Diabetic Delights: A Confessions of a Foodie Offspring

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Showing posts with label Slow-Cooker Vegetarian Minestrone. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Slow-Cooker Vegetarian Minestrone. Show all posts

Thursday, May 18, 2017

Soup's On!

I love homemade soup. It's comforting and filling and is food at its most basic. Here are six yummy diabetic soup recipes to help you through the day, including Old-Fashioned Tomato Soup and Slow-Cooker Vegetarian Minestrone. Enjoy!

BROCCOLI CHEESE SOUP

From Diabetic Connect

To view this online, go to http://www.diabeticconnect.com/diabetic-recipes/general/2418-broccoli-cheese-soup

Ingredients

4 cups chicken broth

1 cup water

1 cup half & half - fat free

4 ounces cheddar cheese

1/2 cup all-purpose flour

1 tablespoon onion

1/4 tsp. ground black pepper

4 cups broccoli florets - bite-size

Directions

Combine chicken broth, water, half & half, cheese, flour, onion and pepper in a large saucepan. Whisk to break up any lumps of flour; turn heat to medium/high. Bring soup to a boil; reduce heat to low.

Add broccoli and simmer for 15-20 minutes until broccoli is tender, but not soft.

For each serving spoon one cup of soup into a bowl and garnish with a Tbsp. of shredded cheese and a pinch of parsley.

Nutritional Facts: Servings: 8; Each (app 1 1/2 cup) serving contains an estimated: Cals: 126; FatCals 42; TotFat: 5 g: SatFat: 3 g; PolyFat: 0 g; MonoFat: 2 g; Chol: 14 mg; Na: 253 mg; K: 368 mg; TotCarbs: 15 g; Fiber: 2 g; Sugars: 5 g; NetCarbs: 13 g; Protein: 9 g

SLOW-COOKER VEGETARIAN MINESTRONE

This recipe begins, “With a few simple steps and time in the slow cooker, you'll have this delicious and nutritious minestrone soup ready to serve.”

This is from Diabetic Connect

To view this online, go to http://www.diabeticconnect.com/diabetic-recipes/general/6654-vegetarian-minestrone-slow-cooker

Ingredients

6 cups vegetable broth

1 28-ounce can crushed tomatoes

1 15-ounce can kidney beans, drained

1 large onion, chopped

2 ribs celery, diced

2 large carrots, diced

1 cup green beans

1 small zucchini

3 cloves garlic, minced

1 tablespoon minced fresh parsley

1 1/2 teaspoons dried oregano

1 teaspoon salt

3/4 teaspoon dried thyme

1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

1/2 cup elbow macaroni

4 cups chopped fresh spinach

1/4 cup finely grated Parmesan cheese, or more to taste

Directions

Combine vegetable broth, tomatoes, kidney beans, onion, celery, carrots, green beans, zucchini, garlic, parsley, oregano, salt, thyme, and black pepper in a 6-quart slow cooker.

Cook on Low for 6 to 8 hours.

Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook elbow macaroni in the boiling water, stirring occasionally until cooked through but firm to the bite, 8 minutes; drain.

Stir spinach and macaroni into minestrone; cook another 15 minutes. Top with Parmesan cheese.

Nutritional Facts: Servings: 8; Calories: 138; Carbohydrates: 25.2 g; Saturated Fat: 0.5 g; Protein: 6.9 g; Sodium: 941 mg; Dietary Fiber: 6.5 g

OLD-FASHIONED TOMATO SOUP

Yield: 4 servings

Print Friendly: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/bin/print.cgi?ID=643

View recipe: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/643.shtml

Ingredients

1 Tbsp. butter

1 onion, finely chopped

2 large garlic cloves, chopped

1 can (28-oz.) diced tomatoes

1 Tbsp. sugar

1 tsp. dried thyme

1/8 tsp. ground mace

Pinch of cayenne pepper

1/2 cup fat-free half-and-half cream

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

3 Tbsp. snipped dill, for garnish (optional)

Directions

Melt the butter in a small Dutch oven over medium-high heat.

Saute the onion until translucent, 4 minutes. Add the garlic and saute until the onions are golden, 5 to 6 minutes.

Add the tomatoes with their juices, the sugar, thyme, mace and cayenne. Bring to a boil, cover, and simmer the soup until the tomatoes and onion are soft, about 15 minutes.

Let the soup sit 20 minutes, uncovered. Transfer it to a blender (or use an immersion blender) and reduce the mixture to a puree, either pulpy or completely smooth, as desired.

Blend in the half-and-half. Season the soup to taste with salt and pepper.

Serve the soup hot, sprinkling one-fourth of the dill over each bowl, if using.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 105; Protein: 3 g; Fat: 3 g; Sodium: 586 mg; Dietary Fiber: 0.5 g; Carbohydrates: 18 g; Exchanges: 1 Reduced-Fat Milk, 1 Vegetable

CHICKEN SOUP WITH LIME AND CILANTRO

Yield: 5 cups

Serving size: 1 cup

Print Friendly: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/bin/print.cgi?ID=687

View recipe: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/687.shtml

Source: The New Family Cookbook for People with Diabetes

Ingredients

1 quart Homemade Chicken Broth or canned reduced-sodium chicken broth

1 whole chicken breast, skinned, boned, and split, or 2 skinless, boneless breast halves (about 3/4 pound)

3 tablespoons fresh lime juice

1/4 cup coarsely cilantro leaves

Directions

Bring the broth to a simmer in a large saucepan.

Add the chicken; cover and simmer over low heat until it is just cooked through, about 8 to 10 minutes.

Remove and shred the chicken. Return it to the broth; add the lime juice and bring the soup to a boil.

Ladle into soup bowls; sprinkle with cilantro.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 102; Protein: 18 g; Fat: 4 g; Sodium: 126 mg; Cholesterol: 41 mg; Dietary Fiber: 0 g; Sugars: 1 g; Carbohydrates: 2 g; Exchanges: 2 Lean Meat

SPICY BUTTERNUT SQUASH SOUP

This recipe begins, “This silky-smooth butternut soup gets a hit of spice from chipotle, cloves and cumin. Adapted from Chef Jesús González, Chef of La Cocina Que Canta at Rancho La Puerta.”

Time: 80 minutes (45 minutes prep)

This is from Diabetic Connect

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

1 1/2 pounds (1 small to medium) butternut or other winter squash

1 teaspoon canola oil

2 stalks celery , chopped

1 small onion, diced

1 carrot , chopped

1 teaspoon ground cumin

1/4-1/2 teaspoon ground chipotle chile (see Tip)

1/8 teaspoon ground cloves

6 cups vegetable broth

1 teaspoon sea salt

1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper

1/2 cup nonfat plain yogurt

2 tablespoons snipped fresh chives or chopped parsley

Directions

Preheat oven to 350°F.

Cut squash in half and seed. Place the halves on a baking sheet, cut-side down. Bake until tender when pierced with a knife, 45 minutes to 1 hour. Scoop out flesh when cool enough to handle.

Heat oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add celery, onion and carrot and stir to coat. Cover, reduce heat to medium-low and cook, stirring frequently, until soft, 8 to 10 minutes. Stir in the squash flesh, cumin, chipotle to taste and cloves. Add broth and simmer, covered, until the vegetables are very tender, 20 to 25 minutes.

Puree the soup with an immersion blender or a regular blender (in batches) until smooth. (Use caution when pureeing hot liquids.) Season with salt and pepper. Garnish with a drizzle of yogurt and sprinkle of chives (or parsley).

Tip: Chipotle peppers are dried, smoked jalapeño peppers. Ground chipotle can be found in the specialty-spice section of most supermarkets or online at penzeys.com.

Nutritional Facts: Servings: 6; Serving Size: about 1 1/4 cups; Calories: 91; Carbohydrates: 17 g; Fat: 2 g; Saturated Fat: 0 g; Protein: 3 g; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Dietary Fiber: 4 g; Potassium: 354 mg; Sodium: 694 mg

AVOCADO TORTILLA SOUP

This soup recipe begins, “Serve with a crisp salad for a soup-and-salad meal.”

Yield: 8 servings.

Print Friendly: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/bin/print.cgi?ID=710

View recipe: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/710.shtml

Ingredients

3 cans (14-ounces each) fat free, less salt (or lower sodium) chicken broth

2 cans (10.75-ounces each) low sodium, condensed tomato soup

1/2 bunch cilantro, leaves only

3 cloves garlic, finely chopped

1/2 tsp ground black pepper

1 ripe California avocado, seeded, peeled and cubed (Reserve 8 cubes for garnish)

8 corn tortilla chips, crumbled

Directions

In a large pan combine chicken broth, soup, cilantro, garlic, and pepper.

Bring to a boil, decrease heat, and simmer for 10 minutes.

Cool slightly, and puree in batches in a blender.

Return to pan, add avocado cubes and heat through.

Ladle into soup bowls and garnish with reserved avocado cubes and crumbled tortilla chips.

Serve.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 142; Protein: 3 g; Fat: 6 g; Sodium: 383 mg; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Saturated Fat: 1 g; Dietary Fiber: 2 g; Carbohydrates: 20 g

Saturday, April 22, 2017

Saturday Recipes

I know, I know. It's Saturday, and I'm posting on Diabetic Delights. I figure that since I've posted links to this blog late all week, I'd post a Saturday blog. The blog has actually updated early all week (before 8:00 a.m.), but because of a new job, the links haven't been posted online until later. (Feel free to check here before the links show up on Facebook and Twitter.)

And how, here are six diabetic recipes to help you through the rest of the weekend, including Swedish Meatballs and Peach and Raspberry Crumble. Enjoy!

SLOW-COOKER VEGETARIAN MINESTRONE

This recipe begins, “With a few simple steps and time in the slow cooker, you'll have this delicious and nutritious minestrone soup ready to serve.”

This is from Diabetic Connect

To view this online, go to http://www.diabeticconnect.com/diabetic-recipes/general/6654-vegetarian-minestrone-slow-cooker

Ingredients

6 cups vegetable broth

1 28-ounce can crushed tomatoes

1 15-ounce can kidney beans, drained

1 large onion, chopped

2 ribs celery, diced

2 large carrots, diced

1 cup green beans

1 small zucchini

3 cloves garlic, minced

1 tablespoon minced fresh parsley

1 1/2 teaspoons dried oregano

1 teaspoon salt

3/4 teaspoon dried thyme

1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

1/2 cup elbow macaroni

4 cups chopped fresh spinach

1/4 cup finely grated Parmesan cheese, or more to taste

Directions

Combine vegetable broth, tomatoes, kidney beans, onion, celery, carrots, green beans, zucchini, garlic, parsley, oregano, salt, thyme, and black pepper in a 6-quart slow cooker.

Cook on Low for 6 to 8 hours.

Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook elbow macaroni in the boiling water, stirring occasionally until cooked through but firm to the bite, 8 minutes; drain.

Stir spinach and macaroni into minestrone; cook another 15 minutes. Top with Parmesan cheese.

Nutritional Facts: Servings: 8; Calories: 138; Carbohydrates: 25.2 g; Saturated Fat: 0.5 g; Protein: 6.9 g; Sodium: 941 mg; Dietary Fiber: 6.5 g

CORN AND BLACK BEAN TAQUITOS

This begins, “Minimum prep and bake time makes homemade taquitos a healthy "fast food" for busy days. Couple with a side salad for a balanced meal.”

This is from Diabetic Connect.

Can be viewed at http://www.diabeticconnect.com/diabetic-recipes/general/7259-corn-and-black-bean-taquitos

Ingredients

8 low carb tortillas

15 oz. black beans, drained

1 cup fresh spinach, chopped

1/2 cup frozen corn

1 cup shredded Monterey jack cheese

3 TBSP salsa

2 TBSP lime juice

1/2 tsp cumin

Pepper to taste

Directions

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.

Slightly mash beans with a fork. Add all ingredients together and mix well.

Spoon 3 – 4 TBSP of mixture into the center of each tortilla. Tightly roll and place on greased baking sheet. Spray the taquitos with olive oil or coconut oil cooking spray.

Bake 15-20 minutes or until taquitos are lightly brown and crisp.

Nutritional Facts: Servings: 8; For 1 taquito: Calories 102; Saturated Fat: 2 g; Sodium: 242 mg; Carbohydrates: 12 g; Dietary Fiber: 4 g; Protein: 7 g

SWEDISH MEATBALLS

This is from Glucerna Shakes

1 pound extra lean ground sirloin

1 8-oz can Vanilla Glucerna Shake

1/2 C onion, grated

1 medium potato, grated

1/2 C dry bread crumbs

1/2 tsp salt

1 10 ¾ oz can condensed Healthy Request cream of mushroom soup

3/4 C fat-free, no-sodium beef broth

1/4 tsp garlic powder

1/8 tsp onion powder

1 1/2 tsp Worcestershire sauce

1/4 tsp pepper (optional)

3 C cooked egg noodles

Preheat oven to 425 degrees.

In large bowl, mix ground sirloin, 1/2 C Glucerna Shake, onion, potato, bread crumbs & salt. Form into 30 1-1/4-inch meatballs.

In small bowl, combine soup, remaining Glucerna Shake, beef broth, garlic powder, onion powder, Worcestershire sauce & pepper. Whisk until well blended.

Place formed meatballs into 2-quart casserole dish. Pour soup mixture over meatballs. Bake uncovered for 40-45 minutes or until meatballs are cooked through. Spoon meatballs & sauce over cooked noodles & serve.

Meatballs & sauce can be frozen in individual servings for quick meals.

Diabetic exhanges: 2 starch; 2 very lean mean; 1 low-fat milk; 1/2 fat

Nutrition (fixed w/Glucerna Shake): Servings: 6; Per serving: Calories: 320; Cal. From fat: 80; total fat 9g; sat. fat 2.5 g; cholesterol 70 mg; sodium 380 mg; potassium 240 mg; carbo. 39 g; fiber 4g; Sugar 3g; protein 23g

PEACH AND RASPBERRY CRUMBLE

This is from Diabetes Self-Management

Yield: 6 servings.

Prep time: 15 minutes. Baking time: 30-35 minutes.

Butter-flavor cooking spray

1 can (15 oz) sliced peaches in juice, drained

1 package (12 oz) unsweetened frozen raspberries, thawed

1 C quick-cooking oats, uncooked

2 Tbs brown sugar

1 1/2 tsp cinnamon

3 Tbs reduced-calorie stick margarine, melted

2 Tbs honey

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Coat 8”X8” baking pan with cooking spray. Arrange peach slices evenly in bottom of the pan. Sprinkle raspberries evenly over peaches. Set aside. In bowl, combine oats, brown sugar, and cinnamon and mix with fork, breaking up brown sugar clumps. Add margarine & honey; stir to combine. Sprinkle topping over fruit. Bake uncovered for 30 – 35 minutes, or until fruit is bubbly. Portion into 6 equal servings. Serve alone or over low-fat, no-sugar-added vanilla ice cream.

Per serving: Calories: 185; Carbs: 33g; Fat: 4 g (sat. fat: 1 g); Sodium: 70 mg; Fiber: 4 g; Exchanges: 1 starch, 1 fruit, 1 fat

MEATLOAF

This recipe begins, “The mix of ground turkey and beef gives this meatloaf half the fat and all of the flavor!”

This is from Diabetic Connect

To view this online, go to http://www.diabeticconnect.com/diabetic-recipes/general/51-meatloaf

Ingredients

1 pound ground skinless turkey breast

1 pound lean ground beef

1/2 medium onion, minced

1 clove garlic, minced

3 tablespoon minced fresh parsley

1 egg

1/4 cup low-fat (1%) milk

1 teaspoon dry mustard

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon ground white pepper

1/8 teaspoon nutmeg

2 slices white bread, lightly toasted and made into coarse crumbs

2 tablespoons ketchup

2 tablespoons water

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

In a large bowl, combine the meats with your hands or a large fork. Blend in the onion, garlic, and parsley; set aside.

In a medium bowl, whisk the egg until frothy, about 1 minute. Add the milk, mustard, salt, pepper, and nutmeg and whisk to blend. Add the bread crumbs and let stand for 5 minutes.

Add the egg mixture to the meat mixture and blend well, about 1 minute. Spread evenly into a 9x5-inch loaf pan.In a small bowl, combine the ketchup and water until blended. Spread on top of the meat. Bake until the meat is no longer pink, about 90 minutes.

Nutritional Facts: Servings: 6; Per serving (yield 6 servings):Calories: 139; Fat: 2 g; Saturated Fat: 1 g; Cholesterol: 36 mg; Sodium: 133 mg; Carbohydrates: 8 g; Fiber: 0.5 g; Protein: 20 g

SNACKERS CRACKERS

Servings: 1 serving (1/2 cup)

Source: Sweet Inspirations - A Sugar Free Dessert Cookbook

Author: Patti Lynch

Find this recipe at: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/161.shtml

Ingredients

5 cups oyster crackers

1 tsp canola oil

1 tsp dry minced onion

1 tsp garlic powder

1 tsp onion powder

2 tsp dry dill weed

1 tsp dry parsley flakes

2 tsp water

1/3 cup non-fat yogurt

1/3 cup fresh shredded Parmesan cheese

Directions

Measure crackers into 9" x 13" baking dish; set aside. In a large teflon coated skillet, heat oil to medium heat. Add dry onion and stir rapidly with wooden spoon. Quickly add other spices, stirring constantly. Add water; mix well.

Stir in yogurt until well blended. Add oyster crackers and stir mixture until spices coat crackers. Spoon entire mixture back into cake pan. Sprinkle Parmesan evenly over crackers. Bake at 275F for 6-8 minutes, stirring occasionally. Bake until Parmesan is melted. Cool crackers thoroughly and place them in covered container for storage.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 127; Protein: 4 g; Fat: 5 g; Sodium: 362 mg; Cholesterol: 3 mg; Carbohydrates: 18 g; Exchanges: 1 Starch/Bread; 1 Fat

Friday, April 14, 2017

Friday Recipes

Here are six recipes to help you through the weekend, including Skewered Chicken Strips with Soy-Peanut Marinade and Lemon Asparagus and Carrots. Enjoy!

LEMON ASPARAGUS AND CARROTS

Servings: 6

Print Friendly: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/bin/print.cgi?ID=21

View recipe with photo: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/21.shtml

Ingredients

1/2 pound carrots, small

1 dash lemon pepper

8 ounces asparagus spears, frozen or fresh

1/8 cup lemon juice
Directions

Wash, trim, and peel small carrots.

Place carrots in a steamer basket above boiling water.

Cover and steam about 15 minutes or till crisp- tender.

Rinse carrots in cold water; drain.

In the meantime, cook frozen asparagus spears according to package.

Rinse asparagus in cold water, drain.

Cover and chill drained carrots and asparagus.

To serve, arrange carrots and asparagus on a platter.

Sprinkle with a little lemon juice and lemon pepper.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 26; Protein: 1 g; Sodium: 19 mg; Carbohydrates: 6 g; Exchanges: 1 Vegetable

SKEWERED CHICKEN STRIPS WITH SOY-PEANUT MARINADE

Servings: 16; 2 Skewers per serving

Source: The New American Heart Association Cookbook

Find this recipe at: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/70.shtml

Ingredients

4 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves (about

4 ounces each), all visible fat removed

Soy-Peanut Marinade:

2 tablespoons fresh lime juice (1 to 2 medium limes)

1 tablespoon light soy sauce

1 tablespoon reduced-fat peanut butter

1 tablespoon rice vinegar

2 medium cloves garlic, minced, or 1 teaspoon bottled minced garlic

1/2 teaspoon toasted sesame oil

1/2 teaspoon ground cumin

1/4 teaspoon pepper

Directions

Rinse chicken and pat dry with paper towels. Put chicken smooth side up between two sheets of plastic wrap. Using a tortilla press or smooth side of a meat mallet, lightly flatten chicken. Cut each piece lengthwise into 8 long strips.

In a small nonmetallic bowl, whisk together marinade ingredients. Put marinade and chiken in an airtight plastic bag and turn bag to coat. Seal and refrigerate for 30 minutes to 8 hours, turning bag occasionally.

Meanwhile, soak 32 wooden skewers in cold water for at least 10 minutes.

Preheat grill on medium-high.

Thread 1 strip of chicken on each skewer. Grill for 2 to 3 minutes on each side, or until chicken is cooked through. Serve hot or cover and refrigerate to serve chilled.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 30; Protein: 6 g; Fat: 1 g; Sodium: 51 mg; Cholesterol: 16 mg; Carbohydrates: 0 g; Exchanges: 1 Low-Fat Meat

SLOW-COOKER VEGETARIAN MINESTRONE

This recipe begins, “With a few simple steps and time in the slow cooker, you'll have this delicious and nutritious minestrone soup ready to serve.”

This is from Diabetic Connect

To view this online, go to http://www.diabeticconnect.com/diabetic-recipes/general/6654-vegetarian-minestrone-slow-cooker

Ingredients

6 cups vegetable broth

1 28-ounce can crushed tomatoes

1 15-ounce can kidney beans, drained

1 large onion, chopped

2 ribs celery, diced

2 large carrots, diced

1 cup green beans

1 small zucchini

3 cloves garlic, minced

1 tablespoon minced fresh parsley

1 1/2 teaspoons dried oregano

1 teaspoon salt

3/4 teaspoon dried thyme

1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

1/2 cup elbow macaroni

4 cups chopped fresh spinach

1/4 cup finely grated Parmesan cheese, or more to taste

Directions

Combine vegetable broth, tomatoes, kidney beans, onion, celery, carrots, green beans, zucchini, garlic, parsley, oregano, salt, thyme, and black pepper in a 6-quart slow cooker.

Cook on Low for 6 to 8 hours.

Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook elbow macaroni in the boiling water, stirring occasionally until cooked through but firm to the bite, 8 minutes; drain.



Stir spinach and macaroni into minestrone; cook another 15 minutes. Top with Parmesan cheese.

Nutritional Facts: Servings: 8; Calories: 138; Carbohydrates: 25.2 g; Saturated Fat: 0.5 g; Protein: 6.9 g; Sodium: 941 mg; Dietary Fiber: 6.5 g

ALMOND RICE

Servings: 6

Print Friendly: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/bin/print.cgi?ID=19

View recipe with photo: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/19.shtml

Ingredients

1 cup brown rice, long-grain, dry

2 cups water

2 tablespoons almonds, slivered

2 tablespoons lemon zest (or Zesto*)

1 cube chicken bouillon

Directions

In a medium size saucepan, bring water and bouillon to a boil.

Add rice and cook according to rice instructions on package.

Drain if necessary.

Add almonds and lemon zest.

Let stand a few minutes then fluff with a fork and serve.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 164; Protein: 2.9 g; Fat: 2.3 g; Sodium: 185 mg; Carbohydrates: 24.4 g; Exchanges: 1-1/2 Starch; 1/2 Fat

ROASTED-VEGETABLE LASAGNA

This recipe begins, “Who needs meat? This gourmet veggie lasagna from one of our favorite chefs will be the centerpiece of your dinner table.”

This is from Diabetic Connect.

To view this online, go to http://www.diabeticconnect.com/diabetic-recipes/general/4198-roasted-vegetable-lasagna.

Ingredients

Vegetables:

4 red bell peppers

1 teaspoon olive oil

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon black pepper

6 yellow squash, halved lengthwise and cut into 1-inch pieces (about 1 1/2 pounds)

1 large onion, cut into 16 wedges

4 garlic cloves, minced

Cheese mixture:

2 cups 2% low-fat cottage cheese

1 1/2 cups (6 ounces) grated sharp provolone cheese

1/4 cup chopped fresh basil

1 teaspoon dried oregano

White sauce:

3 tablespoons all-purpose flour

1 1/2 cups 2% reduced-fat milk

2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil

1/4 teaspoon black pepper

Cooking spray

9 cooked lasagna noodles

2 cups spinach leaves, divided

1/2 cup (2 ounces) shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese

Fresh basil sprigs (optional)

Directions

Preheat broiler.

To prepare vegetables, cut bell peppers in half lengthwise; discard seeds and membranes. Place pepper halves, skin sides up, on a foil-lined baking sheet; flatten with hand. Broil 15 minutes or until blackened. Place in a zip-top plastic bag; seal. Let stand 15 minutes. Peel; set aside.

Preheat oven to 450°.

Combine oil, salt, 1/2 teaspoon black pepper, squash, and onion on a baking sheet; toss well. Bake at 450° for 20 minutes. Remove from oven; combine squash mixture and garlic in a bowl.

Decrease oven temperature to 375°.

To prepare cheese mixture, combine cottage cheese and next 3 ingredients (cottage cheese through oregano) in a bowl.

To prepare white sauce, place flour in a medium saucepan. Gradually add milk; stir with a whisk. Place over medium heat. Cook until thick; stir constantly. Remove from heat; stir in 2 tablespoons chopped basil and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper.

Spread 1/4 cup white sauce in bottom of a 13 x 9-inch baking dish coated with cooking spray. Arrange 3 noodles over sauce; top with 1 1/4 cups cheese mixture, 1 cup spinach, 4 bell pepper halves, 2 cups vegetable mixture, and 1/4 cup white sauce. Repeat layers, ending with noodles. Spread remaining white sauce over noodles. Cover and bake at 375° for 15 minutes. Uncover; sprinkle with mozzarella cheese. Bake an additional 20 minutes. Garnish with basil sprigs, if desired.

Note: Use a sharp, potent cheese in this dish for the most flavor. Parmesan, Romano, Asiago, or sharp cheddar will all work as well in the filling. Stick to mozzarella for the top, however, as it melts and browns the best. For extra browning, place the lasagna under the broiler for a minute or two at the end of cooking.

Nutritional Facts: Servings: 9; Amount per serving Calories: 275; Calories from fat 30%; Fat 9.1 g; Saturated fat: 5.2 g; Monounsaturated fat: 2.6 g; Polyunsaturated fat 0.6 g; Protein: 19.3 g; Carbohydrate: 29.3 g; Fiber: 2.9 g;Cholesterol: 24 mg; Iron: 2.3 mg; Sodium: 564 mg; Calcium: 308 mg

GRILLED SESAME CHICKEN BREAST

Servings: 4

Print Friendly: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/bin/print.cgi?ID=20

View recipe with photo: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/20.shtml

Ingredients

3 tablespoons lite soy sauce

1 teaspoon + 1 tablespoon sesame seeds, dried

2 cloves garlic

8 ounces chicken breast, skinless and raw

1/8 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper

1 tablespoon brown sugar
Directions

Combine all ingredients except chicken in a shallow dish.

Mix well.

Add chicken, turning to coat.

Cover and marinate in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours.

Remove chicken from the marinade.

Grill 4-5 inches from medium-hot coals for 15 minutes.

Turn and grill.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 114; Protein: 15.1 g; Fat: 2.5 g; Sodium: 413 mg; Cholesterol: 32 mg; Carbohydrates: 7.2 g; Exchanges: 2 Very Lean Meat; 1/2 Fat; 1/2 Starch

Tuesday, April 11, 2017

Tuesday Recipes

Here are six recipes to help you through the day, including Peach and Raspberry Crumble and Eggplant and Chickpea Stew. Enjoy!

EGGPLANT AND CHICKPEA STEW

This recipe begins, “This tasty vegetarian stew, studded with plenty of eggplant and protein-rich chickpeas, is reminiscent of ratatouille. The eggplant breaks down and makes a saucier stew if you peel it before cooking, but you can certainly leave the peel on if you prefer. Serve over quinoa or soft polenta with sautéed spinach on the side.”

This is from Diabetic Connect.

To view this online, go to http://www.diabeticconnect.com/diabetic-recipes/general/6077-eggplant-and-chickpea-stew.

Time: 285 minutes (45 minutes prep)

Ingredients

1 ounce dried porcini mushrooms

3 cups hot water

2 large eggplants (about 1 1/2 pounds each)

3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil , divided

2 large onions, thinly sliced

6 cloves garlic, minced

2 teaspoons dried oregano , crumbled

1 small (1-inch) cinnamon stick

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon freshly ground pepper

1 bay leaf

1 cup dried chickpeas , rinsed and soaked overnight (for a quick-soak method, see Tip) and drained

1 28-ounce can tomatoes (see Note), drained and coarsely chopped

1/4 cup finely chopped fresh parsley

Directions

Preheat oven to 400°F.

Combine dried mushrooms and hot water in a bowl. Stir well and let stand for 30 minutes. Strain through a sieve lined with a paper towel and set the liquid aside. Finely chop the mushrooms.

Meanwhile, peel eggplants, if desired, and cut in half lengthwise. Brush the cut sides liberally with 2 tablespoons oil. Place on a rimmed baking sheet, cut-side down, and roast until tender, about 25 minutes. Let stand until cool enough to handle. Cut into 1-inch cubes and transfer to a 4-quart (or larger) slow cooker.

Meanwhile, heat the remaining 1 tablespoon oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onions and cook, stirring frequently, until softened, 3 to 6 minutes. Add garlic, oregano, cinnamon stick, salt, pepper, bay leaf and the chopped mushrooms; cook, stirring, for 1 minute. Add the reserved mushroom-soaking liquid and chickpeas. Bring to a boil and cook, stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes. Transfer to the slow cooker and stir to combine with the eggplant.

Cover and cook until the chickpeas are very tender, about 4 hours on High or 7 to 8 hours on Low. Remove cinnamon stick and bay leaf. Stir in tomatoes and parsley.

Variation: Turn 3 cups of leftover stew into Eggplant and Chickpea Baked Pasta. Preheat oven to 350°F. Coat an 8-inch-square (or similar 2-quart) baking dish with cooking spray. Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Cook 8 ounces whole-wheat fusilli according to package directions. Drain and rinse. Combine 1/2 cup coarse dry whole-wheat breadcrumbs (see Note) and 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil in a small bowl. Toss the pasta with 3 cups stew, 1 cup crumbled feta cheese, 1/4 cup chopped fresh mint (or basil) and 2 tablespoons lemon juice in a large bowl. Spread the mixture in the prepared baking dish. Top with the breadcrumb mixture. Bake until the topping is golden and crispy, about 30 minutes. Sprinkle with 1/4 cup chopped fresh mint (or basil).

Note: To make your own breadcrumbs, trim crusts from whole-wheat bread. Tear bread into pieces and process in a food processor until coarse crumbs form. Spread on a baking sheet and bake at 250°F until dry, about 10 to 15 minutes. One slice of bread makes about 1/3 cup dry breadcrumbs. For store-bought coarse dry breadcrumbs we like Ian’s brand, labeled “Panko breadcrumbs.” Find them at well-stocked supermarkets.

Tip: To quick-soak chickpeas (or other dried beans), place in a large saucepan with enough cold water to cover them by 2 inches. Bring to a boil. Boil for 2 minutes. Remove from the heat, cover and let stand for 1 hour.

Note: Look for Italian San Marzano tomatoes—they are particularly rich in flavor and taste best in this dish.

Nutritional Facts: Servings: 8; Serving Size: 1 1/4 cups; Calories: 219; Carbohydrates: 33 g; Fat: 7 g; Saturated Fat: 1 g; Protein: 9 g; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Dietary Fiber: 12 g; Potassium: 766 mg; Sodium: 413 mg; Exchanges: 1 starch; 1 vegetable; 1 lean meat; 1 fat

SLOW-COOKER VEGETARIAN MINESTRONE

This recipe begins, “With a few simple steps and time in the slow cooker, you'll have this delicious and nutritious minestrone soup ready to serve.”

This is from Diabetic Connect

To view this online, go to http://www.diabeticconnect.com/diabetic-recipes/general/6654-vegetarian-minestrone-slow-cooker

Ingredients

6 cups vegetable broth

1 28-ounce can crushed tomatoes

1 15-ounce can kidney beans, drained

1 large onion, chopped

2 ribs celery, diced

2 large carrots, diced

1 cup green beans

1 small zucchini

3 cloves garlic, minced

1 tablespoon minced fresh parsley

1 1/2 teaspoons dried oregano

1 teaspoon salt

3/4 teaspoon dried thyme

1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

1/2 cup elbow macaroni

4 cups chopped fresh spinach

1/4 cup finely grated Parmesan cheese, or more to taste

Directions

Combine vegetable broth, tomatoes, kidney beans, onion, celery, carrots, green beans, zucchini, garlic, parsley, oregano, salt, thyme, and black pepper in a 6-quart slow cooker.

Cook on Low for 6 to 8 hours.

Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook elbow macaroni in the boiling water, stirring occasionally until cooked through but firm to the bite, 8 minutes; drain.

Stir spinach and macaroni into minestrone; cook another 15 minutes. Top with Parmesan cheese.

Nutritional Facts: Servings: 8; Calories: 138; Carbohydrates: 25.2 g; Saturated Fat: 0.5 g; Protein: 6.9 g; Sodium: 941 mg; Dietary Fiber: 6.5 g

SCOTTISH SCONES

Servings: 16

Source: Light and Easy Diabetes Cuisine

Find this recipe at: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/156.shtml

Ingredients

1 cup unbleached all-purpose flour

1 cup whole-wheat flour

1 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

4 tbsp whipped butter

1 cup buttermilk

1/2 cup golden raisins
Directions

Preheat your oven to 400 degrees F.

Coat a baking sheet with non-stick cooking spray.

In a large bowl, sift the dry ingredients together. Add the butter and mix it into the flour with your fingers. Add buttermilk and knead into a soft dough. Knead in the raisins.

On a floured board, roll out the dough until 1/2" thick.

Cut dough into 16 rounds. Place on a baking sheet and bake for 15 to 20 minutes, or until golden in color.

Serve warm or let cool and store in an airtight container.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 97; Protein: 3 g; Fat: 3 g; Sodium: 115 mg; Cholesterol: 7 mg; Carbohydrates: 16 g; Exchanges: 1 Starch/Bread

QUINOA ENCHILADA BAKE

This recipe begins, “Never tried quinoa? This enchilada bake is a great way to be introduced to the superfood.”

http://www.diabeticconnect.com/diabetic-recipes/general/7286-quinoa-enchilada-bake

Ingredients

1 TBSP olive oil

1 lb extra lean ground beef

1 medium yellow onion, chopped

1 medium green pepper, diced

3 cloves garlic finely chopped

1/2 cup dry quinoa

2 cups low sodium vegetable broth

10 oz. can diced tomatoes with green chilies, undrained

1 cup tomato sauce

2 TBSP chili powder

2 tsp cumin

Pepper to taste

1 can black beans

3/4 cup corn

Optional toppings:

Cheese, tomato, green onion, cilantro

Directions

Heat oil in a large skillet. Brown ground beef.

Add onion, pepper and garlic. Cook 2 minutes.

Pour into slow cooker along with remaining ingredients, except black beans and corn.

Cook on high for 3-31/2 hours.

40 minutes before it's done, add beans and corn. Heat last 40 minutes.

Serve over chopped romaine or tortilla (optional).

Top with desired toppings.

Nutritional Facts: Servings 12; For 1/12 the recipe excluding optional toppings: Calories 170; Saturated Fat 2 g; Sodium 242 mg; Carbohydrates 15 g; Dietary Fiber 2 g; Protein 12 g

PEACH AND RASPBERRY CRUMBLE

This is from Diabetes Self-Management

Yield: 6 servings.

Prep time: 15 minutes. Baking time: 30-35 minutes.

Butter-flavor cooking spray

1 can (15 oz) sliced peaches in juice, drained

1 package (12 oz) unsweetened frozen raspberries, thawed

1 C quick-cooking oats, uncooked

2 Tbs brown sugar

1 1/2 tsp cinnamon

3 Tbs reduced-calorie stick margarine, melted

2 Tbs honey

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Coat 8”X8” baking pan with cooking spray. Arrange peach slices evenly in bottom of the pan. Sprinkle raspberries evenly over peaches. Set aside. In bowl, combine oats, brown sugar, and cinnamon and mix with fork, breaking up brown sugar clumps. Add margarine & honey; stir to combine. Sprinkle topping over fruit. Bake uncovered for 30 – 35 minutes, or until fruit is bubbly. Portion into 6 equal servings. Serve alone or over low-fat, no-sugar-added vanilla ice cream.

Per serving: Calories: 185; Carbs: 33g; Fat: 4 g (sat. fat: 1 g); Sodium: 70 mg; Fiber: 4 g; Exchanges: 1 starch, 1 fruit, 1 fat

LEMON OATMEAL COOKIES

Servings: 36

Print Friendly: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/bin/print.cgi?ID=31

View recipe: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/31.shtml

Ingredients

2/3 cup vegetable oil

2/3 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup egg whites

2 tablespoons lemon juice

2 tablespoons grated fresh, or finely chopped, dried lemon rind

1 teaspoon lemon flavoring

1 cup all-purpose flour

1 cup rolled oats

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1-1/2 cup crispy rice cereal

Directions

Place oil and brown sugar in a mixer bowl in a mixer bowl and mix at medium speed until creamy.

Add egg whites, lemon juice, rind and flavoring, and mix at medium speed until well blended.

Stir flour, oatmeal, baking powder, and baking soda together to blend well; add to creamy mixture while beating at medium speed.

Stir in cereal.

Drop by the tablespoonful onto cookie sheets left ungreased, or lined with aluminum foil.

Bake at 350F for 8 to 10 minutes, or until cookies are lightly browned.

Remove cookies to a wire rack and cool.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 87; Protein: 1 g; Fat: 4 g; Carbohydrates: 11 g; Exchanges: 2/3 Bread and 1 Fat

Monday, April 10, 2017

Meatless Monday

I realize I've already posted recipes for today (Passover Recipes), but as it's also Monday, which means Meatless Monday, I'm doing a Double Post Monday. I hope no one minds!

According to an article posted on March 29 on The Diabetic News website, a recent study by Tel Aviv University and published in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease has found that “insulin resistance, caused in part by obesity and physical inactivity, is also linked to a more rapide decline in cognitive performance.”

Scientists conducting the study “followed a group of nearly 500 patients with existing cardiovascular disease for more than two decades.” The scientists assested patients' baseline insuline resistance, as well as assessing the patents' cognitive functions.

To read the article, titled “Insulin Resistance Speeds Up Cognitive Decline, Dimentia,” click here.

And now for today's six diabetic vegetarian recipes to help you through the day, including Vegetarian Curry and Half-Hour Chili. Enjoy!

MINTED KIWI SALAD

Yield: 4 servings (1 cup each)

Source: "The Diabetes Food and Nutrition Bible"

Info: http://diabeticgourmet.com/book_archive/details/11.shtml

Ingredients

2 kiwi fruits, peeled and sliced into 1/4-inch thick rounds

1 banana, sliced into 1/2-inch thick rounds

1 cup sliced strawberries

1 orange, sectioned

Dressing:

1 cup nonfat, sugar-free vanilla yogurt

2 tablespoons fresh minced mint

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

Directions

On a platter, arrange the kiwi, banana, strawberries, and orange in rows.

Combine the dressing ingredients. Serve the dressing with the fruit.

Nutritional Information Per Serving (1 cup): Calories: 113, Fat: 1 g, Cholesterol: 1 mg, Sodium: 38 mg, Carbohydrate: 26 g, Dietary Fiber: 4 g, Sugars: 18 g, Protein: 3 g, Diabetic Exchanges: 1-1/2 Fruit

STRAWBERRY RHUBARB SMOOTHIE

This recipe begins, “Strawberry and rhubarb make for a tangy and sweet combination.”

From Diabetic Connect. To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

1/2 cup strawberries

1/2 cup rhubarb, chopped

1 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk

1/2 cup low-fat Greek yogurt

Directions

Place all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth. For a colder and creamier smoothie freeze the strawberries before hand or add a handful of ice to the blender.

Nutritional Facts: Servings: 1; Calories: 135.6; Total Fat: 2.9 g; Sodium: 235.7 mg; Potassium: 471.8 mg; Total Carbohydrate: 13.6 g; Dietary Fiber: 3.8 g; Sugars: 8.5 g; Protein: 13.5 g



VEGETARIAN CURRY

From Diabetic Connect

This can be viewed online at http://www.diabeticconnect.com/diabetic-recipes/general/292-vegetarian-curry

Ingredients

3 potatoes chopped

1 cauliflower chopped

1 1/2 cup green peas

3 tomatoes chopped

3/4 tsp tumeric

1/2 tsp chili powder

1 1/2 tsp cumin

1 tsp curry

1 cup of water

Directions

Place all ingredients in a crock pot or slow cooker. Cook on low for five to six hours.

Nutritional Facts: Servings: 3; calories: 125; cholesterol: 0 mg; sodium: 23 mg; total carbs: 26 g; dietary fiber: 6 g; protein 5 g

SLOW-COOKER VEGETARIAN MINESTRONE

This recipe begins, “With a few simple steps and time in the slow cooker, you'll have this delicious and nutritious minestrone soup ready to serve.”

This is from Diabetic Connect

To view this online, go to http://www.diabeticconnect.com/diabetic-recipes/general/6654-vegetarian-minestrone-slow-cooker

Ingredients

6 cups vegetable broth

1 28-ounce can crushed tomatoes

1 15-ounce can kidney beans, drained

1 large onion, chopped

2 ribs celery, diced

2 large carrots, diced

1 cup green beans

1 small zucchini

3 cloves garlic, minced

1 tablespoon minced fresh parsley

1 1/2 teaspoons dried oregano

1 teaspoon salt

3/4 teaspoon dried thyme

1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

1/2 cup elbow macaroni

4 cups chopped fresh spinach

1/4 cup finely grated Parmesan cheese, or more to taste

Directions

Combine vegetable broth, tomatoes, kidney beans, onion, celery, carrots, green beans, zucchini, garlic, parsley, oregano, salt, thyme, and black pepper in a 6-quart slow cooker.

Cook on Low for 6 to 8 hours.

Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook elbow macaroni in the boiling water, stirring occasionally until cooked through but firm to the bite, 8 minutes; drain.

Stir spinach and macaroni into minestrone; cook another 15 minutes. Top with Parmesan cheese.

Nutritional Facts: Servings: 8; Calories: 138; Carbohydrates: 25.2 g; Saturated Fat: 0.5 g; Protein: 6.9 g; Sodium: 941 mg; Dietary Fiber: 6.5 g

SPAGHETTI SQUASH ALFREDO

This recipe begins, “It's called spaghetti squash for a reason — it's the perfect alternative to the empty carbs of white wheat pasta. Mix this spaghetti squash with some Italian herbs and cheese, and you have a masterpiece of flavor and health.”

This is from Diabetic Connect.

To view this online, go to http://www.diabeticconnect.com/diabetic-recipes/general/6254-spaghetti-squash-alfredo.

Ingredients

1 medium spaghetti squash

1 TBSP butter

3 cloves garlic, minced

1 cup half and half (half milk/half cream)

1 TBSP tapioca flour

1/2 cup dry grated Parmesan cheese

1/8 tsp ground pepper

2 TBSP fresh chopped parsley

2 TBSP freshly grated Parmesan cheese

Directions

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.

Cut squash in half, length-wise, scoop out the seeds and place face down in a baking dish. Fill with 1 inch of water and bake 20-30 minutes, or until tender.

With a fork, scrape the squash out and place in a oven safe dish.

Whisk half and half and flour together and set aside.

In a medium sauce pan, melt butter over medium heat. Add the garlic and sauté 30 seconds. Add half and half and stir until thickened. Remove from heat and stir in dry grated Parmesan and pepper. Toss sauce with the squash and top with parsley and fresh grated Parmesan.

Broil 2-3 minutes or until it is beginning to brown.

Remove and serve.

Nutritional Facts: Servings: 4; 1/4 the recipe: Calories: 201; Total Fat 13 g; Sodium 571 mg; Carbohydrates 11 g; Dietary Fiber 1 g; Sugars 3 g; Protein 9 g

HALF-HOUR CHILI

This recipe begins, “This truly tasty half-hour vegetarian chili is made possible by using convenient canned beans and tomatoes (no pantry should be without them). Whole-grain bulgur adds another layer of toothsome texture and nutritional heft. This chili is relatively mild, so it’s a good crowd-pleaser. If you like it spicy, add extra chili powder or serve with hot sauce.”

This is from Diabetic Connect.

View this online at http://www.diabeticconnect.com/diabetic-recipes/general/5826-half-hour-chili.

Time: 30 minutes (15 minutes prep)

Ingredients

1 tablespoon canola oil

3 medium onions, chopped

1 carrot, chopped

1 tablespoon finely chopped jalapeño pepper

2 cloves garlic, finely chopped

1 – 2 tablespoons chili powder

1 teaspoon ground cumin

1 28-ounce can plus one 14-ounce can whole tomatoes, chopped, with juices

1 teaspoon brown sugar

1/4 teaspoon salt

2 15-ounce cans red kidney beans , rinsed

1/3 cup bulgur (see Note)

1/2 cup nonfat plain yogurt for garnish

1/3 cup chopped scallions for garnish

1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro for garnish

Directions

Heat oil in a Dutch oven over medium heat. Add onions, carrot, jalapeño, garlic, chili powder to taste and cumin. Cook, stirring often, until the onions and carrot are soft, 5 to 7 minutes.

Add tomatoes with their juices, sugar and salt; cook for 5 minutes over high heat. Reduce heat to low; stir in beans and bulgur. Simmer until the chili is thickened, about 15 minutes.

Garnish with yogurt, scallions and cilantro, if desired.

Note: Bulgur is made by parboiling, drying and coarsely grinding or cracking wheat berries. Don’t confuse bulgur with cracked wheat, which is simply that—cracked wheat. Since the parboiling step is skipped, cracked wheat must be cooked for up to an hour whereas bulgur simply needs a quick soak in hot water for most uses. Look for it in the natural-foods section of large supermarkets, near other grains, or online at kalustyans.com, buylebanese.com.

Nutritional Facts: Servings: 6; Serving Size: about 1 1/3 cups; Calories: 217; Carbohydrates: 40 g; Fat: 3 g; Saturated Fat: 0 g; Protein: 10 g; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Dietary Fiber: 13 g; Potassium: 854 mg; Sodium: 697 mg; Exchanges: 2 starch; 1 vegetable; 1 lean meat

Monday, March 27, 2017

Meatless Monday

It's Monday, which means it's Meatless Monday. So, here are six vegetarian and diabetic recipes, including Dutch Apple Pie and Slow-Cooker Vegetarian Minestrone. Enjoy!

DUTCH APPLE PIE

Servings: 12

Find this recipe at: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/50.shtml

Ingredients

1/4 cup flour

1/2 cup quick cooking oats

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

5 cup sliced baking apples

Sweetener equal to 1/2 cup sugar

1/2 cup unsweetened frozen apple juice concentrate

Pie crust for 1 crust pie

Topping:

1/4 cup flour

1/2 cup quick cooking oats

Sweetener to equal 1/2 cup brown sugar

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1 package sugarfree instant vanilla pudding mix

1/2 cup butter or margarine

Directions

Mix flour, oats, cinnamon, and sweetener with a fork.

Pour over sliced apples and mix well.

Pour apple juice over top of apples and mix well again.

Put apple mixture in pie crust; set aside.

For topping:

Mix dry ingredients with fork.

Add butter and cut into dry ingredients with a pastry blender or 2 knives until it resembles coarse crumbs, Pour mixture over pie filling and press down evenly over apples.

Bake at 400 degrees for 45-55 minutes.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 251; Fat: 12 g; Sodium: 238 mg; Cholesterol: 5 mg; Carbohydrates: 25 g; Exchanges: 2 Bread, 3 Fat, and 1 Fruit

STRAWBERRY SPINACH SALAD WITH BUTTERMILK DRESSING

This recipe begins, “Creamy buttermilk dressing pairs well with juicy, fresh strawberries and crisp spinach. A great choice for lunch or brunch.”

Makes 8 servings

Print Friendly: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/bin/print.cgi?ID=1335

View recipe with photo: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/1335.shtml

Ingredients

2 cups sliced strawberries, divided

4 ounces cream cheese, cut into small cubes and divided

1/3 cup buttermilk

6 cups fresh spinach

1 small red onion, cut into thin rings Directions

Directions

In blender container, combine 3/4 cup strawberries, cream cheese and buttermilk; process until smooth.

In large salad bowl, toss together spinach, onion and remaining 1-1/4 cups strawberries. Serve with dressing.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 70; Protein: 2 g; Fat: 5 g; Sodium: 70 mg; Cholesterol: 15 mg; Saturated Fat: 3 g; Dietary Fiber: 1 g; Sugars: 3 g; Carbohydrates: 6 g

SAUTEED SPINACH

Servings: 4

Print Friendly: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/bin/print.cgi?ID=18

View recipe with photo: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/18.shtml

Ingredients

1 pound raw spinach

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 fresh tomato

2 cloves garlic

Directions

Wash spinach thoroughly and drain.

Saute tomato and garlic in olive oil in a large saute pan.

Add spinach, cover and cook over low heat for 5 minutes, stirring a few times.

Add salt and pepper to taste.

Cook, uncovered, 5 minutes longer, stirring occasionally.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 108; Protein: 3.9 g; Fat: 7 g; Sodium: 94 mg; Carbohydrates: 4 g; Exchanges: 1 Vegetable; 1-1/2 Fat

LEMON ASPARAGUS AND CARROTS

Servings: 6

Print Friendly: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/bin/print.cgi?ID=21

View recipe with photo: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/21.shtml

Ingredients

1/2 pound carrots, small

1 dash lemon pepper

8 ounces asparagus spears, frozen or fresh

1/8 cup lemon juice

Directions

Wash, trim, and peel small carrots.

Place carrots in a steamer basket above boiling water.

Cover and steam about 15 minutes or till crisp- tender.

Rinse carrots in cold water; drain.

In the meantime, cook frozen asparagus spears according to package.

Rinse asparagus in cold water, drain.

Cover and chill drained carrots and asparagus.

To serve, arrange carrots and asparagus on a platter.

Sprinkle with a little lemon juice and lemon pepper.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 26; Protein: 1 g; Sodium: 19 mg; Carbohydrates: 6 g; Exchanges: 1 Vegetable

SLOW-COOKER VEGETARIAN MINESTRONE

This recipe begins, “With a few simple steps and time in the slow cooker, you'll have this delicious and nutritious minestrone soup ready to serve.”

This is from Diabetic Connect

To view this online, go to http://www.diabeticconnect.com/diabetic-recipes/general/6654-vegetarian-minestrone-slow-cooker

Ingredients

6 cups vegetable broth

1 28-ounce can crushed tomatoes

1 15-ounce can kidney beans, drained

1 large onion, chopped

2 ribs celery, diced

2 large carrots, diced

1 cup green beans

1 small zucchini

3 cloves garlic, minced

1 tablespoon minced fresh parsley

1 1/2 teaspoons dried oregano

1 teaspoon salt

3/4 teaspoon dried thyme

1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

1/2 cup elbow macaroni

4 cups chopped fresh spinach

1/4 cup finely grated Parmesan cheese, or more to taste

Directions

Combine vegetable broth, tomatoes, kidney beans, onion, celery, carrots, green beans, zucchini, garlic, parsley, oregano, salt, thyme, and black pepper in a 6-quart slow cooker.

Cook on Low for 6 to 8 hours.

Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook elbow macaroni in the boiling water, stirring occasionally until cooked through but firm to the bite, 8 minutes; drain.

Stir spinach and macaroni into minestrone; cook another 15 minutes. Top with Parmesan cheese.

Nutritional Facts: Servings: 8; Calories: 138; Carbohydrates: 25.2 g; Saturated Fat: 0.5 g; Protein: 6.9 g; Sodium: 941 mg; Dietary Fiber: 6.5 g

EGGPLANT AND CHICKPEA STEW

This recipe begins, “This tasty vegetarian stew, studded with plenty of eggplant and protein-rich chickpeas, is reminiscent of ratatouille. The eggplant breaks down and makes a saucier stew if you peel it before cooking, but you can certainly leave the peel on if you prefer. Serve over quinoa or soft polenta with sautéed spinach on the side.”

This is from Diabetic Connect.

To view this online, go to http://www.diabeticconnect.com/diabetic-recipes/general/6077-eggplant-and-chickpea-stew.

Time: 285 minutes (45 minutes prep)

Ingredients

1 ounce dried porcini mushrooms

3 cups hot water

2 large eggplants (about 1 1/2 pounds each)

3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil , divided

2 large onions, thinly sliced

6 cloves garlic, minced

2 teaspoons dried oregano , crumbled

1 small (1-inch) cinnamon stick

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon freshly ground pepper

1 bay leaf

1 cup dried chickpeas , rinsed and soaked overnight (for a quick-soak method, see Tip) and drained

1 28-ounce can tomatoes (see Note), drained and coarsely chopped

1/4 cup finely chopped fresh parsley

Directions

Preheat oven to 400°F.

Combine dried mushrooms and hot water in a bowl. Stir well and let stand for 30 minutes. Strain through a sieve lined with a paper towel and set the liquid aside. Finely chop the mushrooms.

Meanwhile, peel eggplants, if desired, and cut in half lengthwise. Brush the cut sides liberally with 2 tablespoons oil. Place on a rimmed baking sheet, cut-side down, and roast until tender, about 25 minutes. Let stand until cool enough to handle. Cut into 1-inch cubes and transfer to a 4-quart (or larger) slow cooker.

Meanwhile, heat the remaining 1 tablespoon oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onions and cook, stirring frequently, until softened, 3 to 6 minutes. Add garlic, oregano, cinnamon stick, salt, pepper, bay leaf and the chopped mushrooms; cook, stirring, for 1 minute. Add the reserved mushroom-soaking liquid and chickpeas. Bring to a boil and cook, stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes. Transfer to the slow cooker and stir to combine with the eggplant.

Cover and cook until the chickpeas are very tender, about 4 hours on High or 7 to 8 hours on Low. Remove cinnamon stick and bay leaf. Stir in tomatoes and parsley.

Variation: Turn 3 cups of leftover stew into Eggplant and Chickpea Baked Pasta. Preheat oven to 350°F. Coat an 8-inch-square (or similar 2-quart) baking dish with cooking spray. Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Cook 8 ounces whole-wheat fusilli according to package directions. Drain and rinse. Combine 1/2 cup coarse dry whole-wheat breadcrumbs (see Note) and 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil in a small bowl. Toss the pasta with 3 cups stew, 1 cup crumbled feta cheese, 1/4 cup chopped fresh mint (or basil) and 2 tablespoons lemon juice in a large bowl. Spread the mixture in the prepared baking dish. Top with the breadcrumb mixture. Bake until the topping is golden and crispy, about 30 minutes. Sprinkle with 1/4 cup chopped fresh mint (or basil).

Note: To make your own breadcrumbs, trim crusts from whole-wheat bread. Tear bread into pieces and process in a food processor until coarse crumbs form. Spread on a baking sheet and bake at 250°F until dry, about 10 to 15 minutes. One slice of bread makes about 1/3 cup dry breadcrumbs. For store-bought coarse dry breadcrumbs we like Ian’s brand, labeled “Panko breadcrumbs.” Find them at well-stocked supermarkets.

Tip: To quick-soak chickpeas (or other dried beans), place in a large saucepan with enough cold water to cover them by 2 inches. Bring to a boil. Boil for 2 minutes. Remove from the heat, cover and let stand for 1 hour.

Note: Look for Italian San Marzano tomatoes—they are particularly rich in flavor and taste best in this dish.

Nutritional Facts: Servings: 8; Serving Size: 1 1/4 cups; Calories: 219; Carbohydrates: 33 g; Fat: 7 g; Saturated Fat: 1 g; Protein: 9 g; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Dietary Fiber: 12 g; Potassium: 766 mg; Sodium: 413 mg; Exchanges: 1 starch; 1 vegetable; 1 lean meat; 1 fat