Diabetic Thursday

Before we get to the recipes, here is a recall that you need to know about. It was posted recently in The Diabetic News emailed newsletter. The article, titled “Nationwide Recall of Acetaminophen Tablets” is a must-read if you use acetaminophen (the active ingredient in Tylenol) and have used the Medline Industries brand. To read the article, go to http://thediabeticnews.com/acetaminophen-recall/.

And now, for today's six recipes. Enjoy!

MINI MEATBALL APPETIZERS WITH APRICOT DIP

Yield: 36 mini meatballs, 1 per serving

Find this recipe at: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/1281.shtml

Ingredients

1 pound Ground Beef (96% lean)

1/4 cup seasoned dry bread crumbs

2 egg whites or 1 egg, beaten

2 tablespoons water

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/8 teaspoon pepper

Dip:

3/4 cup apricot preserves

3/4 cup barbecue sauce

2 tablespoons Dijon-style mustard

Directions

Heat oven to 400F. Combine Ground Beef, bread crumbs, egg whites, water, salt and pepper in large bowl, mixing lightly but thoroughly. Shape into thirty-six 1-1/4-inch meatballs. Place on rack in broiler pan that has been sprayed with cooking spray. Bake in 400F oven 15 to 17 minutes.

Meanwhile, heat preserves, barbecue sauce and mustard in medium saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a boil; reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, 3 to 5 minutes, stirring occasionally or until sauce thickens slightly.

Add cooked meatballs and continue to cook 2 to 3 minutes or until meatballs are heated through, stirring occasionally. Serve or keep warm in slow cooker (see tip below).

To keep meatballs warm, place in 2-1/2-quart slow cooker set on LOW. Keep covered to maintain heat. Meatballs can be held up to 2-1/2 hours, stirring occasionally.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 45; Protein: 3 g; Fat: 1 g; Sodium: 126 mg; Cholesterol: 7 mg; Saturated Fat: 0 g; Dietary Fiber: 0.1 g; Carbohydrates: 7 g

MEATBALLS WITH CRANBERRY BARBECUE SAUCE

Yield: 24 mini meatballs, 1 per serving.

Find this recipe at: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/1282.shtml

Ingredients

1/2 pound ground beef Brisket

1/4 pound ground beef Ribeye Steak Boneless

1/4 pound Ground Beef (95% lean)

1 cup seasoned stuffing mix

1 egg, beaten

3 tablespoons water

1 teaspoon minced garlic

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/8 teaspoon pepper

Cranberry Barbecue Sauce:

2 teaspoons vegetable oil

1/2 cup chopped white onion

1 tablespoon minced garlic

2-1/2 cups fresh cranberries

1/2 cup orange juice

1/2 cup water

1/3 cup ketchup

1/4 cup light brown sugar

2 tablespoons cider vinegar

2 tablespoons molasses

1/2 teaspoon ground red pepper

Salt

Directions

Preheat oven to 400F. Combine Brisket, Ribeye, Ground Beef, stuffing mix, egg, water, garlic, salt and pepper in large bowl, mixing lightly but thoroughly. Shape into twenty-four 1-1/2-inch meatballs. Place on rack in broiler pan that has been sprayed with cooking spray. Bake in 400F oven 13 to 15 minutes until 160F.

Meanwhile, prepare Cranberry Barbecue Sauce. Heat oil in medium saucepan over medium heat. Add onions and garlic; cook and stir 2 to 3 minutes or until tender, but not brown. Add remaining ingredients, stirring to combine. Bring to boil; reduce heat and simmer 20 minutes or until cranberries burst and mixture has reduced to thick consistency, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat; cool slightly. Transfer mixture to blender container. Cover, allowing steam to escape. Process until smooth. Season with salt, as desired.

Serve meatballs with barbecue sauce.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 66; Protein: 4 g; Fat: 1 g; Sodium: 108 mg; Cholesterol: 19 mg; Saturated Fat: 1 g; Dietary Fiber: 0.7 g; Carbohydrates: 8 g

BUTTERNUT SQUASH AND APPLE SOUP WITH TOASTED ALMONDS AND WILD RICE

Yield: 12 servings.

Serving Size: 1 cup

Find this recipe at: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/1268.shtml

Ingredients

2 cups water

1/2 cup wild rice

1/2 cup sliced almonds

1 1/2 Tbsp canola oil

1 cup chopped onion

2 cups low-sodium chicken broth

2 cups water

1-3 lb Butternut Squash, peeled and flesh cut into 1-inch cubes to yield 8 cups

1 Granny Smith apple, peeled, cored and coarsely chopped

1 bay leaf

1 cinnamon stick

1/2 tsp salt, optional

1/2 tsp nutmeg

Directions

In medium saucepan, bring 2 cups (500 mL) water to a boil and add wild rice. Reduce heat, cover and simmer for about 45 minutes or until water is evaporated and rice grains have split open. (Check occasionally to ensure water does not evaporate too quickly causing rice to burn). Drain any excess water and set aside.

In nonstick skillet over medium-high heat, toast almonds to golden brown, about 1-2 minutes. Watch so they don’t burn. Remove and set aside.

In large soup pot, heat canola oil over medium-high heat. Add onions, reduce heat to medium and cook for 3-4 minutes or until opaque; do not allow onions to brown. Stir in broth, water, squash, apple, bay leaf and cinnamon stick. Bring to a boil and then reduce heat and simmer for 25-30 minutes or until squash and apples are tender. Remove from heat and remove bay leaf and cinnamon stick.

Puree soup with immersion blender or food processor. Return to low heat and stir in salt (if using) and nutmeg. Stir in wild rice to heat through. Spoon soup into bowls and garnish each bowl with 1 Tbsp toasted almonds.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 110; Protein: 3 g; Fat: 4 g; Sodium: 115 mg; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Saturated Fat: 0 g; Dietary Fiber: 4 g; Carbohydrates: 17 g

PUMPKIN SOUP

Yield: 5 servings (1 cup each)

Source: The New Family Cookbook for People with Diabetes

Find this recipe at: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/409.shtml

Ingredients

2 teaspoons margarine

3/4 cup chopped onion

One 16-ounce can pumpkin puree (not pumpkin pie filling)

2 cups Homemade Chicken Broth OR canned reduced-sodium chicken broth

2 teaspoons sugar

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/8 teaspoon ground cloves or ground nutmeg

1 cup fat-free milk

Directions

Melt the margarine in a medium saucepan. Saute the onion until softened, about 5 minutes.

Add the pumpkin, broth, sugar, salt, and cloves; stir to mix well. Bring to a boil; reduce the heat and simmer for 15 minutes.

Puree until smooth in a blender or food processor. Return to the saucepan. Add the milk; heat thoroughly but do not boil. Serve at once.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 89; Protein: 4 g; Fat: 3 g; Sodium: 318 mg; Cholesterol: 1 mg; Carbohydrates: 15 g; Exchanges: 1 Starch

CRANBERRY SALAD

This recipe begins, "A great salad for the holidays, combining fresh or frozen cranberries, pineapple and chopped nuts in a sugar-free gelatin base. Plus, it has 58% fewer calories than the traditional recipe."

Source: Equal

Find this recipe at: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/1031.shtml

Serves: 8

Ingredients

2 cups fresh or frozen cranberries

1 cup water

1 cup Equal Spoonful or Granulated*

1 four-serving size cranberry or cherry sugar-free gelatin

1 cup boiling water

1 cup diced celery

1 can (7-1/4 ounces) crushed pineapple in juice, undrained

1/2 cup chopped walnuts

Directions

Bring cranberries and water to a boil. Remove from heat when cranberries have popped open. Stir in Equal. Set aside to cool.

Dissolve gelatin in 1 cup boiling water. Add cranberry sauce; mix thoroughly. Add celery, pineapple with juice and walnuts. Pour into a mold or bowl. Refrigerate several hours or overnight until firm.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 82; Protein: 2 g; Fat: 5 g; Sodium: 32 mg; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Carbohydrates: 9 g; Exchanges: 1/2 fruit, 1 fat

CRANBERRY ORANGE BREAD

Servings: 16

Find this recipe at: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/177.shtml

Ingredients

2 cups all-purpose flour

1 cup QUAKER Oats (quick or old fashioned, uncooked)

2 tablespoons fructose

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon salt (optional)

3/4 cup skim milk

3/4 cup egg substitute or 3 whole eggs

1/3 cup unsweetened orange juice

1/4 cup vegetable oil

1 tablespoon grated orange peel

1/2 cup chopped cranberries, fresh or frozen

1/4 cup chopped nuts* (optional)

Directions

Heat oven to 350F. Grease and flour 9x5-inch loaf pan. Combine first 6 ingredients; mix well. Set aside.

Beat milk, egg substitute, orange juice, vegetable oil and orange peel until mixed thoroughly. Add to dry ingredients, mixing just until moistened. Stir in cranberries and nuts. Pour into prepared pan.

Bake 60 to 70 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes; remove from pan. Cool completely.

*To toast nuts for extra flavor, spread evenly in small baking pan. Bake in 350F oven 7 to 10 minutes or until light golden brown.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 130; Protein: 4 g; Fat: 4 g; Sodium: 80 mg; Carbohydrates: 19 g; Exchanges: 1 Starch/Bread , 1 Fat