APPLE-WALNUT CAKE

Remember this is a dessert and should be eaten as such. Make this and share it with family, friends, co-workers, etc. No more than 1 piece a day for the diabetics.

3/4 cup white whole-wheat flour
2 tsp baking powder
1 1/2 tsp apple pie spice
3/4 tsp salt
2 1/2 cups chopped Granny Smith apples
3 tbsp packed Splenda Brown Sugar Blend
3/4 cup Splenda Granulated
4 1/2 tbsp butter, melted
3/4 cup fat-free milk
3 large eggs
1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 cup chopped walnuts

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9-inch square baking pan with nonstick cooking spray; set aside.

In a small bowl combine the flours, baking powder, apple pie spice, and salt; set aside.

Place the apples in the prepared baking pan. In a medium bowl beat the Splenda Brown sugar blend, Splenda granulated, and butter in a medium bowl with a wire whisk until well blended. Whisk in the milk, eggs, and vanilla extract. Stir in the flour mixture until smooth. Pour the batter over the apples. Sprinkle walnuts over the batter.

Bake at 350 degrees for 45 to 55 minutes or until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean and the apples are tender. Cool in pan for 10 minutes before cutting to serve. Serve while warm and should there be any leftovers, refrigerate them.

Yield: 9 servings.

 

 Note: File Photo

OATMEAL AND BANANA PANCAKES

1 1/3 cups low-fat milk
1/2 cup quick cook oats
1 cup white whole wheat flour
 2 tsp baking powder
1 egg, beaten
2 tsp canola oil
1 large banana, peeled and sliced into 1/4-inch slices
1/2 cup sugar-free strawberry preserves

In a large mixing bowl combine the milk and oats; allow to set for 10 minutes.

Sift the flour and baking powder together. Add the flour mixture, egg, and canola oil to the oats; stir together until moistened but do not beat. Stir in the banana.

Spray griddle with nonstick cooking spray and heat up over medium heat. Drop the batter by 1/4 cupfuls onto the hot griddle. Cook about 3 minutes until bubbles form on on the tops and bottoms are browned. Turn and cook another minute or two until second side is browned.

Microwave the preserves on high until syrupy, about a minute or so. Serve this syrup with the pancakes.

Yield: 6 servings of 3 pancakes and 2 tablespoons of the syrup.
176 calories, 3 g (1 sat) fat, 35 g carbs, 6 g protein, 36 mg cholesterol, 2 g fiber, 198 mg sodium

To improve carb to protein ratio, I always recommend a couple slices of bacon or sausage (turkey or protein products are okay) with a serving of pancakes.

   Note: This is a file photo.

LOW FAT (SKIM) MILK VS WHOLE MILK

Did you know that drinking an 8-ounce glass of low-fat (skim) milk instead of whole milk cuts your calorie intake by more than 45% without cutting the amount of calcium?

Note: File Photo

APPLE UPSIDE-DOWN CAKE FOR DIABETICS

2 tbsp butter
1/2 cup sugar-free maple-flavored syrup
2 large baking apples
1/4 cup raisins, optional
1/2 cup sifted cake flour
1 cup white whole-wheat flour
3 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1/3 cup no-sugar added applesauce
1/3 cup Splenda granulated (Or Splenda Baking Blend if you can have some sugar)
1 tbsp milk
2 large eggs, well beaten
1 tsp vanilla extract
2/3 cup water

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Melt the butter in a 9-inch round cake pan, swirling to coat sides; add the maple-flavored syrup stirring to blend. Allow to cool while you peel, core, and slice the apples. Layer the apples over the maple-butter mixture in the cake pan. Sprinkle the raisins over the apples, if using. Set aside.

Combine the flours, baking soda, and salt in sifter and sift into a small bowl.

In medium mixing bowl or large mixer bowl, cream together the applesauce, Splenda, and milk. Beat in the eggs and vanilla extract. Add the flour mixture in small increments alternately with the 2/3 cup of water, beating after each addition. Gently pour the batter over the apples and raisins in the pan. Gently spread batter to even and level. Bake at 350 degrees for 45 to 50 minutes or until a wooden toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Turn out onto serving platter immediately after removing from oven.

NOTE: I do not use raisins. I substitute chopped pecans for the raisins as that is actually better for a diabetic. Also, I can't stand raisins!

Note: File photo