Meatless Monday

It's time for another Meatless Monday. Today's offerings include Roasted Asparagus with Parmesan Cheese Sauce and Chocolate Velvet Mousse. Enjoy!

BUTTERNUT SQUASH ENCHILADAS WITH SALSA VERDE

Recipe Yield: Yield: Makes 8 servings.

View this online at https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipes/butternut-squash-enchiladas-with-salsa-verde.

Ingredients

1 package (16 oz.) diced peeled butternut squash, or 1 1/4 lb. squash, seeded, peeled and diced

Canola oil spray

1 can (15.5 oz.) pinto beans, rinsed and drained

3/4 cup (3 oz.) crumbled reduced-fat feta cheese, divided

8 large (about 7-inch) corn tortillas

1 jar (16 oz.) salsa verde

Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro leaves, for garnish (optional)

Directions

Place squash in medium saucepan. Add 1 cup water. Cover pot tightly, and place over medium-high heat. Cook until squash is tender but not mushy, 12-15 minutes, depending on size of cubes. Drain squash, and set aside.

Meanwhile, preheat oven to 350 degrees. Select a baking dish just large enough to hold the eight tortillas, folded over and slightly overlapping, so that they fit snuggly in the dish. (You may want to "test" and see if the baking dish is the proper size by arranging unfilled, folded tortillas in it, as they would be once filled and ready to bake.) using the canola oil spray, lightly coat the interior of the baking dish and set aside.

Place beans in mixing bowl. Using fork, partially mash beans. Add squash and blend, leaving mixture coarsely mashed, with some beans still whole. Mix in 1/2 cup of the cheese. Season filling to taste with salt and pepper.

Coat a tortilla on both sides with cooking spray. Lay it on a plate. Spoon 3/4 cup of filling on one half of the tortilla. Fold tortilla in half over filling. Set it at one end of the baking dish. Repeat, placing filled tortillas so they overlap, filling baking dish tightly. Pour pureed sauce over assembled enchiladas. Sprinkle remaining cheese over sauce. Cover pan with foil.

Bake enchiladas about 30 minutes, until they are heated through and tortillas are soft. Uncover and serve garnished with cilantro, accompanied by cooked brown rice, if desired.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 180; Fat: 2 g; Saturated Fat: 1 g; Sodium: 479 mg; Protein: 8 g; Carbohydrates: 33 g

ROASTED CORN AND ROMA TOMATO SALAD

Recipe Yield: Makes 8 servings.

Source: Dreamfields

To view this online, go to https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipes/roasted-corn-and-roma-tomato-salad.

Ingredients

1 box Dreamfields Penne Rigate

1 tablespoon plus 5 teaspoons olive oil

4 cups corn kernels (see note below)

1 medium bell pepper (red, orange or yellow), cut in half lengthwise, seeds and membranes removed

6 Roma tomatoes, cut in half lengthwise

1/2 cup sliced fresh basil

Coarsely ground black pepper

Dressing:

2 tablespoons olive oil

2 tablespoons white wine vinegar

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/3 cup crumbled cooked bacon (optional)

Shredded Parmesan cheese (optional)

Note: Fresh or frozen corn kernels (thawed) may be used. Grilled corn, cut off the cob, may be substituted; omit roasting.

Directions

Preheat oven to 425°F. Line two rimmed baking pans (15x10x1-inch) with aluminum foil. Brush lightly with olive oil (about 1 teaspoon each).

Toss corn with 2 teaspoons oil. Spread in even layer on one baking pan, covering 3/4 of pan. Place pepper halves cut side down in pan with corn; brush with 1 teaspoon oil.

Place tomatoes cut side down in second pan. Brush with remaining 1 tablespoon oil. Place both pans in oven, using center rack and rack below center.

Roast corn and peppers about 30 minutes, stirring corn two times and turning peppers once until corn and peppers are lightly browned and peppers are tender. Roast tomatoes 30 to 40 minutes until tender and browned on top. (Switch rack positions after 15 minutes.)

Meanwhile, cook pasta according to package directions; drain. Rinse with cold water; drain again. Place in large bowl. Remove skin from peppers; chop. Remove skin from tomatoes; chop. Toss corn, peppers and tomatoes with pasta. Add basil; toss gently. Season with black pepper, as desired.

For dressing, whisk together 2 tablespoons oil, vinegar and salt. Toss with pasta mixture. Sprinkle with bacon and Parmesan cheese, if desired.

Variations: If desired, add chopped avocado and/or cooked shrimp.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 308; Calories from fat: 51; Fat: 10; Saturated Fat: 1 g; Sodium: 172 mg; Protein: 9 g; Carbohydrates: 0 g

ROASTED ASPARAGUS WITH PARMESAN CHEESE SAUCE

Recipe Yield: Serves 4.

View this online at https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipes/roasted-asparagus-with-parmesan-cheese-sauce.

Ingredients

1 pound medium sized asparagus, rinsed and trimmed

2 tsp. canola oil

4 tsp. unbleached all purpose flour

3/4 cup fat free milk

1/4 tsp. onion powder

Salt and pepper, to taste

2 Tbsp. Parmesan cheese

Directions

Steam the asparagus in a saucepan over boiling water until just tender, about 3 to 5 minutes.

Meanwhile, in a cold saucepan, blend canola oil with flour using a wire whisk. Slowly whisk in the milk and heat the sauce over medium heat, stirring constantly.

Add onion powder, salt and pepper to taste. Continue to stir until thickened, about 5 to 10 minutes.

Stir in the cheese.

Pour hot cheese sauce over asparagus and serve immediately.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 87; Fat: 3 g; Saturated Fat: under 1 g; Fiber: 3 g; Sodium: 62 mg; Protein: 5 g; Carbohydrates: 9 g

CHOCOLATE VELVET MOUSSE

Recipe Yield: Yield: 6 Servings; Serving Size: 3/4 cup mousse, 1/2 cup strawberries

Source: Splenda

Recipe and image appear courtesy of Splenda.

View this online at https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipes/chocolate-velvet-mousse.

Ingredients

3 ounces unsweetened chocolate

1 cup low fat milk

1/4 cup egg substitute

1/2 cup Splenda No Calorie Sweetener, Granulated

1 teaspoon cornstarch

2 tablespoons orange liqueur (Grand Marnier, Curacao, Triple Sec, or brandy)*

1/2 cup heavy cream

3 cups sliced strawberries

Directions

Place chocolate and milk in a medium saucepan. Heat over medium heat until chocolate melts. Set aside.

Stir together egg substitute, Splenda Granulated Sweetener, cornstarch and Grand Marnier in a small mixing bowl. Add to chocolate mixture. Stir constantly. Cook over medium heat while stirring constantly, until mixture begins to thicken (approx. 3-4 minutes). Remove from heat and pour into the bowl of a blender or food processor. Blend or process briefly (10-20 seconds) to make a more creamy texture. Pour into medium bowl and cover.

Refrigerate chocolate mixture approx. 2-3 hours or until cool. Whip cream until stiff and fold into chocolate. Refrigerate overnight to set. Will keep refrigerated for 3 days.

To serve, layer strawberries and mousse in 6 all- purpose wine glasses.

Notes:

This chilled, layered dessert topped with strawberries is quite impressive. Be sure to allow time to let it set! It’s well worth the wait. Alcohol can be replaced with 1 teaspoon orange extract.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 220; Fat: 17 g; Saturated Fat: 10 g; Fiber: 4 g; Sodium: 50 mg; Cholesterol: 30 mg; Protein: 5 g; Carbohydrates: 16 g; Sugars: 6 g

PEANUT BUTTER COOKIE BITES

Recipe Yield: Yield: 24 cookies

Source: Splenda

Recipe and image appear courtesy of Splenda.

View this online at https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipes/peanut-butter-cookie-bites.

Ingredients

1/4 cup margarine, softened

1 cup creamy style peanut butter

1/4 cup egg substitute

2 tablespoons honey

1/2 teaspoon vanilla

1 cup SPLENDA No Calorie Sweetener, Granulated

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Beat margarine and peanut butter in a large mixing bowl with an electric mixer until creamy, approximately 1 minute.

Add egg substitute, honey and vanilla. Beat on high speed for approximately 1 1/2 minutes.

Add SPLENDA Granulated Sweetener and beat on medium speed until well blended, approximately 30 seconds.

Combine flour, baking soda and salt in a small mixing bowl. Slowly add flour mixture to peanut butter mixture, beating on low speed until well-blended, about 1 1/2 minutes. Mixture may be crumbly.

Roll level tablespoons of dough into balls and drop onto a lightly oiled or parchment lined sheet pan, two inches apart. Flatten each ball with a fork, pressing a crisscross pattern into each cookie. Bake 7-9 minutes or until light brown around the edges. Cool on wire rack.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 120; Fat: 8 g; Saturated Fat: 1.5 g; Fiber: 1 g; Sodium: 150 mg; Protein: 4 g; Carbohydrates: 10 g; Sugars: 3 g

CLASSIC CARROT CAKE

Recipe Yield: Yield: 10 servings

Source: Splenda

Recipe and image appear courtesy of Splenda.

View this online at https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipe/classic-carrot-cake.

Ingredients

7/8 cup all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon ground allspice

2 large egg whites

1/4 cup eggbeaters

3/8 cup Splenda No Calorie Sweetener, Granulated

3 tablespoons reduced fat margarine

1/2 cup honey

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

3 tablespoons unsweetened applesauce

3 tablespoons canola oil

2 1/4 cups finely shredded carrot

1/3 cup walnuts

butter flavored cooking spray

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. In medium bowl whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and allspice. Set aside.

In small bowl whisk together egg whites and eggbeaters. Set aside.

In large bowl beat Splenda Granulated Sweetener, margarine, honey, vanilla, applesauce, and canola oil. Mix in egg mixture, stir until well mixed. Stir in flour mixture, then carrots and walnuts.

Pour into greased 8 cup loaf pan and bake for 40-45 minutes, or until toothpick inserted comes out clean. Allow to cool, ice if desired.

Notes:

A great classic dessert and it has less carbs.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 190; Fat: 9 g; Saturated Fat: 1 g; Fiber: 2 g; Sodium: 270 mg; Protein: 4 g; Carbohydrates: 26 g; Sugars: 16 g