Diabetic Thursday

It's time for another Diabetic Thursday. Here are six yummy diabetic recipes to help you through the day, including Philly-Style Meatloaf and Ginger Sweets. Enjoy!

Note: I'm debating whether to drop Diabetic Thursday from this blog, with the understanding that I'm still posting my Diabetic Delights blog. But I haven't decided definitely, one way or another.

CHICKEN BREASTS WITH MUSHROOMS AND TARRAGON

Yield: 6 servings

Source: The All New Good Housekeeping Cookbook

Print Friendly: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/bin/print.cgi?ID=655

View recipe: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/655.shtml

Ingredients

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 pound assorted mushrooms (white and cremini, trimmed and sliced; shiitake, stems removed and caps sliced)

1 large shallot, finely chopped

3 tablespoons all-purpose flour

2 tablespoons chopped fresh tarragon or 1 teaspoon dried tarragon

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

6 small skinless, boneless chicken breast halves (1-1/2 pounds)

1 cup chicken broth

1/4 cup dry white wine

Directions

In 12-inch skillet, heat 1 tablespoon oil over medium-high heat.

Add mushrooms and shallot and cook, stirring occasionally, until mushrooms are golden brown and any liquid has been evaporated, 12 to 15 minutes. Transfer mushroom mixture to bowl.

On waxed paper, combine flour, 1 tablespoon chopped tarragon, salt and pepper; use flour mixture to coat chicken, shaking off excess.

In same skillet, heat remaining 1 tablespoon oil over medium-heat until very hot. Add chicken and cook until chicken is golden brown and loses its pink color throughout, about 4 minutes per side. Transfer chicken to warm platter.

Add broth, wine, remaining 1 tablespoon chopped tarragon, and mushroom mixture to skillet; cook 1 minute, stirring until browned bits are loosened from bottom of skillet. Pour sauce over chicken.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 212; Protein: 29 g; Fat: 7 g; Sodium: 437 mg; Cholesterol: 66 mg; Carbohydrates: 7 g; Exchanges: 4 Lean Meat, 1/2 Bread/Starch

OLD-FASHIONED TOMATO SOUP

Yield: 4 servings

Print Friendly: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/bin/print.cgi?ID=643

View recipe: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/643.shtml

Ingredients

1 Tbsp. butter

1 onion, finely chopped

2 large garlic cloves, chopped

1 can (28-oz.) diced tomatoes

1 Tbsp. sugar

1 tsp. dried thyme

1/8 tsp. ground mace

Pinch of cayenne pepper

1/2 cup fat-free half-and-half cream

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

3 Tbsp. snipped dill, for garnish (optional)

Directions

Melt the butter in a small Dutch oven over medium-high heat.

Saute the onion until translucent, 4 minutes. Add the garlic and saute until the onions are golden, 5 to 6 minutes.

Add the tomatoes with their juices, the sugar, thyme, mace and cayenne. Bring to a boil, cover, and simmer the soup until the tomatoes and onion are soft, about 15 minutes.

Let the soup sit 20 minutes, uncovered. Transfer it to a blender (or use an immersion blender) and reduce the mixture to a puree, either pulpy or completely smooth, as desired.

Blend in the half-and-half. Season the soup to taste with salt and pepper.

Serve the soup hot, sprinkling one-fourth of the dill over each bowl, if using.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 105; Protein: 3 g; Fat: 3 g; Sodium: 586 mg; Dietary Fiber: 0.5 g; Carbohydrates: 18 g; Exchanges: 1 Reduced-Fat Milk, 1 Vegetable

GINGER SWEETS

Servings: 24 Cookies

Source: Sweet Inspirations - A Sugar Free Dessert Cookbook

Author: Patti Lynch

Find this recipe at: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/164.shtml

Ingredients

1/2 cup fruit sweetener **

1/2 cup margarine

1 egg

1/2 tsp vanilla

1 cup flour

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp salt

2 tsp ginger

1/2 cup chopped walnuts (optional)

**To make this fruit sweetener, mix together 1/4 cup frozen apple juice concentrate (thawed) and 1/4 cup granulated fructose.

Directions

In a large bowl, cream together first four ingredients. Beat for 3 minutes. Combine dry ingredients separately and add slowly to beaten mixture, continuing to beat. Stir in nuts.

On baking sheet, which has been coated with non-stick spray, drop cookies by spoonfuls about 2-inches apart. Bake at 350F for 8 minutes. Remove from sheet with metal spatula.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 85; Protein: 2 g; Fat: 6 g; Sodium: 85 mg; Cholesterol: 11 mg; Carbohydrates: 7 g; Exchanges: 1/2 Bread; 1 Fat

TWICE BAKED POTATOES

Prep Time: 10 Minutes - Cost: $

Servings: 4 - Difficulty Level: 2

Source: Cooking Healthy and Fast

Find this recipe at: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/175.shtml

Ingredients

4 Medium potatoes, baked

1 cup low-fat cottage cheese

1/2 cup low-fat milk

1 tbsp onion, minced

Freshly ground black pepper

Paprika

Dried Parsley Flakes

Directions

Cut potatoes in half lengthwise. Scoop out potatoes, leaving skins intact for restuffing.

With wire whisk, beat potatoes with cottage cheese, milk, and onion. Spoon mixture back into skins.

Sprinkle with paprika flakes and black pepper.

Bake for 10 minutes until just golden.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 73; Fat: 7 g; Sodium: 316 mg; Cholesterol: 3 mg; Exchanges: 1 Bread

NUTTY BANANA BREAD

Serving Size: 1 (3/4 inch) slice

Serves: 12

Print Friendly: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/bin/print.cgi?ID=642

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Ingredients

2 eggs, lightly beaten

1/3 cup buttermilk

1/2 cup applesauce

1-1/4 cups mashed bananas

1 cup Splenda No Calorie Sweetener, Granulated

1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour

1-1/2 teaspoons baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup chopped pecans

Directions

Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.

Spray one 9x5 inch loaf pan with non-stick spray coating.

In a large bowl, blend together the eggs, buttermilk, applesauce, and bananas. Sift together the Splenda Granulated Sweetener, flour, baking soda, and salt; mix into banana mixture. Stir in pecans. Spread batter into prepared pan.

Bake 1 hour, or until a cake tester inserted in the center comes out clean.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 150; Calories from Fat: 45; Protein: 4 g; Fat: 5 g; Sodium: 270 mg; Cholesterol: 35 mg; Saturated Fat: 1 g; Dietary Fiber: 2 g; Sugars: 8 g; Carbohydrates: 24 g

GRILLED MEDITERRANEAN VEGETABLE TACOS

This comes from Old El Paso, and begins, "These veggie-loaded taco bowls are packed with creamy hummus and grilled garden bounty, then topped with bright, fresh Mediterranean flavors for a meal that’s perfect for a summertime meatless Monday."

Prep Time: 40 minutes; Total Time: 40 minutes; Makes 8 servings

To view this online, go to https://www.oldelpaso.com/recipes/grilled-mediterranean-vegetable-tacos.

Ingredients

3 tablespoons olive oil

1 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper

2 medium zucchini, cut into 1/4-inch horizontal slices

2 medium yellow summer squash, cut into 1/4-inch horizontal slices

1 large red bell pepper, cut into 1-inch wide strips

1/4 medium red onion, peeled and cut into 4 wedges

1 container (10 oz) classic chickpea hummus

1 package (8 count) Old El Paso™ Soft Tortilla Bowls, heated as directed on package

2 cups mixed greens

1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese

1/2 cup diced fresh tomato

2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil leaves

Preparation

Heat gas or charcoal grill. In large bowl, mix oil, salt and pepper. Add zucchini, squash, bell pepper and onion; gently turn to coat.

Place vegetables in single layer on grill over medium heat (350°F to 400°F). Cover grill; cook 8 to 12 minutes, working in batches as necessary, turning once, until grill marks appear and vegetables are just crisp-tender. Set aside.

Divide hummus among heated tortilla bowls; top with mixed greens, grilled vegetables and cheese. Top with tomato and basil.

Expert Tips

Cooking Vegetarian?: Always read labels to make sure each recipe ingredient is vegetarian. Products and ingredient sources can change.

Don’t cover grilled vegetables with foil to keep warm. The trapped steam will make them soft and soggy.

If you have fewer than 8 pieces of bell pepper, after grilling, cut them again lengthwise to ensure each bowl has red bell pepper.

Spinach can be substituted for mixed greens in this recipe.

Nutrition: 1 Taco: Calories: 240 (Calories from Fat :110); Total Fat: 13g (Saturated Fat: 3.5g, Trans Fat: 0g); Cholesterol: 10mg; Sodium: 730mg; Total Carbohydrate: 25g (Dietary Fiber: 4g, Sugars: 5g); Protein: 7g

% Daily Value: Vitamin A 35%; Vitamin C 40%; Calcium 15%; Iron 15%;

Exchanges: 1 Starch, 2 1/2 Vegetable, 2 1/2 Fat

Carbohydrate Choice: 1.5