Diabetic Thursday

It's Diabetic Thursday, which starts off with an article.

So, you or a loved one is diabetic. You know that you need to be mindful of meds and food. That said, today's article, from The Diabetic News, is titled “Skipping Breakfast Can Provoke Hazardous Blood Sugar Spikes in Diabetics.” It's definitely worth reading! (Click here to read the article.)

And now, six recipes to try, including Italian Beef Stuffed Shells Marinara and Pineapple Cake. Enjoy!

BEEF TENDERLOIN MARSALA WITH SHIITAKE-LEEK COMPOTE

Makes 8 servings

View online with photo: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/1303.shtml

Ingredients

1 beef Tenderloin Roast Center-Cut (about 2 pounds)

1-1/2 teaspoons olive oil

2 medium shallots, chopped

1 tablespoon minced garlic

1 cup Marsala

1 can (14 ounces) ready-to-serve beef broth

3 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley

2 teaspoons cornstarch dissolved in 1 tablespoon water

SHIITAKE-LEEK COMPOTE:

6 medium leeks, cleaned, white and light green parts only, cut lengthwise in half

2 tablespoons butter, divided

2 cups sliced shiitake mushrooms

3/4 cup dry white wine

1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Directions

Heat oven to 425F.

Heat oil in large nonstick skillet over medium heat until hot. Place beef roast in skillet; brown evenly. Remove roast from skillet. Place on rack in shallow roasting pan. Season with salt and pepper, as desired.

In same skillet, add shallots and garlic; cook and stir 1 to 2 minutes. Add Marsala; cook and stir 6 to 7 minutes or until reduced by half. Add broth and parsley; bring to a boil. Pour into roasting pan around roast; brush surface of roast with broth mixture.

Insert ovenproof thermometer so tip is centered in thickest part of beef, not resting in fat. Do not add water or cover. Roast in 425F oven 35 to 45 minutes for medium rare; 45 to 50 minutes for medium. Baste with cooking liquid halfway through roasting.

Remove roast when meat thermometer registers 135F for medium rare; 145F for medium. Transfer roast to carving board; tent loosely with aluminum foil. Let stand 15 to 20 minutes. (Temperature will continue to rise about 10 to 15F to reach 145F for medium rare; 160F for medium.)

Pour pan drippings into small saucepan; bring to a boil. Stir in cornstarch mixture; cook and stir 1 to 2 minutes or until thickened. Remove sauce from heat. Set aside.

To prepare Shiitake-Leek Compote, slice leeks crosswise into 1/2-inch thick slices. Melt 1-1/2 teaspoons butter in large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add leeks; cook, covered, 10 minutes, stirring halfway through cooking.

Add mushrooms, wine and thyme; cook, covered, 5 minutes.

Uncover skillet; continue cooking 10 minutes or until leeks are tender.

Stir in sauce; cook until heated through. Remove from heat; stir in 1-1/2 tablespoons butter, salt and pepper.

Carve roast into 1/2-inch thick slices.

Serve with Shiitake-Leek Compote.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 333; Protein: 27 g; Fat: 11 g; Sodium: 345 mg; Cholesterol: 77 mg ; Saturated Fat: 5 g ; Dietary Fiber: 2 g ; Carbohydrates: 21 g

ITALIAN BEEF STUFFED SHELLS MARINARA

Makes 4 servings

View online with photo and print: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/1304.shtml

Ingredients

12 ounces cooked beef pot roast or brisket

20 uncooked jumbo pasta shells (about 8 ounces)

Filling:

1 cup lowfat cottage cheese

3/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese, divided

1 large egg, slightly beaten

1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley or 2 teaspoons dried parsley leaves

2 cloves garlic, minced

Sauce:

1 jar (24 ounces) pasta sauce

Salt and pepper (optional)

Chopped fresh basil (optional)

Directions

Preheat oven to 375F.

Prepare pasta shells according to package directions; drain. Set aside. Shred beef pot roast with two forks.

Meanwhile, combine pot roast, cottage cheese, 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, egg, parsley and garlic in large bowl.

Fill shells evenly with beef mixture. Spread 1 cup pasta sauce on bottom of 11 X 7-inch glass baking dish. Arrange shells in dish; top with remaining sauce.

Cover with aluminum foil.

Bake in 375F oven 20 minutes or until heated through.

Remove foil; sprinkle with remaining 1/4 cup cheese.

Bake, uncovered, 5 to 8 minutes or until cheese is slightly browned and sauce is bubbly.

Season with salt and pepper, if desired. Garnish with basil, if desired.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 364; Protein: 40 g; Fat: 13 g; Sodium: 238 mg; Cholesterol: 119 mg; Saturated Fat: 5 g; Dietary Fiber: 4 g; Carbohydrates: 20 g

TURKEY VEGGIE SNACKS

This recipe begins, “This is a Biggest Loser Approved recipe.”

Yield: 9 servings

View online with photo and print: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/1322.shtml

Ingredients

12-ounces Jennie-O Deli Favorites Oven Roasted, Reduced Sodium Turkey Breast, from the service deli, makes 28 cubes

28 cherry tomatoes, halved

12-ounces low-fat mozzarella cheese, cubed

1 English cucumber, cubed

28 basil leaves

28 (5-inch) skewers

Non-fat Italian dressing or balsamic vinegar for dipping, if desired

Directions

Thread turkey cube, tomato half, cheese, cucumber, tomato half and basil leaf on each skewer.

Serve with no-fat dressing or balsamic vinegar for dipping, if desired.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 160; Protein: 14 g; Fat: 6 g; Sodium: 490 mg; Cholesterol: 15 mg; Saturated Fat: 1.5 g; Dietary Fiber: 1 g; Carbohydrates: 14 g

LEMON POPPY SEED CAKE

Contains 2 grams dietary fiber and 14 grams sugars.

Makes: 1 Cake (9 Servings)

Source: The New Family Cookbook For People with Diabetes

Find this recipe at: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/347.shtml

Ingredients

1 cup all-purpose flour

1/2 cup sugar

1/3 cup poppy seeds

1-1/2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/8 teaspoon salt

1/4 cup margarine, melted

2 large egg whites, or 1/4 cup egg substitute

1/2 cup fat-free milk

3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

1 teaspoon finely grated lemon zest

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

2 tablespoons powdered sugar

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Prepare a 9-inch-square baking pan with nonstick pan spray.

Combine the flour, sugar, poppy seeds, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a large bowl.

Add the margarine, egg whites, milk, lemon juice, zest, and vanilla. Mix just until the dry ingredients are moistened. Pour into the prepared pan. Bake 30 minutes, or until the cake springs back when the center is lightly pressed.

Cool on a wire rack. Sift powdered sugar over the cake. Cut into 3-inch squares to serve.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 183; Protein: 4 g; Fat: 7 g; Sodium: 242 mg; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Carbohydrates: 26 g; Exchanges: Other Carbohydrate: 1-1/2, Fat: 1-1/2

CHILI-BEAN SOUP

Find this recipe at: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/242.shtml

Servings: 8

Source: Deliciously Healthy Favorite Foods Cookbook

Ingredients

.1/3 cup chopped green bell pepper

1 small onion, chopped

1/3 pound lean round steak, sliced into very thin 1" long strips

4 cups low-sodium beef bouillon

1-1/2 teaspoons each: chili powder and dried parsley flakes

3 cups canned peeled tomatoes (with juice), cut into pieces

3 tablespoons cornstarch, dissolved in 1/2 cup water

1 can (15 oz.) pink or pinto beans with juice

Directions

In a large, heavy soup post sprayed with nonstick spray, stir-fry pepper and onion over medium-high heat until soft but not browned. Remove from pot and set aside.

Re-spray pot with non-stick spray and brown beef strips over medium-high heat. Add cooked pepper and onion to pot. Add beef bouillon, chili powder, parsley, tomatoes with juice, cornstarch dissolved in water and beans with juice. Cover and simmer for 1 hour.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 101; Protein: 7.1 g; Fat: 2.9 g; Sodium: 395 mg; Cholesterol: 9 mg; Carbohydrates: 12.3 g; Exchanges: 1 Lean Meat, 1 Bread/Starch

PINEAPPLE CAKE

Yield: 18 servings

Source: The Diabetic Four Ingredient Cookbook

View online:http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/538.shtml

Ingredients

5 egg whites

1 can (20 oz. ) water packed pineapple (crushed, drained)

1 yellow reduced fat cake mix

1 tablespoon sugar or equivalent alternative sweetener

Directions

Beat egg whites with electric mixer until foamy. Add drained pineapple then cake mix.

Spread mix in a floured 9x13 inch pan with nonstick spray. Sprinkle with sugar or sweetener.

Bake at 350 degrees for 35 minutes.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 71; Protein: 1 g; Fat: 1 g; Sodium: 100 mg; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Carbohydrates: 14 g; Exchanges: 1 Starch