Friday Recipes

It's finally Friday, time to get ready for the weekend. Today's six recipes, including Moroccan Spiced Turkey Burger and Balsamic Marinated Steak & Asparagus, are perfect for helping you through the weekend. Enjoy!

BLUEBERRY CHEESECAKE BARS

Yield: Serves: 20

Source: Splenda

View this online at https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipes/blueberry-cheesecake-bars.

Ingredients

1-1/4 cups graham cracker crumbs

1/4 cup Splenda No Calorie Sweetener, Granulated

1/3 cup light butter, melted

12 ounces reduced fat cream cheese, softened

2/3 cup Splenda No Calorie Sweetener, Granulated

2 large eggs

1/3 cup reduced-fat sour cream

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

3/4 cup fresh or frozen blueberries

1/4 cup reduced-sugar apricot preserves

1 tablespoon water

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray an eight-inch square pan with vegetable cooking spray. Set aside.

Combine graham cracker crumbs, Splenda Granulated Sweetener, and butter, mixing well. Firmly press mixture evenly in bottom of prepared pan. Bake 5 minutes. Remove from oven; set aside.

Beat cream cheese at medium speed with an electric mixer until smooth. Gradually add Splenda Granulated Sweetener, beating until blended. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add sour cream and vanilla, beating just until blended. Gently stir in blueberries. Pour mixture into prepared pan.

Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until firm. Remove from oven and cool on a wire rack for 30 minutes. Cover and chill 2 hours.

Topping Directions: Combine apricot preserves and water in a small saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly until jam melts. Spread over filling; cut into bars.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 100; Fat: 6 g; Saturated Fat: 3.5 g; Sodium: 110 mg; Cholesterol: 40 mg; Protein: 3 g; Carbohydrates: 8 g; Sugars: 3 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

VIETNAMESE PHO

Recipe Yield: Yield: 4 servings. Serving Size: 1-1/2 cups

View this online at https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipes/vietnamese-pho.

Ingredients

Soup Ingredients:

1/2 lb sirloin tip, sliced very thinly

1-1/2 Tbsp canola oil, divided

1 small onion, sliced into thin rings

4 cups sodium-reduced beef stock

2 cups water

1 Tbsp freshly grated ginger

1 stalk lemongrass chopped or 3 Tbsp dried lemongrass

1/2 tsp whole black peppercorns

1 cinnamon stick

4 oz ounces rice vermicelli noodles

2 cups bean sprouts

Garnish Ingredients:

1 lime, quartered

1/2 cup each fresh basil, mint and cilantro each

1 small jalapeno pepper, thinly sliced (optional)

1 Tbsp fish sauce

Directions

In large saucepan, heat 1 Tbsp canola oil over medium heat. Add beef and cook for about 2-3 minutes. It won’t be cooked through. Set aside.

Add 1/2 Tbsp canola oil to saucepan. Add onions and cook for about 3 minutes. Add beef stock, water, ginger, lemongrass, peppercorns and cinnamon stick, simmer for about 1 hour. (Broth can be prepared up to 2 days in advance and refrigerated, if preferred.)

Meanwhile, place rice vermicelli in bowl and cover with very hot water. Place lid on top and allow to sit for about 3 minutes.

Prepare garnish plate: Arrange limes, basil, mint, cilantro, jalapeno and small bowl of fish sauce on a plate.

Add beef to stock mixture and cook to desired doneness.

To serve: Divide rice vermicelli and sprouts evenly in 4 bowls. Pour hot broth-beef mixture over top. Garnish as desired from the garnish plate.

Notes:

This recipe was inspired by Pho, a traditional Vietnamese soup. You can modify the recipe by using vegetable stock and tofu for a vegetarian version.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 270; Fat: 9 g; Saturated Fat: 2 g; Fiber: 3 g; Sodium: 115 mg; Cholesterol: 35 mg; Protein: 20 g; Carbohydrates: 27 g

BALSAMIC MARINATED STEAK & ASPARAGUS

Recipe Yield: Makes 4 servings

Source: TBC

View this online at https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipes/balsamic-marinated-steak-asparagus.

Ingredients

4 beef round (sirloin) tip side steaks, cut 1 inch thick (about 8 ounces each)

1 pound fresh asparagus

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/8 teaspoon pepper

Marinade:

2/3 cup prepared balsamic vinaigrette

2 tablespoons Dijon-style mustard

Directions

Combine marinade ingredients in small bowl. Remove and reserve 2 tablespoons. Place beef steaks and remaining marinade in food-safe plastic bag; turn steaks to coat. Close bag securely and marinate in refrigerator 15 minutes to 2 hours.

Place asparagus in shallow microwave-safe dish; add 1/2 cup water. Cover and microwave on HIGH 3 to 6 minutes or until crisp-tender. Drain asparagus. Add reserved 2 tablespoons marinade to asparagus; turn to coat. Set aside.

Remove steaks from marinade; discard marinade. Place steaks on grid over medium, ash-covered coals. Grill, covered, 12 to 14 minutes (over medium heat on preheated gas grill, 13 to 14 minutes) for medium rare (145F) doneness, turning once. (Do not overcook.)

During last 3 minutes of grilling, arrange asparagus on grid around steaks; grill 2 to 3 minutes, turning once. Season steaks and asparagus with salt and pepper.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 366; Fat: 14 g; Saturated Fat: 4 g; Fiber: 2.5 g; Sodium: 591 mg; Cholesterol: 149 mg; Protein: 52 g; Carbohydrates: 7 g

MOROCCAN SPICED TURKEY BURGER

Recipe Yield: Makes 4 servings

Source: Jennie-O

View online at https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipes/moroccan-spiced-turkey-burger.

Ingredients

2 cups red and yellow cherry tomatoes

oil for drizzling

1 small red onion, peeled and cut into 4 even circular slices

1 (16-ounce) package Jennie-O Extra Lean Ground Turkey Breast

1 teaspoon ground cumin

3 (6-inch) whole wheat pita bread rounds, halved and split

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1 cup baby arugula

1 teaspoon paprika

3 cloves garlic, minced

1/2 cup fat-free plain yogurt

1 tablespoon chopped fresh cilantro

1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley

1-1/2 tablespoons lemon juice

Directions

Preheat grill for medium-high heat. Heat oven to 450.

Place cherry tomatoes on parchment paper baking sheet and lightly drizzle with oil. Roast 6 minutes or until tomatoes blister. Grill onion 5 to 6 minutes or until slightly charred and tender turning once. Remove from grill and reserve.

In large bowl, combine turkey, cumin, paprika, cinnamon and garlic; mix well. Portion turkey into 4 patties. Cook burgers as specified on the package. Always cook to well-done, 165F as measured by a meat thermometer. Let burgers rest 5 minutes before cutting into quarters.

In small bowl, combine yogurt, cilantro, parsley and lemon juice; mix well. To serve, place burger inside pita bread half. Add onions, tomatoes and baby arugula. Drizzle yogurt sauce in each pita.

Always cook to an internal temperature of 165F. Learn how to safely handle turkey.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 240; Fat: 2.5 g; Saturated Fat: 1 g; Fiber: 2 g; Sodium: 250 mg; Cholesterol: 60 mg; Protein: 32 g; Carbohydrates: 24 g; Sugars: 5 g

BAKED CHICKEN TENDERS

This recipe begins, “Make healthier chicken tenders at home using common corn flake crumbs, spices and herbs. These are also great for game day and kids love them! The nutritional information is for the chicken thigh version. If using chicken breast, the fat content will be reduced to about 3 total grams.”

Source: USDA; CNPP

Recipe Yield: 4 servings.

View this online at https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipe/baked-chicken-tenders.

Ingredients

1 pound chicken thighs or breast, boneless, skinless

1 cup cereal crumbs, cornflake type

1/2 teaspoon Italian herb seasoning

1/4 teaspoon garlic powder

1/4 teaspoon onion powder

1 teaspoon paprika

Directions

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Lightly grease a cooking sheet.

Cut chicken into bite-sized pieces.

Place cornflakes in plastic bag and crush by using a rolling pin.

Add remaining ingredients to the crushed cornflakes. Close bag tightly and shake until blended.

Add a few of the chicken pieces at a time to crumb mixture and shake until evenly coated.

Place chicken pieces on cooking sheet so they are not touching.

Bake until golden brown, about 12-14 minutes.

Serve hot.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 141; Fat: 5 g; Saturated Fat: 2 g; Fiber: 1 g; Sodium: 344 mg; Cholesterol: 84 mg; Protein: 17 g; Carbohydrates: 7 g; Sugars: 1 g