Diabetic Delights: A Confessions of a Foodie Offspring

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Showing posts with label Asparagus Polenta Bake. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Asparagus Polenta Bake. Show all posts

Friday, June 3, 2016

Friday Recipes - and an Article

An article in The Diabetic News e-newsletter states that scientists from The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston have “uncovered a molecular mechanism involved in a common form of heart damage found in people with diabetes.” The UT Galveston research team worked in collaboration with University of Texas at Dallas, Baylor College of Medicine, and University of California San Diego.

According to the article (”Discovery May Prevent or Treat Diabetic Cardiomyopathy”), diabetics “have a two to five times higher risk” of heart diseases. Unhealthy changes called diabetic cardiomyopathy have been seen by physicians for decades. The disorder can lead to heart failure.

To view the article in its entirety, click here.

And now, here are today's six diabetic recipes. Enjoy!

ASPARAGUS POLENTA BAKE

The recipe begins, “If sun-dried tomatoes need to be softened, soak in hot water to cover, 5 to 10 minutes.”

Yield: 6 servings

Source: 1,001 Delicious Recipes for People with Diabetes

View Recipe: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/571.shtml

Ingredients

6 ounces portobello mushrooms, thinly sliced

8 ounces asparagus, cut into 1-inch pieces

1-2 teaspoons olive oil

1 package (16 ounces) prepared Italian Herb polenta

1 cup water

1 ounce sun-dried tomatoes (not in oil) (about 8 halves), sliced

1/4 - 1/2 cup (1-2 ounces) shredded Parmesan cheese

Directions

Saute mushrooms and asparagus in oil in large skillet 2 to 3 minutes; cook, covered, until asparagus is crisp-tender, about 5 minutes.

Mash polenta in medium saucepan; mix in water and cook over medium heat, whisking until smooth and hot, about 5 minutes.

Stir in mushrooms and asparagus, and sun-dried tomatoes. Spoon mixture into 4 ramekins or a shallow casserole or quiche dish; sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.

Bake at 425 degrees F. until cheese is browned and polenta puffed, about 20 minutes.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 110; Protein: 5 g; Fat: 2 g; Sodium: 94 mg; Cholesterol: 4 mg ; Carbohydrates: 17 g; Exchanges: 2 Vegetable, 1/2 Bread/Starch, 1/2 Fat

TUSCAN CHICKEN BREASTS WITH POLENTA

Find this recipe at: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/250.shtml

Servings: 8

Ingredients

4 cups defatted low sodium chicken broth

1 cup yellow cornmeal

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

1/2 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon pepper

8 skinless chicken breast halves (3 pounds)

Nonstick cooking spray

Fresh spinach leaves, steamed (optional)

Tuscan Tomato Sauce (recipe follows below)

Directions

In a large nonstick saucepan, heat chicken broth to a boil; slowly stir in cornmeal. Reduce heat to low; cook, stirring frequently, 15 to 20 minutes or until mixture is very thick and pulls away from side of pan. (Mixture may be lumpy.) Pour polenta into greased 9x5-inch loaf pan. Cool; refrigerate 2 to 3 hours or until firm.

Heat oven to 350 degrees F. Combine garlic powder, Italian seasoning, salt and pepper in small bowl; rub on all surfaces of chicken. Arrange chicken, breast side up, in single layer in 13x9-inch baking pan. Bake, uncovered, about 45 minutes or until chicken is no longer pink in center and juices run clear.

Remove polenta from pan; transfer to cutting board. Cut polenta crosswise into 16 slices. Cut slices into triangles, if desired. Spray large nonstick skillet with cooking spray; heat over medium heat until hot. Cook polenta about 4 minutes per side or until lightly browned.

Place spinach leaves, if desired, on serving plates. Arrange polenta slices and chicken over spinach; top with Tuscan Tomato Sauce.

TUSCAN TOMATO SAUCE

Makes: About 3 cups

Ingredients

Nonstick cooking spray

1/2 cup chopped onion

2 cloves garlic, minced

8 plum tomatoes, coarsely chopped

1 can (8 ounces) tomato sauce

2 teaspoons dried basil leaves

2 teaspoons dried oregano leaves

2 teaspoons dried rosemary

1/2 teaspoon pepper

Directions

Spray medium nonstick saucepan with cooking spray; heat over medium heat until hot. Add onion and garlic; cook and stir about 5 minutes or until tender.

Stir in tomatoes, tomato sauce, basil, oregano, rosemary and pepper; heat to a boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer, uncovered, about 6 minutes or until desired consistency, stirring occasionally.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 240; Protein: 29 g; Fat: 4 g; Sodium: 345 mg; Cholesterol: 69 mg; Carbohydrates: 22 g; Exchanges: 1 Starch/Bread, 2-1/2 Lean Meat, 1-1/2 Vegetable

ASPARAGUS WITH PEANUT SAUCE

Yield: 6 servings

Source: 1,001 Delicious Recipes for People with Diabetes

View Recipe: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/567.shtml

Ingredients

2 tablespoons reduced-fat peanut butter

1/4 cup sugar

2-3 tablespoons reduced-sodium tamari soy sauce

3-4 teaspoons rice wine (sake) or dry sherry

1 teaspoon grated gingerroot

1/2 pounds asparagus spears, cooked until crisp-tender, chilled

Directions

Mix peanut butter, sugar, soy sauce, rice wine, and gingerroot until smooth.

Arrange asparagus on serving platter, spoon peanut sauce over.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 95; Protein: 5 g; Fat: 2.3 g; Sodium: 246 mg; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Carbohydrates: 15 g; Exchanges: 3 Vegetable, 1/2 Fat

TERIYAKI SESAME VEGETABLES

Yield: 4 Servings

Source: The Best Diabetes Cookbook

View recipe here: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/603.shtml

Ingredients

1-1/2 teaspoon vegetable oil

1 teaspoon crushed garlic

Half of a large sweet red or yellow pepper, thinly sliced

Half of a large sweet green pepper, thinly sliced

1-1/2 cups snow peas

1 large carrot, sliced thinly

1/2 teaspoon sesame seeds

Sauce Ingredients:

1 teaspoon crushed garlic

1 tablespoon soya sauce

1 tablespoon rice wine vinegar or white wine vinegar

1/2 teaspoon minced gingerroot

1/2 teaspoon sesame oil

1 tablespoon water

1 tablespoon brown sugar

1-1/2 teaspoons vegetable oil

Directions

Sauce: In a small saucepan, combine garlic, soy sauce, vinegar, ginger, sesame oil, water, sugar and vegetable oil; cook for 3 to 5 minutes or until thickened and syrupy.

In large non-stick skillet, heat oil; saute garlic, red and green peppers, snow peas and carrot, stirring constantly, for 2 minutes.

Add sauce; saute for 2 minutes or just until vegetables are tender-crisp. Place in serving dish and sprinkle with sesame seeds.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 128; Protein: 3 g; Fat: 8 g; Sodium: 256 mg; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Dietary Fiber: 2 g; Carbohydrates: 13 g; Exchanges: 2 Vegetables, 1-1/2 Fat

TURKEY SLOPPY JOES

Find this recipe at: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/278.shtml

Source: The New Soul Food Cookbook for People with Diabetes

Yield: 4 servings

Serving size: 1/2 cup

Ingredients

2 tsp canola oil

1 cup chopped onions

1 cup chopped green bell pepper

1 lb lean ground turkey breast

1 cup tomato sauce

1 tsp brown sugar

1/2 cup catsup

1 tsp red pepper flakes

2 tsp wine vinegar

1/4 tsp pepper

Directions

Heat the oil in a large skillet and sauté the onion and bell pepper until translucent. Add the turkey and cook about 5 minutes. Drain off any fat.

Add the remaining ingredients and mix well. Simmer 15 minutes and serve on buns.

To reduce the sodium content of this recipe, use salt-free tomato sauce.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 239; Protein: 27 g; Fat: 6 g; Sodium: 787 mg; Cholesterol: 68 mg; Carbohydrates: 21 g; Exchanges: 1 Starch; 3 Very Lean Meat; 1 Vegetable

Wednesday, January 6, 2016

Vegetarian Diabetic Recipes

I ran across an article on the Diabetic Gourmet website about plant-based meal options using beans. The article, titled “Beef vs. Beans: Which Provides Greater Fullness?” is pretty interesting, especially if you're considering switching over to a vegetarian diet. And since in comes from Diabetic Gourmet, it should be doubly interesting for anyone cooking for diabetics. To read the article, go to http://diabeticgourmet.com/articles/835.shtml.

And now, on to today's recipes. Is it any wonder that the recipes are vegan? Enjoy!

BLACK BEAN BURGERS WITH AVOCADO-LIME MAYO

This recipe starts off, “Jazz up these tasty burgers with avocado-lime mayo and you'll have a vegetarian sandwich that even die-hard meat eaters will love.”

Yield: 4 servings. Serving size: 1 burger.

Source: "The Heart-Smart Diabetes Kitchen: Fresh, Fast and Flavorful

Recipes Made with Canola Oil" from the American Diabetes Association and Canola

Find this recipe at: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/1219.shtml

Ingredients

Mayonnaise

1/2 ripe medium avocado, peeled and pitted

2 Tbsp canola mayonnaise 30

1 Tbsp fresh lime juice

1 Tbsp water

1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro leaves

Burgers

1 can (15 oz) black beans, rinsed and drained

1/2 of (15 oz) can kidney beans, rinsed and drained

1/2 cup finely chopped green bell pepper

1/3 cup quick-cooking oats

2 large egg whites

1 Tbsp canola oil

1/8 - 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper

canola oil cooking spray

4 whole-wheat hamburger buns, split and toasted

1/4 cup thinly sliced red onion

4 tomato slices

4 lettuce leaves

4 lime wedges (optional)

Directions

Place canola mayonnaise ingredients in a blender, secure lid, and puree until smooth.

Place beans in a gallon-size resealable bag. Using a meat mallet, pound beans to a coarse texture, resembling lumpy mashed potatoes. Place beans in a medium bowl and add bell pepper, oats, egg whites, canola oil, and cayenne pepper. Mix well and shape into four patties.

Coat a large nonstick skillet with canola oil cooking spray and heat over medium heat. Add patties and cook 4 minutes on each side or until they begin to lightly brown. The patties will be fragile, so be sure to turn them gently.

To assemble, spoon 1 Tbsp canola mayonnaise mixture on each bun half. Top each bottom bun with burger, onion, a tomato slice, and a lettuce leaf. Place bun tops over each. Serve with lime wedges. Fresh tip: If desired, omit the buns and serve the patties on the lettuce leaf, tomato slice, and onion. Spoon the mayonnaise mixture on top of the patties and serve with lime wedges.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 300; Protein: 19 g; Fat: 12 g; Sodium: 785 mg; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Saturated Fat: 1.8 g; Dietary Fiber: 10 g; Carbohydrates: 33 g

BUTTERNUT SQUASH ENCHILADAS WITH SALSA VERDE

Yield: Makes 8 servings.

Find this recipe at: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/1016.shtml

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; Protein: 8 g; Fat: 2 g; Sodium: 479 mg; Saturated Fat: 1 g; Carbohydrates: 33 g

BUTTERNUT SOUP

This recipe also comes from Diabetic Connect. It originally calls for 2 vegetable or chicken stock cubes, but I've cut out the chicken stock cubes, so that it's only using the vegetable stock cubes. You could also use vegetable broth in place of the water and cut out the vegetable cubes altogether. Makes 4 servings.

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

1 butternut squash diced

1 sweet potato diced

1 onion finely chopped

1 tablespoon olive oil

cinnamon to taste

1 teaspoon nutmeg

salt to taste

3 tablespoons plain low fat yogurt

2 vegetable cubes (see note above)

Directions

In a large pot, add the olive oil and onion, stir until soft.

Then add the butternut and sweet potato and cover with boiled water half an inch over.

Add the stock cubes, nutmeg and salt.

Cook until veggies are soft.

Turn down heat, stick blend until smooth, and add yogurt and cinnamon… yummy!

CORN BREAD APPLESAUCE MUFFINS

Yield: 8 servings

Source: The New American Heart Association Cookbook

View online: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/545.shtml

Ingredients

Vegetable oil spray

1/2 cup all-purpose flour

1/2 cup coarse yellow cornmeal

1-1/2 teaspoons baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup fat-free milk

Egg substitute equivalent to 1 egg or 1 egg

2 tablespoons honey

2 tablespoons unsweetened applesauce

Directions

Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Lightly spray eight muffin cups with vegetable oil spray.

Combine flour, cornmeal, baking powder, and salt in a large bowl, stirring well.

Beat remaining ingredients in a small bowl.

Make a well in cornmeal mixture. Pour milk mixture into well, stirring just until moistened. Fill muffin cups two-thirds full with batter.

Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, or until a cake tester or toothpick inserted in center of muffins comes out clean.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 86; Protein: 3 g; Fat: 1 g; Sodium: 189 mg; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Dietary Fiber: 1 g; Carbohydrates: 18 g; Exchanges: 1 Bread/Starch

SWEET POTATOES WITH A HINT OF ORANGE

Servings: 8

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

2 pounds sweet potatoes, cooked

2 tablespoons margarine, melted

1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

16 apricot halves, dried

Orange slices, fresh

Directions

Arrange the sweet potatoes in a shallow baking dish. Combine the margarine and cinnamon. Pour over the potatoes. Arrange the apricot halves on top. Cover the dish and bake in a 425F oven for about 15 minutes. Add the orange slices and serve.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 139; Protein: 2 g; Fat: 3 g; Sodium: 96 mg; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Saturated Fat: .75 g; Dietary Fiber: 4 g; Sugars: 8 g; Carbohydrates: 27 g

ASPARAGUS POLENTA BAKE

This recipe begins, “If sun-dried tomatoes need to be softened, soak in hot water to cover, 5 to 10 minutes.”

Yield: 6 servings

Source: 1,001 Delicious Recipes for People with Diabetes

Find this recipe at: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/571.shtml

Ingredients

6 ounces portobello mushrooms, thinly sliced

8 ounces asparagus, cut into 1-inch pieces

1-2 teaspoons olive oil

1 package (16 ounces) prepared Italian Herb polenta

1 cup water

1 ounce sun-dried tomatoes (not in oil) (about 8 halves), sliced

1/4 - 1/2 cup (1-2 ounces) shredded Parmesan cheese

Directions

Saute mushrooms and asparagus in oil in large skillet 2 to 3 minutes; cook, covered, until asparagus is crisp-tender, about 5 minutes.

Mash polenta in medium saucepan; mix in water and cook over medium heat, whisking until smooth and hot, about 5 minutes.

Stir in mushrooms and asparagus, and sun-dried tomatoes. Spoon mixture into 4 ramekins or a shallow casserole or quiche dish; sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.

Bake at 425 degrees F. until cheese is browned and polenta puffed, about 20 minutes.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 110; Protein: 5 g; Fat: 2 g; Sodium: 94 mg; Cholesterol: 4 mg; Carbohydrates: 17 g; Exchanges: 2 Vegetable, 1/2 Bread/Starch, 1/2 Fat