Friday Recipes

Before we start with the recipes, let me ask: Do you know what types of shoes you should avoid, especially if you're diabetic? No? (I can almost hear someone thinking They should be comfortable. Well, yes.)

According to a diabetic health tip from Diabetes Self-Management, it's good to avoid high heels, or any heels "less than one inch in height." Also, slip-on loafs and sandals are not advised, each for their own reasons.

To view the entire tip, click here. To learn more about choosing proper footwear, go to https://www.diabetesselfmanagement.com/managing-diabetes/complications-prevention/how-to-choose-footwear/.

And now for the food.

It's finally Friday. (Yay!) Here are today's six recipes to help you through the weekend, including Strip Steaks with Broiled Asparagus and Pork and Zucchini Stew. Enjoy!

ROASTED BABY EGGPLANT AND TOMATOES

Recipe Yield: Yield: 4 servings

Source: Great Healthy Food - Diabetes

Book Title: Great Healthy Food - Diabetes

View this online at https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipes/roasted-baby-eggplant-and-tomatoes.

Ingredients

4 baby eggplant, stalks trimmed

8 small plum tomatoes, pierced once

2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar

Salt and pepper, to taste

Directions

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.

Cut the baby eggplants into quarters lengthwise.

Put them into an open ovenproof dish with the tomatoes and drizzle them with the balsamic vinegar. Season, then roast in the oven for 1 hour.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 56; Fat: 2 g; Sodium: 14 mg; Protein: 2 g; Carbohydrates: 13 g

Diabetic Exchanges: 2 Vegetable

MELON WITH FRESH BERRY SAUCE

Yield: 6 servings

Source: The Complete Diabetes Prevention Plan

Book Title: The Complete Diabetes Prevention Plan

View online at https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipes/melon-with-fresh-berry-sauce.

Ingredients

3-1/3 cups fresh or frozen (thawed and undrained) raspberries or blackberries

1-1/2 tablespoons orange juice

1/2 teaspoon lemon juice

Sugar substitute equal to 3 tablespoons sugar

1/2 raspberries or blackberries

1/2 honeydew melon

Directions

Place 2 cups of the berries and all of the orange juice and lemon juice in a blender or food processor and process until smooth. Pour the mixture into a wire strainer and use the back of a spoon to push the mixture through the strainer and into a bowl. Discard the seeds. Stir the sugar substitute into the berry puree and set the sauce aside.

Remove the seeds and rind from the melons. Cut each melon piece into 3 long wedges and then cut each wedge in half crosswise to make a total of 12 shorter wedges. Using a sharp knife, slice each melon wedge lengthwise toward the point without cutting completely to the end and open each wedge into fan shape.

Place 2 tablespoons of the sauce on each of 6 dessert plates. Top the sauce on each plate with a cantaloupe and honeydew fan and garnish with some of the remaining fresh berries. Serve immediately.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 85; Fat: 0.2 g; Fiber: 3.3 g; Sodium: 41 mg; Protein: 1.6 g; Carbohydrates: 21 g

Diabetic Exchanges: 1-1/2 Carbohydrate

STRIP STEAKS WITH BROILED ASPARAGUS

Yield: 2 servings

View online: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/727.shtmlView online: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/727.shtml

Source: The Complete Idiot's Guide to Terrific Diabetic Meals

Book Info: http://diabeticgourmet.com/book_archive/details/76.shtml

Ingredients

Vegetable oil cooking spray

1 (8 ounces) boneless beef top loin (strip) steak, cut about 3/4-inch thick, trimmed of all fat

1 or 2 cloves of garlic, coarsely chopped

1/2 teaspoon cracked or coarsely ground black pepper

8 - 10 (6 ounces) thin asparagus spears, trimmed

2 teaspoons garlic-flavored olive oil or regular olive oil

Sauce:

1/2 cup low-salt beef broth

1 tablespoon dry white wine

1/4 teaspoon Dijon mustard

Directions

Rub steak on both sides with a mixture of garlic and pepper. Place asparagus in shallow dish and drizzle with oil.

For sauce, in a medium skillet stir together broth and wine. Cook over high heat for 4 to 5 minutes or until mixture is reduced in volume to 1/4 cup. Whisk in mustard. Remove from heat and keep warm.

Preheat the broiler. Spray an unheated broiler pan with cooking spray and place steak on it. Broil 3 to 4 inches from the heat for 8 to 10 minutes for medium rare or 10 to 12 minutes for medium, turning once and place asparagus into the pan next to the steak for the last two minutes of broiling.

Spoon sauce onto a plate. Cut steak in half crosswise and place atop sauce. Top with asparagus spears.

Serving size: 3 ounces cooked beef top loin steak with 2 tablespoons sauce and four spears of asparagus

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 226; Protein: 26 g; Fat: 11 g; Sodium: 58 mg; Cholesterol: 67 mg; Dietary Fiber: 1 g; Carbohydrates: 3 g

Diabetic Exchanges: 3 Medium-Fat Meat, 1 Fat, 1/2 Vegetable

PORK AND ZUCCHINI STEW

Recipe Yield: Yield: 6 servings.

Source: NPB

Recipe and image appear courtesy of the National Pork Board.

To view this online, go to https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipes/pork-and-zucchini-stew.

Ingredients

3 boneless pork chops, cut into 3/4-inch cubes

3 tablespoons flour

1/2 teaspoon garlic salt

1/2 teaspoon pepper

1 tablespoon vegetable oil

1 medium onion, chopped

1 green pepper, chopped

4 cups fresh mushrooms, sliced

2 14 1/2-oz cans stewed tomatoes, undrained

2 medium zucchini, halved lengthwise & sliced 1/2-inch thick

2 teaspoons dried basil, crushed

1 teaspoon dried oregano, crushed

1/3 cup Parmesan cheese, grated

Directions

In a plastic or paper bag combine flour, garlic salt and pepper.

Add pork cubes; shake until coated with flour mixture. Set aside.

In a Dutch oven heat oil over medium-high heat. Cook and stir onion and green pepper until onion is tender but not brown.

Add pork, cook and stir for 2-3 minutes or until browned.

Stir in mushrooms, tomatoes, zucchini, basil and oregano; bring to boiling, reduce heat, cover and simmer for 10-15 minutes or until pork is tender, stirring occasionally.

Spoon stew into individual soup bowls. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 204; Fat: 7 g; Saturated Fat: 2 g; Fiber: 4 g; Sodium: 557 mg;Cholesterol: 31 mg; Protein: 17 g; Carbohydrates: 20 g

SUGAR FREE BLUEBERRY MUFFINS

Recipe Yield: Yield: 12 muffinsServing size: 1 muffin

Source: Splenda

Recipe and image appear courtesy of Splenda.

This recipe begins, “Blueberry-filled muffins that have a cake-like texture.”

View this online at https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipe/sugar-free-blueberry-muffins.

Ingredients

2 cups all purpose flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

3/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup light margarine, softened

1 cup Splenda Essentials No Calorie Sweetener with Fiber, Granulated

1/4 cup honey

2 large eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/2 cup 1% low-fat milk

1 cup fresh or frozen blueberries, thawed

Directions

Place oven rack in top 1/3 of oven.

Preheat oven to 400F. Line 12 muffin cups with paper liners. Lightly spray liners with nonstick cooking spray.

Sift together flour, baking powder and salt, set aside.

Beat margarine at medium speed with an electric mixer until creamy. Gradually add Splenda Essentials Granulated Sweetener and honey, beating until light and fluffy. Add eggs one at a time, beating until blended after each addition. Stir in vanilla. Alternately add flour mixture and milk, beginning and ending with flour mixture. Beat at low speed until blended after each addition. Fold in blueberries.

Spoon batter evenly into paper lined muffin cups. Bake 20 to 22 minutes or until golden. Remove from pan immediately and cool on wire rack.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 160; Fat: 5 g; Saturated Fat: 1 g; Fiber: 1 g; Sodium: 280 mg; Cholesterol: 35 mg; Protein: 4 g; Carbohydrates: 26 g; Sugars: 8 g

PORK AND TOFU STIR-FRY

Recipe Yield: Servings: 4

View this online at http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/256.shtml.

Ingredients

1/2 pound lean pork boneless loin or leg

1 teaspoon cornstarch

1 teaspoon low-sodium soy sauce

1 cup Chinese pea pods (about 3-1/2 ounces)

2 teaspoons vegetable oil

1 teaspoon finely chopped gingerroot or 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger

1 clove garlic, finely chopped

1 cup sliced fresh mushrooms (about 3 ounces)

1/4 cup sliced green onions (with tops)

2 teaspoons oyster sauce

1 teaspoon low-sodium soy sauce

5 ounces firm tofu, cut into 1/2-inch cubes

Directions

Trim fat from pork loin. Cut pork into 2x1x1/8-inch slices. (For ease in cutting, partially freeze pork about 1-1/2 hours.) Toss pork, cornstarch and 1 teaspoon soy sauce in medium glass or plastic bowl. Cover and refrigerate 20 minutes. Heat 1 inch water to boiling in 1-1/2- quart saucepan. Add pea pods. Cover and boil 1 minute; drain. Immediately rinse with cold water; drain.

Heat oil in 10-inch nonstick skillet or wok over high heat. Add pork mixture, gingerroot and garlic; stir-fry about 3 minutes or until pork is no longer pink. Add mushrooms and onions, stir-fry 2 minutes longer. Add remaining ingredients; stir-fry until heated through and mixed thoroughly.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 165; Fat: 5 g; Sodium: 130 mg; Cholesterol: 35 mg; Protein: 15 g; Carbohydrates: 7 g

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