Thanksgiving Desserts - Double-Post Monday

Besides being Meatless Monday, it's also Double-Post Monday. This week's post deals with Thanksgiving Desserts.

If you're in the U.S., you know that this Thursday is Thanksgiving. It seems that everyone has some way to celebrate, whether it's a large gathering for a large, extended family, or a smaller, intimate affair. We all have our traditions, which seem to evolve over the years.

While turkey is frequently the main thing many people think of when it comes to Thanksgiving dinner, we all seem to love desserts, too. (Well, most of us do.)

Here are six dessert recipes to help you through your Thanksgiving, as well as any other time, including Quick Vegan Crock Pot Apple Crumble and New York Cheesecake. Hope your Thanksgiving is nice. Enjoy!

PUMPKIN PUDDING

This comes from the January 2005 issue of Vegetarian Times. It begins, “The holidays are fading fast, but that doesn't mean that the season's favorites—pumpkins and cranberries—have to go with them. This easy-to-assemble pudding is just as good warm or chilled.” Serves 6 in 30 minutes or less.

To view this online, go to http://www.vegetariantimes.com/recipe/pumpkin-pudding/.

Ingredients

2 cups vanilla soymilk

2 tsp. vanilla extract

1/4 cup instant tapioca pearls

1/4 cup cornstarch

1/2 cup confectioners’ sugar, or to taste

Pinch of salt

1 15-oz. can pumpkin purée

2 cups mixed dried fruits, including cranberries, raisins and apples

1 cup toasted pecan halves, as garnish, optional

Directions

Put 1 1/2 cups soymilk and vanilla extract into saucepan, and stir in tapioca pearls. Stir remaining 1/2 cup soymilk with cornstarch, and, when well mixed, stir cornstarch mixture into tapioca mixture. Let sit 5 minutes.

Heat soymilk mixture over medium heat, stirring constantly, until pudding begins to thicken, about 7 minutes. Whisk in sugar and salt, stirring to remove any lumps.

Stir in pumpkin purée and dried fruit. Continue cooking and stirring 2 minutes more. Remove from heat, and spoon into heatproof serving bowl. Serve warm, or refrigerate.

To serve, garnish with toasted pecans, if using.

nutritional information Per SERVING: Calories: 290; Protein: 4 g; Total Fat: 1 g; Carbohydrates: 67 g; Sodium: 150 mg; Fiber: 5 g; Sugar: 41 g; Vegan

CREAMY LEMONADE PIE

This comes from a long-since-forgotten-emailing-list.

Ingredients

1 (5 oz) can evaporated milk

1 (3.4 oz) pkg. instant lemon pudding mix

2 (8 oz) pkg. cream cheese softened

3/4 C. lemonade concentrate

1 graham cracker crust

Directions

In a mixing bowl combine milk and pudding mix; beat on low speed for 2 minutes. In another mixing bowl, beat cream cheese until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Gradually beat in lemonade concentrate. Gradually beat in pudding mixture. Pour into crust. Cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours.

NEW YORK CHEESECAKE

A friend of mine, Kevin, used to regale me with stories of making tons of cheesecake for family holiday meals. While his weren't diabetic-friendly, this still reminded me of Kevin. Since Kev isn't well, I wanted to post this in honor of him.

9 servings

Source: The Diabetes Snack Munch Nibble Nosh Book

Find this recipe at: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/794.shtml

Ingredients

3/4 cup very finely ground pecans (1 cup whole pecans)

1 (15 ounce) carton part-skim ricotta cheese

1 cup plain low-fat yogurt

1 cup Splenda

1/2 cup fat-free liquid egg substitute

2 tablespoons white flour

1 tablespoon vanilla extract

Zest (grated rind) of one small lemon

1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, at room temperature

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Spray a 10-inch springform pan with nonstick spray.

Sprinkle the ground pecans evenly over the pan bottom, patting them into place. The crust layer will be very light and may not entirely cover the bottom of the pan.

In a food processor, combine the ricotta, yogurt, Splenda, egg substitute, flour, vanilla, and lemon zest. Process until partially smoothed, about 1-1/2 minutes.

Cut the cream cheese into 9 or 10 chunks. One at a time, add the chunks through the feed tube. Process after each addition. Process until smooth - an additional 1-1/2 to 2 minutes.

Carefully spoon the mixture over the ground pecans.

Bake in the center of the preheated oven for 15 minutes.

Lower the oven temperature to 325 degrees F. and bake for an additional 50 to 60 minutes or until the cheesecake edges have begun to brown and the center is puffed and seems set when the surface is lightly tapped.

Remove to a rack and cool for 20 minutes. Refrigerate at least 6 hours or overnight until cooled. When cooled, cover with plastic wrap. If desired, top with cut fruit.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 272; Protein: 11 g; Fat: 21 g; Sodium: 178 mg; Cholesterol: 45 mg; Saturated Fat: 9 g; Dietary Fiber: 1 g; Sugars: 7 g; Carbohydrates: 11 g; Exchanges: 1 Medium-Fat Meat, 3 Fat, 1 Carbohydrate

QUICK VEGAN CROCK POT APPLE CRUMBLE

This comes from Jolinda Hackett, who wrote for The Spruce Eats. Jolinda wrote, “A quick and easy recipe for a vegan apple crumble (just like an apple crisp, if you prefer!) that you can make in your crockpot or slow cooker. Make sure to read the ingredients of whatever kind of granola you use, as many are not vegan.

“Refined sugar-free and vegan, this apple crumble or apple crisp recipe takes just minutes to prepare. It's made from fresh sliced apples sweetened with a bit of maple syrup (use real maple syrup, not bottled flavored corn syrup!) and topped off with a crumble granola, cinnamon and nutmeg topping. Using granola for the top of this apple crumble means that there's no bowls to get dirty and nothing to mix. Just sprinkle everything over the top of your crock pot or slow cooker.

“Like waking up to a hot and delicious breakfast or coming home to a sweet dessert already ready to go? You might also want to try this recipe for crockpot peach cobbler or scroll down for a few more vegetarian and vegan crockpot recipes including a few desserts.

“Enjoy!” Prep Time: 20 minutes; Cook Time: 480 minutes (8 hours); Total Time: 500 minutes; Yield: about 4 servings.

To view this online, click here.

Note: Jolinda’s Cranberry Peach Cobbler recipe follows immediately after this recipe.

Ingredients

4 apples, sliced

2 tbsp maple syrup

1/2 tsp cinnamon

1/4 tsp nutmeg

2 tbsp margarine

2 cups granola

Preparation

Place apples in your crock pot or slow cooker. Drizzle with maple syrup, spices and margarine, then cover with granola.

Cover and cook on low for 8 hours.

APPLE PIE

This comes from Sam Sifton in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Sam wrote, “In 2013, at least, one of the great pie makers in New York City was Kierin Baldwin, the pastry chef at The Dutch in the SoHo neighborhood. This recipe is adapted from hers, for a plain apple pie. It benefits from heeding her advice to pre-cook the filling before baking. “Apple pies that have crunchy, raw apples in them are a pet peeve of mine,” Ms. Baldwin said. Peel and core the fruit, cut it into slices, then macerate them in a plume of sugar. Cook these soft with a splash of acid (like lemon juice or cider vinegar) and a hint of cinnamon and allspice, then add some starch to thicken the whole. Allow the mixture to cool completely before using it in the pie. (For everything you need to know to make the perfect pie crust, visit our pie guide.)” Yield: 8 servings; Time: 1 hour 30 minutes.

This was featured in “Pie Fidelity” and can be viewed online here.

Ingredients

2 tablespoons unsalted butter

2 1/2 pounds apples, peeled and cored, then cut into wedges (5 large honeycrisps will do it)

1/4 teaspoon ground allspice

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

3/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon sugar

2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

2 teaspoons cornstarch

1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar

1 recipe all-purpose pie dough (next recipe)

1 egg, lightly beaten

Preparations

Melt butter in a large saute pan set over medium-high heat and add apples to the pan. Stir to coat fruit with butter and cook, stirring occasionally. Meanwhile, whisk together the spices, salt and .75 cup sugar, and sprinkle this over the pan, stirring to combine. Lower heat and cook until apples have started to soften, approximately 5 to 7 minutes. Sprinkle the flour and cornstarch over the apples and continue to cook, stirring occasionally, another 3 to 5 minutes. Remove pan from heat, add cider vinegar, stir and scrape fruit mixture into a bowl and allow to cool completely. (The fruit mixture will cool faster if spread out on a rimmed baking sheet.)

Place a large baking sheet on the middle rack of oven and preheat to 425. Remove one disc of dough from the refrigerator and, using a pin, roll it out on a lightly floured surface until it is roughly 12 inches in diameter. Fit this crust into a 9-inch pie plate, trimming it to leave a .5-inch overhang. Place this plate, with the dough, in the freezer.

Roll out the remaining dough on a lightly floured surface until it is roughly 10 or 11 inches in diameter.

Remove pie crust from freezer and put the cooled pie filling into it. Cover with remaining dough. Press the edges together, trim the excess, then crimp the edges with the tines of a fork. Using a sharp knife, cut three or four steam vents in the top of the crust. Lightly brush the top of the pie with egg wash and sprinkle with remaining tablespoon of sugar.

Place pie in oven and bake on hot baking sheet for 20 minutes, then reduce temperature to 375. Continue to cook until the interior is bubbling and the crust is golden brown, about 30 to 40 minutes more. Remove and allow to cool on a windowsill or kitchen rack, about two hours.

ALL-PURPOSE PIE DOUGH

This also comes from Sam Sifton in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Time: 1 hour 15 minutes.

This can be found online here.

Ingredients

2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

6 tablespoons unsalted butter, cold, cut into 1/2-inch cubes

2 tablespoons vegetable shortening, cold

1/4 teaspoon of kosher salt

Yolk of 1 egg, beaten

1 teaspoon cider vinegar

1/4 cup water, from 3/4 cup ice water

Preparations

Using your fingertips or the pulse function of a food processor, blend together the flour, fats and salt until the mixture resembles a coarse meal. There should be pebbles of butter throughout the mixture.

Add egg yolk and vinegar to 1/4 cup ice water and stir to combine. Drizzle 4 tablespoons of this mixture over the dough and gently stir or pulse to combine. Gather a golfball-size bit of dough and squeeze to combine. If it does not hold together, add a little more of the liquid and stir or pulse, then check again. Repeat as necessary.

Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and gather together into a rough ball. You want to be careful not to overwork the flour, but not too careful; the dough should hold together. Divide the ball in half with a knife or a pastry scraper, then divide each portion in half again, and again, to create eight portions. Using the heel of your hand, flatten each portion of dough once or twice to expand the pebbles of butter, then gather the dough together again in one ball. Divide this ball in half.

Flatten each ball into a 5- or 6-inch disc and dust lightly with flour. Wrap the discs in plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator for at least 60 minutes.

Thanksgiving Desserts - Double-Post Monday

Besides being Meatless Monday, it's also Double-Post Monday. This week's post deals with Thanksgiving Desserts.

If you're in the U.S., you know that this Thursday is Thanksgiving. It seems that everyone has some way to celebrate, whether it's a large gathering for a large, extended family, or a smaller, intimate affair. We all have our traditions, which seem to evolve over the years.

While turkey is frequently the main thing many people think of when it comes to Thanksgiving dinner, we all seem to love desserts, too. (Well, most of us do.)

Here are six dessert recipes to help you through your Thanksgiving, as well as any other time, including Quick Vegan Crock Pot Apple Crumble and New York Cheesecake. Hope your Thanksgiving is nice. Enjoy!

PUMPKIN PUDDING

This comes from the January 2005 issue of Vegetarian Times. It begins, “The holidays are fading fast, but that doesn’t mean that the season’s favorites—pumpkins and cranberries—have to go with them. This easy-to-assemble pudding is just as good warm or chilled.” Serves 6 in 30 minutes or less.

To view this online, go to http://www.vegetariantimes.com/recipe/pumpkin-pudding/.

2 cups vanilla soymilk

2 tsp. vanilla extract

1/4 cup instant tapioca pearls

1/4 cup cornstarch

1/2 cup confectioners’ sugar, or to taste

Pinch of salt

1 15-oz. can pumpkin purée

2 cups mixed dried fruits, including cranberries, raisins and apples

1 cup toasted pecan halves, as garnish, optional

Put 1 1/2 cups soymilk and vanilla extract into saucepan, and stir in tapioca pearls. Stir remaining 1/2 cup soymilk with cornstarch, and, when well mixed, stir cornstarch mixture into tapioca mixture. Let sit 5 minutes.

Heat soymilk mixture over medium heat, stirring constantly, until pudding begins to thicken, about 7 minutes. Whisk in sugar and salt, stirring to remove any lumps.

Stir in pumpkin purée and dried fruit. Continue cooking and stirring 2 minutes more. Remove from heat, and spoon into heatproof serving bowl. Serve warm, or refrigerate.

To serve, garnish with toasted pecans, if using.

nutritional information Per SERVING: Calories: 290; Protein: 4 g; Total Fat: 1 g; Carbohydrates: 67 g; Sodium: 150 mg; Fiber: 5 g; Sugar: 41 g; Vegan

CREAMY LEMONADE PIE

This comes from a long-since-forgotten-emailing-list.

Ingredients

1 (5 oz) can evaporated milk

1 (3.4 oz) pkg. instant lemon pudding mix

2 (8 oz) pkg. cream cheese softened

3/4 C. lemonade concentrate

1 graham cracker crust

Directions

In a mixing bowl combine milk and pudding mix; beat on low speed for 2 minutes. In another mixing bowl, beat cream cheese until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Gradually beat in lemonade concentrate. Gradually beat in pudding mixture. Pour into crust. Cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours.

NEW YORK CHEESECAKE

A friend of mine, Kevin, used to regale me with stories of making tons of cheesecake for family holiday meals. While his weren't diabetic-friendly, this still reminded me of Kevin. Since Kev isn't well, I wanted to post this in honor of him.

9 servings

Source: The Diabetes Snack Munch Nibble Nosh Book

Find this recipe at: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/794.shtml

Ingredients

3/4 cup very finely ground pecans (1 cup whole pecans)

1 (15 ounce) carton part-skim ricotta cheese

1 cup plain low-fat yogurt

1 cup Splenda

1/2 cup fat-free liquid egg substitute

2 tablespoons white flour

1 tablespoon vanilla extract

Zest (grated rind) of one small lemon

1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, at room temperature

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Spray a 10-inch springform pan with nonstick spray.

Sprinkle the ground pecans evenly over the pan bottom, patting them into place. The crust layer will be very light and may not entirely cover the bottom of the pan.

In a food processor, combine the ricotta, yogurt, Splenda, egg substitute, flour, vanilla, and lemon zest. Process until partially smoothed, about 1-1/2 minutes.

Cut the cream cheese into 9 or 10 chunks. One at a time, add the chunks through the feed tube. Process after each addition. Process until smooth - an additional 1-1/2 to 2 minutes.

Carefully spoon the mixture over the ground pecans.

Bake in the center of the preheated oven for 15 minutes.

Lower the oven temperature to 325 degrees F. and bake for an additional 50 to 60 minutes or until the cheesecake edges have begun to brown and the center is puffed and seems set when the surface is lightly tapped.

Remove to a rack and cool for 20 minutes. Refrigerate at least 6 hours or overnight until cooled. When cooled, cover with plastic wrap. If desired, top with cut fruit.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 272; Protein: 11 g; Fat: 21 g; Sodium: 178 mg; Cholesterol: 45 mg; Saturated Fat: 9 g; Dietary Fiber: 1 g; Sugars: 7 g; Carbohydrates: 11 g; Exchanges: 1 Medium-Fat Meat, 3 Fat, 1 Carbohydrate

QUICK VEGAN CROCK POT APPLE CRUMBLE

This comes from Jolinda Hackett, who wrote for The Spruce Eats. Jolinda wrote, “A quick and easy recipe for a vegan apple crumble (just like an apple crisp, if you prefer!) that you can make in your crockpot or slow cooker. Make sure to read the ingredients of whatever kind of granola you use, as many are not vegan.

“Refined sugar-free and vegan, this apple crumble or apple crisp recipe takes just minutes to prepare. It's made from fresh sliced apples sweetened with a bit of maple syrup (use real maple syrup, not bottled flavored corn syrup!) and topped off with a crumble granola, cinnamon and nutmeg topping. Using granola for the top of this apple crumble means that there's no bowls to get dirty and nothing to mix. Just sprinkle everything over the top of your crock pot or slow cooker.

“Like waking up to a hot and delicious breakfast or coming home to a sweet dessert already ready to go? You might also want to try this recipe for crockpot peach cobbler or scroll down for a few more vegetarian and vegan crockpot recipes including a few desserts.

“Enjoy!” Prep Time: 20 minutes; Cook Time: 480 minutes (8 hours); Total Time: 500 minutes; Yield: about 4 servings.

To view this online, click here.

Note: Jolinda’s Cranberry Peach Cobbler recipe follows immediately after this recipe.

Ingredients

4 apples, sliced

2 tbsp maple syrup

1/2 tsp cinnamon

1/4 tsp nutmeg

2 tbsp margarine

2 cups granola

Preparation

Place apples in your crock pot or slow cooker. Drizzle with maple syrup, spices and margarine, then cover with granola.

Cover and cook on low for 8 hours.

APPLE PIE

This comes from Sam Sifton in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Sam wrote, “In 2013, at least, one of the great pie makers in New York City was Kierin Baldwin, the pastry chef at The Dutch in the SoHo neighborhood. This recipe is adapted from hers, for a plain apple pie. It benefits from heeding her advice to pre-cook the filling before baking. “Apple pies that have crunchy, raw apples in them are a pet peeve of mine,” Ms. Baldwin said. Peel and core the fruit, cut it into slices, then macerate them in a plume of sugar. Cook these soft with a splash of acid (like lemon juice or cider vinegar) and a hint of cinnamon and allspice, then add some starch to thicken the whole. Allow the mixture to cool completely before using it in the pie. (For everything you need to know to make the perfect pie crust, visit our pie guide.)” Yield: 8 servings; Time: 1 hour 30 minutes.

This was featured in “Pie Fidelity” and can be viewed online here.

Ingredients

2 tablespoons unsalted butter

2 1/2 pounds apples, peeled and cored, then cut into wedges (5 large honeycrisps will do it)

1/4 teaspoon ground allspice

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

3/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon sugar

2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

2 teaspoons cornstarch

1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar

1 recipe all-purpose pie dough (next recipe)

1 egg, lightly beaten

Preparations

Melt butter in a large saute pan set over medium-high heat and add apples to the pan. Stir to coat fruit with butter and cook, stirring occasionally. Meanwhile, whisk together the spices, salt and .75 cup sugar, and sprinkle this over the pan, stirring to combine. Lower heat and cook until apples have started to soften, approximately 5 to 7 minutes. Sprinkle the flour and cornstarch over the apples and continue to cook, stirring occasionally, another 3 to 5 minutes. Remove pan from heat, add cider vinegar, stir and scrape fruit mixture into a bowl and allow to cool completely. (The fruit mixture will cool faster if spread out on a rimmed baking sheet.)

Place a large baking sheet on the middle rack of oven and preheat to 425. Remove one disc of dough from the refrigerator and, using a pin, roll it out on a lightly floured surface until it is roughly 12 inches in diameter. Fit this crust into a 9-inch pie plate, trimming it to leave a .5-inch overhang. Place this plate, with the dough, in the freezer.

Roll out the remaining dough on a lightly floured surface until it is roughly 10 or 11 inches in diameter.

Remove pie crust from freezer and put the cooled pie filling into it. Cover with remaining dough. Press the edges together, trim the excess, then crimp the edges with the tines of a fork. Using a sharp knife, cut three or four steam vents in the top of the crust. Lightly brush the top of the pie with egg wash and sprinkle with remaining tablespoon of sugar.

Place pie in oven and bake on hot baking sheet for 20 minutes, then reduce temperature to 375. Continue to cook until the interior is bubbling and the crust is golden brown, about 30 to 40 minutes more. Remove and allow to cool on a windowsill or kitchen rack, about two hours.

ALL-PURPOSE PIE DOUGH

This also comes from Sam Sifton in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Time: 1 hour 15 minutes.

This can be found online here.

Ingredients

2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

6 tablespoons unsalted butter, cold, cut into 1/2-inch cubes

2 tablespoons vegetable shortening, cold

1/4 teaspoon of kosher salt

Yolk of 1 egg, beaten

1 teaspoon cider vinegar

1/4 cup water, from 3/4 cup ice water

Preparations

Using your fingertips or the pulse function of a food processor, blend together the flour, fats and salt until the mixture resembles a coarse meal. There should be pebbles of butter throughout the mixture.

Add egg yolk and vinegar to 1/4 cup ice water and stir to combine. Drizzle 4 tablespoons of this mixture over the dough and gently stir or pulse to combine. Gather a golfball-size bit of dough and squeeze to combine. If it does not hold together, add a little more of the liquid and stir or pulse, then check again. Repeat as necessary.

Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and gather together into a rough ball. You want to be careful not to overwork the flour, but not too careful; the dough should hold together. Divide the ball in half with a knife or a pastry scraper, then divide each portion in half again, and again, to create eight portions. Using the heel of your hand, flatten each portion of dough once or twice to expand the pebbles of butter, then gather the dough together again in one ball. Divide this ball in half.

Flatten each ball into a 5- or 6-inch disc and dust lightly with flour. Wrap the discs in plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator for at least 60 minutes.

Thanksgiving Desserts - Double-Post Monday

Besides being Meatless Monday, it's also Double-Post Monday. This week's post deals with Thanksgiving.

If you're in the U.S., you know that this Thursday is Thanksgiving. It seems that everyone has some way to celebrate, whether it's a large gathering for a large, extended family, or a smaller, intimate affair. We all have our traditions, which seem to evolve over the years.

While turkey is frequently the main thing many people think of when it comes to Thanksgiving dinner, we all seem to love desserts, too. (Well, most of us do.)

Here are six dessert recipes to help you through your Thanksgiving, as well as any other time, including Quick Vegan Crock Pot Apple Crumble and New York Cheesecake. Hope your Thanksgiving is nice. Enjoy!

PUMPKIN PUDDING

This comes from the January 2005 issue of Vegetarian Times. It begins, “The holidays are fading fast, but that doesn’t mean that the season’s favorites—pumpkins and cranberries—have to go with them. This easy-to-assemble pudding is just as good warm or chilled.” Serves 6 in 30 minutes or less.

To view this online, go to http://www.vegetariantimes.com/recipe/pumpkin-pudding/.

2 cups vanilla soymilk

2 tsp. vanilla extract

1/4 cup instant tapioca pearls

1/4 cup cornstarch

1/2 cup confectioners’ sugar, or to taste

Pinch of salt

1 15-oz. can pumpkin purée

2 cups mixed dried fruits, including cranberries, raisins and apples

1 cup toasted pecan halves, as garnish, optional

Put 1 1/2 cups soymilk and vanilla extract into saucepan, and stir in tapioca pearls. Stir remaining 1/2 cup soymilk with cornstarch, and, when well mixed, stir cornstarch mixture into tapioca mixture. Let sit 5 minutes.

Heat soymilk mixture over medium heat, stirring constantly, until pudding begins to thicken, about 7 minutes. Whisk in sugar and salt, stirring to remove any lumps.

Stir in pumpkin purée and dried fruit. Continue cooking and stirring 2 minutes more. Remove from heat, and spoon into heatproof serving bowl. Serve warm, or refrigerate.

To serve, garnish with toasted pecans, if using.

nutritional information Per SERVING: Calories: 290; Protein: 4 g; Total Fat: 1 g; Carbohydrates: 67 g; Sodium: 150 mg; Fiber: 5 g; Sugar: 41 g; Vegan

CREAMY LEMONADE PIE

This comes from a long-since-forgotten-emailing-list.

Ingredients

1 (5 oz) can evaporated milk

1 (3.4 oz) pkg. instant lemon pudding mix

2 (8 oz) pkg. cream cheese softened

3/4 C. lemonade concentrate

1 graham cracker crust

Directions

In a mixing bowl combine milk and pudding mix; beat on low speed for 2 minutes. In another mixing bowl, beat cream cheese until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Gradually beat in lemonade concentrate. Gradually beat in pudding mixture. Pour into crust. Cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours.

NEW YORK CHEESECAKE

A friend of mine, Kevin, used to regale me with stories of making tons of cheesecake for family holiday meals. While his weren't diabetic-friendly, this still reminded me of Kevin. Since Kev isn't well, I wanted to post this in honor of him.

9 servings

Source: The Diabetes Snack Munch Nibble Nosh Book

Find this recipe at: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/794.shtml

Ingredients

3/4 cup very finely ground pecans (1 cup whole pecans)

1 (15 ounce) carton part-skim ricotta cheese

1 cup plain low-fat yogurt

1 cup Splenda

1/2 cup fat-free liquid egg substitute

2 tablespoons white flour

1 tablespoon vanilla extract

Zest (grated rind) of one small lemon

1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, at room temperature

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Spray a 10-inch springform pan with nonstick spray.

Sprinkle the ground pecans evenly over the pan bottom, patting them into place. The crust layer will be very light and may not entirely cover the bottom of the pan.

In a food processor, combine the ricotta, yogurt, Splenda, egg substitute, flour, vanilla, and lemon zest. Process until partially smoothed, about 1-1/2 minutes.

Cut the cream cheese into 9 or 10 chunks. One at a time, add the chunks through the feed tube. Process after each addition. Process until smooth - an additional 1-1/2 to 2 minutes.

Carefully spoon the mixture over the ground pecans.

Bake in the center of the preheated oven for 15 minutes.

Lower the oven temperature to 325 degrees F. and bake for an additional 50 to 60 minutes or until the cheesecake edges have begun to brown and the center is puffed and seems set when the surface is lightly tapped.

Remove to a rack and cool for 20 minutes. Refrigerate at least 6 hours or overnight until cooled. When cooled, cover with plastic wrap. If desired, top with cut fruit.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 272; Protein: 11 g; Fat: 21 g; Sodium: 178 mg; Cholesterol: 45 mg; Saturated Fat: 9 g; Dietary Fiber: 1 g; Sugars: 7 g; Carbohydrates: 11 g; Exchanges: 1 Medium-Fat Meat, 3 Fat, 1 Carbohydrate

QUICK VEGAN CROCK POT APPLE CRUMBLE

This comes from Jolinda Hackett, who wrote for The Spruce Eats. Jolinda wrote, “A quick and easy recipe for a vegan apple crumble (just like an apple crisp, if you prefer!) that you can make in your crockpot or slow cooker. Make sure to read the ingredients of whatever kind of granola you use, as many are not vegan.

“Refined sugar-free and vegan, this apple crumble or apple crisp recipe takes just minutes to prepare. It's made from fresh sliced apples sweetened with a bit of maple syrup (use real maple syrup, not bottled flavored corn syrup!) and topped off with a crumble granola, cinnamon and nutmeg topping. Using granola for the top of this apple crumble means that there's no bowls to get dirty and nothing to mix. Just sprinkle everything over the top of your crock pot or slow cooker.

“Like waking up to a hot and delicious breakfast or coming home to a sweet dessert already ready to go? You might also want to try this recipe for crockpot peach cobbler or scroll down for a few more vegetarian and vegan crockpot recipes including a few desserts.

“Enjoy!” Prep Time: 20 minutes; Cook Time: 480 minutes (8 hours); Total Time: 500 minutes; Yield: about 4 servings.

To view this online, click here.

Note: Jolinda’s Cranberry Peach Cobbler recipe follows immediately after this recipe.

Ingredients

4 apples, sliced

2 tbsp maple syrup

1/2 tsp cinnamon

1/4 tsp nutmeg

2 tbsp margarine

2 cups granola

Preparation

Place apples in your crock pot or slow cooker. Drizzle with maple syrup, spices and margarine, then cover with granola.

Cover and cook on low for 8 hours.

APPLE PIE

This comes from Sam Sifton in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Sam wrote, “In 2013, at least, one of the great pie makers in New York City was Kierin Baldwin, the pastry chef at The Dutch in the SoHo neighborhood. This recipe is adapted from hers, for a plain apple pie. It benefits from heeding her advice to pre-cook the filling before baking. “Apple pies that have crunchy, raw apples in them are a pet peeve of mine,” Ms. Baldwin said. Peel and core the fruit, cut it into slices, then macerate them in a plume of sugar. Cook these soft with a splash of acid (like lemon juice or cider vinegar) and a hint of cinnamon and allspice, then add some starch to thicken the whole. Allow the mixture to cool completely before using it in the pie. (For everything you need to know to make the perfect pie crust, visit our pie guide.)” Yield: 8 servings; Time: 1 hour 30 minutes.

This was featured in “Pie Fidelity” and can be viewed online here.

Ingredients

2 tablespoons unsalted butter

2 1/2 pounds apples, peeled and cored, then cut into wedges (5 large honeycrisps will do it)

1/4 teaspoon ground allspice

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

3/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon sugar

2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

2 teaspoons cornstarch

1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar

1 recipe all-purpose pie dough (next recipe)

1 egg, lightly beaten

Preparations

Melt butter in a large saute pan set over medium-high heat and add apples to the pan. Stir to coat fruit with butter and cook, stirring occasionally. Meanwhile, whisk together the spices, salt and .75 cup sugar, and sprinkle this over the pan, stirring to combine. Lower heat and cook until apples have started to soften, approximately 5 to 7 minutes. Sprinkle the flour and cornstarch over the apples and continue to cook, stirring occasionally, another 3 to 5 minutes. Remove pan from heat, add cider vinegar, stir and scrape fruit mixture into a bowl and allow to cool completely. (The fruit mixture will cool faster if spread out on a rimmed baking sheet.)

Place a large baking sheet on the middle rack of oven and preheat to 425. Remove one disc of dough from the refrigerator and, using a pin, roll it out on a lightly floured surface until it is roughly 12 inches in diameter. Fit this crust into a 9-inch pie plate, trimming it to leave a .5-inch overhang. Place this plate, with the dough, in the freezer.

Roll out the remaining dough on a lightly floured surface until it is roughly 10 or 11 inches in diameter.

Remove pie crust from freezer and put the cooled pie filling into it. Cover with remaining dough. Press the edges together, trim the excess, then crimp the edges with the tines of a fork. Using a sharp knife, cut three or four steam vents in the top of the crust. Lightly brush the top of the pie with egg wash and sprinkle with remaining tablespoon of sugar.

Place pie in oven and bake on hot baking sheet for 20 minutes, then reduce temperature to 375. Continue to cook until the interior is bubbling and the crust is golden brown, about 30 to 40 minutes more. Remove and allow to cool on a windowsill or kitchen rack, about two hours.

ALL-PURPOSE PIE DOUGH

This also comes from Sam Sifton in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Time: 1 hour 15 minutes.

This can be found online here.

Ingredients

2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

6 tablespoons unsalted butter, cold, cut into 1/2-inch cubes

2 tablespoons vegetable shortening, cold

1/4 teaspoon of kosher salt

Yolk of 1 egg, beaten

1 teaspoon cider vinegar

1/4 cup water, from 3/4 cup ice water

Preparations

Using your fingertips or the pulse function of a food processor, blend together the flour, fats and salt until the mixture resembles a coarse meal. There should be pebbles of butter throughout the mixture.

Add egg yolk and vinegar to 1/4 cup ice water and stir to combine. Drizzle 4 tablespoons of this mixture over the dough and gently stir or pulse to combine. Gather a golfball-size bit of dough and squeeze to combine. If it does not hold together, add a little more of the liquid and stir or pulse, then check again. Repeat as necessary.

Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and gather together into a rough ball. You want to be careful not to overwork the flour, but not too careful; the dough should hold together. Divide the ball in half with a knife or a pastry scraper, then divide each portion in half again, and again, to create eight portions. Using the heel of your hand, flatten each portion of dough once or twice to expand the pebbles of butter, then gather the dough together again in one ball. Divide this ball in half.

Flatten each ball into a 5- or 6-inch disc and dust lightly with flour. Wrap the discs in plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator for at least 60 minutes.

\

Double-Post Monday, Thanksgiving Style

Besides being Meatless Monday, it's also Double-Post Monday. This week's post deals with Thanksgiving.

If you're in the U.S., you know that this Thursday is Thanksgiving. It seems that everyone has some way to celebrate, whether it's a large gathering for a large, extended family, or a smaller, intimate affair. We all have our traditions, which seem to evolve over the years.

While turkey is frequently the main thing many people think of when it comes to Thanksgiving dinner, we all seem to love desserts, too. (Well, most of us do.)

Here are six dessert recipes to help you through your Thanksgiving, as well as any other time, including Quick Vegan Crock Pot Apple Crumble and Cranberry Peach Cobbler. Hope your Thanksgiving is nice. Enjoy!

CREAMY LEMONADE PIE

This comes from a long-since-forgotten-emailing-list.

1 (5 oz) can evaporated milk

1 (3.4 oz) pkg. instant lemon pudding mix

2 (8 oz) pkg. cream cheese softened

3/4 C. lemonade concentrate

1 graham cracker crust

In a mixing bowl combine milk and pudding mix; beat on low speed for 2 minutes. In another mixing bowl, beat cream cheese until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Gradually beat in lemonade concentrate. Gradually beat in pudding mixture. Pour into crust. Cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours.

NEW YORK CHEESECAKE

A friend of mine, Kevin, used to regale me with stories of making tons of cheesecake for family holiday meals. While his weren't diabetic-friendly, this still reminded me of Kevin. Since Kev isn't well, I wanted to post this in honor of him.

9 servings

Source: The Diabetes Snack Munch Nibble Nosh Book

Find this recipe at: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/794.shtml

Ingredients

3/4 cup very finely ground pecans (1 cup whole pecans)

1 (15 ounce) carton part-skim ricotta cheese

1 cup plain low-fat yogurt

1 cup Splenda

1/2 cup fat-free liquid egg substitute

2 tablespoons white flour

1 tablespoon vanilla extract

Zest (grated rind) of one small lemon

1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, at room temperature

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Spray a 10-inch springform pan with nonstick spray.

Sprinkle the ground pecans evenly over the pan bottom, patting them into place. The crust layer will be very light and may not entirely cover the bottom of the pan.

In a food processor, combine the ricotta, yogurt, Splenda, egg substitute, flour, vanilla, and lemon zest. Process until partially smoothed, about 1-1/2 minutes.

Cut the cream cheese into 9 or 10 chunks. One at a time, add the chunks through the feed tube. Process after each addition. Process until smooth - an additional 1-1/2 to 2 minutes.

Carefully spoon the mixture over the ground pecans.

Bake in the center of the preheated oven for 15 minutes.

Lower the oven temperature to 325 degrees F. and bake for an additional 50 to 60 minutes or until the cheesecake edges have begun to brown and the center is puffed and seems set when the surface is lightly tapped.

Remove to a rack and cool for 20 minutes. Refrigerate at least 6 hours or overnight until cooled. When cooled, cover with plastic wrap. If desired, top with cut fruit.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 272; Protein: 11 g; Fat: 21 g; Sodium: 178 mg; Cholesterol: 45 mg; Saturated Fat: 9 g; Dietary Fiber: 1 g; Sugars: 7 g; Carbohydrates: 11 g; Exchanges: 1 Medium-Fat Meat, 3 Fat, 1 Carbohydrate

QUICK VEGAN CROCK POT APPLE CRUMBLE

This comes from Jolinda Hackett, About.com’s vegetarian Food expert. Jolinda wrote, “A quick and easy recipe for a vegan apple crumble (just like an apple crisp, if you prefer!) that you can make in your crockpot or slow cooker. Make sure to read the ingredients of whatever kind of granola you use, as many are not vegan.

“Refined sugar-free and vegan, this apple crumble or apple crisp recipe takes just minutes to prepare. It's made from fresh sliced apples sweetened with a bit of maple syrup (use real maple syrup, not bottled flavored corn syrup!) and topped off with a crumble granola, cinnamon and nutmeg topping. Using granola for the top of this apple crumble means that there's no bowls to get dirty and nothing to mix. Just sprinkle everything over the top of your crock pot or slow cooker.

“Like waking up to a hot and delicious breakfast or coming home to a sweet dessert already ready to go? You might also want to try this recipe for crockpot peach cobbler or scroll down for a few more vegetarian and vegan crockpot recipes including a few desserts.

“Enjoy!” Prep Time: 20 minutes; Cook Time: 480 minutes (8 hours); Total Time: 500 minutes; Yield: about 4 servings.

To view this online, click here.

Note: Jolinda’s Cranberry Peach Cobbler recipe follows immediately after this recipe.

Ingredients

4 apples, sliced

2 tbsp maple syrup

1/2 tsp cinnamon

1/4 tsp nutmeg

2 tbsp margarine

2 cups granola

Preparation

Place apples in your crock pot or slow cooker. Drizzle with maple syrup, spices and margarine, then cover with granola.

Cover and cook on low for 8 hours.

CRANBERRY PEACH COBBLER

As promised this also comes from Jolinda Hackett, About.com’s vegetarian Food expert. Jolinda wrote, “Crock Pot Cranberry Peach Cobbler makes for a sweet breakfast treat or a light dessert. The cranberries add texture and color, making for a vibrant and tasty recipe. Serve your crockpot peach cobbler recipe plain or with a dollop of whipped cream. This recipe is both vegetarian and vegan.”

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

5-6 peaches, sliced

2 tbsp flour

1/4 cup sugar

1/3 cup dried cranberries

1/4 tsp cinnamon

2/3 cup quick cooking oats

1 cup water

3 tbsp melted margarine

3/4 cup brown sugar

Preparation

Toss the peaches in the flour and sugar in a large mixing bowl. Add the cranberries, cinnamon and oats.

Place the water and peach mixture into the crock pot or slow cooker. Pour the the margarine over the peaches and and sprinkle with the brown sugar.

Cover and cook on low for 4 to 6 hours, or until peaches are tender.

APPLE PIE

This comes from Sam Sifton in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Sam wrote, “In 2013, at least, one of the great pie makers in New York City was Kierin Baldwin, the pastry chef at The Dutch in the SoHo neighborhood. This recipe is adapted from hers, for a plain apple pie. It benefits from heeding her advice to pre-cook the filling before baking. “Apple pies that have crunchy, raw apples in them are a pet peeve of mine,” Ms. Baldwin said. Peel and core the fruit, cut it into slices, then macerate them in a plume of sugar. Cook these soft with a splash of acid (like lemon juice or cider vinegar) and a hint of cinnamon and allspice, then add some starch to thicken the whole. Allow the mixture to cool completely before using it in the pie. (For everything you need to know to make the perfect pie crust, visit our pie guide.)” Yield: 8 servings; Time: 1 hour 30 minutes.

This was featured in “Pie Fidelity” and can be viewed online here.

Ingredients

2 tablespoons unsalted butter

2 1/2 pounds apples, peeled and cored, then cut into wedges (5 large honeycrisps will do it)

1/4 teaspoon ground allspice

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

3/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon sugar

2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

2 teaspoons cornstarch

1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar

1 recipe all-purpose pie dough (next recipe)

1 egg, lightly beaten

Preparations

Melt butter in a large saute pan set over medium-high heat and add apples to the pan. Stir to coat fruit with butter and cook, stirring occasionally. Meanwhile, whisk together the spices, salt and .75 cup sugar, and sprinkle this over the pan, stirring to combine. Lower heat and cook until apples have started to soften, approximately 5 to 7 minutes. Sprinkle the flour and cornstarch over the apples and continue to cook, stirring occasionally, another 3 to 5 minutes. Remove pan from heat, add cider vinegar, stir and scrape fruit mixture into a bowl and allow to cool completely. (The fruit mixture will cool faster if spread out on a rimmed baking sheet.)

Place a large baking sheet on the middle rack of oven and preheat to 425. Remove one disc of dough from the refrigerator and, using a pin, roll it out on a lightly floured surface until it is roughly 12 inches in diameter. Fit this crust into a 9-inch pie plate, trimming it to leave a .5-inch overhang. Place this plate, with the dough, in the freezer.

Roll out the remaining dough on a lightly floured surface until it is roughly 10 or 11 inches in diameter.

Remove pie crust from freezer and put the cooled pie filling into it. Cover with remaining dough. Press the edges together, trim the excess, then crimp the edges with the tines of a fork. Using a sharp knife, cut three or four steam vents in the top of the crust. Lightly brush the top of the pie with egg wash and sprinkle with remaining tablespoon of sugar.

Place pie in oven and bake on hot baking sheet for 20 minutes, then reduce temperature to 375. Continue to cook until the interior is bubbling and the crust is golden brown, about 30 to 40 minutes more. Remove and allow to cool on a windowsill or kitchen rack, about two hours.

ALL-PURPOSE PIE DOUGH

This also comes from Sam Sifton in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Time: 1 hour 15 minutes.

This can be found online here.

Ingredients

2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

6 tablespoons unsalted butter, cold, cut into 1/2-inch cubes

2 tablespoons vegetable shortening, cold

1/4 teaspoon of kosher salt

Yolk of 1 egg, beaten

1 teaspoon cider vinegar

1/4 cup water, from 3/4 cup ice water

Preparations

Using your fingertips or the pulse function of a food processor, blend together the flour, fats and salt until the mixture resembles a coarse meal. There should be pebbles of butter throughout the mixture.

Add egg yolk and vinegar to 1/4 cup ice water and stir to combine. Drizzle 4 tablespoons of this mixture over the dough and gently stir or pulse to combine. Gather a golfball-size bit of dough and squeeze to combine. If it does not hold together, add a little more of the liquid and stir or pulse, then check again. Repeat as necessary.

Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and gather together into a rough ball. You want to be careful not to overwork the flour, but not too careful; the dough should hold together. Divide the ball in half with a knife or a pastry scraper, then divide each portion in half again, and again, to create eight portions. Using the heel of your hand, flatten each portion of dough once or twice to expand the pebbles of butter, then gather the dough together again in one ball. Divide this ball in half.

Flatten each ball into a 5- or 6-inch disc and dust lightly with flour. Wrap the discs in plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator for at least 60 minutes.

Diabetic Thursday

It's time for another Diabetic Thursday. Here are today's six diabetic recipes to help you through the day, including Orange-Herbed Roast Turkey and Crumb Topped Cherry Pie. Enjoy!

NEW YORK CHEESECAKE

9 servings

Source: The Diabetes Snack Munch Nibble Nosh Book

Find this recipe at: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/794.shtml

Ingredients

3/4 cup very finely ground pecans (1 cup whole pecans)

1 (15 ounce) carton part-skim ricotta cheese

1 cup plain low-fat yogurt

1 cup Splenda

1/2 cup fat-free liquid egg substitute

2 tablespoons white flour

1 tablespoon vanilla extract

Zest (grated rind) of one small lemon

1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, at room temperature

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Spray a 10-inch springform pan with nonstick spray.

Sprinkle the ground pecans evenly over the pan bottom, patting them into place. The crust layer will be very light and may not entirely cover the bottom of the pan.

In a food processor, combine the ricotta, yogurt, Splenda, egg substitute, flour, vanilla, and lemon zest. Process until partially smoothed, about 1-1/2 minutes.

Cut the cream cheese into 9 or 10 chunks. One at a time, add the chunks through the feed tube. Process after each addition. Process until smooth - an additional 1-1/2 to 2 minutes.

Carefully spoon the mixture over the ground pecans.

Bake in the center of the preheated oven for 15 minutes.

Lower the oven temperature to 325 degrees F. and bake for an additional 50 to 60 minutes or until the cheesecake edges have begun to brown and the center is puffed and seems set when the surface is lightly tapped.

Remove to a rack and cool for 20 minutes. Refrigerate at least 6 hours or overnight until cooled. When cooled, cover with plastic wrap. If desired, top with cut fruit.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 272; Protein: 11 g; Fat: 21 g; Sodium: 178 mg; Cholesterol: 45 mg; Saturated Fat: 9 g; Dietary Fiber: 1 g; Sugars: 7 g; Carbohydrates: 11 g; Exchanges: 1 Medium-Fat Meat, 3 Fat, 1 Carbohydrate

PINEAPPLE UPSIDE-DOWN CAKE

Yield: 12 servings

Source: "Forbidden Foods Diabetic Cooking" by Maggie Powers

Info: http://diabeticgourmet.com/book_archive/details/12.shtml

Ingredients

2 tablespoons stick margarine

2 tablespoons firmly packed brown sugar

4 slices water-packed canned pineapple, drained

2 maraschino cherries, cut in half

1-1/4 cups all-purpose flour

1-1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

5 tablespoons stick margarine, softened

1/4 cup granulated sugar

1 egg

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/2 cup low-fat (1%) milk

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

In an 8x8 inch baking pan, over low heat, melt the margarine. Remove from the heat and stir in the brown sugar. Place the pineapple slices on the sugar mixture, centering the slices closely in the center of the pan so all the pieces are touching. Place a cherry half in the center of each pineapple slice.

In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt.

In another medium bowl, with an electric mixer at medium speed, beat the margarine and granulated sugar until blended, about 1 minute. Add the egg and vanilla and continue beating until smooth, about 30 seconds. The batter will be thin. Add the flour mixture to the batter in thirds, alternating with milk, blending until smooth, 2 minutes. Spoon the batter on top of the pineapple mixture and spread evenly.

Bake until golden brown, about 25-35 minutes. Unmold by sliding a thin knife around the cake, pressing against the pan. Invert onto a cake plate. Serve warm.

Nutritional Information Per Serving (1 piece): Calories: 148, Fat: 7 g, Cholesterol: 18 mg, Sodium: 231 mg, Carbohydrate: 18 g, Dietary Fiber: 0 g, Sugars: 8 g, Protein: 2 g, Diabetic Exchanges: 1 Carbohydrate, 1-1/2 Fat

GREEN BEAN SALAD

Yield: 3-3/4 cups (4 servings)

Source: The New Family Cookbook for People with Diabetes

Info: http://diabeticgourmet.com/book_archive/details/26.shtml

Ingredients

12 ounces fresh small green beans, ends trimmed

8 fresh mushrooms, sliced

1/2 cup chopped red onion

3 tablespoons canola or corn oil

1 tablespoon balsamic or red wine vinegar

1 clove garlic, minced

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper

Directions

Cook the green beans in a large pot of boiling water for 5 minutes; drain.

Plunge the beans into a bowl of ice water to stop the cooking and retain their bright green color. Drain and place in a large bowl.

Add the mushrooms and onions to the beans; toss to mix.

For the dressing, whisk the oil into the vinegar in a small bowl; add the remaining ingredients and pour over the green beans. toss lightly. Serve immediately.

Nutritional Information Per Serving (about 1 cup): Calories: 136, Fat: 11 g, Cholesterol: 0 mg, Sodium: 295 mg, Carbohydrate: 9 g, Dietary Fiber: 3 g, Sugars: 3 g, Protein: 2 g, Diabetic Exchanges: 2 Vegetable, 2 Fat

VEGETABLE CHILI

Yield: 9 servings

Source: "The Eating Well Diabetes Cookbook"

Info: http://diabeticgourmet.com/book_archive/details/87.shtml

Ingredients

1 tablespoon canola oil

1 large onion, chopped

1 clove garlic, minced

2 tablespoons chili powder

2 teaspoons ground cumin

1 pound zucchini (2 medium), cut into 1/2-inch chunks

1/4 cup thinly sliced sun-dried tomatoes (not packed in oil)

1-1/2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

2 (15-1/2 ounce) cans pinto beans, rinsed

2 cups vegetable broth

2 cups fresh corn kernels (from 4 ears) or frozen

1 (14-1/2 ounce) can diced tomatoes

1/3 cup chopped fresh cilantro

Freshly ground pepper to taste

Directions

Heat oil in a Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add onion and cook, stirring, until golden, 2 to 3 minutes. Reduce heat to medium-low. Add garlic, chili powder and cumin; cook, stirring constantly, until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add zucchini and sun-dried tomatoes; cook, stirring, for 2 minutes more.

Add flour and beans; cook, stirring, for 1 minute. Add broth, corn and tomatoes. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low and simmer, partially covered, until the zucchini is tender 15 to 20 minutes. Stir in cilantro and season with pepper.

Nutritional Information Per Serving (1 cup each): Calories: 173, Fat: 3 g, Cholesterol: 0 mg, Carbohydrate: 33 g, Protein: 8 g, Fiber: 9 g, Sodium: 293 mg, Diabetic Exchanges: 1-1/2 Starch, 1 Vegetable, 1 Very Lean Meat

ORANGE-HERBED ROAST TURKEY

Servings: 24

View recipe: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/76.shtml

Print Friendly: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/bin/print.cgi?ID=76

Source: Family Circle's "All-time Favorite Recipes

Ingredients

1 orange

1 tablespoon light-brown sugar or light-brown sugar substitute

1-1/2 teaspoons poultry seasoning

1 teaspoon salt

1 bunch green onions

1 cup chopped fresh parsley (reserve stems)

1 turkey (about 17 pounds)

For Gravy:

1/2 cup milk

6 tablespoons all-purpose flour

3/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon poultry seasoning

Directions

Heat oven to 350 degrees F.

Remove rind from orange with a vegetable peeler, avoiding bitter white pith. Finely chop rind. Cut orange in half; juice orange halves. Reserve juice for making gravy; reserve orange halves.

Combine rind, brown sugar/brown sugar substitute, poultry seasoning and salt in a small bowl. Finely chop white part of green onions; reserve green part. Add chopped green onions and chopped parsley to rind mixture.

Remove neck and giblets from turkey cavity. With your fingers, carefully loosen skin around turkey breast and legs. Spread rind mixture under the skin. Place parsley stems, green onion ends and orange halves in turkey cavity.

Place turkey on a rack in a large roasting pan. Place neck and gizzards in bottom of pan. Loosely tent turkey with aluminum foil. Roast in heated 350 degree oven 3-1/2 hours or until an instant-read thermometer registers an internal temperature of 180 degrees F in innermost part of thigh and 170 degrees in breast.

Remove turkey to a platter. Discard neck and gizzard. Cover loosely with foil; let stand 20 minutes.

Meanwhile, prepare gravy: Scrape pan drippings into a 1-quart liquid measuring cup. Skim off fat. Add water to equal 4 cups. Pour into a medium-size saucepan along with reserved orange juice. Bring to simmering.

Whisk together milk, flour, salt and poultry seasoning in a small bowl until smooth. Stir into saucepan. Simmer over medium-high heat, stirring, 4 minutes or until gravy is thickened. Serve with carved turkey.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 397; Protein: 28 g; Fat: 12 g; Sodium: 218 mg; Carbohydrates: 3 g; Exchanges: 4 Low-Fat Meat

CRUMB TOPPED CHERRY PIE

Servings: 12

Source: Sweet Inspirations by Patti Lynch

View recipe: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/87.shtml

Print Friendly: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/bin/print.cgi?ID=87

Ingredients

Pastry for a one-crust pie

2 (1lb) cans red tart cherries (packed in water)

1/2 cup fruit sweetener** (1/4 cup frozen apple juice concentrate plus 1/4 cup granulated fructose)

3 tbsp cornstarch

1/4 cup water

1/4 tsp salt

1 tsp. grated lemon peel

2 tbsp lemon juice

A few drops of red food coloring (optional)

2 tbsp almond flavoring

Topping Ingredients:

1/4 cup flour

1/2 cup instant mashed potato or buds

1/4 cup fruit sweetener** (1/8 cup frozen apple juice concentrate plus 1/8 cup granulated fructose)

1 tsp cinnamon

1/4 tsp nutmeg

1/4 cup margarine

**You can find commercial fruit sweeteners, ordinarily a combination of concentrated peach & pear juices and unsweetened pineapple syrup, in health food stores, gourmet food stores and large grocery outlets. It tastes 1-1/2 to 2 times sweeter than refined sugar. You can also make your own fruit sweetener. For example, if a recipe calls for 1/2 cup fruit sweetener, you can substitute 1/4 cup concentrated apple juice + 1/4 cup granulated fructose.

Directions

Line 9-inch pie pan with prepared pastry. Set aside.

Drain cherries, reserving one cup of the liquid.

In a saucepan, combine cornstarch and 1/4 cup water, stirring until smooth. Add cherry liquid, fruit sweetener and salt. Simmer mixture over medium heat, stirring constantly, until it thickens. Remove from heat and add cherries, peel, lemon juice, food coloring and almond flavoring. Pour into prepared pie shell.

Combine last six ingredients and blend to crumbly consistency. Sprinkle over pie filling. Bake 30 minutes at 350 degrees. Cut into 12 pieces.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 178; Protein: 2 g; Fat: 8 g; Sodium: 128 mg; Carbohydrates: 26 g; Exchanges: 1 Bread/Starch, 2/3 Fruit, 1-1/2 Fat

Double-Post Monday

Besides being Meatless Monday, it's also Double-Post Monday. This week's post deals with Thanksgiving.

Are you ready for Thanksgiving? I'm almost there...

If you're in the U.S., you know that this Thursday is Thanksgiving. It seems that everyone has some way to celebrate, whether it's a large gathering for a large, extended family, or a smaller, intimate affair. We all have our traditions, which seem to evolve over the years.

While turkey is frequently the main thing many people think of when it comes to Thanksgiving dinner, we all seem to love desserts, too. (Well, most of us do.)

Here are six dessert recipes to help you through your Thanksgiving, as well as any other time, including Quick Vegan Crock Pot Apple Crumble and Cranberry Peach Cobbler. Hope your Thanksgiving is nice. Enjoy!

CREAMY LEMONADE PIE

This comes from a long-since-forgotten-emailing-list.

1 (5 oz) can evaporated milk

1 (3.4 oz) pkg. instant lemon pudding mix

2 (8 oz) pkg. cream cheese softened

3/4 C. lemonade concentrate

1 graham cracker crust

In a mixing bowl combine milk and pudding mix; beat on low speed for 2 minutes. In another mixing bowl, beat cream cheese until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Gradually beat in lemonade concentrate. Gradually beat in pudding mixture. Pour into crust. Cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours.

NEW YORK CHEESECAKE

A friend of mine, Kevin, used to regale me with stories of making tons of cheesecake for family holiday meals. While his weren't diabetic-friendly, this still reminded me of Kevin. Since Kev isn't well, I wanted to post this in honor of him.

9 servings

Source: The Diabetes Snack Munch Nibble Nosh Book

Find this recipe at: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/794.shtml

Ingredients

3/4 cup very finely ground pecans (1 cup whole pecans)

1 (15 ounce) carton part-skim ricotta cheese

1 cup plain low-fat yogurt

1 cup Splenda

1/2 cup fat-free liquid egg substitute

2 tablespoons white flour

1 tablespoon vanilla extract

Zest (grated rind) of one small lemon

1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, at room temperature

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Spray a 10-inch springform pan with nonstick spray.

Sprinkle the ground pecans evenly over the pan bottom, patting them into place. The crust layer will be very light and may not entirely cover the bottom of the pan.

In a food processor, combine the ricotta, yogurt, Splenda, egg substitute, flour, vanilla, and lemon zest. Process until partially smoothed, about 1-1/2 minutes.

Cut the cream cheese into 9 or 10 chunks. One at a time, add the chunks through the feed tube. Process after each addition. Process until smooth - an additional 1-1/2 to 2 minutes.

Carefully spoon the mixture over the ground pecans.

Bake in the center of the preheated oven for 15 minutes.

Lower the oven temperature to 325 degrees F. and bake for an additional 50 to 60 minutes or until the cheesecake edges have begun to brown and the center is puffed and seems set when the surface is lightly tapped.

Remove to a rack and cool for 20 minutes. Refrigerate at least 6 hours or overnight until cooled. When cooled, cover with plastic wrap. If desired, top with cut fruit.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 272; Protein: 11 g; Fat: 21 g; Sodium: 178 mg; Cholesterol: 45 mg; Saturated Fat: 9 g; Dietary Fiber: 1 g; Sugars: 7 g; Carbohydrates: 11 g; Exchanges: 1 Medium-Fat Meat, 3 Fat, 1 Carbohydrate

QUICK VEGAN CROCK POT APPLE CRUMBLE

This comes from Jolinda Hackett, About.com’s vegetarian Food expert. Jolinda wrote, “A quick and easy recipe for a vegan apple crumble (just like an apple crisp, if you prefer!) that you can make in your crockpot or slow cooker. Make sure to read the ingredients of whatever kind of granola you use, as many are not vegan.

“Refined sugar-free and vegan, this apple crumble or apple crisp recipe takes just minutes to prepare. It's made from fresh sliced apples sweetened with a bit of maple syrup (use real maple syrup, not bottled flavored corn syrup!) and topped off with a crumble granola, cinnamon and nutmeg topping. Using granola for the top of this apple crumble means that there's no bowls to get dirty and nothing to mix. Just sprinkle everything over the top of your crock pot or slow cooker.

“Like waking up to a hot and delicious breakfast or coming home to a sweet dessert already ready to go? You might also want to try this recipe for crockpot peach cobbler or scroll down for a few more vegetarian and vegan crockpot recipes including a few desserts.

“Enjoy!” Prep Time: 20 minutes; Cook Time: 480 minutes (8 hours); Total Time: 500 minutes; Yield: about 4 servings.

To view this online, click here.

Note: Jolinda’s Cranberry Peach Cobbler recipe follows immediately after this recipe.

Ingredients

4 apples, sliced

2 tbsp maple syrup

1/2 tsp cinnamon

1/4 tsp nutmeg

2 tbsp margarine

2 cups granola

Preparation

Place apples in your crock pot or slow cooker. Drizzle with maple syrup, spices and margarine, then cover with granola.

Cover and cook on low for 8 hours.

CRANBERRY PEACH COBBLER

As promised this also comes from Jolinda Hackett, About.com’s vegetarian Food expert. Jolinda wrote, “Crock Pot Cranberry Peach Cobbler makes for a sweet breakfast treat or a light dessert. The cranberries add texture and color, making for a vibrant and tasty recipe. Serve your crockpot peach cobbler recipe plain or with a dollop of whipped cream. This recipe is both vegetarian and vegan.”

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

5-6 peaches, sliced

2 tbsp flour

1/4 cup sugar

1/3 cup dried cranberries

1/4 tsp cinnamon

2/3 cup quick cooking oats

1 cup water

3 tbsp melted margarine

3/4 cup brown sugar

Preparation

Toss the peaches in the flour and sugar in a large mixing bowl. Add the cranberries, cinnamon and oats.

Place the water and peach mixture into the crock pot or slow cooker. Pour the the margarine over the peaches and and sprinkle with the brown sugar.

Cover and cook on low for 4 to 6 hours, or until peaches are tender.

APPLE PIE

This comes from Sam Sifton in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Sam wrote, “In 2013, at least, one of the great pie makers in New York City was Kierin Baldwin, the pastry chef at The Dutch in the SoHo neighborhood. This recipe is adapted from hers, for a plain apple pie. It benefits from heeding her advice to pre-cook the filling before baking. “Apple pies that have crunchy, raw apples in them are a pet peeve of mine,” Ms. Baldwin said. Peel and core the fruit, cut it into slices, then macerate them in a plume of sugar. Cook these soft with a splash of acid (like lemon juice or cider vinegar) and a hint of cinnamon and allspice, then add some starch to thicken the whole. Allow the mixture to cool completely before using it in the pie. (For everything you need to know to make the perfect pie crust, visit our pie guide.)” Yield: 8 servings; Time: 1 hour 30 minutes.

This was featured in “Pie Fidelity” and can be viewed online here.

Ingredients

2 tablespoons unsalted butter

2 1/2 pounds apples, peeled and cored, then cut into wedges (5 large honeycrisps will do it)

1/4 teaspoon ground allspice

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

3/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon sugar

2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

2 teaspoons cornstarch

1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar

1 recipe all-purpose pie dough (next recipe)

1 egg, lightly beaten

Preparations

Melt butter in a large saute pan set over medium-high heat and add apples to the pan. Stir to coat fruit with butter and cook, stirring occasionally. Meanwhile, whisk together the spices, salt and .75 cup sugar, and sprinkle this over the pan, stirring to combine. Lower heat and cook until apples have started to soften, approximately 5 to 7 minutes. Sprinkle the flour and cornstarch over the apples and continue to cook, stirring occasionally, another 3 to 5 minutes. Remove pan from heat, add cider vinegar, stir and scrape fruit mixture into a bowl and allow to cool completely. (The fruit mixture will cool faster if spread out on a rimmed baking sheet.)

Place a large baking sheet on the middle rack of oven and preheat to 425. Remove one disc of dough from the refrigerator and, using a pin, roll it out on a lightly floured surface until it is roughly 12 inches in diameter. Fit this crust into a 9-inch pie plate, trimming it to leave a .5-inch overhang. Place this plate, with the dough, in the freezer.

Roll out the remaining dough on a lightly floured surface until it is roughly 10 or 11 inches in diameter.

Remove pie crust from freezer and put the cooled pie filling into it. Cover with remaining dough. Press the edges together, trim the excess, then crimp the edges with the tines of a fork. Using a sharp knife, cut three or four steam vents in the top of the crust. Lightly brush the top of the pie with egg wash and sprinkle with remaining tablespoon of sugar.

Place pie in oven and bake on hot baking sheet for 20 minutes, then reduce temperature to 375. Continue to cook until the interior is bubbling and the crust is golden brown, about 30 to 40 minutes more. Remove and allow to cool on a windowsill or kitchen rack, about two hours.

ALL-PURPOSE PIE DOUGH

This also comes from Sam Sifton in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Time: 1 hour 15 minutes.

This can be found online here.

Ingredients

2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

6 tablespoons unsalted butter, cold, cut into 1/2-inch cubes

2 tablespoons vegetable shortening, cold

1/4 teaspoon of kosher salt

Yolk of 1 egg, beaten

1 teaspoon cider vinegar

1/4 cup water, from 3/4 cup ice water

Preparations

Using your fingertips or the pulse function of a food processor, blend together the flour, fats and salt until the mixture resembles a coarse meal. There should be pebbles of butter throughout the mixture.

Add egg yolk and vinegar to 1/4 cup ice water and stir to combine. Drizzle 4 tablespoons of this mixture over the dough and gently stir or pulse to combine. Gather a golfball-size bit of dough and squeeze to combine. If it does not hold together, add a little more of the liquid and stir or pulse, then check again. Repeat as necessary.

Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and gather together into a rough ball. You want to be careful not to overwork the flour, but not too careful; the dough should hold together. Divide the ball in half with a knife or a pastry scraper, then divide each portion in half again, and again, to create eight portions. Using the heel of your hand, flatten each portion of dough once or twice to expand the pebbles of butter, then gather the dough together again in one ball. Divide this ball in half.

Flatten each ball into a 5- or 6-inch disc and dust lightly with flour. Wrap the discs in plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator for at least 60 minutes.

Dessert!

Are you ready for Thanksgiving? I'm almost there...

If you're in the U.S., you know that this Thursday is Thanksgiving. It seems that everyone has some way to celebrate, whether it's a large gathering for a large, extended family, or a smaller, intimate affair. We all have our traditions, which seem to evolve over the years.

While turkey is frequently the main thing many people think of when it comes to Thanksgiving dinner, we all seem to love desserts, too. (Well, most of us do.)

Here are six dessert recipes to help you through your Thanksgiving, as well as any other time. Hope your Thanksgiving is nice. Enjoy!

CREAMY LEMONADE PIE

This comes from a long-since-forgotten-emailing-list.

1 (5 oz) can evaporated milk

1 (3.4 oz) pkg. instant lemon pudding mix

2 (8 oz) pkg. cream cheese softened

3/4 C. lemonade concentrate

1 graham cracker crust

In a mixing bowl combine milk and pudding mix; beat on low speed for 2 minutes. In another mixing bowl, beat cream cheese until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Gradually beat in lemonade concentrate. Gradually beat in pudding mixture. Pour into crust. Cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours.

NEW YORK CHEESECAKE

A friend of mine, Kevin, used to regale me with stories of making tons of cheesecake for family holiday meals. While his weren't diabetic-friendly, this still reminded me of Kevin. Since Kev isn't well, I wanted to post this in honor of him.

9 servings

Source: The Diabetes Snack Munch Nibble Nosh Book

Find this recipe at: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/794.shtml

Ingredients

3/4 cup very finely ground pecans (1 cup whole pecans)

1 (15 ounce) carton part-skim ricotta cheese

1 cup plain low-fat yogurt

1 cup Splenda

1/2 cup fat-free liquid egg substitute

2 tablespoons white flour

1 tablespoon vanilla extract

Zest (grated rind) of one small lemon

1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, at room temperature

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Spray a 10-inch springform pan with nonstick spray.

Sprinkle the ground pecans evenly over the pan bottom, patting them into place. The crust layer will be very light and may not entirely cover the bottom of the pan.

In a food processor, combine the ricotta, yogurt, Splenda, egg substitute, flour, vanilla, and lemon zest. Process until partially smoothed, about 1-1/2 minutes.

Cut the cream cheese into 9 or 10 chunks. One at a time, add the chunks through the feed tube. Process after each addition. Process until smooth - an additional 1-1/2 to 2 minutes.

Carefully spoon the mixture over the ground pecans.

Bake in the center of the preheated oven for 15 minutes.

Lower the oven temperature to 325 degrees F. and bake for an additional 50 to 60 minutes or until the cheesecake edges have begun to brown and the center is puffed and seems set when the surface is lightly tapped.

Remove to a rack and cool for 20 minutes. Refrigerate at least 6 hours or overnight until cooled. When cooled, cover with plastic wrap. If desired, top with cut fruit.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 272; Protein: 11 g; Fat: 21 g; Sodium: 178 mg; Cholesterol: 45 mg; Saturated Fat: 9 g; Dietary Fiber: 1 g; Sugars: 7 g; Carbohydrates: 11 g; Exchanges: 1 Medium-Fat Meat, 3 Fat, 1 Carbohydrate

QUICK VEGAN CROCK POT APPLE CRUMBLE

This comes from Jolinda Hackett, About.com’s vegetarian Food expert. Jolinda wrote, “A quick and easy recipe for a vegan apple crumble (just like an apple crisp, if you prefer!) that you can make in your crockpot or slow cooker. Make sure to read the ingredients of whatever kind of granola you use, as many are not vegan.

“Refined sugar-free and vegan, this apple crumble or apple crisp recipe takes just minutes to prepare. It's made from fresh sliced apples sweetened with a bit of maple syrup (use real maple syrup, not bottled flavored corn syrup!) and topped off with a crumble granola, cinnamon and nutmeg topping. Using granola for the top of this apple crumble means that there's no bowls to get dirty and nothing to mix. Just sprinkle everything over the top of your crock pot or slow cooker.

“Like waking up to a hot and delicious breakfast or coming home to a sweet dessert already ready to go? You might also want to try this recipe for crockpot peach cobbler or scroll down for a few more vegetarian and vegan crockpot recipes including a few desserts.

“Enjoy!” Prep Time: 20 minutes; Cook Time: 480 minutes (8 hours); Total Time: 500 minutes; Yield: about 4 servings.

To view this online, click here.

Note: Jolinda’s Cranberry Peach Cobbler recipe follows immediately after this recipe.

Ingredients

4 apples, sliced

2 tbsp maple syrup

1/2 tsp cinnamon

1/4 tsp nutmeg

2 tbsp margarine

2 cups granola

Preparation

Place apples in your crock pot or slow cooker. Drizzle with maple syrup, spices and margarine, then cover with granola.

Cover and cook on low for 8 hours.

CRANBERRY PEACH COBBLER

As promised this also comes from Jolinda Hackett, About.com’s vegetarian Food expert. Jolinda wrote, “Crock Pot Cranberry Peach Cobbler makes for a sweet breakfast treat or a light dessert. The cranberries add texture and color, making for a vibrant and tasty recipe. Serve your crockpot peach cobbler recipe plain or with a dollop of whipped cream. This recipe is both vegetarian and vegan.”

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

5-6 peaches, sliced

2 tbsp flour

1/4 cup sugar

1/3 cup dried cranberries

1/4 tsp cinnamon

2/3 cup quick cooking oats

1 cup water

3 tbsp melted margarine

3/4 cup brown sugar

Preparation

Toss the peaches in the flour and sugar in a large mixing bowl. Add the cranberries, cinnamon and oats.

Place the water and peach mixture into the crock pot or slow cooker. Pour the the margarine over the peaches and and sprinkle with the brown sugar.

Cover and cook on low for 4 to 6 hours, or until peaches are tender.

APPLE PIE

This comes from Sam Sifton in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Sam wrote, “In 2013, at least, one of the great pie makers in New York City was Kierin Baldwin, the pastry chef at The Dutch in the SoHo neighborhood. This recipe is adapted from hers, for a plain apple pie. It benefits from heeding her advice to pre-cook the filling before baking. “Apple pies that have crunchy, raw apples in them are a pet peeve of mine,” Ms. Baldwin said. Peel and core the fruit, cut it into slices, then macerate them in a plume of sugar. Cook these soft with a splash of acid (like lemon juice or cider vinegar) and a hint of cinnamon and allspice, then add some starch to thicken the whole. Allow the mixture to cool completely before using it in the pie. (For everything you need to know to make the perfect pie crust, visit our pie guide.)” Yield: 8 servings; Time: 1 hour 30 minutes.

This was featured in “Pie Fidelity” and can be viewed online here.

Ingredients

2 tablespoons unsalted butter

2 1/2 pounds apples, peeled and cored, then cut into wedges (5 large honeycrisps will do it)

1/4 teaspoon ground allspice

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

3/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon sugar

2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

2 teaspoons cornstarch

1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar

1 recipe all-purpose pie dough (next recipe)

1 egg, lightly beaten

Preparations

Melt butter in a large saute pan set over medium-high heat and add apples to the pan. Stir to coat fruit with butter and cook, stirring occasionally. Meanwhile, whisk together the spices, salt and .75 cup sugar, and sprinkle this over the pan, stirring to combine. Lower heat and cook until apples have started to soften, approximately 5 to 7 minutes. Sprinkle the flour and cornstarch over the apples and continue to cook, stirring occasionally, another 3 to 5 minutes. Remove pan from heat, add cider vinegar, stir and scrape fruit mixture into a bowl and allow to cool completely. (The fruit mixture will cool faster if spread out on a rimmed baking sheet.)

Place a large baking sheet on the middle rack of oven and preheat to 425. Remove one disc of dough from the refrigerator and, using a pin, roll it out on a lightly floured surface until it is roughly 12 inches in diameter. Fit this crust into a 9-inch pie plate, trimming it to leave a .5-inch overhang. Place this plate, with the dough, in the freezer.

Roll out the remaining dough on a lightly floured surface until it is roughly 10 or 11 inches in diameter.

Remove pie crust from freezer and put the cooled pie filling into it. Cover with remaining dough. Press the edges together, trim the excess, then crimp the edges with the tines of a fork. Using a sharp knife, cut three or four steam vents in the top of the crust. Lightly brush the top of the pie with egg wash and sprinkle with remaining tablespoon of sugar.

Place pie in oven and bake on hot baking sheet for 20 minutes, then reduce temperature to 375. Continue to cook until the interior is bubbling and the crust is golden brown, about 30 to 40 minutes more. Remove and allow to cool on a windowsill or kitchen rack, about two hours.

ALL-PURPOSE PIE DOUGH

This also comes from Sam Sifton in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Time: 1 hour 15 minutes.

This can be found online here.

Ingredients

2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

6 tablespoons unsalted butter, cold, cut into 1/2-inch cubes

2 tablespoons vegetable shortening, cold

1/4 teaspoon of kosher salt

Yolk of 1 egg, beaten

1 teaspoon cider vinegar

1/4 cup water, from 3/4 cup ice water

Preparations

Using your fingertips or the pulse function of a food processor, blend together the flour, fats and salt until the mixture resembles a coarse meal. There should be pebbles of butter throughout the mixture.

Add egg yolk and vinegar to 1/4 cup ice water and stir to combine. Drizzle 4 tablespoons of this mixture over the dough and gently stir or pulse to combine. Gather a golfball-size bit of dough and squeeze to combine. If it does not hold together, add a little more of the liquid and stir or pulse, then check again. Repeat as necessary.

Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and gather together into a rough ball. You want to be careful not to overwork the flour, but not too careful; the dough should hold together. Divide the ball in half with a knife or a pastry scraper, then divide each portion in half again, and again, to create eight portions. Using the heel of your hand, flatten each portion of dough once or twice to expand the pebbles of butter, then gather the dough together again in one ball. Divide this ball in half.

Flatten each ball into a 5- or 6-inch disc and dust lightly with flour. Wrap the discs in plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator for at least 60 minutes.

Diabetic Thursday

Since it's Thursday, it's time for six diabetic recipes, including Bittersweet Chocolate Torte and New York Cheesecake. Who knew you could have that kind of yumminess and stay within diabetic guidelines? Enjoy!

Note: Don't be intimidated about trying these recipes, even if you're not a diabetic or cooking for someone with diabetes. You can still try your hand at these recipes. And if you or a loved-one are diabetic and you're looking for more diabetic recipes, check out my diabetic blog, Diabetic Delights: A Confessions of a Foodie Offspring. Lots of recipes, as well as an occasional article on living with diabetes.

BITTERSWEET CHOCOLATE TORTE

Serves: 12

See the recipe here: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/957.shtml

Ingredients

Torte Ingredients:

6 tablespoons stick butter or margarine

4 ounces unsweetened chocolate

1/3 cup fat-free milk

1/3 cup sugar-free apricot preserves or apricot spreadable fruit

2 teaspoons instant coffee crystals

1 egg yolk

1 teaspoon vanilla

1-1/2 cups Equal Spoonful or Granulated*

3 egg whites

1/8 teaspoon cream of tartar

1/4 cup all-purpose flour

1/8 teaspoon salt

Rich Chocolate Glaze Ingredients:

1 ounce semi-sweet chocolate

1 tablespoon stick butter or margarine

Whipped topping, fresh raspberries, and/or fresh mint (optional)

* May substitute 36 packets Equal sweetener

Directions

For Torte, heat 6 tablespoons butter, 4 ounces unsweetened chocolate, milk, preserves and coffee crystals in small saucepan, whisking frequently until chocolate is almost melted.

Remove pan from heat; continue whisking until chocolate is melted and mixture is smooth. Whisk in egg yolk and vanilla. Add Equal, whisking until smooth.

Lightly grease bottom of an 8-inch round cake pan and line with parchment or waxed paper. Beat egg whites and cream of tartar to stiff peaks in large bowl. Fold chocolate mixture into egg whites; fold in combined flour and salt. Pour cake batter into pan.

Bake in preheated 350 F oven 20 to 25 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Do not over bake. Carefully loosen side of cake from pan with small sharp knife, which will keep cake from cracking as it cools. Cool cake completely in pan on wire rack. Cover and refrigerate 1 to 2 hours or until chilled.

For Rich Chocolate Glaze, melt 1 ounce semi-sweet chocolate and 1 tablespoon butter in small saucepan, stirring frequently.

Remove cake from pan and place on serving plate. Pour Rich Chocolate Glaze over top of cake, letting it run down sides. Let cake stand about 1 hour or until glaze is set. Garnish top of cake with prepared whipped topping, fresh raspberries and fresh mint, if desired. Cut cake into wedges.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 145; Protein: 3 g; Fat: 12 g; Sodium: 116 mg; Cholesterol: 36 mg; Carbohydrates: 9 g; Exchanges: 1/2 starch, 2 fat

COLORFUL STUFFED PEPPERS

Yield: 4 servings

See the recipe with photo here: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/1321.shtml

Ingredients

2 bell peppers, preferably a mix of yellow, green or red

1/2 (16-ounce) package Jennie-O Extra Lean Ground Turkey Breast

1/4 cup chopped onion

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 tablespoon fresh basil or 1 teaspoon dried basil leaves

1/4 teaspoon salt, if desired

1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

1 (14-1/2-ounce) can low-sodium diced tomatoes or seasoned diced tomatoes, drained

1/2 cup cooked white or brown rice

3/4 cup shredded low-fat Cheddar cheese, divided

paprika, if desired

fresh parsley, if desired

Directions

Heat oven to 375F.

Cut bell peppers lengthwise through stems keeping stem halves intact to hold stuffing. Discard seeds and veins.

Cook peppers in boiling salted water 5 to 6 minutes or until crisp-tender. Drain and immediately place peppers in ice water to stop cooking process. Drain peppers well and place cut side up in 8 x 8-inch baking dish.

Cook ground turkey as specified on the package. Always cook to well-done, 165F as measured by a meat thermometer.

Add onion, garlic, basil, salt, if desired, ground pepper, tomatoes, and rice; continue to cook 5 to 6 minutes or until heated through and most of the juices have reduced.

Remove meat mixture from heat and stir in 1/2 cup cheese.

Mound heaping 1/2 cup of mixture into each pepper half.

Bake 20 minutes or until filling is hot and peppers are tender. Always cook to an internal temperature of 165F.

Remove peppers from oven and sprinkle remaining 1/4 cup cheese on top of peppers. Sprinkle with paprika and parsley, if desired.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 160; Protein: 20 g; Fat: 2.5 g; Sodium: 210 mg; Cholesterol: 30 mg; Saturated Fat: 1 g; Dietary Fiber: 3 g; Sugars: 5 g; Carbohydrates: 14 g

GRILLED CHICKEN WITH ARUGULA AND LEMON VINAIGRETTE

Yield: 4 servings

Print: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/913.shtml

Ingredients

4 packed cups baby arugula leaves

2 packed cups baby spinach leaves

6 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice

1/2 tsp. salt

1/4 tsp. ground black pepper

1 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil

1 lb. skinless and boneless chicken breast, cut into 4 pieces

Cooking spray, preferably olive oil

Directions

Heat grill to medium-high heat. If using a ridged grill pan indoors, set over high heat until very hot.

In large mixing bowl, combine arugula and spinach. Cover and refrigerate.

In small bowl, whisk lemon juice and salt until salt dissolves. Add ground pepper and whisk in oil until combined. Set dressing aside.

One at a time, place each piece of chicken breast between two pieces of wax paper. Using the flat side of a meat mallet (or bottom of a small, heavy skillet), pound chicken until evenly 1/8-inch thick. If chicken pieces are thick, turning over several times may be necessary. Coat chicken lightly on both sides with cooking spray. If desired, season lightly with salt and pepper.

Grill chicken until white in center, turning it once, about 3 minutes each side.

While chicken grills, pour dressing over greens. Using tongs, turn until well coated. To serve, place one piece chicken on each of 4 dinner plates. Mound 1/4 of salad on top of each.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 170; Protein: 27 g; Sodium: 390 mg; Fat: 5 g; Saturated Fat: 1 g; Carbohydrates: 4 g

ROASTED CHICKEN SALAD WITH NAPA CABBAGE

Yield: 4 servings

Print: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/860.shtml

Source: Express Lane Diabetic Cooking

Book Info: http://diabeticgourmet.com/book_archive/details/9.shtml

Ingredients

1 pound roasted white-meat deli chicken (either pulled from a whole chicken and skinned or from sliced chicken), cubed or shredded

1 cup fresh snow pea pods, halved

1/2 cup julienne baby carrot strips

1/2 cup low-fat Oriental salad dressing or low-fat vinaigrette

4 cups shredded Napa cabbage

Directions

In a large nonstick skillet over medium heat, heat the chicken, snow pea pods, carrots, and garlic. Cover and cook for 2 minutes. Stir in dressing. Remove from heat.

In a large bowl, combine the cabbage and chicken mixture; toss together until mixed.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 285; Protein: 34 g; Sodium: 416 mg; Cholesterol: 100 mg; Fat: 13 g; Dietary Fiber: 1 g; Sugars: 4 g; Carbohydrates: 7 g; Exchanges: 1/2 Carbohydrate, 4 Lean Meat, 1/2 Fat

NEW YORK CHEESECAKE

Yield: 9 servings

Source: "The Diabetes Snack Munch Nibble Nosh Book"

Info: http://diabeticgourmet.com/book_archive/details/1.shtml

Print version: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/794.shtml

Ingredients

3/4 cup very finely ground pecans (1 cup whole pecans)

1 (15 ounce) carton part-skim ricotta cheese

1 cup plain low-fat yogurt

1 cup Splenda

1/2 cup fat-free liquid egg substitute

2 tablespoons white flour

1 tablespoon vanilla extract

Zest (grated rind) of one small lemon

1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, at room temperature

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Spray a 10-inch springform pan with nonstick spray.

Sprinkle the ground pecans evenly over the pan bottom, patting them into place. The crust layer will be very light and may not entirely cover the bottom of the pan.

In a food processor, combine the ricotta, yogurt, Splenda, egg substitute, flour, vanilla, and lemon zest. Process until partially smoothed, about 1-1/2 minutes.

Cut the cream cheese into 9 or 10 chunks. One at a time, add the chunks through the feed tube. Process after each addition. Process until smooth - an additional 1-1/2 to 2 minutes.

Carefully spoon the mixture over the ground pecans.

Bake in the center of the preheated oven for 15 minutes.

Lower the oven temperature to 325 degrees F. and bake for an additional 50 to 60 minutes or until the cheesecake edges have begun to brown and the center is puffed and seems set when the surface is lightly tapped.

Remove to a rack and cool for 20 minutes. Refrigerate at least 6 hours or overnight until cooled. When cooled, cover with plastic wrap. If desired, top with cut fruit.

Nutritional Information Per Serving (1/9 of cheesecake): Calories: 272, Fat: 21 g, Saturated Fat: 9 g, Cholesterol: 45 mg, Sodium: 178 mg, Carbohydrate: 11 g, Dietary Fiber: 1 g, Sugars: 7 g, Protein: 11 g, Diabetic Exchanges: 1 Medium-Fat Meat, 3 Fat, 1 Carbohydrate

ROASTED ASPARAGUS WITH BACON

This recipe begins, “Crisp asparagus, roasted with turkey bacon creates an irresistible side dish.”

Makes 8 servings

See the recipe with photo here: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/1340.shtml

Ingredients

2 pounds fresh asparagus, trimmed

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 (12-ounce) package Jennie-O turkey bacon, chopped

Directions

Heat oven to 425F.

Place asparagus on large rimmed baking sheet.

Toss asparagus with olive oil and turkey bacon.

Spread in single layer.

Roast 15 to 20 minutes or until asparagus in crisp tender.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 140; Protein: 8 g; Fat: 11 g; Sodium: 370 mg; Cholesterol: 30 mg; Saturated Fat: 2 g; Dietary Fiber: 2 g; Sugars: 2 g ; Carbohydrates: 4 g