Diabetic Thursday

It's Diabetic Thursday, time to post a few diabetic recipes to show that diabetic doesn't have to mean boring. Here are six recipes to help you through the rest of the weekend, including Neapolitan Meatballs and No Bake Cherry Custard Cake. Enjoy!

NEAPOLITAN MEATBALLS

This comes from Diabetic Connect.

To view this online, go to http://www.diabeticconnect.com/diabetic-recipes/general/2219-neapolitan-meatballs

Ingredients

1/2 cup bulgur

2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided

8 cloves garlic, very thinly sliced

3/4 teaspoon dried oregano

1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper

2 28-ounce cans diced tomatoes

4 cups diced plum tomatoes (about 1 1/2 pounds)

2 cups cubed whole-wheat country bread

1 large egg

1 large egg white

1 pound 93%-lean ground beef

1/2 cup finely shredded Parmesan cheese

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper, plus more to taste

1/8 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon sugar (optional)

Directions

Place bulgur in a medium bowl and cover generously with hot water. Let soak for 30 minutes. Drain in a fine sieve, pressing to remove excess liquid.

Meanwhile, heat 1 tablespoon oil in a large Dutch oven over medium-low heat. Add garlic, oregano and crushed red pepper; cook, stirring, until softened but not browned, about 1 minute. Stir in canned tomatoes and plum tomatoes; increase heat to medium-high and bring to a simmer. Reduce heat to low. Partially cover and let simmer while you prepare meatballs.

Place bread in a medium bowl and cover with cold water. Let soak for a few minutes. Drain and squeeze out moisture.

Whisk egg and egg white in a large bowl. Add the bulgur, the bread, beef, Parmesan, cinnamon, pepper and salt. Gently combine with a potato masher and/or your hands. Form into 20 oval meatballs about 2 inches long.

Heat the remaining 1 tablespoon oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add half the meatballs and cook, turning occasionally, until browned all over, 3 to 4 minutes. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate; blot with paper towels. Brown the remaining meatballs.

Mash the simmering tomato sauce with a potato masher to break down any large chunks of tomato. Add the meatballs to the sauce. Simmer over low heat, partially covered, for 50 minutes.

Taste the sauce and add sugar, if it seems tart, and additional pepper to taste. Serve the meatballs with the sauce.

Makes 8 servings, 2 – 3 meatballs each.

Nutritional Facts: Servings: 1; Per serving: 283 calories; 11 g fat (4 g sat, 4 g mono); 73 mg cholesterol; 20 g carbohydrate; 23 g protein; 5 g fiber; 687 mg sodium; 271 mg potassium. 1 Carbohydrate Serving; Exchanges1/2 starch; 1 vegetable; 2 1/2 lean meat

IRISH WHOLE WHEAT SODA BREAD

Yield: Makes 1 Round Loaf

Print Friendly: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/bin/print.cgi?ID=637

View recipe: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/637.shtml

Source: America's Everyday Diabetes Cookbook

Ingredients

2 cups whole wheat flour

1 cup all-purpose flour

1 tablespoon granulated sugar

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon salt

1-1/2 cups buttermilk

Directions

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Lightly grease a baking sheet.

In a large bowl, stir together whole wheat flour, flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt.

Add buttermilk all at once, stirring with a fork to make a soft, but slightly sticky dough.

With lightly floured hands, form dough into a ball. On a lightly floured surface, knead the dough gently for 8 to 10 times. Pat the dough into a 6-inch thick round, with a slightly flattened top.

Place dough on prepared baking sheet. With a shape knife or pizza cutter, score the top in the shape of a cross or large X. Bake in preheated oven for 35 to 45 minutes. Remove from baking sheet onto a cooling rack immediately. Dust top with rice flour. Serve warm from the oven.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 123; Protein: 5 g; Fat: 1 g; Sodium: 335 mg; Cholesterol: 1 mg; Dietary Fiber: 3 g; Carbohydrates: 25 g; Exchanges: 1-1/2 Starch/Bread

BAKED APPLES WITH RAISINS

Servings: 2

Find this recipe at: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/159.shtml

Ingredients

2 apples

1 tbsp raisins

Orange juice

Pinch ground cinnamon

Directions

Peel and core the apples. Coat with the orange juice on the outer surface. Stuff with the raisins. Sprinkle on the cinnamon.

Place in Pyrex baking cups. Bake in a 350 F oven for 25-30 minutes, or until fork pierces surface easily. Serve warm or cold.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 74; Protein: 0 g; Sodium: 0 mg; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Carbohydrates: 10 g; Exchanges: 1-1/2 Fruit

ASPARAGUS SPEARS WITH CITRUS-GINGER DIP

Yield: 8 servings

Print Friendly: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/bin/print.cgi?ID=682

View recipe: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/682.shtml

Ingredients

2 pounds asparagus

3/4 cup mayonnaise

3/4 cup sour cream

1 tablespoon vinegar

1 tablespoon orange juice

1 teaspoon grated orange zest

1 garlic clove, crushed

1 tablespoon Dijon-style mustard

1-1/2 tablespoons grated fresh ginger root

1 teaspoon soy sauce

1/2 teaspoon sugar

Salt and pepper, to taste

Directions

Snap tough ends off asparagus. Peel stalks, if desired.

In large skillet, bring about 1-inch of water to boiling. Add asparagus and simmer, uncovered, until barely tender, about 4-5 minutes.

Drain and dunk in ice water until cold; drain, cover and chill until serving.

Meanwhile, combine well all remaining ingredients in medium bowl.

Transfer to serving bowl, serve with asparagus spears or cover and chill until serving.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 226; Protein: 4 g; Fat: 22 g; Sodium: 231 mg; Cholesterol: 22 mg; Saturated Fat: 5 g; Dietary Fiber: 2 g; Carbohydrates: 7 g

ONION AND BLUE CHEESE FOCACCIA

Yield: 8 servings

Print Friendly: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/bin/print.cgi?ID=685

View recipe: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/685.shtml

Source: 1,001 Delicious Recipes for People with Diabetes

Ingredients

Olive oil cooking spray

2 cups thinly sliced onions

4 cloves garlic, minced

1/2 teaspoon dried rosemary leaves

Salt and pepper, to taste

1 focaccia (Italian flat bread, 10 ounces)

1/4 cup chopped sun-dried tomatoes (not in oil)

2-3 ounces crumbled blue cheese

2 tablespoons grated fat-free Parmesan cheese

Directions

Spray large skillet with cooking spray; heat over medium heat until hot.

Cook onions and garlic, covered, over medium heat until wilted, about 5 minutes. Cook, uncovered, over low heat until tender and lightly browned, about 15 minutes. Stir in rosemary and season with salt and pepper.

Arrange onions on focaccia; sprinkle with sun-dried tomatoes and cheeses. Bake at 350 degrees until focaccia is hot and cheese melted, about 15 minutes. Cut into wedges.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 146; Protein: 5.9 g; Fat: 3.5 g; Sodium: 354 mg; Cholesterol: 5.2 mg; Carbohydrates: 23.3 g; Exchanges: 2 Vegetable, 1 Bread, 1/2 Fat

NO BAKE CHERRY CUSTARD CAKE

Servings: 12

Source: Cinnamon Hearts

Find this recipe at: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/197.shtml

Ingredients

1 prepared Angel Food cake (10 inches)

1 package (1.4 oz) sugar-free instant vanilla pudding mix

1-1/2 cups milk (2%)

1 cup light sour cream

1 can (21oz) light cherry pie filling

Directions

Tear the Angel Food cake into bite size pieces. Press into an 11x17-inch baking dish.

In a mixing bowl, combine the pudding mix, milk and sour cream. Beat until thickened, about 2 minutes. Spread over the cake.

Spoon the cherry pie filling evenly over the top of the cake. Chill thoroughly until serving time.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 184; Fat: 3 g; Sodium: 319 mg; Cholesterol: 9 mg; Carbohydrates: 36 g; Exchanges: 1 Fruit; 1-1/2 Bread/Starch; 1/2 Fat