FRESH FRUIT AND VEGETABLES

Whenever possible, diabetics should buy fresh fruits and vegetables. This will keep the extra sugars, salt, and other preservatives out of your diet. This can be challenging. especially in the winter, If you can't get fresh, then frozen is a better choice than canned. The less processed foods you eat, the better it is for your health.

file photo

EASY, CHEESY, CHICKEN-BROCCOLI-RICE SKILLET

4 (1-lb total) boneless skinless chicken breast halves
2 tsp canola oil
2 cups small fresh or frozen (thawed) broccoli florets
1 can reduced-fat cream of chicken soup
1/8 lb pasteurized cheese product (Velveeta-type), cut into small cubes
2 cups hot cooked brown rice
1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper

In a large nonstick skillet, heat the canola oil over medium-high heat.  Add the chicken and cook, turning once, about 8 to 10 minutes or until cooked through.  Remove chicken from skillet and place on a warmed plate.  Cover loosely to keep in heat.

In the same skillet, add the broccoli, chicken soup, and cheese; stir to mix well.  Cook over medium heat, stirring often, 7 to 8 minutes or until heated through and cheese has melted.

file photo

To serve, divide the rice onto 4 individual plates: top with a chicken breast and 1/4 of the broccoli-cheese mixture.

Variation: You might like cream of broccoli soup or cream of mushroom soup as a substitute for the cream of chicken soup. Be sure to use a low-fat soup.

CABBAGE CASSEROLE LASAGNA-STYLE

1 lb ground beef

1 lb keilbasa, sliced into thin 1/4-inch rounds
1 large sweet onion, chopped
2 to 3 large garlic cloves, minced
2 cans (15-oz each) tomato sauce
1 tsp dried thyme
1 tsp caraway seed
1/4 tsp each of salt and black pepper
1/4 tsp paprika
2 cups cooked brown rice
4-5 strips bacon, fried and crumbled
2 lbs (approximately) shredded cabbage
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

Brown the ground beef with the onion and garlic in a large nonstick skillet that has been sprayed with nonstick cooking spray until the beef is no longer pink; drain well and return to skillet.  Add the kielbasa and stir in half the tomato sauce along with the thyme, caraway seed, salt, pepper, and paprika.  Bring the mixture to a boil, reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 5 minutes.  Stir in rice and bacon; heat through.  Remove skillet from the heat.

In a 13 x 9-inch baking dish or pan, layer lasagna-style 1/3 of the cabbage; top with half the meat mixture.  Repeat with another layer of cabbage, remaining meat mixture and top with the last third of the cabbage.  Pour the last half of the tomato sauce overall.

Cover pan with foil and bake at 375 degrees for 45 minutes.  Remove foil and sprinkle the cheese over the top of the casserole.  Return to oven and cook for another 10 minutes or until the cheese is melted.

Let casserole stand for 5 minutes or so before attempting to serve.

Yield: 12 servings

file photo

BACON HASH BROWN CASSEROLE

We diabetics have to watch it when it comes to potatoes.  Since potatoes are one of my favorite foods I am always looking for ways I can enjoy them without spiking my blood sugar levels.  This recipe has 8 grams protein to 24 grams of carbs per serving.  That barely meets the recommended carb to protein ratio but that is good enough for me!

1 carton (16-oz) fat-free sour cream or plain Greek yogurt
1 can reduced-fat condensed cream of chicken soup
1/4 tsp garlic powder
2 tsp hot sauce
3/4 cup thinly sliced green onions
1 1/2 cups shredded reduced-fat cheese of your choice (I prefer Mexican Blend)
4 slices bacon, cooked crisp, drained, crumbled
1 bag (32-oz) frozen Southern-style hash brown potatoes, thawed

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Spray a 9 x 13-inch baking dish or pan and set aside.

Combine the sour cream, soup, garlic powder, and hot sauce in a very large mixing bowl.  When combined, add the onions, cheese, bacon, and potatoes.  Transfer mixture to the prepared baking dish.

Bake at 350 degrees for approximately 1 hour until casserole is bubbly and heated through.

Yield: 12 servings

file photo

Holiday Wishes

 Whether you celebrate Christmas or Hanukkah, I hope your holidays are filled with love and happiness.

CARB CHOICES VS CARBS

Do you get confused when you see Carb Choices in the nutritional information of a recipe or on a product label? 1 carb choice is equal to 15 carbs. So if something has 29 or 31 carbs it would be equal to 2 carb choices. Don't get the two confused.

DIABETIC CONNECT'S PEANUT BUTTER COOKIE RECIPE

1 cup creamy peanut butter

1 cup Splenda
1/4 cup egg substitute*
1 tsp vanilla

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Lightly spray cookie sheets with nonstick cooking oil spray. (Personally, I prefer to line baking sheets with parchment paper.)

In mixing bowl combine all 4 ingredients until well blended.

Drop by teaspoon onto the prepared cookie sheets.

Dip a fork into some Splenda and make criss-cross marks on cookies.

Bake at 350 degrees for 12 minutes.  Allow to cool completely before storing in an airtight container.

*May use 1 egg.  (That is my note, not from diabetic connect.)

This is a repost from 2013.

the file photo

*May use 1 egg.  (That is my note, not from diabetic connect.)

HOMEMADE SWEETENED CONDENSED MILK FOR DIABETICS

Make your own Sweetened Condensed Milk for baking recipes.

1 cup Splenda Granulated
1 cup dry powdered milk
1/2 cup water
1 tbsp butter

Place Splenda and powdered milk in a blender.

Place water and butter in a large microwave-safe bowl and bring to a boil in the microwave.  This will take a minute or less with most microwaves so keep your eyes on it so it doesn't boil away.

Add water mixture to the blender and blend until combined.  Scrape sides if necessary and blend again.  Blend until the sugar/powdered milk is dissolved in the hot water.

Will thicken as it cools.

May keep in the refrigerator a week to ten days.

Yield: about 1 1/2 cups.  (A 14-oz can of sweetened condensed milk holds 1 1/4 cups.)

file photo

SAUSAGE & EGG BREAKFAST CASSEROLE

1 lb bulk sausage, browned, crumbled, drained well

6 slices whole-grain or your favorite low-carb bread
6 large eggs, beaten
2 cups low-fat milk
1 tsp salt
1 tsp dry mustard
1 cup grated low-fat cheese

Lay out bread slices to cover the bottom of a 9 x 13-inch baking pan or dish.

Sprinke the prepared sausage over the bread.

Add the milk, salt, mustard, and cheese to the beaten eggs and mix together well; pour over the sausage and bread.  Cover and refrigerate overnight.

Bake casserole in a 350 degree oven for 35 to 45 minutes or until set.

Allow to cool for a couple of minutes, cut into squares and serve.

Yield: 9 to 12 servings

file photo

GROUND BEEF AND VEGETABLE CASSEROLE

1 lb lean ground beef

1 1/2 tbsp chopped green chiles
1 cup chopped onion
1 can (14.5-oz) chopped tomatoes
1/2 cup frozen corn, thawed
1/2 cup garbanzo beans, rinsed and drained
3 red potatoes, diced
2 cups sliced mushrooms
1 1/4 cups thin sliced carrots
1 cup thin sliced celery
1 can low sodium tomato soup
1 cup water
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper
1 tsp garlic powder
1 sheet refrigerated pie crust

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Cook the beef, chiles, and onion in a large skillet over medium heat.  Cook, stirring, until the meat is no longer pink and is crumbly.  This will take about 10 minutes.  Drain well in a colander.

Wipe any fat from skillet with paper towels; return drained beef mixture to the skillet.  Add the undrained tomatoes, corn, garbanzo beans, potatoes, mushrooms, carrots and celery.  Stir in the soup, water, salt, pepper, and garlic powder.  Add lid to skillet and cook mixture, stirring occasionally until tender, about 20 minutes.

Spoon skillet mixture into a large oblong baking dish or pan.

Roll pie crust sheet into a rectangle on a lightly floured surface.  Cut into 1-inch wide strips.  Arrange strips in a lattice pattern over the casserole.  Bake at 375 until the filling is bubbly and the pastry is lightly browned, about 20 minutes.

You can lower the carbs by eliminating the corn, if necessary.

Yield: 6 to 8 servings.

file photo