Diabetic Thursday

It's Thursday, which means Diabetic Thursday.

I remember when a loved-one was diagnosed with diabetes. I'd been sure that diabetic food meant boring food. But I was so wrong! Here are six diabetic recipes that help prove that diabetic food can be interesting, including Gingered Orange Carrots and Sweet Potato Pie. (Yes, pie for diabetics!) Enjoy!

Note: Please check out Another Day in Paradise at GoFundMe. This is to help fund a documentary on homelessness, following 2 - 3 people as they struggle to get off the street. Backing starts at $10, with goodies for donations.

GINGERED ACORN SQUASH

Servings: 4

Source: American Heart Association Cookbook

Find this recipe at: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/267.shtml

Ingredients

2 acorn squash (about 3/4 pound each)

8-ounce can pineapple tidbits in their own juice, drained

3 tablespoons raisins (optional)

2 tablespoons light brown sugar

1 tablespoon light margarine, melted

1 teaspoon freshly grated gingerroot

Directions

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Lightly spray a 13x9x2-inch baking dish with vegetable oil spray.

Cut squash in half. Scoop out and discard seeds. Put squash halves cut side up in baking dish.

In a small bowl, combine remaining ingredients. Spoon mixture into each squash cavity. Carefully pour a small amount of water around each squash. Bake, uncovered, for 45 minutes.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 120; Protein: 1 g; Fat: 1 g; Sodium: 24 mg; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Carbohydrates: 29 g; Exchanges: 1 Bread/Starch; 1 Vegetable, 1/2 Fruit

GINGERED ORANGE CARROTS

4g sugars and 2g dietary fiber.

Makes about 2 cups (4 servings)

Source: The New Family Cookbook For People with Diabetes

Find this recipe at: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/351.shtml

Ingredients

6 medium carrots (about 3/4 pound), peeled and sliced

1/2 cup homemade chicken broth, or canned reduced-sodium chicken broth

1/4 cup orange juice

2 teaspoons margarine

1 teaspoon grated fresh gingerroot, or 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger

Directions

Combine the carrots and broth in a medium saucepan. Cover and simmer over low heat until almost tender, about 10 minutes.

Add the orange juice, margarine, and ginger; simmer, uncovered, until almost all the liquid is absorbed. Serve hot.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 52; Protein: 1 g; Fat: 2 g; Sodium: 72 mg; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Carbohydrates: 8 g; Exchanges: 1 Vegetable, 1/2 Fat

APPLE AND SQUASH BAKE

This recipe begins, “This recipe combines all the best fall flavors and makes a great alternative to the candied yams often served for Thanksgiving dinner.”

Yield: 8 servings

Serving Size: 3/4 cup squash and apple bake

Source: Splenda

Find this recipe at: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/1121.shtml

Ingredients

1/3 cup Splenda No Calorie Sweetener, Granulated

1 teaspoon molasses

1/4 cup light butter

2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon ground mace

2 pounds butternut squash - peeled, seeded, and cut into

1/2 inch slices

2 large apples - cored, and cut into 1/2 inch slices

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F .

In a medium bowl, stir together Splenda Granulated Sweetener, molasses, butter, flour, salt, and mace. Arrange squash in an ungreased 9x13 inch baking dish. Top with slices of apple, then sprinkle with the sugar mixture. Cover with a lid or aluminum foil.

Bake for 50 to 60 minutes in the preheated oven, or until squash is tender.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 120; Calories from Fat: 30; Protein: 2 g; Fat: 3.5 g; Sodium: 340 mg; Cholesterol: 10 mg; Saturated Fat: 2 g; Dietary Fiber: 4 g; Sugars: 9 g; Carbohydrates: 24 g

SWEET POTATO PIE

Yield: 8 servings

Source: Equal

Find this recipe at: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/1030.shtml

Ingredients

1 Pastry for single-crust 9-inch pie

2 cups cooked, mashed sweet potatoes (about 2 Pastry for single-crust 9-inch pie pounds)

2 eggs, lightly beaten

1 cup Equal Spoonful or Granulated*

1 tablespoon all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon lemon juice

1 teaspoon vanilla

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 can (12 ounces) evaporated fat-free milk

Light whipped topping (optional)

Grated nutmeg (optional)

* May substitute 24 packets Equal sweetener

Directions

Roll pastry on floured surface into a circle 1 inch larger than inverted 9-inch pie plate. Ease pastry into plate; trim and flute edge. Set aside.

Blend sweet potatoes in mixing bowl on medium speed of mixer until smooth. Stir in eggs, Equal, flour, lemon juice, vanilla, spices, salt and evaporated milk. Pour mixture over pastry shell.

Bake in preheated 400F oven 40 to 45 minutes or until filling is set and sharp knife inserted into center comes out clean.

Cool pie completely on wire rack. Cover and refrigerate. Garnish top of pie with whipped topping and grated nutmeg, if desired. Cut pie into wedges.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 197; Protein: 7 g; Fat: 6 g; Sodium: 316 mg; Cholesterol: 58 mg; Carbohydrates: 28 g; Exchanges: 2 starch, 1 fat

CHICKEN WITH SUN-DRIED TOMATOES

Yield: 4 servings

Source: Magic Menus for People with Diabetes

Find this recipe at: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/868.shtml

Ingredients

4 boneless skinless chicken breast halves (about 1 pound total), trimmed of cartilage and fat

1/4 teaspoon salt (optional)

1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper

1 tablespoon canola oil

1 large shallot, minced

2/3 cup low-sodium, low-fat chicken broth

1/2 cup dry white wine

1/8 teaspoon marjoram

1/4 cup chopped sun-dried tomatoes, rehydrated in small bowl water

Directions

Cut each chicken breast half into 6 equal parts. Sprinkle with salt and pepper.

Saute chicken in oil over moderate heat, turning, until the chicken is just opaque throughout, 4-5 minutes.

Remove chicken with a slotted spoon. Add shallot to the skillet and sauté, stirring until softened, about 1 minute. Add broth, wine (much of the alcohol will evaporate, leaving only the flavor), marjoram, and tomatoes.

Bring to a boil over moderate heat and cook, uncovered, for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Return the chicken to the skillet. Simmer, gently spooning the sauce over the chicken, until heated through. Simmer until sauce is reduced by half.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 177; Protein: 27 g; Fat: 5 g; Sodium: 155 mg; Cholesterol: 64 mg; Dietary Fiber: 1 g; Sugars: 2 g; Carbohydrates: 3 g; Exchanges: 4 Very Lean Meat, 1/2 Fat

TOMATO, BASIL AND MOZZARELLA SALAD

Servings: 4

Print Friendly: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/bin/print.cgi?ID=189

View recipe with photo: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/189.shtml

Directions

1 pound ripe tomatoes (2-3)

5-6 fresh mozzarella balls (small size)

2-3 fresh basil leaves, diced

2 teaspoons olive oil

Dash of salt (optional)

Directions

Slice tomatoes into 1/2-inch thick slices.

Arrange 2-3 tomato slices on each salad plate.

Cut fresh mozzarella ball into halves.

Top each tomato slice with sliced mozzarella.

Drizzle olive oil over the tomatoes.

Top each mozzarella half with fresh basil.

Sprinkle dash of salt over dish. (optional)

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 70; Protein: 5 g; Fat: 4 g; Sodium: 140 mg; Cholesterol: 6 mg; Carbohydrates: 6 g; Exchanges: 1 Vegetable, 1 Medium-Fat