinegar

2 Tbsp. fresh lime juice

1 Tbsp. reduced-sodium soy sauce

2 tsp. agave syrup

Pinch of salt

Ground black pepper

Red pepper flakes, optional

Directions

Place steamer basket in large saucepan. Add water to depth of 1 inch. Cover and bring the water to boil. Add broccoli, cover and steam over medium-high heat until tender-crisp, 3 minutes. Transfer broccoli to mixing bowl. Add bell pepper and onion.

In small bowl, combine peanut butter and sesame oil. Add vinegar, lime juice, soy sauce and agave and whisk until dressing is smooth. Season dressing to taste with salt and pepper. Pour dressing over vegetables and use fork to toss until salad is well coated. Sprinkle on red pepper flakes, if using, and mix to combine. Cover, and refrigerate the salad for 1 hour before serving, or up to 24 hours. Toss well before serving.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 146; Fat: 9 g; Saturated Fat: 2 g; Fiber: 4 g; Sodium: 255 mg; Protein: 6 g; Carbohydrates: 17 g

BAKED BEEF EMPANADAS

Recipe Yield: Yield: Makes 20 servings.

Source: Lauras Lean Beef

View this online at https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipes/baked-beef-empanadas

Ingredients

1/2 pound Laura's 92% Lean Ground Beef or 96% Lean Ground Round

1/4 cup finely chopped onion

1/4 teaspoon Cajun seasoning

1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

1/4 cup canned low-salt yellow corn, drained

1/3 cup salsa

1 tablespoon tomato paste

20 wonton wrappers

Cooking spray

Salsa, low-fat sour cream (optional)

Directions

Preheat oven to 400F.

Cook ground beef, onion and next 3 ingredients in a large nonstick skillet 5 minutes or until beef is browned; drain. Add corn and next 2 ingredients and cook until heated through. Remove and let cool.

Working with one wonton wrapper at a time, spoon 1 tablespoon beef mixture into center of each wrapper. Bring 2 opposite corners together and pinch the points to seal, forming a triangle. Place wrappers on a wire rack and repeat procedure with remaining wrappers and beef mixture.

Place empanadas on lightly greased baking sheets and coat lightly with cooking spray. Bake 4 to 6 minutes on each side, turning once or until golden. Serve with salsa and sour cream, if desired.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 85; Fat: 1.5 g; Saturated Fat: .68 g; Fiber: .62 g; Sodium: 157 mg; Cholesterol: 10 mg; Protein: 5 g; Carbohydrates: 9 g

OVEN-FRIED CHICKEN

Recipe Yield: Yield: 8 servings.Serving Size: 1 chicken breast.

Source: CanolaInfo

View this online at https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipes/oven-fried-chicken.

Ingredients

1-1/2 cups fine bread crumbs

1/2 cup all-purpose flour

1 tsp paprika

1 tsp rosemary, basil or oregano

3 Tbsp canola oil

8 boneless, skinless chicken breasts halves

Directions

Preheat oven to 350F (180C). Lightly grease 9 x 13 inch (22 x 33 cm) baking dish.

In bowl, combine bread crumbs, flour, paprika and rosemary. Mix in canola oil until well combined. Roll chicken in bread crumbs and place in prepared dish. Discard any crumb mixture that is left over.

Bake 30 to 35 minutes in preheated oven or until chicken is no longer pink and juices run clear.

Notes:

This chicken is easy to prepare and just as tasty as deep-fried chicken, yet much healthier.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 300; Fat: 10 g; Saturated Fat: 1.5 g; Fiber: 1 g; Sodium: 230 mg; Cholesterol: 75 mg; Protein: 30 g; Carbohydrates: 21 g

INDONESIAN TOFU AND VEGETABLE STEW

Recipe Yield: Yield: 8 servings. Serving Size: 1 cup

Source: Patricia Chuey, RD

View this online at https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipes/indonesian-tofu-and-vegetable-stew.

Ingredients

1 Tbsp freshly grated ginger

Juice of one medium sized lime

1 1/2 Tbsp canola oil, divided

1 (12 oz) block of firm or extra firm tofu, diced into cubes

1 large onion, diced

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 tsp ground cumin

1 tsp ground coriander

1/4 tsp ground cloves

1 cup sodium-reduced vegetable or chicken broth

1 cup light coconut milk

2 cups green beans, cut in 2 inch pieces

1 red bell pepper, diced

1 medium zucchini, diced

2 Tbsp fresh cilantro

Directions

In a bowl, marinate tofu with the ginger, lime juice and 1/2 Tbsp canola oil. Toss well to coat. This can be done about 30 minutes ahead of time and up to overnight in the refrigerator.

In a large saucepan, no lid required heat remaining 1 Tbsp canola oil. Add onion and cook for about 6 minutes or until softened and slightly browned. Add garlic, cumin, coriander and cloves and stir for 2 minutes.

To saucepan, add stock and coconut milk. Simmer, uncovered, for about 10 minutes until slightly thickened.

Add green beans, bell pepper and zucchini and cook for about 10 minutes more or until vegetables are tender. Add marinated tofu and cook an additional 5 minutes. Garnish with cilantro. Serve over steamed brown rice or quinoa, if desired.

Notes:

With a light coconut lime flavor, this recipe features green beans, bell peppers and zucchini. If you have other fresh veggies on hand, then you can add them as well.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 120; Fat: 8 g; Saturated Fat: 2 g; Fiber: 3 g; Sodium: 290 mg; Protein: 5 g; Carbohydrates: 8 g

MOCHA CHEESECAKE BARS

Recipe Yield: 20 Servings

Source: Splenda

Recipe and image appear courtesy of Splenda.

View this online at https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipe/mocha-cheesecake-bars

Ingredients

1-1/4 cups chocolate wafer crumbs

1/4 cup Splenda No Calorie Sweetener, Granulated

1/3 cup light butter, melted

12 ounces reduced-fat cream cheese

2/3 cup Splenda No Calorie Sweetener, Granulated

1-1/4 teaspoons instant espresso granules

2 large eggs

1 teaspoon cocoa powder

1/4 cup reduced-fat sour cream

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1/2 cup white chocolate chunks

Directions

Crust Directions: preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Spray an 8-inch x 8-inch square baking pan with vegetable cooking spray. Set aside.

Combine chocolate wafer crumbs, Splenda Granulated Sweetener and butter in a mixing bowl, stirring until blended.

Press mixture into prepared pan. Bake 5 minutes. Cool on a wire rack.

Filling Directions: beat cream cheese at medium speed with an electric mixer until smooth.

Combine Splenda Granulated Sweetener, espresso granules, and cocoa powder; add to cream cheese, beating until blended. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add sour cream and vanilla, beating, just until blended.

Stir in chocolate chunks. Pour filling over prepared crust.

Bake 30 to 35 minutes, or until firm; cool.

Chill until firm. Cut into bars.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 120; Fat: 8 g; Saturated Fat: 4.5 g; Sodium: 120 mg; Cholesterol: 40 mg; Protein: 4 g; Carbohydrates: 9 g; Sugars: 4 g