Wednesday

We're half-way through the week; if we made it this far, we can make through the rest of the week.

Of course, we do need to eat. Therefore, here are six yummy recipes to help you through the day, including Grilled Turkey, Portabella Mushrooms and Vegetable Kebabs and No-Bake Orange Cream Cheesecake. Enjoy!

QUICK AND EASY CHICKEN CACCIATORE

Recipe Yield: Yield: Makes 4 servings

You can view this online at https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipes/quick-and-easy-chicken-cacciatore.

Ingredients

Nonstick cooking spray

1/2 lb. chicken breasts, skinless and boneless

1/2 lb. chicken thighs, skinless and boned

1 green bell pepper, cut into julienne strips

1/3 cup chopped onion

1/2 cup sliced mushrooms

1 (14 1/2 oz) can no added salt stewed tomatoes

1/4 cup water (may substitute low-sodium chicken broth or dry red cooking wine)

2 tsp. dried Italian seasoning

1/8 tsp. fresh ground black pepper

Directions

Coat large skillet with cooking spray. Preheat skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken and cook until lightly browned, about 6 minutes. Turn frequently to ensure consistent browning.

Add in pepper, onion and mushrooms and saute an additional 2 minutes, stirring frequently.

Stir in tomatoes, water (or broth or wine), Italian seasoning and black pepper. Bring to boil. Reduce heat, cover, simmer, gently stirring occasionally, until chicken is tender and no longer pink, about 15 minutes.

Remove chicken from skillet, set aside and cover to keep moist and warm. Continue to simmer sauce, uncovered and stirring occasionally, for about 5 minutes or until desired consistency.

Place chicken in a serving dish. Pour sauce over the top and serve.

Notes:

Creating classic tastes doesn’t have to be time consuming or difficult, as proven by this recipe. It combines the goodness of chicken with the timeless taste of tomatoes, all set off with traditional Italian spices.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 190; Fat: 6 g; Saturated Fat: 1.5 g; Fiber: 2 g; Sodium: 75 mg; Protein: 23 g; Carbohydrates: 9 g

CHICKEN AND BROCCOLI STIR-FRY

Recipe Yield: Yield: 4 servings

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

Book Title: The Complete Idiot's Guide to Terrific Diabetic Meals

You can find this online at https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipes/chicken-and-broccoli-stir-fry.

Ingredients

2 teaspoons olive or canola oil

4 (3 ounces) boneless, skinless chicken breast, halves, cut into thin strips

2 cloves garlic, minced

3 cups chopped broccoli florets

1 medium red bell pepper, cored, seeded and cut into 2-1/2 inch pieces

2 teaspoons cornstarch

1/2 teaspoon ground ginger

1/2 cup low-salt chicken broth

3 tablespoons Lea & Perrins White Wine Worcestershire Sauce

Directions

Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add chicken and garlic. Cook, stirring, for 3 to 5 minutes or until chicken is no longer pink. Reduce heat. Remove chicken to a plate and cover to keep warm.

Add broccoli and bell pepper to the same skillet; cover and cook for 3 to 5 minutes or until vegetables are crisp-tender.

Meanwhile, in a small bowl, combine cornstarch, ginger, chicken broth, and Worcestershire sauce, and blend well. Return chicken to skillet. Add cornstarch mixture. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly, about 5 minutes, until bubbly and thickened.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 189; Fat: 4 g; Fiber: 2 g; Sodium: 210 mg; Cholesterol: 68 mg; Protein: 29 g; Carbohydrates: 5 g

Diabetic Exchanges: 4 Lean Meat, 1 Fat

BANANA RAISIN BREAD

Recipe Yield: Yield: 14 servings

Source: Equal

Recipe and image appear courtesy of Equal.

You can view this online at https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipe/banana-raisin-bread.

Ingredients

1 cup mashed ripe bananas (about 2 medium)

3 tablespoons 2% milk

1-1/2 cups Kellogg’s Special K cereal

6 tablespoons stick butter or margarine, softened

1 cup Equal Spoonful*

2 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla

1-1/4 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 cup golden raisins (or whatever you prefer)

* May substitute 24 packets Equal sweetener

Directions

Combine banana and milk in medium bowl. Stir in cereal. Let stand 5 minutes or until cereal is softened.

Beat butter and Equal on medium speed of electric mixer until fluffy.

Beat in egg and vanilla until well blended. Stir in cereal mixture.

Gradually add combined flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt mixing until combined. Stir in raisins.

Spread batter evenly in sprayed 9 x 5-inch loaf pan.

Bake in preheated 350F oven 45 to 50 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean.

Let cool 10 minutes before removing from pan. Cool completely on wire rack.

Store tightly wrapped in plastic wrap.

Notes:

A full flavored quick bread made with ripe bananas and raisins. Cereal adds extra crunch and beneficial nutrients.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 145; Fat: 12 g; Sodium: 116 mg; Cholesterol: 36 mg; Protein: 3 g; Carbohydrates: 9 g

Diabetic Exchanges: 1/2 starch, 2 fat

NO-BAKE ORANGE CREAM CHEESECAKE

Light fluffy textured cheesecake filled with chopped oranges, reduced-fat cream cheese and ricotta cheese.

Yield: 16 servings

See the recipe here: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/946.shtml

Ingredients

Crust Ingredients:

1 cup graham cracker crumbs

3 tablespoons stick butter or margarine, melted

3 tablespoons Equal Spoonful or Granulated*

Cheesecake Ingredients:

1 cup orange juice

1 envelope (1/4 ounce) unflavored gelatin

2 packages (8 ounces each) reduced-fat cream cheese, softened

1 cup part-skim ricotta cheese

3/4 cup Equal Spoonful or Granulated**

1 teaspoon orange extract (optional)

2 cups light whipped topping, thawed, if frozen

1 can (11 ounces) Mandarin oranges, drained, coarsely chopped

Oranges sections (optional)

Whipped topping (optional)

* May substitute 4-1/2 packets Equal sweetener

** May substitute 18 packets Equal sweetener

Directions

For Crust, combine graham cracker crumbs, butter and 3 tablespoons Equal.

Press mixture onto bottom of a 9-inch springform pan.

Bake in preheated 350F oven 10 minutes. Cool on wire rack while preparing cheesecake.

For Cheesecake, pour orange juice into small saucepan. Sprinkle gelatin over orange juice and let soften 1 minute.

Heat over low heat, stirring constantly, until gelatin dissolves.

Beat cream cheese and ricotta cheese in mixing bowl on medium speed of mixer until smooth. Stir in 3/4 cup Equal and orange extract. Add gelatin mixture to cheese mixture; blend until smooth.

Refrigerate cheese mixture, or place in freezer, 20 to 30 minutes or until mixture is slightly thickened.

Fold in whipped topping and chopped oranges. Spoon over baked crust.

Cover and refrigerate several hours or overnight.

To serve, gently run metal spatula around rim of pan to loosen cake. Remove side of pan. Garnish top of cheesecake with orange sections and whipped topping, if desired. Cut cake into wedges.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 152; Protein: 6 g; Fat: 10 g; Sodium: 158 mg; Cholesterol: 31 mg; Carbohydrates: 11 g; Exchanges: 1/2 milk, 1 starch, 2 fat

GRILLED TURKEY, PORTABELLA MUSHROOMS AND VEGETABLE KEBABS

Recipe Yield: Yield: 4 servings

Source: The National Turkey Federation

You can view this online at https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipes/grilled-turkey-portabella-mushrooms-and-vegetable-kebabs.

Ingredients

1-1/2 to 2 pounds turkey thighs, skinned, boned & cut into 1-inch cubes

2 whole portabella mushrooms, stemmed & quartered

1/2 cup green onions, chopped

1/3 cup olive oil

1/4 cup balsamic vinegar

1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

2 teaspoons garlic, minced

1 teaspoon dried rosemary

1 teaspoon dried tarragon

1/2 medium red bell pepper, seeded & cut into 1-inch cubes

1 small yellow squash, cut into 1/2-inch rounds

1 small zucchini, cut into 1/2-inch rounds

Directions

Place turkey cubes and mushroom quarters in a large, self-closing, food-safe plastic bag.

In small bowl, combine green onions, oil, vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, garlic, rosemary and tarragon. Pour over turkey and mushrooms. Seal bag and refrigerate 2 hours or overnight.

Spray grill rack with nonstick vegetable oil spray. Prepare grill for direct heat cooking.

Drain turkey and mushrooms from marinade and discard marinade.

On 10 or 12-inch skewers, alternating ingredients, arrange drained turkey cubes, mushrooms, bell pepper, yellow squash and zucchini.

Grill over medium flame or coals 10 to 12 minutes or until turkey is no longer pink in center, turning once. Cook thighs to an internal temperature of 170 degrees F.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 320; Fat: 11 g; Saturated Fat: 3 g; Fiber: 3 g; Sodium: 150 mg; Cholesterol: 130 mg; Protein: 49 g; Carbohydrates: 6 g; Sugars: 3 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)

Ingredients

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