COUNTRY BREAKFAST SKILLET

This is a good way for diabetics to enjoy hash browns. With the proteins included in this recipe that makes 8 servings, each serving has a good carb to protein ratio for diabetics.

12-oz bacon, chopped fine
1 medium yellow onion, chopped fine
1 bag (30-oz) frozen shredded hash browns, thawed
8 large eggs
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper
1 cup low-fat shredded Mexican-blend cheese

Cook the bacon and onion over medium heat in a large skillet until bacon is crisp; drain, reserving 1/4 cup drippings. Add reserved drippings back into skillet.

Stir the hash browns into the skillet and cook, uncovered, 10 minutes (or until bottoms are browned) over medium heat; turn potatoes.

Using the back of a spoon, make 8 indentations, evenly spaced throughout, into the potato mixture. Break one egg into each well; sprinkle with salt and pepper.

Cover and cook on low heat for 10 minutes or until eggs are done to your desired level. Sprinkle the cheese overall and let set until cheese is melted.

Yield: 8 servings
Per serving: 278 calories, 17 g carbs, 14 g protein

Note: File Photo from Bing

VENISON SWISS STEAK IN SLOW COOKER

2 lb venison round steak
1/4 cup white whole-wheat flour
2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper
1 tbsp coconut or olive oil
2 medium onions, sliced
2 celery ribs, diced
1 cup sliced carrots
2 cups fresh tomatoes, chopped*
1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce

Combine the flour, salt, and pepper in a pie plate; dredge steak in the mixture.

Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet; add the steak and brown on both sides.

Place the browned meat in a slow cooker; add the remaining ingredients to the cooker.

Place lid on cooker and cook on low for 7 to 8 hours or until meat is tender and cooked through.

*May substitute low-sugar stewed tomatoes for the fresh tomatoes.

Yield: 6 servings
Per serving: 277 calories, 14 g carbs, 39 g protein
Diabetic exchanges: .5 starch, 2 vegetables, 4 very lean meat, 1 fat

Note: This is a file photo

POPEYE'S MEATBALLS

1 egg
1 tbsp water
1/4 cup dry whole-grain bread crumbs
1 cup fat-free cottage cheese
2 tbsp dried minced onion
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1 pkg (10-oz) frozen chopped spinach, thaw and drain well
1 1/2 lbs lean ground beef

Combine the egg, water, crumbs, cottage cheese, onion, and garlic powder in a large bowl.

Add the spinach and beef to the above mixture; mix well.

Shape mixture into 1-inch diameter balls and place on an ungreased baking sheet that has sides.

Broil meatballs for 8 minutes 4 to 6-inches from the heat. Turn meatballs and broil another 4 to 5 minutes until cooked through.

Yield: Serves 8
Per serving: 176 calories, 6 g carbs, 18 g protein
Diabetic Exchanges: 2 meat, 1 vegetable

Note: File Photo

MINI BROCCOLI FRITTATAS

1 small bunch broccoli (about 1/2 lb)
10 large eggs
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
3 cups grated low-fat sharp cheddar cheese
1/3 cup minced fresh parsley

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Very lightly spray 24 mini muffin cups with nonstick cooking spray.

Cut down broccoli into small florets. (You can save the stems to add to soups and/or casseroles if you don't want to waste them. Do not use them in this recipe.)

Place broccoli in a large saucepan and cover with water; bring to a rolling boil. Cook until broccoli is bright green but is still crisp. Drain in a colander, rinse and drain again. Be sure broccoli is drained well.

Whisk the eggs with the salt, pepper, red pepper flakes until combined. Give one last good whisk and pour into a pitcher with a good pouring spout.

Into each muffin cup place about 1 1/2 tablespoons of the cheese and a little broccoli. Gently pour the egg mixture into the muffin cups but do not fill to the brim as the frittatas will puff up during baking.

Place on the middle oven rack and bake 12 to 15 minutes until set.

Remove from oven and allow to cool a few minutes then remove from pan. Use a thin knife to loosen if needed. Place mini frittatas on a plate and sprinkle with the remaining cheese and the parsley.

This recipe is great for appetizers or as a brunch item.

Note: File Photo

BAKED SAUSAGE AND VEGGIES

A friend shared this recipe with me. It is a good way for us diabetics to have a few tasty potatoes once in awhile. I recommend cutting back a potato to only two or better yet use 3 unpeeled red potatoes.

1 lb. Italian sausage (mild or hot)
3 potatoes cut into large chunks
2 carrots, peeled and cut up
1 stalk celery, chopped
1 medium onion, chopped
1 yellow squash cut into large chunks
1 red bell pepper, chopped
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. dried basil
1 1/2 tsp. Italian seasoning
1/2 tsp. garlic powder
olive oil

Lightly spray a casserole dish with cooking spray. Add in the cut up veggies, pour in a little olive oil and sprinkle the seasonings in. Using your hands toss to coat all the veggies. Place the sausage across the top and cover with foil. Bake at 400 degrees for 1 hour 15 minutes. Remove and uncover, return to the oven to brown the sausage for 15 minutes, turn sausage to brown the other side an additional 15 minutes. 

CHICKEN BREASTS WITH MUSHROOM CREAM SAUCE

• 2 5-ounce boneless, skinless chicken breasts, trimmed and tenders removed (see Tip)
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 tablespoon canola oil
• 1 medium shallot, minced
• 1 cup thinly sliced shiitake mushroom caps
• 2 tablespoons dry vermouth, or dry white wine
• 1/4 cup reduced-sodium chicken broth
• 2 tablespoons heavy cream
• 2 tablespoons minced fresh chives, or scallion greens

1. Season chicken with pepper and salt on both sides.
2. Heat oil in a medium skillet over medium heat. Add the chicken and cook, turning once or twice and adjusting the heat to prevent burning, until brown and an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part registers 165°F, 12 to 16 minutes. Transfer to a plate and tent with foil to keep warm.
3. Add shallot to the pan and cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add mushrooms; cook, stirring occasionally, until tender, about 2 minutes. Pour in vermouth (or wine); simmer until almost evaporated, scraping up any browned bits, about 1 minute. Pour in broth and cook until reduced by half, 1 to 2 minutes. Stir in cream and chives (or scallions); return to a simmer. Return the chicken to the pan, turn to coat with sauce and cook until heated through, about 1 minute.

• Tip: It's difficult to find an individual chicken breast small enough for one portion. Removing the thin strip of meat from the underside of a 5-ounce breast—the “tender”—removes about 1 ounce of meat and yields a perfect 4-ounce portion. Wrap and freeze the tenders and when you have gathered enough, use them in a stir-fry or for oven-baked chicken fingers.
• Yield: 2 servings
• Per Serving: 275 calories; 15 g fat (5 g sat, 7 g mono); 84 mg cholesterol; 5 g carbohydrates; 25 g protein; 1 g fiber; 373 mg sodium; 370 mg potassium.

Exchanges: 1 vegetable, 3 lean meat, 2 fat

Source: Eating Well

SOME NUMBERS ON DIABETES

These are numbers from 2014:

29.1 Million Americans have Diabetes - are you one of them? If so are you taking your meds, exercising and eating a healthy diet?

86 Million Americans have Prediabetes - are you one of them? If so are you doing everything the doctor tells you to take care of your health?

$245 Million is the annual cost in America of diabetes caused lost wages and diabetes medications.

Did you know that 1 in 4 Americans over the age of 65 have diabetes?

If you fall into either of the above catagories or if you have a family history of diabetes I suggest you pay attention to your health by eating a healthy diet, exercising - something as simple as walking will do, and faithfully take any medications your doctor prescribes. Complications from diabetes are serious but with proper meds and taking care of yourself you can live a normal life.

If you don't know where to start in changing your diet there are many healthy tasty recipes on this site.

AUTHOR KAREN KINGSBURY'S NO CARB SPAGHETTI

My NO-CARB SPAGHETTI!

* Spiralize 6-8 zucchini
* Sautée in 4 T butter
* Separate pan - Brown 2-3 lbs of grass fed beef. Drain fat. Season. 
* Combine cooked zuchinni "noodles" and cooked beef.
* Add 2 jars no-sugar organic pasta sauce.
* Place mixture in casserole dish
* Sprinkle grated cheese on top
* Bake at 350 - 30 minutes.
(Ok - not No Carb. But less than 2 carbs per Cup ... 😀)

Note: I got this from Karen Kingsbury's fb page. Yum!

DR. PEPPER BROWNIES

4 large eggs
1/2 cup Diet Dr. Pepper (or Dr. Pepper Ten)
1/2 cup baking cocoa powder
1 cup unsweetened chocolate chips, divided
1/4 cup chopped pecans

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Line a 9-inch loaf pan with parchment baking paper; set aside.

Beat eggs with an electric mixer until doubled in quantity.

Add Dr. Pepper and cocoa powder; mix together well.

Fold in 1/2 cup of the chocolate chips. Pour batter into the prepared pan.

Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes.

When brownies are only slightly cool melt the remaining half cup of chocolate chips; pour over brownies. Sprinkle the pecans over the top.

To serve, cut the brownies down the middle lengthwise then make 4 equal cuts crosswise creating 8 brownies.

Note: The basis of this recipe and this picture are from Runnin Srilankan

APPLE BUTTER

I love apple butter and this Splenda recipe is tasty. A serving size is 1 tablespoon. This is an easy crock pot recipe that makes your house smell so good while it cooks.

• 5 lbs of apples – peeled, cored and thinly sliced (suggest Jonathan, Golden Delicious or Ida Red)
• 1 cinnamon stick
• ½ teaspoon of salt
• ½ cup SPLENDA^® Brown Sugar Blend
• ¼ teaspoon of nutmeg
• ½ teaspoon of cloves
• ½ teaspoon of allspice

1. Stir all ingredients together in slow cooker. Cook on high for 4 hours.
2. Remove and reserve cinnamon stick.
3. Place apple mixture into food processor and process until smooth.
4. Return mixture and cinnamon stick back to the crock pot and cook uncovered, on high, for about 4 hours or until mixture is thick and dark.
5. Place in containers and store in refrigerator for up to 3 weeks or freeze for up to 3 months.