FRESH PEACH CRUMB BAKE

Here is another tasty dessert recipe for when you "take" the dessert or are having a meal with family and friends. This is tasty enough for everyone and 1 serving is okay for most diabetics. If you can't handle the graham cracker crumbs, substitute crushed sugar-free vanilla wafers or sugar-free butter cookies. This is a good diabetic recipe as it has no bottom crust layer.

2 cups sliced fresh peaches
1/3 cup graham cracker crumbs
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/8 tsp ground nutmeg
2 tsp butter, melted

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray an 8-inch square baking dish or pan with nonstick cooking spray.

Layer the peaches in the bottom of the prepared pan. In a small bowl, combine graham cracker crumbs, cinnamon, and nutmeg, stirring together well. Add the butter and stir until well combined. Sprinkle the graham cracker crumb mixture over the peaches. Bake in a 350- degree oven for 30 minutes. Serve warm.

Note: Top with sugar-free whipped cream or sugar-free ice cream, if desired.

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GRILLED CITRUS SALMON

1/2 cup canola oil

1 med onion, diced

2 tbsp lemon juice

2 tbsp orange juice

1 tsp grated lemon peel

1 tsp grated orange peel

1 garlic clove, minced

2 salmon fillets (about 1 1/2 lb each)

orange or lemon slices for garnish, optional

Combine the first seven ingredients in a jar with a tight-fitting lid; shake well.

Grill salmon over medium heat, skin side down, for 15-20 minutes or until fish flakes easily with a fork. Baste every 5 minutes with the citrus mixture. Garnish with the orange and/or lemon slices, if desired.

Yield: 8 servings

6-ounces cooked salmon equals 530 calories, 40g fat (6g sat), 114mg chol, 115mg sodium, 3g carbs, 1g fiber, 39g protein.

Recipe and photo from a Sam's ad.

OVEN-FRIED CHICKEN DRUMSTICKS

1 cup fat-free plain Greek yogurt

1 tbsp Dijon mustard

2 garlic cloves, minced

8 chicken drumsticks (about 4-oz each), skin removed

1/2 cup whole wheat flour

1 1/2 tsp paprika

1 tsp baking powder

1 tsp salt

1 tsp pepper

Olive-oil-flavored cooking spray

In a large resealable bag, combine yogurt, mustard and garlic. Add drumsticks, seal bag and turn to coat. Refrigerate 8 hours to overnight.

Preheat oven to 425-degrees. In another plastic bag, mix flour, paprika, baking powder, salt and pepper. Remove chicken from marinade and add, one piece at a time, to flour mixture, close bag and shake to coat. Place on a wire rack on a cookie sheet; spritz with cooking spray. Bake 40-45 minutes or until a thermometer reads 180-degrees.

Yield: 4 servings of 2 drumsticks each

Per serving: 227 calories, 7g fat (1 sat), 81mg chol, 498mg sodium, 9g carbs, 1g fiber, 31g protein

Diabetic Exchanges: 4 lean meat, 1/2 starch

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CHICKEN AND LENTIL SOUP

1 tbsp canola or olive oil 

1 1/2 to 2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1 medium onion, chopped
3/4 cup dried lentils, rinsed
1 can (14-oz) chicken broth
3 cups water
2 large tomatoes, seeded, diced
1 yellow squash, diced
2 carrots, pared and thinly sliced
1 green pepper, diced
1/2 tsp dried basil leaves

Heat the oil over medium-high heat in a Dutch oven.  Add the chicken and onion; saute 5 minutes, until browned.  Add the lentils, broth, and water.  Bring to a boil and simmer, covered, for 20 minutes.  Remove lid and add the remaining ingredients.  Bring to a boil and simmer 10 minutes or until the vegetables are tender.  Remove the chicken and shred; add back into the soup.

Yield: 6 to 8 servings

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MIXED BERRY COBBLER

2/3 cup white whole-wheat flour (or the equivalent of your favorite low/no carb flour but never all-purpose flour)

1/2 cup Splenda OR Stevia Granular
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
2/3 low-fat milk (or soy milk)
1 pkg ( 20-oz) unsweetened frozen mixed berries

Preheat oven 350 degrees.

In a mixing bowl, stir together the flour, Splenda, baking powder and salt. Add the milk; stir until the batter is smooth.

In a 9-inch square baking dish, spread the berries evenly over the bottom. Pour the batter over the berries. Bake for 45 minutes, or until lightly browned, at 350 degrees.

Yield: 9 to 12 servings

Remember this is a dessert and should be treated as such. One serving per day. Share the rest with family and/or friends.

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BARLEY VEGETABLE SOUP

NOTE: This recipe is from my Vintage Recipes blog. With a few changes, this should be okay for most diabetics. I have put some diabetic suggestions in ( ).

This old-fashioned recipe is also a healthy one. Give it a try for an old-fashioned healthy, tasty meal. Just add a crusty whole-grain bread or muffin and you have a meal! (Leave off the bread unless you use low carb/no carb bread.)

In a stock pot, heat 2 tbsp oil(olive or coconut) and saute 2 medium chopped onions until transparent. Add: 2 cloves garlic, pressed or minced and 1/3 cup barley. Saute a for a few minutes.
Add to the stock pot: 1 cup diced carrots, 1 cup diced celery, 3 cups sliced mushrooms, 1 potato, scrubbed clean and diced with peeling left on (sweet potato), 8 cups water or beef or chicken stock--your preference, 1/2 tsp dried basil, 1/4 tsp dried thyme, 3 tbsp (lite) soy sauce, and 3/4 (1/4 to 1/2) tsp seasoned salt. Bring mixture to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for 45 minutes.
Add to soup: 2 small zucchini, cut in half lenthwise then cut into slices. Continue to cook until zucchini is tender. Season with salt (omit), if desired, pepper, and cayenne pepper to suit your taste. After dishing soup into serving bowl, garnish with a dollop of sour cream (plain low-fat yogurt), if desired.

Yield: 8 servings

file photo for reference - not this exact recipe

CHICKEN PLANKS

4 skinless boneless chicken breast halves

2 egg whites, lightly beaten

1 tablespoon water

1 teaspoon finely shredded lemon peel

1/2 cup seasoned fine dry whole-grain bread crumbs or your favorite low-carb/no-carb bread crumbs

1/4 cup finely shredded Parmesan cheese

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Lightly coat a large cookie sheet that has sides with nonstick cooking spray; set aside.

Cut each of the chicken breasts lengthwise into 3 strips.

In a shallow bowl, blend the egg whites and water together.

In a separate bowl, combine the lemon peel, bread crumbs, and Parmesan cheese.

Dip the chicken pieces into the egg white mixture then into the bread crumb mixture. Place on the prepared baking sheet.

Bake chicken at 400 degrees for 15 minutes or until chicken is cooked through, no longer pink and juices run clear. Turn once during bakiing.

Yield: 4 servings of 3 planks. 

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HAM LOAF

This recipe was compliments of a local grocery store in Southern Indiana many years ago.

1 1/2 lbs ground ham
1/2 cup whole-grain or your choice of low-carb/no carb breadcrumbs
1/2 cup quick oats
2 eggs, beaten
3 tbsp chopped onion
2 tbsp parsley flakes
1/4 cup Splenda brown sugar blend or your choice of brown sugar substitute

Combine ham, breadcrumbs, oats, eggs, onion, parsley in a large mixing bowl. Mix well and shape into a loaf shape. Sprinkle the sugar over top of loaf. Place loaf in a very lightly greased and floured baking dish. Bake at 350 degrees for 60 to 70 minutes.

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VEGETABLE STRATA

4 cups whole-grain bread cubes (or your favorite low/no carb bread)

1 cup onion
1 lb fresh asparagus, trimmed and cut into 1-inch pieces
2 cups fresh baby spinach
6 large eggs
1 cup fat-free milk
1/8 tsp salt
1/8 tsp freshly ground black pepper
1/2 cup fresh sliced mushrooms
2 plum tomatoes, sliced thin
1/2 cup reduced-fat feta cheese
1/4 cup snipped fresh basil

Spray a rectangular 2-quart baking dish with nonstick cooking spray. Place half of the breadcrumbs over the bottom of the dish.

In a medium sauce with a lid, cook the asparagus and onion in a small amount of water 2 to 3 minutes. Stir in the spinach and immediately drain well. Spoon half of the mixture over the bread in the dish. Sprinkle the mushrooms over the mixture. Top with the remaining bread cubes and the remaining asparagus mixture; set aside.

In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, salt, and pepper. Pour the egg mixture evenly over the ingredients in the baking dish. Using the back of a large spoon, gently press down the layers. Arrange the tomato slices over the top and sprinkle with the basil and cheese. Cover with foil and refrigerate at least 4 hours but up to 24 hours.

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Bake covered for 30 minutes. Remove the foil and bake another 40 minutes or until the center reads 180 degrees on a food thermometer. At this point you will notice some liquid standing in the center, but it will be absorbed while the mixture is standing to cool. Allow to stand on a wire rack for 10 to 15 minutes before serving.

Yield: 6 servings This recipe has 2/3 as many proteins as carbs making it a good diabetic choice.

Note: I do not have a picture of this dish, but the file photo below is a close representation.

BANANA SPICE CAKE

2 3/4 cups sifted white whole-wheat flour (or an equivalent amount of your favorite low/no carb flour)

2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
2 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp nutmeg
1/4 tsp ground cloves
1/3 cup canola oil

1/3 cup unsweetened applesauce
1 cup Splenda granular
2 tbsp water
1 tbsp vinegar
2 eggs, well beaten
1 3/4 cups mashed ripe bananas
2 1/2 tsp vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Grease and lightly flour a 9 x 13-inch baking pan; set aside.

Sift the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves together three times; set aside.

In a large mixing bowl, beat oil, applesauce, Splenda, water and vinegar together until fluffy. Add the eggs and beat well. Add the sifted flour mixture alternately with the mashed bananas, beating well after each addition. Stir in the vanilla.

Pour the batter into the prepared baking pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 35 to 45 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

Note: Reminder this is a dessert and should be treated as such. One piece per day. Share with family and friends or freeze in individual ziptop bags and place in a gallon freezer ziptop bag. Remove one piece at a time occasionally. Some diabetics may not be able to eat cake. You know your body and what you are capable of.

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