Diabetic Thursday

It's Diabetic Thursday. Here are six recipes to help you through the day, including Slow Cooker Vegetarian Lasagna and Cucumber Salad. Enjoy!

SLOW COOKER TOMATO MEAT SAUCE

This begins, “Serve over spaghetti squash "noodles" for a diabetes-friendly meal!”

http://www.diabeticconnect.com/diabetic-recipes/general/7422-slow-cooker-tomato-meat-sauce

Ingredients

1 lb. 90% lean ground beef

2 28-ounce cans crushed tomatoes

1 large onion, finely chopped (approximately 1 cup)

1 tablespoon crushed garlic, minced

1 teaspoon oregano

3 fresh bay leaves

1 tablespoon sundried tomatoes, chopped

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon pepper

1/4 teaspoon red pepper

1/4 cup roasted red pepper

Directions

Turn slow cooker on 250 degrees.

Cook onion and ground beef in a skillet on medium high heat until meat is no longer pink.

While onions and beef are cooking, add remaining ingredients to slow cooker - tomatoes, garlic, oregano, bay leaves, sundried tomatoes, salt, pepper, red pepper, and roasted red pepper.

Add beef and onions and stir. Place lid on and allow to cook on 200-250 degrees for 4 hours.

Remove bay leaves before serving.

Nutritional Facts: Servings 8; Calories 150; Total Fat 3 g; Saturated Fat 1 g; Cholesterol 35 mg; Sodium 660 mg; Potassium 830 mg; Carbohydrate 16 g; Dietary Fiber 5 g; Protein 16 g

QUINOA ENCHILADA BAKE

This recipe begins, “Never tried quinoa? This enchilada bake is a great way to be introduced to the superfood.”

http://www.diabeticconnect.com/diabetic-recipes/general/7286-quinoa-enchilada-bake

Ingredients

1 TBSP olive oil

1 lb extra lean ground beef

1 medium yellow onion, chopped

1 medium green pepper, diced

3 cloves garlic finely chopped

1/2 cup dry quinoa

2 cups low sodium vegetable broth

10 oz. can diced tomatoes with green chilies, undrained

1 cup tomato sauce

2 TBSP chili powder

2 tsp cumin

Pepper to taste

1 can black beans

3/4 cup corn

Optional toppings:

Cheese, tomato, green onion, cilantro

Directions

Heat oil in a large skillet. Brown ground beef.

Add onion, pepper and garlic. Cook 2 minutes.

Pour into slow cooker along with remaining ingredients, except black beans and corn.

Cook on high for 3-31/2 hours.

40 minutes before it's done, add beans and corn. Heat last 40 minutes.

Serve over chopped romaine or tortilla (optional).

Top with desired toppings.

Nutritional Facts: Servings 12; For 1/12 the recipe excluding optional toppings: Calories 170; Saturated Fat 2 g; Sodium 242 mg; Carbohydrates 15 g; Dietary Fiber 2 g; Protein 12 g

SLOW COOKER VEGETARIAN LASAGNA

This recipe begins, “This savory, vegetarian lasagna cooks is slow-cooked for three hours for a melt-in-your-mouth meal.”

This can be viewed at http://www.diabeticconnect.com/diabetic-recipes/general/7424-slow-cooker-vegetarian-lasagna

Ingredients

16 oz partly skim ricotta

3 garlic cloves, minced

1/4 tsp dried oregano

1/2 tsp pepper

1/4 tsp red pepper flakes (optional)

1/2 cup shredded Parmesan cheese

1 box lasagna noodles, UNCOOKED

28 oz diced tomatoes, drained

28 oz marinara sauce

1 handful flat leaf parsley, chopped

3 cups shredded mozzarella cheese

6 oz baby spinach (about 3-4 cups)

Directions

In a medium bowl add ricotta, peppers, red pepper flakes, oregano, garlic, and Parmesan cheese. Combine well; set aside.

In another medium bowl, combine diced tomatoes, pasta sauce, and parsley; set aside.

In a 6 quart slow cooker, add about 1 cup of tomato mixture to the bottom (enough to just cover the bottom). Add a layer of noodles on top, breaking to fit. Add half the baby spinach. Add 1/3 of the ricotta mixture, loosely spreading it around with spatula. Top with 1 cup of mozzarella cheese then 1/3 of the remaining tomato mixture. Add another layer of noodles, then repeat layering with spinach, ricotta, mozzarella, and tomato mixture. Top with noodle layer, then remaining ricotta, tomatoes, and then mozzarella.

Cover and cook on low for 3 hours, or until the noodles are tender. (You may leave the slow cooker on "Warm" until ready to eat).

Remove cover and allow to cook for at least 15 minutes. Slice and serve.

Nutritional Facts: Servings 6; Amount Per Serving: Calories 350; Total Fat 19 g; Saturated Fat 10 g; Cholesterol 55mg; Sodium 840mg; Potassium 1020 mg; Carbohydrate 29g; Dietary Fiber 6g; Protein 19g

BOMBAY CHICKEN

Prep Time: 15 Minutes - Cost: $

Servings: 5 - Difficulty Level: 2

Source: The Diabetic Newsletter

Find this recipe at: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/10.shtml

Ingredients

1 teaspoon reduced-calorie margarine

1 teaspoon chicken-flavored bouillon, granules

1/4 cup chopped almonds

2 teaspoons curry powder, divided

1 cup boiling water

1 cup diced, unpeeled apple

1/2 cup skim milk

1/2 cup chopped onion

1 tablespoon lemon juice

1/2 cup sliced fresh mushrooms

1 cup chopped, cooked chicken

1 tablespoon all-purpose flour

Directions

Melt margarine in a large skillet over medium heat; add almonds.

Cook 10 minutes or until almonds are golden brown; stirring frequently.

Sprinkle almonds with 1 teaspoon curry powder, toss lightly to coat, and cook for another minute or two.

Remove almonds to a plate lined with paper towels; let drain.

Add apple, onion, and mushrooms to skillet and saute 5 minutes.

Stir in remaining 1 teaspoon curry powder and flour.

Cook over low heat 2 minutes, stirring frequently.

Dissolve bouillon granules in boiling water and add to skillet with milk and lemon juice.

Cook over low heat 5 minutes or until smooth and thickened, stirring constantly.

Add chicken and continue to cook over low heat, stirring constantly, until thoroughly heated.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 116; Protein: 8 g; Fat: 6 g; Sodium: 38 mg; Carbohydrates: 9 g; Exchanges: 1 Medium-Fat Meat

CUCUMBER SALAD

Servings: 4

Source: The Diabetic Newsletter

Find this recipe at: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/24.shtml

Ingredients

3 medium sized cucumbers

1 cup plain low-fat yogurt

1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice

1 teaspoon ground cumin

1 teaspoon dried mint leaves

Directions

Peel cucumber, cut in half, discard seeds and slice thinly.

Mix remaining ingredients together, add cucumbers and stir together.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 37; Protein: 3 g; Sodium: 46 mg; Carbohydrates: 1 g; Exchanges: 1 Vegetable

DOUG'S FLOWER POWER CAESAR SALAD

This recipe begins, “This salad keeps for 3 days in a glass (not metal) bowl in the refrigerator, if well covered.

Yield: 6 servings

Source: MealLeaniYumm! All That's Missing is the Fat

Author: Norene Gilletz

Find this recipe at: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/5.shtml

Ingredients

3 cups broccoli flowerets

3 cups cauliflower flowerets

1 cup sliced red cabbage

3 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese

3/4 cup Lighter Caesar Dressing or bottled low-fat Caesar dressing

1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper

Directions

Wash vegetables well; drain thoroughly. Combine all ingredients in a glass bowl and mix well. (Optional: Steam the veggies for 3 or 4 minutes if your prefer them softer.)

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 68; Protein: 6 g; Fat: 2.2 g; Carbohydrates: 8 g. Exchanges: 1 Vegetable, 1/4 Low-fat Milk