Friday Recipes

For anyone using insulin to treat diabetes, or keeping up with news about meds, you no doubt know that the price has gone up quite a bit. While most of us can understand the occasional price increase of, say, 50 cents here or $1 there over the course of a couple of years, some price increases are totally outrageous, if not downright unethical.

There was a frightening Op-Ed piece in yesterday's New York Times, titled "We Either Buy Insulin or We Die." It's definitely worth the read, along with watching the 4:23 minute video. Well worth the read and view. Then, feel free to call and/or write your legislators (both on the state and federal level), along with the drug manufacturers. (And before you think I'm only one person, many times that one call or letter - along with many other one call/letter - is enough to tip the scales.)

Okay, now for the food part of today's post. (I'm guessing that's why you're here!)

It's finally Friday. Here are six yummy recipes to help you through the weekend, including Colorful Turkey Stuffed Peppers and Beef Teriyaki. Enjoy!

CHICKEN AND SPINACH SALAD

Recipe Yield: Yield: 14 cups (7 - 2 cups servings)

Source: Cooking Healthy and Fast

Book Title: Cooking Healthy and Fast

View this online at https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipes/chicken-and-spinach-salad.

Ingredients

6 oz. fresh spinach

2 oranges, peeled and cut into chunks

2 cups cooked and cubed chicken

2 cups fresh strawberries

Dressing:

2 Tbsp. red wine vinegar

3 Tbsp. orange juice

1-1/2 Tbsp. canola oil

1/4 tsp. dry mustard

1/3 tsp. poppy seeds

Directions

Mix dressing ingredients and regrigerate. Wash spinach and tear into bite size pieces. Add oranges, chicken and strawberries. Serve with dressing.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 135; Fat: 4 g; Sodium: 46 mg; Cholesterol: 31 mg;Carbohydrates: 10 g

Diabetic Exchanges: 1 fruit, 1 1/2 lean meat

ENGLISH PEA SOUP

Prep Time: 20 Minutes; Cost: $; Servings: 8; Difficulty Level: 2

View this online at https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipes/english-pea-soup

Ingredients

10 oz pkg frozen English peas

1/4 head lettuce

3 oz fresh lettuce

3 oz fresh spinach leaves

1/2 cup green onions -- chopped

2 tsp chicken bouillion granules

1/8 tsp black pepper

1-1/4 cup water

1/4 cup skim milk

Directions

Combine English peas, lettuce, spinach, green onions, bouillion granules, chervil and pepper in a large saucepan; stir in water.

Cover and bring to a boil; reduce heat, and simmer 20 minutes. Process mixture to saucepan, and stir in milk. Cook over medium heat, stirring frequently, until thoroughly heated.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 46; Sodium: 64 mg; Carbohydrates: 8 g

Diabetic Exchanges: 1/2 starch/bread

ALMOND BISCOTTI

Recipe Yield: Servings: 32

View this online at https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipes/almond-biscotti.

Ingredients

1/4 cup finely chopped almonds

1/2 cup sugar

2 tablespoons margarine

4 egg whites, lightly beaten

2 teaspoons almond extract

2 cups all-purpose flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

Directions

Preheat oven to 375 degree F.

Place almonds in a small baking pan. Bake 7 to 8 minutes until golden brown (watch carefully to avoid burning). Set aside.

Beat sugar and margarine in medium bowl with electric mixer until smooth. Add egg whites and almond extract; mix well. Combine flour, baking powder and salt in large bowl; mix well. Stir egg white mixture and almonds into flour mixture until well blended.

Spray two 9x5-inch loaf pans with non-stick cooking spray. Evenly divide dough between prepared pans. Spread dough evenly over bottoms of pans with wet fingertips. Bake 15 minutes or until knife inserted into centers comes out clean.

Remove from oven and turn onto cutting board. As soon as loaves are cool enough to handle, cut each into 16 (1/2-inch thick) slices. Place slices on baking sheets covered with parchment paper or sprayed with cooking spray. Bake 5 minutes; turn over. Bake 5 minutes more or until golden brown. Serve warm or cool completely and store in airtight container.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 56; Fat: 1 g; Protein: 1 g; Carbohydrates: 9 g

Diabetic Exchanges: 1/2 Starch/Bread; 1/2 Fat

COLORFUL TURKEY STUFFED PEPPERS

Yield: 4 servings

Print Friendly: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/bin/print.cgi?ID=1321

View recipe with photo: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/1321.shtml

Source: Jennie-O

Ingredients

2 bell peppers, preferably a mix of yellow, green or red

1/2 (16-ounce) package Jennie-O Extra Lean Ground Turkey Breast

1/4 cup chopped onion

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 tablespoon fresh basil or 1 teaspoon dried basil leaves

1/4 teaspoon salt, if desired

1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

1 (14-1/2-ounce) can low-sodium diced tomatoes or seasoned diced tomatoes, drained

1/2 cup cooked white or brown rice

3/4 cup shredded low-fat Cheddar cheese, divided

paprika, if desired

fresh parsley, if desired

Directions

Heat oven to 375F.

Cut bell peppers lengthwise through stems keeping stem halves intact to hold stuffing. Discard seeds and veins.

Cook peppers in boiling salted water 5 to 6 minutes or until crisp-tender. Drain and immediately place peppers in ice water to stop cooking process. Drain peppers well and place cut side up in 8 x 8-inch baking dish.

Cook ground turkey as specified on the package. Always cook to well-done, 165F as measured by a meat thermometer.

Add onion, garlic, basil, salt, if desired, ground pepper, tomatoes, and rice; continue to cook 5 to 6 minutes or until heated through and most of the juices have reduced.

Remove meat mixture from heat and stir in 1/2 cup cheese.

Mound heaping 1/2 cup of mixture into each pepper half.

Bake 20 minutes or until filling is hot and peppers are tender.

Remove peppers from oven and sprinkle remaining 1/4 cup cheese on top of peppers. Sprinkle with paprika and parsley, if desired.

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

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 160; Protein: 20 g; Fat: 2.5 g; Sodium: 210 mg; Cholesterol: 30 mg; Saturated Fat: 1 g; Dietary Fiber: 3 g ; Sugars: 5 g ; Carbohydrates: 14 g

CHICKEN JAMBALAYA

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

Source: AICR

Recipe and image appear courtesy of American Institute for Cancer Research.

Recipe Yield: Makes 6 servings.

Ingredients

1 Tbsp. olive oil

1 medium onion, chopped

2-3 garlic cloves, minced

3/4 lb. skinless, boneless chicken breast, cut in 3/4-inch pieces

1 can (14.5 oz.) whole plum tomatoes in juice

1 rib celery, cut in 1/2-inch slices

1 small green bell pepper, chopped

1 scallion, chopped

1 Tbsp. tomato paste

1 bay leaf

1 tsp. dried thyme

1/4 tsp. dried red pepper flakes

1 pinch ground cloves

1 cup hot long-grain brown rice, cooked according to package directions

Directions

In 3-quart Dutch oven, heat oil over medium-high heat. Add onion and garlic. Saute, stirring frequently, until onion is tender but not brown, about 4 minutes. Add chicken and cook, stirring, until pieces are white on all sides.

Add tomatoes with liquid, breaking up with spoon. Mix in celery, bell pepper, scallion and tomato paste. Stir in bay leaf, thyme, pepper flakes and cloves. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer until chicken is cooked and sauce has thickened, about 20 minutes.

Remove bay leaf. Stir rice into chicken mixture until well combined.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 235; Fat: 4 g; Sodium: 203 mg; Protein: 17 g; Carbohydrates: 33 g

Diabetic Exchanges: 2 Low-Fat Meat, 2 Bread/Starch. 1 Vegetable

BEEF TERIYAKI

Recipe Yield: Servings: 5

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

Ingredients

1 pound beef boneless sirloin steak

1/4 cup soy sauce

1/4 cup dry sherry, white wine or chicken broth

1 tablespoon vegetable oil

2 teaspoons chopped gingerroot or 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger

1 teaspoon sugar (or sugar substitute)

1 clove garlic, chopped

Directions

Trim fat from beef steak; cut beef into 3/4-inch cubes. Place beef in glass or plastic bowl. Mix remaining ingredients; pour over beef. Cover and refrigerate, stirring occasionally, at least 1 hour.

Thread 6 beef cubes on each of 5 skewers; brush with marinade. Set oven control to broil. Broil kabobs with tops about 4 inches from heat 5 to 6 minutes; turn. Brush with marinade; broil until done, 5 to 6 minutes longer.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 100; Fat: 3 g; Sodium: 200 mg; Cholesterol: 45 mg; Protein: 17 g; Carbohydrates: 1 g

Diabetic Exchanges: 2-1/2 Low-Fat Meat