Diabetic Thursday - 4th of July

It's time for another Diabetic Thursday, as well as the 4th of July. Here are today's six recipes to help you through the day, including Tomato and Mint Tabbouleh and Beef Ragout. Enjoy!

MEDITERRANEAN-STYLE CHICKEN SALAD

Makes 4 servings.

Print Friendly: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/bin/print.cgi?ID=697

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Ingredients

3/4 pound baked or grilled chicken breasts

2 Tbsp. extra virgin olive oil

1 tsp. dried oregano

Juice of 1/2 a lemon

1 2.2-ounce can (1/2 cup) black olives, pitted and roughly chopped

1 Tbsp. tiny capers, well-rinsed and drained

10 cherry tomatoes, halved

Salt and pepper to taste

1 cup thin green beans, cooked, drained, and cooled

Romaine lettuce leaves, for serving bed (whole wheat pita bread for sandwiches optional)

2 Tbsp. chopped parsley

Directions

Cut chicken into bite-sized pieces. Place in a bowl and combine with oil, oregano and lemon juice. Let stand for about 1 hour.

Toss the chicken mix with olives, capers, tomatoes and green beans. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

Arrange the salad on the romaine leaves. Sprinkle with parsley and serve. This recipe would also work on whole-wheat pita bread.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 240; Protein: 27 g; Fat: 12 g; Sodium: 280 mg; Saturated Fat: 2 g; Dietary Fiber: 2 g; Carbohydrates: 6 g

TOMATO AND MINT TABBOULEH

Yield: 12 side-dish servings

Source: The All New Good Housekeeping Cookbook

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Ingredients

1-1/2 cups bulgur wheat

1/4 cup fresh lemon juice

1-1/2 cups boiling water

1 pound ripe tomatoes (3 medium), cut into 1/2-inch pieces

1 medium cucumber (8 ounces), peeled and cut into 1/2-inch pieces

3 green onions, chopped

3/4 cup loosely packed fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves, chopped

1/2 cup loosely packed fresh mint leaves, chopped

1 tablespoon olive oil

3/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper

Directions

In medium bowl, combine bulgur, lemon juice, and boiling water, stirring to mix. Let stand until liquid has been absorbed, about 30 minutes.

To bulgur mixture, add tomatoes, cucumber, green onions, parsley, mint, oil, salt, and pepper, stirring to mix. Cover and refrigerate at least 1 hour to blend flavors or up to 4 hours.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 87; Protein: 3 g; Fat: 2 g; Sodium: 157 mg; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Carbohydrates: 17 g; Exchanges: 1 Starch/Bread

BRATAPFEL (GERMAN BAKED APPLES

This recipe begins, “It doesn't matter if you can't pronounce this wonderful German dessert. The flavor will win you over from the first bite.”

This is from Diabetic Connect.

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

4 medium Braeburn apples

1/2 cup chopped walnuts

2 TBS raisins

3 TBS coconut oil, melted

1 1/2 TBS honey

1 1/2 tsp cinnamon

1/4 tsp nutmeg

1/4 tsp ground ginger

Directions

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.

Grease the bottom of a 8x8 baking dish.

Cut a circle in the top of the apples about 1 1/2 inches wide. Scoop out the top circle and continue scooping down only 3/4 the way of the apple, trying to keep the 1 1/2 inch measurement the whole way.

Mix the remaining ingredients, and scoop them equally between the 4 apples.

Bake uncovered for 30-40 minutes, or until the apples are at the desired tenderness. Do not over cook or the apples will be mushy.

Cut apples in half and serve.

Nutritional Facts: Servings: 8; Calories: 148; Total Fat: 10 g; Saturated Fat: 0 g; Sodium: 1 mg; Carbohydrates: 15 g; Dietary Fiber: 2 g; Protein: 1 g

PENNE WITH GREENS AND CANNELLINI BEANS

Yield: 6 main dish servings

Print version: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/bin/print.cgi?ID=713

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Ingredients

1 box uncooked Dreamfields Penne Rigate

2 tablespoons olive oil

1/2 cup diced red bell pepper

1 tablespoon minced garlic

1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes

1 cup reduced-sodium, fat free chicken broth

1 pound fresh collard or mustard greens, washed, trimmed and cut into large bite-sized pieces

1 can (15 ounces) cannellini beans, rinsed and drained (or other white beans)

Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

Grated Parmesan cheese (optional)

Directions

Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain and return to pan.

Meanwhile, in large skillet, heat olive oil over medium-high heat. Add bell pepper, garlic and red pepper flakes; cook 1 to 2 minutes, stirring constantly. Add broth; bring to boil.

Add greens; return to boil. Cook 1 to 2 minutes, uncovered, until greens are just crisp-tender, stirring occasionally. Add greens with liquid to pasta; toss to coat.

Add beans; toss gently. Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper. Top with grated Parmesan cheese, if desired.

Serving Note: Any dark, leafy greens such as kale, spinach or chard can be substituted for the collard greens.

1-1/2 cups cooked cannellini beans can be substituted for the canned beans.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 336; Protein: 16 g; Fat: 6 g; Sodium: 128 mg; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Saturated Fat: 1 g; Dietary Fiber: 11 g

BEEF RAGOUT

Yield: About 6 cups

Servings: 8 (3/4 cup) servings

Print version: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/bin/print.cgi?ID=716

Online version: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/716.shtml

Source: The New Family Cookbook for People with Diabetes

Ingredients

1 tablespoon margarine

2 pounds round steak or other lean beef, cut in 3/4-inch cubes

2 cups chopped onion

5 cloves garlic, minced

2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley, or 2 teaspoons dried parsley

1 tablespoon grated orange zest

1 tablespoon chopped fresh rosemary, or 1 teaspoon dried rosemary

2 bay leaves

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon salt

2 cups sliced fresh mushrooms

1 cup sliced green bell pepper

Directions

Heat the margarine in a large non-stick skillet. Brown the beef cubes on all sides over high heat; transfer to a large pot or Dutch oven.

Lower the heat under the skillet and add the onion and garlic; stir and cook about 5 minutes. Transfer to the large pot.

Add 1/2 cup water, the parsley, orange zest, rosemary, bay leaves, cinnamon, and salt to the large pot.

Cover and simmer 1-1/2 hours, or until the meat is tender. Add water if the mixture becomes dry. Remove the bay leaves.

Add the mushrooms and green pepper, stir, cover, and cook about 5 minutes more.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 203; Protein: 26 g; Fat: 7 g; Sodium: 230 mg; Cholesterol: 66 mg; Dietary Fiber: 2 g; Sugars: 4 g; Carbohydrates: 8 g; Exchanges: 1 Vegetable, 3 Lean Meat

CHICKEN TENDERS WITH SPICY BLACK BEANS

Yield: 4 servings

Find this recipe at: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/738.shtml

Source: Secrets of Good-Carb Low-Carb Living

Ingredients

1 pound chicken breast tenders

1 teaspoon ground cumin

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

1/2 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil

1 cup canned black beans, undrained

1/2 cup chunky-style salsa

1/2 cup shredded reduced-fat Monterey Jack or Mexican-blend cheese (optional)

3 tablespoons finely chopped fresh cilantro or thinly sliced scallions

Directions

Rinse the chicken and pat dry with paper towels.

Combine the cumin, garlic powder, pepper, and salt, and rub some of the mixture over both sides of the chicken tenders.

Place the olive oil in a large nonstick skillet and preheat over medium-high heat. Add the chicken tenders and cook for a couple of minutes on each side, or until nicely browned.

Reduce the heat to medium, cover, and cook for about 3 minutes more or until the chicken is cooked through. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside to keep warm.

Add the black beans and salsa to the skillet and cook over medium-high heat for a minute or two to heat through.

To serve, place a quarter of the chicken tenders on each of 4 serving plates and top with a quarter of the black-bean mixture.

If desired, top each serving with some of the cheese and sprinkle with some of the cilantro or scallions. Serve hot.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 201; Protein: 29 g; Fat: 4.9 g; Sodium: 629 mg; Cholesterol: 66 mg; Saturated Fat: 0.8 g; Dietary Fiber: 3.5 g; Carbohydrates: 14 g; Exchanges: 1 Bread/Starch, 4 Low-Fat Meat