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Great Recipes for a Brunch That is Suitable for Entertaining Diabetics and Others

Saturday, April 26th, 2008
Linda Wilson asked:


If you are planning a brunch and expecting diabetics to join you, following are some recipes that will insure you meet the needs of the diabetics in the group.  These recipes are also suitable for dieters and others.  This is not necessarily a complete brunch menu, but adding these recipes to your list will ensure that the diabetics have plenty to eat without worrying about their diets.

MINI CHEESE STUFFED TOMATOES

1 pint cherry tomatoes

8-oz cream cheese, softened

4 green onions, finely chopped

1 tsp garlic powder

paprika for garnish

Wash tomatoes and drain.  Pat dry with a paper towel.  Using a small spoon or knife, cut a thin layer off the top of each tomato and scoop out the seeds.  In a small mixing bowl, combine the cream cheese, onions and garlic powder.  Mix to combine.  Fill the insides of the tomatoes with the cheese mixture.  Sprinkle with paprika for garnish.

BROCCOLI BITES

1 16-oz bag frozen broccoli pieces

1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

1 cup mild shredded cheese

2 cups Pepperidge Farm stuffing

4 eggs

1/2 cup chopped onion

1 cup melted butter

1/2 tsp garlic salt

1/4 tsp thyme

Thaw broccoli slightly then break into pieces.  Beat butter, eggs, and stuffing together with wooden spoon.  Add remaining ingredients.  Form into appetizer-size balls and place on cookie sheet. Bake for 15-20 minutes at 350 degrees.

BACON TOMATO TARTLETS

12-oz can refrigerated flaky biscuits

6 slices bacon, cooked, drained and crumbled

1 medium tomato, seeded and diced

3/4 cup grated mozzarella cheese

1/2 cup mayonnaise

1 tbsp fresh chopped basil

3/4 tsp garlic salt

1 tbsp fresh thyme

3/4 tsp chopped fresh oregano

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Split each biscuit into 3 layers.  Spray mini muffin pans lightly with non-stick cooking spray.  Press biscuit rounds into the tins.  Make only 24, not using the entire can of biscuits.  In a medium mixing bowl, mix the remaining ingredients together.  Fill each of the unbaked biscuit cups with the mixture.  Bake for 10 to 14 minutes or until slightly golden around the edges.

NOTE:  Can be made ahead and frozen for later use.  Bake, remove from pan, cool completely and freeze.  Reheat from frozen state for 10-14 minutes at 350 degrees on a cookie baking sheet.

OATMEAL-BLUEBERRY MUFFINS

1 cup + 2 tbsps flour

6 ounces uncooked regular oats

1 tbsp baking powder

2 tbsp Equal Sugar-Lite

1/2 tsp salt

1 cup skim milk

1 egg or 1/4 cup egg substitute

1/4 cup vegetable oil

1 cup fresh blueberries

Vegetable cooking spray

1 tsp ground cinnamon

In a medium mixing bowl, combine flour, oats, baking powder, Equal and salt.  Make a well in the center of the mixture.

In a small mixing bowl, combine milk, egg and oil.  Add to the well of the dry ingredients.  Stir just until dry ingredients are moistened.  Gently fold the blueberries into the mixture.  Spray 12 muffin cups with vegetable oil spray.  Fill each cup 2/3 full of the batter.  Sprinkle cinnamon over the tops of the batter.  Bake at 425 degrees for 20 to 25 minutes or until lightly browned.

FRENCH TOAST STRATA

1/3 cup granulated sugar substitute (I use Splenda)

1 cup egg substitute

2/3 cup skim milk

3/4 tsp vanilla extract

1 tsp maple-flavored extract

8 slices cinnamon-raisin bread

2 cups apples, peeled, cored, sliced thin

1/4 cup low-fat cream cheese

1 tbsp granulated sugar substitute (for this I use Equal Sugar-Lite)

1/2 tsp ground cinnamon

  Spray an 8-inch square baking pan with non-stick cooking spray

In a medium mixing bowl, blend together 1/3 cup granulated sugar substitute, egg substitute, milk and extracts.  Tear bread into small pieces and toss into egg mixture.  Add apples.  Coat the bread evenly with mixture and pour into prepared pan.  Cut cream cheese into 8 pieces and place strategically over the top of mixture.  Blend cinnamon with 1 tablespoon of sugar substitute and sprinkle over the strata.  Covere and refrigerate overnight. 

Next morning preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Remove strata from fridge and bake 40-50 minutes or until lightly browned and set.  Serve immediately while hot.

Carbs 20g, Protein 7 g in each 1/8 of strata serving

FRUIT AND NUT BREAD

1/2 cup fresh blueberries

2 1/4 tsp baking powder

1/3 cup light olive oil

1/2 cup quick cooking oats

1 1/2 cups flour

2/3 cup Splenda

1/4 tsp salt (optional, according to diet)

1/2 cup egg substitute

1 cup mashed ripe bananas

1/2 cup chopped walnuts

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Sprinkle 2 teaspoons of the flour over blueberries.  Sift rest of the flour with Splenda, baking powder and salt.  Stir in oats.  Blend egg substitute, olive oil and banana together.  Combine dry ingredient mixture with banana mixture.  Stir in nuts.  Fold in blueberries.  Pour into a loaf pan that has been sprayed with cooking spray.  Bake one hour.  Cool ten minutes then remove from pan.  Allow to cool before slicing.

PUMPKIN SPICE SPREAD

1 pkg (8 oz) cream cheese, room temperature

1/2 cup canned pumpkin

1/2 cup Splenda

1 tsp cinnamon

1 tsp vanilla

1 tsp maple flavoring

1/2 tsp pumpkin pie spice

1/4 tsp nutmeg

1 small carton frozen whipped topping, thawed

In a large mixing bowl, combine cream cheese, pumpkin, Splenda, spices and flavorings.  Mix together well.  Fold in whipped topping.  Refrigerate until serving time.  Serve with graham crackers or gingerbread.

STRAWBERRY SPREAD

1 qt fresh strawberries

3/4 cup cold water, divided

2 tbsp lemon juice

1/4 tsp cinnamon

3 tbsp cornstarch

1 cup Equal Sugar-Lite

Wash, hull, finely coarsely chop berries.  Combine in a small dutch oven or other heavy saucepan, strawberries, 1/2 cup water, lemon juice and cinnamon.  Bring mixture to a boil, stirring well.  Dissolve cornstarch in the remaining cold water and add to the boiling mixture. Reduce the heat and simmer a couple of minutes or until mixture thickens, stirring occasionally.  Remove from the heat and cool.  Stir in Equal after mixture has cooled down. 

NOTE:  This is good spread on toast, bagels, or used anyway you might use jelly or jams. 

BROCCOLI, POTATO AND BACON QUICHE

1 bag (19 oz) frozen roasted potatoes with broccoli and cheese sauce

1 deep-dish pastry shell

4 eggs OR 1 cup egg substitute

2/3 cup lite whipping cream

7 slices bacon, cooked, drained, crumbled

1 cup finely shredded Parmesan cheese

1 cup finely shredded low-fat cheddar cheese

1/2 tsp dried basil

1/4 tsp garlic powder

1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper

1/4 tsp parsley flakes

1 tsp finely chopped fresh chives

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Microwave vegetables as directed on package. In a large mixing bowl, beat eggs and whipping cream together with a wire whisk until well blended.  Stir in cooked vegetables along with the other ingredients except chives.  Pour into pastry shell and spread evenly.  Sprinkle chives over top.  Bake 30-40 minutes or until edge of filling is light golden brown and knife inserted in center comes out clean.  Let stand 5 minutes before cutting.

Note:  This recipe is adapted from a Pillsbury Bake-Off winning recipe.

MINI HAM & CHEESE FRITTATAS

1/4 lb cubed fully cooked lean ham

1 cup shredded fat-free cheddar cheese

1 1/2 cups egg substitute (or 6 eggs)

4 egg whites

3 tbsp minced chives

2 tbsp skim milk

1/4 tsp salt

1/4 tsp black pepper

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.  Coat 8 muffins cups with nonstick cooking spray.

Divide ham evenly among the 8 muffin cups.  Top ham with cheese.  In a large mixing bowl beat eggs or egg substitute with egg whites.  Beat in the chives, milk, salt and pepper.  Pour this mixture over the cheese in muffin cups.  Each cup should be about 3/4 full.  Bake 22-25 minutes or until a knife inserted near center comes out clean.  Carefully run a knife around edges to loosen.  Remove from pan and serve warm.

 BAKED OMELET ROLL

6 eggs or 1 1/2 cups egg substitute

1 cup low-fat milk

1/2 cup all purpose flour

1/2 tsp salt

1/4 tsp pepper

1 cup shredded low-fat cheddar cheese

Preheat oven to 450 degrees.  Spray a 9×13-inch baking pan with non-stick cooking spray. Place eggs and milk in blender.  Add flour, salt and pepper.  Cover and process until smooth.  Pour into prepared pan and bake for 20 minutes or until eggs are set.  Sprinkle with cheese.  Roll up omelet in pan starting with a short side.  Place seam down on a warm serving platter.   Cut into slices.  Garnish plate with some fresh parsley or cilantro. 

Enjoy!



Tony

Pumpkin Pie Guide and Recipes

Monday, April 21st, 2008
Delmondo Sorell asked:


Pumpkin pie is the ideal dessert for the holiday season. The recipes can be found in cookbooks and other interesting locations. Pumpkin pie can be served with either whipped cream or ice cream. Pumpkin can be prepared like any other squash, peeling skin if so desired. Pumpkin contains some anathematic properties, which is helpful against prostate disorders, stomach problems, worms, nausea and morning sickness. Pumpkin pie is so yummy and delicious you will not dare to take your eyes off. It is very easy to make. 

Traditional pumpkin pie is a must for top of the whipped cream for colour fresh. Pumpkins are a member of the gourd family and have similarities to other forms of winter squash such as butternut, acorn, and spaghetti squash.

Pumpkin seeds are also gaining popularity and are rich in nutrients. Pumpkin seeds can be eaten as a snack, on salads, in soups, or can be ground to create a sauce. Pumpkin pie filling is so versatile and easy to use it can be eaten as a variety of sweet and savoury treats from cookies to cheesecake.

Pumpkin pie is thought to have evolved from settlers who filled their hollowed pumpkins with milk and spices to create delicate gravy. Pumpkins are a universally popular Halloween decoration, but they can also be a fantastic ingredient in many autumn dishes.

Pumpkin pie isn’t just for Thanksgiving anymore. This is the traditional pumpkin pie recipe served at holiday dinners. Filled with aromatic spices like nutmeg, cloves, cinnamon, and ginger; it is a decadently delicious pumpkin pie everyone will love! Serving it with whipped cream is traditional, and making homemade whipped cream is definitely worth the extra time. The recipe follows the pumpkin pie recipe, it’s the basic whipped cream recipe (very easy to make and tastes incredible).

Pumpkin Pie

Ingredients:

2 cups pumpkin (canned or puree)

2 eggs

1 1/4 cups half and half (whole milk can be substituted)

2/3 cup brown sugar

pinch salt

2 Tablespoons butter, melted

1 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg

1/4 teaspoon ground cloves

1/2 teaspoon ground ginger

9 inch pie crust (from scratch or Pillsbury)

Directions:

1. Preheat over to 425F.

2. Place pumpkin in a bowl, add 2 tablespoons melted butter and stir well.

3. In a separate bowl, beat eggs well. Beat in milk, brown sugar, salt, and spices until thoroughly blended. Add in the pumpkin mixture, mix well.

4. Pour into pie shell and place in center oven rack at 425F for 10 minutes. Reduce heat to 350 degrees and bake an additional 30-40 minutes until the filling is firm.

5. Cool and serve with whipped cream.

Whipped Cream Ingredients:

1 cup heavy cream

1/4 cup sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla

Directions:

1. Using an electic mixer, whip cream until almost stiff. Add sugar and vanilla; beat until cream holds peaks. Spread over top of cooled pie or serve in a chilled bowl for individual serving.

 



Florence

Two Sweet Bread Recipes That are Also Suitable for Diabetics

Thursday, April 3rd, 2008
Linda Wilson asked:


Whether you are looking for a delicious bread to serve your family, take to a pitch-in, share with co-workers, or serve at a shower, tea, or coffee klatch, here are a couple of recipes that are not only tasty but also suitable for the diabetics in the group.

MOM’S APPLESAUCE BREAD

2 cups all-purpose flour

3/4 cup Equal Sugar-Lite

3 tsp baking powder

3/4 tsp salt

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp ground cinnamon

1 1/2 cups no-sugar-added applesauce

1/4 cup egg substitute

2 tbsp light olive oil or canola oil

1/2 cup walnuts or pecans, optional

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Sift together flour, Equal, baking powder, salt, baking soda, and cinnamon.  Beat egg into applesauce and add to dry ingredients.  Add oil and mix well.  Stir in nuts, if desired.  Pour batter into a greased and lightly floured loaf pan or use a non-stick cooking spray.  Bake approximately one hour until golden brown.

PUMPKIN LOAF WITH RAISINS AND WALNUTS

1/3 cup nonfat plain yogurt

1 tbsp nonfat sour cream

2 cups canned pumpkin

3/4 cup egg substitute

1/4 cup canola oil

2 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 cup whole wheat flour

3/4 cup Splenda Granular

4 tsp baking powder

1 tbsp pumpkin pie spices

1 cup raisins

1/3 cup chopped walnuts

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Spray 2 nine-inch loaf pans with non-stick cooking spray.  In a large mixing bowl, blend yogurt, sour cream, pumpkin, egg substitute and oil together.  Add flour, Splenda, baking powder and pumpkin pie spices.  Stir all together, scraping sides of bowl.  Mix in raisins and walnuts.  Divide the batter evenly and spread into the prepared pans.  Bake approximately 45 minutes until toothpick inserted in the center of loaves comes out clean.  Cool sligthly in pan then remove from pan and finish cooling on a wire rack.

NOTE:  1/8 of a loaf equals 8 grams of sugar, 28 grams of carbs and 5 grams of protein

Enjoy!



Justin

Pumpkin Pie One Tasty Tradition

Thursday, March 27th, 2008
Sandra Canfield asked:


The smell of homemade pumpkin pie conjures images of family and celebration, gently seasoned with love, comfort and good cheer. It is the ubiquitous dessert of fall and harvest. Whether served warm or cold, home crust or pre-made, pumpkin pie completes a hearty, fall meal.

Many cooks are afraid to try homemade pie crust recipes, but really, they are quite simple. The most important thing to consider is your liquid and the actual heat of your oven. It is a good idea to keep a thermometer in your oven so you can monitor how hot you are actually cooking. Below is one of the simplest pie crust recipes:

Makes: 1 9-inch (4-cup volume)

1 cup all-purpose flour (Unbleached flour is great)

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/3 cup vegetable shortening or margarine

2 – 3 tablespoons cold water (cold is very important).

Combine flour and salt in a medium bowl; cut in vegetable shortening until mixture is crumbly. Sprinkle with water a little at a time until just moist; blend until mixture holds together. Do not over mix or your crust will not be flaky.

Next, shape the dough into a ball; place on a lightly floured surface. Roll out to 1/8-inch thickness and line pie plate with crust. Trim the edges leaving a 1-inch overhang to fold under and crimp.

If you are making two pies, double all above ingredients, follow the recipe above but divide the dough in half.

To make a truly delicious pumpkin pie, make the batter ahead, if you need a little extra time on the day of your big meal, but pour the batter into the pie shell just before baking. This will keep the crust crisp. Add a dusting of cinnamon or nutmeg to the top of your pie, but be careful as these are very potent spices. Be sure you follow the directions that say to begin with a high baking temperature, then reduce the heat part way through the baking. Failure to follow this step will result in a soggy, underdone crust.

Even a store-bought crust can be given a made-at-home flair by using interesting, decorative crust crimping. One of my favorites is to take pieces of left-over crust (after trimming) and fashion them into fall leave to decorate the edges or center of the pie.

There are a variety of pumpkin pie recipes and it is even possible to make a pumpkin pie using fresh pumpkin, however, canned pumpkin often yields more reliable results with less work. Following is a very easy recipe for you to follow:

Simple Pumpkin Pie

8 servings

Ingredients

3/4 cup granulated sugar (you can substitute ½ cup sugar + ¼ cup brown sugar for a deeper flavor)

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon ground ginger

1/4 teaspoon ground cloves

1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

2 large eggs

1 can (15 ounces) packed (canned) pumpkin

1 can (12 fluid ounces) evaporated milk

1 unbaked 9-inch (4-cup volume) deep-dish pie shell

Whipped cream or dessert topping.

1. Combine sugar, salt, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg and cloves in small bowl. Beat eggs in a separate bowl. Stir in pumpkin and sugar-spice mixture. Slowly stir in evaporated milk.

2. Pour mixture into prepared pie shell in pan.

Bake in preheated 425F oven 15 minutes. Reduce temperature to 350F; bake 40 to 50 minutes or until knife inserted near center comes out clean.

3. Cool on wire rack 2 hours. Serve immediately or refrigerate. Top with whipped cream before serving.

It is possible to substitute 1 ¼ teaspoon of pumpkin pie spice for the spices, but the taste is not quite the same.

If you choose to prepare homemade whipped cream (and you should), simply whip one small container of heavy whipping cream with ¼ cup of sugar and 1 teaspoon of vanilla until firm. If you like, you can even add a dash of cinnamon to your whipped cream for an extra special flavor. Vanilla and whole bean vanilla ice cream is also delicious with a freshly baked pumpkin pie.



Jennifer

Thanksgiving Dinner Recipes

Thursday, February 14th, 2008
kalidas asked:


 Thanksgiving features food. It’s a celebration of the Pilgrim’s early successes in America, won through hard work to tame the land in what was for them a new world. It’s a pretty standard menu. Turkey, sometimes ham, mashed potatoes, stuffing, cranberry sauce, rolls or bread, pumpkin pie and apple pie, and a variety of other trimmings adorn the holiday table. Families gather not only to celebrate the historic event, but just to catch up with everyone’s lives. Thanksgiving dinner recipes can be quite different, as there are many ways to cook a turkey.

How about this recipe for a delicious appetizer? Move the pumpkin from the pie to the soup. Add butter and oil to a pan over medium heat. Add leaks to saute, only the white portion, until soft. Now throw in some pumpkin puree along with cloves, cinnamon, ground ginger and some salt. After that’s all mixed, add 32 ounces of vegetable broth. Next comes brown sugar. Use low heat to simmer it for 10 minutes. Cream or half and half are optional, along with a pinch of cinnamon on top of each bowl. That sounds good.

A turkey can be fried instead of broiled. You may think it’s greasy but it isn’t. The oil is so hot it doesn’t flow into the meat. Get a big drum and a propane burner, otherwise known as a deep fryer. A meat thermometer is also needed, along with a deep fry thermometer to check the oil for the correct temperature. Hot oil may spatter so do this in an open outdoor space. Heat the oil to between 325 degrees and 350 degrees F. The turkey takes about three minutes per pound to fry to about 170 degrees F in the ******. It’s common to inject spices into the turkey during frying, but the dressing is usually not fried along with the turkey.

Try hazelnut pumpkin soup or a butternut squash stuffing. But there are other good appetizers for the meal. Cheese wrapped asparagus is delicious. This calls for both a sliced cheese and a soft cheese spread. One idea is swiss cheese slices with a softer blue cheese spread. Wrap the asparagus with the slices spread with the soft cheese, then bake until tender at 230C. Sure wrapping cheese around asparagus turns a pretty healthy food into something a little more fattening. Thanksgiving is a time for a little fun. So live it up.

Many more delicious Thanksgiving dinner recipes are available on the Internet.

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Gina