Thursday Recipes

It's almost the end of the week. To celebrate, how about trying any of these six recipes, including Meringue Tartlets with Pears and Shaved Chocolate or Chimichurri Steak Wraps. Enjoy!

LEMON MERINGUE PIE

Recipe Yield: Serves: 8

Source: Equal

View this online at https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipes/lemon-meringue-pie

Ingredients

For Pie Filling:

Pastry for single-crust 9-inch pie

2-1/4 cups water

1/2 cup fresh lemon juice or frozen lemon juice concentrate*

1/2 cup cornstarch

2 eggs

2 egg whites

1-1/2 teaspoons grated lemon peel

1-1/2 cups Equal Spoonful or Granulated**

2 tablespoons stick butter or margarine

1 to 2 drops yellow food coloring (optional)

For Meringue:

3 egg whites

1/4 teaspoon cream tartar

2/3 cup Equal Spoonful or Granulated***

* Such as Minute Maid Premium Lemon juice (frozen) 100% Pure Lemon Juice from Concentrate

** May substitute 36 packets Equal sweetener

Directions

For Pie Filling, roll pastry on floured surface into circle 1 inch larger than inverted 9-inch pie plate. Ease pastry into plate; trim and flute edge. Pierce bottom and side of pastry with fork.

Bake in preheated 425F oven 10 to 12 minutes or until pastry is golden. Cool on wire rack.

Combine water, lemon juice and cornstarch in medium saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring constantly. Boil and stir 1 minute. Beat eggs, 2 egg whites and lemon peel in medium bowl. Mix in 1-1/2 cups Equal. Stir about half of hot cornstarch mixture into egg mixture.

Return all to saucepan. Cook and stir over low heat 1 minute. Remove from heat. Stir in butter until melted. Stir in food coloring, if desired. Pour mixture over baked pie shell.

For Meringue, beat 3 egg whites in mixing bowl on medium speed of mixer until foamy. Add cream of tartar. Beat to soft peaks. Gradually beat in 2/3 cup Equal, beating to stiff peaks. Spread meringue over hot lemon filling, carefully sealing to edge of crust to prevent shrinking or weeping.

Bake pie in 425F oven about 5 minutes or until meringue is lightly browned.

Cool completely on wire rack. Cut pie into wedges.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 178; Fat: 9 g; Sodium: 133 mg; Cholesterol: 65 mg; Protein: 5 g; Carbohydrates: 20 g

Diabetic Exchanges: 1 starch, 2 fat

MERINGUE TARTLETS WITH PEARS AND SHAVED CHOCOLATE

Recipe Yield: Yield: Makes 8 servings.

View this online at https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipes/meringue-tartlets-with-pears-and-shaved-chocolate

Ingredients

1 cup water

1 cup orange juice without pulp

2 cloves

4 ripe pears – Bosc or Anjou varieties (peeled, halved and cored)

1 Tbsp. plus 1/4 cup sugar, divided

4 large, room temperature egg whites

Dash of cream of tartar

Dash of salt

2 Tbsp. plus 2 tsp. shaved chocolate, from a good-quality dark chocolate bar

Directions

Preheat oven to 250 degrees. Cover a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.

In a large baking pan, combine water, orange juice, 1 Tbsp. sugar and cloves. Add pears. Poach pears in the oven until soft. Remove pears from liquid and set aside.

In a large mixing bowl, combine the egg whites, cream of tartar and salt. Beat with an electric mixer at medium speed until the eggs are frothy (about 1 minute). With the mixer at high speed, add the remaining 1/4 cup sugar, one tablespoon at a time. Beat for roughly 6 minutes or until stiff, glossy peaks form.

Drop the meringue onto the prepared baking sheet in eight 3- to 4-inch-diameter rounds, smoothing the edges. Bake for 1 hour. Turn the oven off, but leave the meringues in the oven for about 12 hours. Do not open the oven door.

When ready to serve, gently peel the meringues off the parchment paper.

Place each pear half in a bowl and top with one meringue. To garnish, shave chocolate from the side of the chocolate bar using a vegetable peeler. Note, it may help if the chocolate bar is cold, so refrigerate for several minutes prior. Garnish each meringue with 1 teaspoon shaved chocolate.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 117; Fat: 2 g; Saturated Fat: 1 g; Fiber: 3 g; Sodium: 65 mg; Protein: 3 g; Carbohydrates: 24 g

VEGETABLE AND BEAN SOUP

Recipe Yield: Yield: 6 servings

Source: The Everyday Low-Carb Slow Cooker Cookbook

Book Title: The Everyday Low-Carb Slow Cooker Cookbook

View this online at https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipes/vegetable-and-bean-soup.

Ingredients

1 (14.5 ounce) can diced tomatoes

2 (14.5) cans chicken broth

1 cube vegetable bouillon

1 medium onion, finely chopped

1 (15.5 ounce) can kidney beans, drained

1 red bell pepper, finely chopped

2 carrots, finely chopped

2 celery stalks, finely chopped

2 summer squashes (zucchini or yellow squash, about 1 pound total), quartered lengthwise and chopped

1 (7 ounce) can sliced mushrooms, drained

1 tablespoon minced garlic

1 tablespoon olive oil

2 tablespoons butter

1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

1 teaspoon black pepper

1/2 teaspoon Tabasco sauce (about 4 shakes) (optional)

Directions

Combine all ingredients in the slow cooker crock and mix well.

Cover and cook on LOW for 8 hours.

Stir well before serving.

If desired, stir in Tabasco sauce before serving.

Notes:

Easy substitution: To make this soup completely vegetarian, substitute vegetable broth for the chicken broth, and additional olive oil for the butter.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 210; Fat: 9 g; Sodium: 1020 mg; Cholesterol: 14 mg; Protein: 8 g; Carbohydrates: 18 g

Diabetic Exchanges: 1 Lean Meat, 2 Fat, 2 Vegetable

CHIMICHURRI STEAK WRAPS

Recipe Yield: Yield: Makes 4 servings

View this online at https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipes/chimichurri-steak-wraps

Ingredients

12 ounces grilled top sirloin steak, cut into slices

3 cups fresh baby spinach

1/2 large red bell pepper, cut into thin strips

4 medium whole wheat tortillas (8 to 10-inch diameter)

Chimichurri Sauce:

1 cup fresh parsley leaves

2 cloves garlic

3 tablespoons olive oil

1 tablespoon red wine vinegar

1/4 teaspoon salt

Directions

Place parsley and garlic in food processor or blender container. Cover; process until finely chopped. Add oil, vinegar and salt; process just until blended.

Spread each tortilla evenly with Chimichurri Sauce, leaving 1/4-inch border around edge. Top with equal amounts spinach, bell pepper slices and beef slices on top two-thirds of tortilla. Fold bottom of tortilla up over filling. Fold right and left sides to center overlapping edges; secure with wooden picks; if desired.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 340; Fat: 16 g; Saturated Fat: 3 g; Fiber: 3.7 g; Sodium: 410 mg; Cholesterol: 49 mg; Protein: 30 g; Carbohydrates: 25 g

CHICKEN PICADILLO

Yield: 6 servings; Serving size: 3/4 cup chicken and vegetables

Source: Deliciously Healthy Dinners

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

Ingredients

2 tsp olive oil

1 large yellow onion, finely chopped

1 medium green bell pepper, rinsed and finely chopped

1 medium red bell pepper, rinsed and finely chopped

1-1/2 Tbsp garlic, mashed (about 3 cloves)

12 oz boneless, skinless chicken breast, cut into thin strips

1/3 cup no-salt-added tomato sauce

1/3 cup low-sodium chicken broth

1/3 cup lemon juice

1/4 tsp ground cumin

2 bay leaves

1/3 cup water

1/4 cup golden seedless raisins

For garnish:

1 Tbsp fresh cilantro, rinsed, dried, and chopped (or substitute 1 tsp dried coriander)

1 Tbsp capers, drained

2 Tbsp green olives, chopped

Directions

Heat olive oil in a large saute pan over medium heat. Add the onion, bell peppers, and garlic, and saute until vegetables are soft, about 5 minutes.

Add the chicken, and stir fry for another 5–10 minutes until chicken is no longer pink inside.

Add the tomato sauce, chicken broth, lemon juice, cumin, bay leaves, water, and raisins to the vegetables and chicken.

Cover the pan, and reduce the heat. Simmer for 10 minutes.

Remove the bay leaves, and garnish with fresh cilantro, capers, and green olives, and serve.

Notes:

This zesty one-pot meal is easy to throw together on a busy weeknight.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 162; Fat: 5 g; Saturated Fat: 1 g; Fiber: 2 g; Sodium: 133 mg; Cholesterol: 46 mg; Protein: 18 g; Carbohydrates: 13 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

View 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