What’s lurking under the fudgy chocolate in those brownies ?
Beets.
Many sneaky home bakers who whip vegetable purees into a variety of baked goods have claim that they are the perfect match of sweet and savory.
Thanks to FOODISM360 for sharing their work on Unsplash.
Beets add moisture to baked goods without the addition of oil or butter, and they also add a natural sweetness according to The Kitchn website. Beets work well in chocolate desserts because they add moisture, yet the cocoa powder and chocolate mask any possible subtle earthy flavor
Want to try it? Start by baking the beets, even the day before. According to Early Morning Farm‘s website the fool-proof way is to chop off the top and bottom of each beet, rub them with olive oil, and then wrap them in foil. Bake at 350F for 45-60 min or more if necessary. A fork should slide very easily through the beets when done. The skins will slip easily off. Puree in a food processor or with an immersion blender. 3 small to medium beets should yield around 1 cup pureed beets.
Can you complete ‘The Staple Singers’-themed Divabetic Mystery Phrase below? Diabetes self-care can be emotionally taxing, but reframing your mind-set can have powerful results.
Divabetic Mystery Phrase
Constant worrying or self-doubt about what you are or are not doing isn’t empowering. That inner dialogue isn’t true, or even real.
If you’re struggling to cope with your diabetes diagnosis: try repeating positive affirmations to yourself each morning to steer your mood in the right direction. This way of thinking can be helpful when the mental burden of diabetes management gets tough.
“People without diabetes can feel loneliness, anger, guilt, and shame or use denial, rebellion or secrecy. The addition of diabetes to your daily life increases the likelihood of complex emotions,” says Dr. Wendy Satin Rapaport aka ‘The Diabetes Pysche’. She adds, “My goal is to help you recognize these normal and demanding feelings and then move past them to do better.
Divabetic Mystery Phrase
Self respect is a vital aspect of self love. The more you respect yourself, the more you are able to love yourself.
Making yourself feel good physically is one of the ultimate ways to respect yourself according to PositivelyPresent.com. Treat your body as you would the body of someone you love dearly. Healthy food, exercise, low stress. Respecting your body is an essential aspect of self-respect.
Start believing in yourself and believing deeply—on every level—that you are doing your best.
We think you’re fabulous! Taking care of yourself and your diabetes health.
Love a good mystery?
Listen to Divabetic’s Cozy Mystery Radio Drama, Swan Wake, available on demand with this player.
When the happy healthcare host, Mr. Divabetic heads to the Gotham City Ballet Company’s box office to fix a mix up with his ‘Swan Lake’ tickets he’s faced with a even bigger problem – a murder. To make matters worse, one of his latest culinary creations, a gluten free cheesecake, seems to be covering the victim’s face. Even more shocking are the numerous scandals swirling around the Gotham City Ballet and it’s members that have everyone walking around on tip toes. Could our happy healthcare host’s questionable culinary skills make him an accessory to the crime or even a possible side dish? Now Mr. Divabetic with the help of his team of whip smart Diabetes Educators, a Best-Selling Mystery writer and his own nosy Italian Mom must whip up his own crime-solving recipe, and fast–before a hearty dose of intrigue and a deadly dash of danger ends his diabetes advocacy and healthy catering career once and for all.
Our Swan Wake cast features Best-Selling Author Tonya Kappes, We Are Diabetes organization founder Asha Brown, Seveda Williams, Catherine Schuller AICI, CIP, Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDE, Mary Ann Nicolay MEd, DTR , Mama Rose Marie and Chef Robert Lewis aka ‘The Happy Diabetic’ and Poet Lorraine Brooks.
Managing diabetes isn’t about self-deprivation; it’s about moderation especially with snacking.
But ‘how much is too much’?
The answer depends on you and your goals for diabetes self-care. With a little pre-planning, you can enjoy these iconic snacks without derailing the goals that you’ve worked so hard to maintain. If it’s hard to know where to start, click here to go to the Center of Disease Control’s National Diabetes Program.
Sandwich soft marshmallow filling between two crunchy graham crackers, cover the whole thing in chocolate, and you’ve got yourself a moon pie. This tasty treat may be made in nearby Chattanooga, Tenn., but it’s no wonder it’s been an Alabama favorite since 1917. Alabama residents love moon pies so much, that they dropped a 12-foot one from Mobile’s RSA BankTrust Building to ring in the New Year.
Alaska: Salmon Jerky
The Last Frontier is the first choice in wild-caught salmon. Slow smoked for at least 24 hours over woods such as cherry or alder, salmon jerky packs smoky salmon flavor plus heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids in every bite.
Divabetic podcast guests include Lorraine Brooks, Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDE, Keith Anthony Fluitt, Leisa Chester Weir, and Jeff James. Join the conversation and call in: (347) 215-8551.
Can you complete the Divabetic Mystery Phrase below? Diabetes self-care can be emotionally taxing, but reframing your mind-set can have powerful results.
Divabetic Mystery Phrase
Self-help books often promote the power of positive affirmations. If you’ve never tried them before, the idea can seem incredibly awkward to tell yourself how awesome you are.
Positive affirmations help to re-program your thought patterns and change the way you think and feel about things. They are short positive statements that can help you focus on goals, get rid of negative, self-defeating beliefs and program your subconscious mind.
And yes, there is genuine theory and a fair amount of neuroscience behind this practice.
If you’re struggling to cope with your diabetes diagnosis: try repeating positive affirmations to yourself each morning to steer your mood in the right direction. This way of thinking can be helpful when the mental burden of diabetes management gets tough.
“People without diabetes can feel loneliness, anger, guilt, and shame or use denial, rebellion or secrecy. The addition of diabetes to your daily life increases the likelihood of complex emotions,” says Dr. Wendy Satin Rapaport aka ‘The Diabetes Pysche’. She adds, “My goal is to help you recognize these normal and demanding feelings and then move past them to do better.”
Divabetic Msytery Phrase
Constant worrying or self-doubt about what you are or are not doing isn’t empowering. That inner dialogue isn’t true, or even real.
Start believing in yourself and believing deeply—on every level—that you are doing your best.
Divabetic’s 6th Annual Diabetes Mystery Podcast, Gingerbread Men Prefer Blondes. The mystery is set in the fictitiously decadent world-renowned Gingerbread Men Cookie Baking Competition in New York’s Central Park Zoo. Mr. Divabetic’s healthy culinary misadventures continue in this year’s escapade as he enters the competition with headless cookies and pureed kale hot cocoa for the judges to sample. As if this dreadful combination wasn’t bad enough to land him at the bottom of the throwdown, his mother, Mama Rose Marie, is accused of poisoning one of the celebrity judges! Things go from bad to worse when the snake phobic Mr. Divabetic hears about the giant python’s escape.
Now, the happy healthcare host must decide to face his fear of snakes and recipe rejection or throw in his apron and risk getting caught up in another murder investigation. Can Mr. Divabetic and his team of amateur sleuths hunt down the real killer and get Mama Rose Marie out of jail? Will he be the next murder victim? Can he ever create an edible recipe?
The cast of Gingerbread Men Prefer Blondes features Mama Rose Marie, Best-Selling Author Tonya Kappes, the Charlie’s Angels of Outreach (Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDE and MaryAnn Nicolay BA, DTR), The Happy Diabetic Chef Robert Lewis, Seveda Williams, Coach The Cure’s Trisha Artman, Jillian Walsh, Wendy Radford, Dave Jones, Lorraine Brooks and Max Szadek.
Throughout this podcast we will be featuring music from the original Broadway cast recording of Gentlemen Prefer Blondes courtesy of SONY MUSIC.
First off, stevia is a natural, non-nutritive sweetener extracted from the leaf of the stevia plant. More than 200 times sweeter than sugar. Stevia is essentially calorie- and carb-free.
Stevia-based sweeteners shouldn’t be used to replace sugar cup for cup in your favorite recipes. Most bakers agree that for the best results you should leave at least 1/4 cup of sugar in the recipe to help with browning and provide texture. You likely will need to use a lower baking temperature and increase the baking time.
Healthine states, ” Stevia may help manage your weight and blood sugar levels, and animal studies show that it may improve heart disease risk factors. However, it’s an intense sweetener that could negatively affect your health.” (READ MORE)
Thanks to Jasmine Waheed for sharing their work on Unsplash.
The Basic Substitution for baking with Stevia: Substitute 1 cup of sugar for 18 to 24 stevia sweetener packets, 1/3 to 1/2 teaspoon of undiluted stevia powder or 1 teaspoon of a liquid stevia extract. Experts recommend that you choose the amount of stevia based on how sweet you wish your baked goods to be.
Instead of a Mounds Bar, try theseChocolate Covered Katie’s No Bake Coconut Fudge Bars made with a liquid sweetener (maple syrup, agave, etc.) or with stevia. If you choose to use stevia for this recipe, Katie recommends that you add 1/4 cup additional coconut oil to make up the liquid difference.
“With smooth dark chocolate between layers of coconut, it’s like an inside-out Mounds bar!”
Divabetic’s June 2020 podcast is in solidarity with and dedicated to the Black Lives Matter movement for racial justice. We are making time to reflect, share our feelings, listen and identify ways in which to fight for real and meaningful change. Guests include Lorraine Brooks, Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDE, Keith Anthony Fluitt, Leisa Chester Weir, and Jeff James.
As healthy foods go, sweet potatoes are hard to beat. These bright orange, fiber-packed tubers are rich in vitamins and minerals, and are a great choice for any diet. They’re also a low glycemic index (GI) food which means they can help avoid spikes in blood sugar levels.
Sweet potatoes are perfect for the novice home cooks, like me, because they’re easy to prepare. Roasting is a simple method of cooking and even more fun to dress up with spicy lean taco meat, low fat cheese and crisp lettuce.
Here are some of my favorite Taco Stuffed Sweet Potato Recipes on Instagram along with one from Eating Well. Enjoy!
In the words of the greatest president of our lives…yes we can.
This Divabetic podcast is in solidarity with and dedicated to the Black Lives Matter movement for racial justice. We are making time to reflect, share our feelings, listen and identify ways in which to fight for real and meaningful change. Guests include Lorraine Brooks, Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDE, Keith Anthony Fluitt, Leisa Chester Weir, and Jeff James.
Please consider donating to these organizations:
Campaign Zero, which is dedicated to ending police brutality in America through research-based strategies. LEARN MORE
Color of Change, which works to move decision makers in corporations and government to be more responsive to racial disparities. LEARN MORE
Equal Justice Initiative, which provides legal services to people who have been wrongly convicted, denied a fair trial, or abused in state jails and prisons. LEARN MORE
For over 20 years, our friend, Evetta Petty has designed hats in her uptown New York studio, Harlem’s Heaven Hat Shop. Her hats have captured worldwide attention and have been worn to the Kentucky Derby and Royal Ascot in England. Recently, she’s put her design skills to work making fabulous, functional face masks.
Q: Tell us about your face mask collection. What colors and styles do they come in? Are they for both women and men?
Evetta Petty: My mask collection is functional and fun. Its for ladies and gentlemen. I use the same high quality textiles for my masks that I use for my hats which makes them very special. I’m using beautiful brocades In rich jewel tones and rhinestone embellishments for the couture mask collection.
Q: What inspires you?
Evetta Petty: I’m inspired by my world travels. What comes to mind is my trip to India. The beautiful buildings and the colors of the spices in the marketplace. I bought beautiful fabrics and trimmings that I use for the masks.
Q: How has your life changed living in New York City and you’re living with type 2 diabetes since the pandemic?
Evetta Petty: Being quarantined at home during this pandemic is very challenging with Type 2 diabetes. I’m really being careful not to overeat because food is too available. The good thing is that I can do some healthy cooking and try new dishes that I normally would not have the time do.
Q: How do you cope with the stress and anxiety?
Evetta Petty: Being busy making masks and adding new items to my website has given me a great since of accomplishment. I really have been able to keep the stress level down by concentrating on daily tasks and limiting my time watching the News. I realized early on that when I watched the News all day, it gave me too much anxiety.
Q: You also amazing design hats! What are some of your favorite designs for Summer?
Evetta Petty: My favorite Summer hats are super wide brims with floral trim. You get ultimate Sun protection as well as high style. I’m pairing them with matching masks.
Q: What fashion advice can you offer for wearing a hat with a mask?
Evetta Petty: Masks are the new accessory and should be coordinated with your hat for a very cohesive ensemble. It’s a great look.
Q: How can people purchase your hats and masks?
Evetta Petty: You can purchase my hats and masks on my website www.harlemsheaven.com and we will promptly ship them out. My Hat shop up in Harlem has been closed during this pandemic and will reopen as soon as the law allows.
Harlem’s Heaven Hat Shop is located 2538 Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Blvd. (@W.147) New York, NY 10039. Phone: 212-491-7706. Store hours: 12PM to 6PM. Closed Sunday & Monday. Appointments available after hours
Hat Designer, Evetta Petty
See hat desginer, Evetta Petty’s sensational hat designs sweeping across the New York Fashion Week runway. Evetta who attended the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City was inspired by the exhuberance of the Poppy Flower for this unique collection. Her hat designs are fierce!
We’re talking about Secrets to Longevity & Diabetes with musical inspiration from Dionne Warwick on Divabetic’s Diabetes Late Nite podcast. Guests include The Lager Queen of Minnesota and Kitchens of the Great Midwest Author J. Ryan Stradal, Deborah Greenwood PhD, RN, BC-ADM, CDE, FAADE, Fonzi Thornton, Rachel Stahl MS, RD, CDN, CDE, and Lorraine Brooks. Throughout the podcast we will be featuring music from Dionne Warwick’s ‘Dionne’ album featuring I’ll Never Love This Way Again and Deja Vu courtesy of SONY Music.
June’s Divabetic podcast is in solidarity with and dedicated to the Black Lives Mattermovement for racial justice on Tuesday, June 9, 2020, 6 PM, EST.
We are making time to reflect, share our feelings, listen and identify ways in which to fight for real and meaningful change. Guests include Lorraine Brooks, Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDE, Keith Anthony Fluitt, Leisa Chester-Weir, and Jeff James. Join the conversation and call in to our studio line: (347) 215-8551.
“I imagine one of the reasons people cling to their hates so stubbornly is because they sense, once hate is gone, they will be forced to deal with pain.” — James A. Baldwin
Ella Fitzgerald was not allowed to play at Mocambo because of her race. Then, one of her biggest fans made a telephone call that quite possibly changed the path of her career for good.
To help combat systemic racism, please consider donating to these organizations:
Campaign Zero, which is dedicated to ending police brutality in America through research-based strategies. LEARN MORE
Color of Change, which works to move decision makers in corporations and government to be more responsive to racial disparities. LEARN MORE
Equal Justice Initiative, which provides legal services to people who have been wrongly convicted, denied a fair trial, or abused in state jails and prisons. LEARN MORE
#BlackLivesMatter was founded in 2013 in response to the acquittal of Trayvon Martin’s murderer. Black Lives Matter Foundation, Inc is a global organization in the US, UK, and Canada, whose mission is to eradicate white supremacy and build local power to intervene in violence inflicted on Black communities by the state and vigilantes. By combating and countering acts of violence, creating space for Black imagination and innovation, and centering Black joy, we are winning immediate improvements in our lives.
Divabetic’s June podcast guest, Jeff James helped to create a Black Power Spotify playlist for Black Music Month. “It reflects my feelings (activism-optimism),” states Jeff.
Cassandra Wilson recorded “Strange Fruit,” a protest against racism — specifically, the lynching of African-Americans in 2015. Her version takes on renewed purpose in light of the recent high-profile police killings of unarmed black men, and the Black Lives Matter movement which rose in their wake.
Looking for a refreshing way to beat the heat without compromising your diabetes wellness goals? Take a sip of The Diabetic Pastry Chef‘s Dalgona Coffee Recipe!
What’s Dalgona Coffee?
“Dalgona Coffee or whipped coffee is the latest coffee craze. It originated in South Korea and the recipe was shared on Tic Toc where it went viral,” says Stacey Harris who is professionally known as ‘The Diabetic Pastry Chef’. “It can easily be made at home in less than 10 minutes. I love it because it is simple to make, delicious, and every bit as decadent as a Starbuck’s drink without the cost or travel.”
2 Tbsp. Whey Low® Type D Granular sugar substitute
2 Tbsp. hot water
2-3 ice cubes
3/4 to 1 cup milk of choice (dairy, unsweetened almond, oat milk, etc.)
Directions:
In small mixing bowl, add coffee granules, Whey Low and hot water. Whip with electric mixer for several minutes until creamy and thick and peaks begin to form.
Add ice cubes to drinking glass and pour milk no more than 3/4 to top of glass. Spoon and swirl the whipped coffee on top of the milk. Stir the milk and enjoy.
Note: I have read that Splenda® and stevia do not work well in this recipe.
FUN FACT: The actor Jung Il-Woo traveled to Macau, tried the drink, and gave this coffee drink the nickname ‘dalgona‘ for its resemblance to the traditional Korean sponge candy of the same name.
Stacey Harris aka The Diabetic Pastry Chef shares her recipes in a fabulous book so that people with type 2 diabetes and others looking for sugar-free treats can make their own lower-carb versions of baked goods at home. She also started her own online bakery that ships homemade treats all across the country. The most common thing she hears from customers is, “I don’t even miss the extra sugar!”
Divabetic’s Diabetes Late Nite Podcast Inspired by Gladys Knight
Stacey Harris, The Diabetic Pastry Chef, guests on Divabetic’s Diabetes Late Nite podcast with music from Gladys Knight & The Pips. Our musical inspiration, Gladys Knight doesn’t have diabetes, but the disease is as close to her heart as the memories of her mother, Elizabeth Knight, who died of complications from the disease in 1997. The five time Grammy Award winner never misses an opportunity to use her voice to encourage early detection and treatment of diabetes.
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