Diabetic Thursday

It's Diabetic Thursday, time to put to rest the notion that diabetic food has to mean bland, boring food. Here are today's six recipes to help you through the day, including Chicken Ole and Crock Pot Harvest Chicken and Potatoes. Enjoy!

Note: If you, or someone you care for, is diabetic, you might want to check out my diabetic food blog, Diabetic Delights. Six recipes Monday through Friday, with an occasional article about diabetic living.

And now, on to today's recipes.

FRIJOLES COCIDOS

Yield: 4-1/2 cups (6 servings)

Source: The New Family Cookbook for People with Diabetes

Find this recipe at: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/730.shtml

Ingredients

1-3/4 cup dried pinto beans (12 ounces)

1-1/4 cups chopped onion

3 cloves garlic, minced

2 teaspoons ground cumin

1 tablespoon olive oil

1/2 cup chopped green bell pepper

1/2 teaspoon ground coriander

1 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper

Directions

Wash and pick over the beans. Cover them with water and soak for 4 hours or overnight; drain.

Cover the beans with fresh water in a large saucepan. Bring to a boil; reduce the heat. Cover and simmer for 1 to 1-1/2 hours, or until the beans are tender.

In a medium skillet, saute the onion, garlic, and cumin in the oil for 4 minutes. Add the green pepper and saute 5 minutes longer.

Drain the beans; reserve 1/2 cup liquid. Mash the beans with the reserved liquid; add the sauteed vegetables, the coriander, salt, and pepper. Mix well.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 232; Protein: 12 g; Fat: 3 g; Sodium: 395 mg; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Dietary Fiber: 14 g; Sugars: 5 g; Carbohydrates: 40 g; Exchanges: 2-1/2 Starch, 1 Very Lean Meat

TUNA SALAD WRAP

This recipe begins, “Use vegetables in wraps, which hold better than sandwiches if you keep the wrapper flexible and don't overstuff them. The following recipe uses cream cheese and a lettuce leaf to prevent the moist filling from turning the wrapper soggy. Cold wraps usually improve in flavor by sitting in the refrigerator overnight.”

Makes 4 wraps.

Source: AICR

Find this recipe at: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/231.shtml

Ingredients

1 can (6.5 oz.) water-packed white tuna, drained

1 small carrot, shredded

1/4 cup finely chopped celery

1/4 cup finely chopped green pepper

1/2 Tbsp. dried chives or chervil

2 – 4 Tbsp. nonfat mayonnaise

Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

4 8-inch flour tortillas

4 Tbsp. nonfat cream cheese

4 well-dried leaves of leafy green lettuce slightly smaller than a tortilla

1/2 cup shredded reduced-fat cheddar cheese

4 sprigs fresh mint, cilantro, or flat-leaf parsley

Directions

In small bowl, combine tuna, carrot, celery, green pepper, chives and enough mayonnaise to make a moist (but not wet) salad. Add salt and freshly ground pepper to taste.

On each tortilla, spread a thin layer of cream cheese (about 1 tablespoon) across the center two-thirds of tortilla's surface, leaving a 2-inch margin along edges. Center 1 lettuce leaf on top of each tortilla. Press leaf into cream cheese. Spread one-fourth of the tuna salad firmly over each lettuce leaf, leaving a 2-inch margin at top and bottom of each tortilla. Sprinkle one-fourth of cheese over each tortilla and top with sprig of fresh mint or other fresh herb.

Fold the bottom of the tortilla up to cover the top of the filling. Fold in the two sides a quarter-inch. Roll tortilla up, holding side folds in. Roll wraps tightly and as firmly as possible to ensure packets stays closed. Tightly seal each in plastic wrap and refrigerate until ready to serve or pack. Wraps made without wet ingredients can keep for 24 hours or more without getting soggy.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 238; Protein: 20 g; Fat: 6 g; Sodium: 534 mg; Carbohydrates: 24 g; Exchanges: 2 Low-Fat Meat; 1 Bread/Starch; 1-1/2 Vegetable

CROCK POT HARVEST CHICKEN AND POTATOES

This is from Diabetic Connect

View this online here.

This recipe begins, “Put this whole meal together in less than 10 minutes and the slow cooker does the rest!”

Ingredients

1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breast, cut into 1" pieces

3 Tbsp flour

1/2 tsp salt

1/4 tsp black pepper

12 ounces small new poitatoes, scrubbed and halved

2 cups baby carrots cut into 3rds

2 celery stalks cut into 1/2" pieces

1 large onion chopped

1 can (4oz.) mushrooms sliced and drained

2 cloves garlic

3/4 tsp dried thyme

1/4 tsp dried sage

1 cup low-sodium chicken broth

1 Tbsp margarine or butter

Directions

In a small bowl mix together the chicken, 2 Tbsp flour, 1/4 tsp of salt and pepper.

Add to slow cooker.

Stir in potatoes, carrots, onions and celery, mushrooms, garlic, 1/2 tsp thyme, sage and broth.

Cover, cook on high for 4 hours or low for 6 to 7 hours.

In a small bowl mix together remaining flour and melted margarine, mix together until a paste forms. Push the contents of pot to one side and with a whisk add in remaining salt & thyme, and flour paste. Mix until thick, cook 1 more hour, or until thoroughly thicken.

Nutritional Facts: Servings: 6; Calories: 194; Fat: 3 g; Protein: 21 g; Carbohydrate: 21 g; Fiber: 3 g; Sodium: 455 mg; Cholesterol: 55 mg

SPRING VEGETABLE PILAF

Yield: 7 servings

Source: Secrets of Good-Carb Low-Carb Living

Find this recipe at: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/741.shtml

Ingredients

1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil

1/2 cup chopped yellow onion

1 teaspoon dried savory or fines herbes

1 cup 3/4-inch pieces fresh asparagus spears (use thin spears for best results)

1/2 cup diced red bell pepper

1/2 cup frozen green peas, thawed

1 teaspoon fresh or jarred minced garlic

3 cups cooked brown rice (or 1-1/2 cups brown rice plus 1-1/2 cups wild rice)

Scant 1/2 teaspoon salt

1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper

Directions

Coat a large nonstick skillet with the olive oil and preheat over medium heat. Add the onion and savory or fines herbes, cover, and cook for a couple of minutes or until the onions start to soften.

Add the asparagus and bell pepper and cook for another minute or two, or until the vegetables are crisp-tender.

Add the peas and garlic, and cook for another few seconds or until the garlic begins to turn color and smell fragrant.

Add the rice, salt, and pepper to the skillet and toss over medium heat for a minute or two to heat through. Serve hot.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 129; Protein: 3.6 g; Fat: 2.8 g; Sodium: 149 mg; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Saturated Fat: 0.4 g; Dietary Fiber: 2.8 g; Carbohydrates: 23 g; Exchanges: 1-1/2 Bread/Starch, 1/2 Fat, 1/2 Vegetable

CHICKEN OLE

Yield: 4 servings

Source: The Complete Diabetes Prevention Plan

Print version: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/bin/print.cgi?ID=745

Online version: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/745.shtml

Ingredients

1 pound boneless skinless chicken breast, cut into bite-size pieces

1 teaspoon ground cumin

1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil

1 medium yellow onion, sliced and separated into rings

14-1/2 ounce can Mexican-style stewed tomatoes

1 cup frozen (thawed) whole kernel corn

1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro or sliced scallions

Directions

Sprinkle the chicken with the cumin and pepper and toss to mix well. Set aside.

Coat a large nonstick skillet with the olive oil and preheat over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and cook for several mixture, until nicely browned. Add the onions, reduce the heat to medium, cover, and cook for a couple of minutes, until the onion softens.

Add the undrained tomatoes to the skillet and let the mixture come to a boil. Reduce the heat to low, cover, and cook for 10 minutes. Add the corn and cook covered for 5 minutes more.

Serve hot, topping each serving with a sprinkling of the cilantro or scallions. Serve over brown rice or whole-wheat couscous if desired.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 231; Protein: 29 g; Fat: 5.2 g; Sodium: 403 mg; Cholesterol: 65 mg; Saturated Fat: 0.9 g; Dietary Fiber: 3.2 g; Carbohydrates: 18 g; Exchanges: 3 Very Lean Meat, 1/2 Starch, 1-1/2 Vegetable, 1/2 Fat

CHICKEN CAESAR SANDWICH WITH CHEEY HERB CLOUD BREAD

This is from Diabetic Connect.

To view this online, go to http://www.diabeticconnect.com/diabetic-recipes/general/5664-chicken-caesar-sandwich-with-cheesy-herb-cloud-bread

Ingredients

3 eggs, separated

1 packet stevia

3 tablespoons cream cheese, softened

1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar

2 teaspoons garlic powder

1 teaspoon chopped fresh rosemary

1/4 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

2 small chicken breasts

pepper to taste

1 cup chopped romaine lettuce

2 tablespoons lite Caesar dressing mix

6 thin roma tomato slices

2 tablespoons shaved Parmesan

Directions

Preheat the oven to 300 degrees Fahrenheit.

In one bowl, beat the egg whites and cream of tartar until stiff peaks form.

In another bowl, mix the egg yolks, cream cheese, and stevia. Fold the egg whites gently into the yolk mix, being careful not to break it down.

On a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, scoop the mixture into 4 even rounds.

Sprinkle a dash of sea salt on each round and 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder on each round. On two of the rounds (the tops), sprinkle 1/2 teaspoon rosemary and 1/4 cup of mozzarella on each.

Bake on middle rack for 30 to 35 minutes, or until they're golden brown.

Season the chicken breasts with salt and pepper and grill over medium heat for 3 to 4 minutes on each side, or until cooked all the way through.

Toss the romaine and Caesar dressing together.

Layer on a bottom piece of cloud bread with a chicken breast, 2 tomato slices, Parmesan shavings, and Caesar salad mix. Top with a top piece of cloud bread. Repeat with the other sandwich.

Nutritional Facts: Servings: 2; 503 calories; 8.5 g carbohydrates; 32 g fat; 53 g protein; 795 mg sodium; 1.5 g dietary fiber