Diabetic Thursday

More diabetic recipes that help bust the myth that if it's diabetic, it must be boring. These recipes are any but boring. Enjoy!

NOTE: Since next Thursday is Christmas, I'll add next week's Diabetic Thursday on Wednesday, for two blog postings and nothing on Thursday (just like I did Thanksgiving week). However, I'll probably post the following week's diabetic recipes on Thursday (New Year's Day). In the meantime, enjoy whichever holiday(s) you celebrate, and may you have a truly peaceful, joyful, magical holiday season!

BLUEBERRY MELON FREEZE

This recipe can be found online at http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/1234.shtml

Yield: 8 servings
Serving Size: 3/4 cup freeze, 1/4 cup

Ingredients

2 cups honeydew melon chunks

4 teaspoons fresh mint leaves + additional for garnish

32 ounces fat-free plain Greek-style yogurt

6 tablespoons Splenda No Calorie Sweetener, Granulated

2 cups blueberries

Directions

Place melon, mint, 2 cups yogurt, and 2 tablespoons Splenda Granulated Sweetener into blender and puree until smooth. Transfer puree to plastic container. Repeat with blueberries, remaining 2 cups yogurt, and remaining 4 tablespoons Splenda Granulated Sweetener. Transfer to a different plastic container.

Cover both containers of puree with lids and freeze for 2 hours, stirring each every 30 minutes to break up ice crystals.

Remove from freezer a few minutes before serving. Spoon mounds of each frozen puree into glass dessert cups or wine glasses and garnish with mint leaves. (If purees are too firm to serve, microwave about 10 seconds on medium power to soften slightly.)

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 100; Protein: 10 g; Sodium: 50 mg; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Saturated Fat: 0 g; Dietary Fiber: 1 g; Sugars: 24 g; Carbohydrates: 15 g

TACO SALAD WITH CUMIN DRESSING

Servings: 8

This can be viewed at http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/41.shtml

Ingredients

8 tortillas

1 teaspoon powdered mustard

2 tablespoons Parmesan cheese, grated

1 teaspoon ground cumin

8 cups romaine lettuce

1/2 cup water

1/2 teaspoon salt

4 tablespoons vegetable oil

4 tablespoons red wine vinegar

4 cups turkey, chopped and cooked

1/4 teaspoon black pepper

1 teaspoon cumin seeds

1/4 teaspoon garlic powder

6 large ripe tomatoes, chopped

4 teaspoons lemon juice

2 cups cheddar cheese, grated

Directions

Toast the tortillas on a baking sheet in a 400F oven for about 10 minutes.

While hot, sprinkle on the Parmesan cheese.

Cool and break into bite-size pieces.

Chop the lettuce and arrange it in the bottom of a salad bowl.

Make the cumin dressing by combining the salt, vinegar, pepper, garlic powder, lemon juice, mustard, cumin, water and oil in a bowl or jar.

Heat the turkey in a skillet with the cumin seeds.

Sprinkle chunks of turkey over the lettuce.

Add the tomato pieces and cheese.

Pour on the cumin dressing and top with tortilla chips.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 205; Protein: 17 g; Fat: 11 g; Carbohydrates: 10 g ; Exchanges: 1 Fat; 1/2 Bread/Starch; 1/2 Vegetable; 2 Lean Meat

ALMOND CHEESECAKE BARS

”Light and creamy cheesecake bars topped with toasted almonds.”

Serves: 20; Serving Size: 1 bar

View Online with Photo: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/1229.shtml

Ingredients

Crust:

1/4 cup Splenda No Calorie Sweetener, Granulated

1 1/4 cups graham cracker or vanilla wafer crumbs

1/3 cup light butter, melted

1/4 cup toasted sliced almonds, finely ground

Filling:

12 ounces reduced fat cream cheese

1/2 cup Splenda No Calorie Sweetener, Granulated

2 large eggs

1/4 cup reduced fat sour cream

2-1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1 teaspoon almond extract

1/4 cup toasted, sliced almonds

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Spray an 8x8 pan with non-stick cooking spray.

Mix crust ingredients together in a mixing bowl. Mix well. Press into prepared pan. Bake 10-12 minutes or until firm.

Mix cream cheese and Splenda Granulated Sweetener together until smooth. Add eggs, one at a time, scraping the sides of the bowl, and mixing well after each addition. Add sour cream and extracts; mix well. Pour over prepared crust.

Bake in preheated oven for 40 to 47 minutes, or until firm. Top with toasted almonds.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 120; Protein: 4 g; Fat: 8 g; Sodium: 105 mg; Cholesterol: 35 mg; Saturated Fat: 3.5 g; Dietary Fiber: 0 g; Sugars: 4 g; Carbohydrates: 8 g; Sugars: 5 g; Carbohydrates: 11 g

CRANBERRY WALNUT MUFFINS

The recipe starts off, “These muffins are perfectly tart, sweet, and delicious - especially right out of the oven.”

Yield: 8 Servings; Serving Size: 1 muffin

View Online: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/1170.shtml

Ingredients

1-1/4 cups Splenda No Calorie Sweetener, Granulated

1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

2/3 cup buttermilk

1/4 cup butter, melted

2 large eggs

1 teaspoon grated orange zest

1/4 cup chopped walnuts

2/3 cup chopped fresh or frozen cranberries

Directions

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Spray 8 cups of a 12-cup muffin pan with butter-flavored cooking spray. Set aside.

Mix Splenda Granulated Sweetener, flour, baking powder, baking soda, and cinnamon together in a medium-sized mixing bowl. Set aside.

Mix buttermilk, melted butter, eggs and orange zest together in a small mixing bowl. Add to flour mixture. Mix gently to combine. Add walnuts and cranberries and stir until just blended.

Spoon batter into eight muffin cups. Bake in preheated 375 degrees F oven 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 210; Calories from Fat: 90; Protein: 5 g; Fat: 10 g; Sodium: 320 mg; Cholesterol: 70 mg; Saturated Fat: 4.5 g; Dietary Fiber: 1 g; Sugars: 5 g; Carbohydrates: 24 g

CHEESE LASAGNA

Servings: 3

Find this recipe at: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/3.shtml

Ingredients

6 ounces whole wheat lasagna noodles

1/2 cup tomato sauce

1 cup onion, bell pepper and mushrooms (mix of all three)

1-1/2 cups low-fat cottage cheese

2 eggs

2 tablespoons Parmesan cheese

3 ounces grated mozzarella cheese

Directions

Cook lasagna noodles in boiling water until tender. Drain and set aside.

Combine tomato sauce and chopped onions, peppers and mushrooms.

Mix in separate bowl cottage cheese, eggs & 1/2 of Parmesan cheese.

Preheat oven to 350F.

In a 8" x 8" casserole, layer half the noodles, the cottage cheese mixture, and grated mozzarella cheese. Top with tomato sauce mix and the rest of the noodles. Sprinkle with remaining parmesan cheese.

Bake for 25 minutes, then serve hot.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 500; Protein: 36 g; Fat: 10 g; Carbohydrates: 52 g; Exchanges: 3 Low-Fat Milk, 1 Bread/Starch, 1 Vegetable

SPINACH VEGETABLE KUGEL

The recipe starts off, “The vegetables for this colorful, vitamin-packed kugel can be prepared quickly in the food processor. Double the recipe for a large crowd. It's a winner! Use frozen spinach instead of fresh if you prefer.” Servings: 6

Find this recipe online at: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/2.shtml

Ingredients

10 oz. package (300g) fresh spinach

2 onions, chopped

1 stalk celery, chopped

1 red pepper, chopped

3 carrots, grated

1 cup mushrooms, chopped

1 tablespoon olive oil

2 eggs plus 2 whites (or 3 eggs)

3/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon each pepper and garlic powder

1/2 teaspoon dried basil

1/4 cup matzo meal

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Wash spinach thoroughly. Remove and discard tough stems. Cook spinach in a covered saucepan until wilted, about 3 minutes (or microwave on HIGH for 4 minutes). Don't add any water. The water clinging to the leaves will provide enough steam to cook it. Cool and squeeze dry.

Heat oil in a non-stick skillet on medium heat. Saute onion, celery, red pepper and carrots for 5 minutes, until golden. Add mushrooms and cook 5 minutes longer (or cook vegetables uncovered in the microwave for 6 to 8 minutes on HIGH).

Chop spinach coarsely. Combine with remaining ingredients and mix well. Pour into a sprayed 7" x 11" Pyrex casserole. Bake uncovered at 350F for 45 to 50 minutes, until firm. Cut into squares to serve.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 81; Protein: 4 g; Fat: 2.7 g; Carbohydrates: 11 g; Exchanges: 1/3 Bread/Starch; 1/2 Vegetable