Baking Party – Divabetic

11/09/2023

Free Holiday Sugarfree Baking Party Coming In November

Diabetes doesn’t have to dim your sparkle during the holidays. We’re presenting a Holiday Sugarfree Baking Party on Thursday, November 30, 2023, at 7 PM, EST.

During this fun-filled Baking Party on Zoom, The Diabetic Pastry Chef prepares a Sugar–Free holiday dessert recipe and shares expert baking tips for substituting sugar substitutes in recipes.

Plus, Divabetic Image & Style Advisor Catherine Schuller shares a sneak peek at Divabetic’s Gift Guide 2023. She showcases her new jewelry line, Power Pieces, made from upcycled comic books. These one-of-a-kind heroic adornments celebrate the inner power in all of us.

Win gifts courtesy of Best-Selling Author Tonya Kappes’s Camper Cozy Mystery and Peak 10 Skin‘s Save My Sole Foot Rescue Cream during Mr. Divabetic’s random drawings. You must be present at our Baking Party to enter our gift drawings to win.

REGISTER NOW – ITS’ FREE

Over 150 people have participated in our past Divabetic Baking Parties on Zoom, so don’t miss out!

There’s a good indication that murder might be part of the recipe when Nantucket’s ten-time reigning Baking Champion’s last name is ‘Coffin.’ Tune into Divabetic’s Mystery Podcast, Kill Me Madam.

10/27/2022

Sugar-Free Baked Rice Pudding Recipe by the Diabetic Pastry Chef

Divabetic wants to encourage you to indulge in the creative side of Halloween this year.

Instead of feasting on loads of candy, why not listen to our short audio ghost story about the Van der Voort Sisters who haunt Central Park as you enjoy this sugar-free recipe from the Diabetic Pastry Chef?

Sugar-Free Baked Rice Pudding by the Diabetic Pastry Chef

Ingredients

3/4 cup cooked brown rice

2 cups whole milk

3 eggs, beaten

1 cup dry sugar substitute of choice

3 Tbsp. butter, melted

1 tsp pure vanilla extract

1/2 tsp cinnamon

1/3 cup raisins

sprinkle of nutmeg for garnishing

nutmeg for garnishing

Directions

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Combine all ingredients in a greased 1 1/2 quart casserole dish. Garnish the top with a light sprinkle of grated nutmeg. Bake until the pudding is firm in the center, about 40 minutes. Serve warm or cold with cream or whipped cream.

The Diabetic Pastry Chef’s Note: The pudding mixture can be baked in small greased ramekins or mini casserole dishes instead of a large casserole dish.

Janet and Rosetta Van der Voort, born in the 1800s, were two wealthy sisters whose father rarely let them leave the house unaccompanied. The one place they were allowed to visit was Central Park’s Wollman Rink, where they went ice skating in the winter. The two sisters never married, were lifelong best friends, and died a few months apart. Since their death, their ghostly spirits have been seen periodically skating together on the Central Park Pond, wearing the same red and purple outfits they wore over 100 years ago.

Looking for a fun way to socialize without putting your diabetes wellness at risk? Are you interested in baking tips and recipes?

Back by popular demand! The happy healthcare host, Mr. Divabetic, hosts this free, fun Virtual Baking Party with special guest Stacey Harris, The Diabetic Pastry Chef, on Thursday, November 10, 7-8 PM EST.

During this Extra-Special Baking Party on Zoom, we invite you to bake along with The Diabetic Pastry Chef as she prepares her delicious Sugar-Free Pumpkin Spice Muffin recipe. Once you register, we will send you the recipe’s complete list of ingredients so you can prepare before our program begins.

The Diabetic Chef will also demonstrate her favorite kitchen tool and share expert tips for using sugar substitutes and alternative flours in traditional recipes.

Free Prizes! Mr. Divabetic will host a Baking Trivia Contest and Prize Drawing during the program. You must be present at our Baking Party to enter our prize drawings to win a Splenda Baking Kit, Tonya Kappes Cozy Mystery and PEAK 10 SKIN SAVE MY SOLE foot rescue cream.

REGISTER NOW – FREE REGISTRATION

10/21/202210/21/2022

Divabetic Prize Winner Allison Promotes Self-Care Saturdays

Divabetic’s recent Sugar-Free Baking Party prize winner, Allison, shares her secrets to a healthier way of life in this post.

Living with multiple health issues, the doctoral student makes Self-Care Saturdays a priority. Learn more about the fascinating founder of Living Chronic Faith and how she manages the ups and downs of diabetes life. Allison was the winner of a fantastic vegan leather Arthel Neville Design Tote bag!

Q: When were you diagnosed with type 2 diabetes?

Allison: I was diagnosed in 2008, but I started taking it seriously and managing it effectively in 2010. In doing so, I lost 75 pounds, and my A1c went from 14.7 to 6.9!!! It changed my life so much that I even served as an ambassador for the American Diabetes Association (Indiana chapter) for a couple of years.

Q: What other chronic conditions are you living with?

Allison: I am diagnosed with lupus SLE, fibromyalgia, PCOS, psoriasis and PsA, rheumatoid arthritis, degenerative disc disease/herniate disc, and Sjogren’s syndrome.

Q: What do you do to pamper yourself?

Allison: I do self-care Saturdays–that includes sleeping late, a long shower, the extended version of my skincare routine, and no work (I am self-employed, so it’s easy to work constantly). If I can, I try to get my homework done before Saturday, too (I am a doctoral student). I also engage in my favorite hobbies: writing plays, trying new recipes, and crocheting gifts for loved ones.

Q: And share the name of your organization and its mission.

Allison: The organization is Living Chronic Faith–we are a faith-first organization serving people living with chronic diagnoses and the people who support them. We provide support, education, and resources to help them maximize their quality of life and live toward their God-given purpose.

We host workshops, low-impact seated exercise sessions with a licensed physical therapist, and an annual conference. We also have a bi-monthly members-only meeting to address personal issues candidly. All of our programming is virtual and free of charge.

Looking for a fun way to socialize without putting your diabetes wellness at risk? Are you interested in baking tips and recipes?

The Diabetic Chef will also demonstrate her favorite kitchen tool and share expert tips for using sugar substitutes and alternative flours in traditional recipes.

Free Prizes! Mr. Divabetic will host a Baking Trivia Contest and Prize Drawing during the program. You must be present at our Baking Party to enter our prize drawings to win a Splenda Baking Kit, Tonya Kappes Cozy Mystery and PEAK 10 SKIN SAVE MY SOLE foot rescue cream.

REGISTER NOW – IT’S FREE

09/25/2022

Sugar-Free Pumpkin Roll Recipe by The Diabetic Pastry Chef

Divabetic’s special guest, The Diabetic Pastry Chef at the upcoming Sugar-Free Baking Party knows ways to transform decadent desserts so they’re no longer off-limits. By using blended flours and a combination of sugar and sugar substitutes, reducing milk carbohydrates, and eliminating trans fats, Stacey Harris can convert almost any recipe into a lower-carb alternative without compromising taste or quality.

Sugar-Free Pumpkin Roll Recipe by The Diabetic Pastry Chef

Ingredients

1 cup sugar substitute of your choice

3/4 cup white whole wheat flour or all-purpose flour

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp ground cloves

2/3 cup canned pure pumpkin puree

3 large eggs

1/2 cup walnuts, chopped

Swerve Confectioners

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Add all ingredients except walnuts and Swerve Confectioners to the mixing bowl and beat with an electric mixer until well combined.

Line an 11×15″ jelly roll pan with parchment paper or wax paper. Grease the paper and add the batter spreading evenly. Sprinkle with the chopped walnuts. Bake for approximately 15 minutes.

Invert the cake onto a thin linen dish towel sprinkled heavily with Swerve Confectioners (about 1/4 cup). Remove parchment paper or wax paper and gently roll the cake. Let cool for a minimum of 2 hours.

Unroll the cake and evenly spread with filling. Reroll cake. Freeze for 1 hour before serving. Thaw, sprinkle top with Swerve Confectioners to cover, and slice. Enjoy!

Filling Ingredients

1 8-oz. pkg. cream cheese, softened

1 cup Swerve Confectioners

2 Tbsp. butter softened

1 tsp pure vanilla extract

Directions

Mix ingredients together with an electric mixer until smooth.

Note: The Diabetic Pastry Chef’s choice of sugar substitute for this recipe is Erythritol.

Looking for a fun way to socialize without putting your diabetes wellness at risk? Are you interested in baking tips and recipes?

Back by popular demand! The happy healthcare host, Mr. Divabetic, hosts this free, fun Virtual Baking Party with our special guest, Stacey Harris,The Diabetic Pastry Chef, on Thursday, September 28, 7-8 PM, EST.

REGISTER NOW

09/22/202209/22/2022

Divabetic’s 9th Annual Mystery podcast, Tomorrow Is Not On The Menu, is Tuesday, September 27, 2022,

There are only three more rehearsals before our live performance premiere of Divabetic’s 9th Annual Mystery podcast, Tomorrow Is Not On The Menu, on Tuesday, September 27, 2022, at 6 PM EST. My work and friendship with health guru, High Voltage to help NYC girls at risk to get their energy up and their weight down inspired our story. Voltage believes exercise and healthy eating doesn’t have to be dull or feel like drudgery. She uses games, prizes, disco music, glow stick, and rhinestones to boost people’s self-confidence. She also wrote Sugar Savvy Solution to help people become ‘sugar savvy’ by adhering to the American Heart Association‘s guidelines for limiting added sugars to no more than 6 percent of calories daily.

Here’s a quick synopsis of Tomorrow Is Not On The Menu: The happy healthcare host, Mr. Divabetic, lands his to-die-for job as a caterer for the nation’s hottest health guru, Wendy Wattage’s Wellness Retreat on the Jersey Shore. Everything is hunky-dory until the body of the nasty food critic, Marilyn Macaroni, is found stabbed to death with one of Max’s new chef knives. Now he’s the prime suspect in a big, fat murder investigation! Can he and his team of friends, diabetes educators, and his nosey Italian mother, Mama Rose Marie, find the killer before the police arrive? Weight loss murder never tasted so good.

Music from The Pink Panther and The Return of The Pink Panther soundtracks by Henry Mancini courtesy of SONY Music.

We’re also hosting a free Sugar-Free Baking Party with the Diabetic Pastry Chef on Wednesday, September 28, 2022, at 7 PM EST on Zoom.

REGISTER NOW

09/17/202209/17/2022

Divabetic Remembers B. B. King

“I’m diabetic, bad knees, bad back. Ladies, I’m old but I ain’t dead.” Blues legend B. B. King.

We’re remembering B. B. King on the anniversary of his birthday. We applaud his openness about living with type 2 diabetes for over 34 years.

Diabetes didn’t dim his dazzle or stop the music. For over half a century, Riley B. King – better known as B.B. King – defined the blues for a worldwide audience. It was widely reported that he gave over 15,000 performances since his career began in 1949.

As B. B. King explained in a Diabetes Health magazine profile, he took charge of his diabetes shortly after his diagnosis. King tested his blood sugar often and changed his eating habits. He realized diabetes probably ran in his family, but no one knew it. He thinks his father might have had it when he died while suffering from gout and “high blood glucose.” King’s mother was blind when she died at age 9 and likely had undiagnosed diabetes, he says. Not only did B. B. King keep on top of his diabetes, but he spread awareness about it, working as a high-profile spokesperson in the fight against diabetes. Later in life, he admitted the life of a touring musician made it difficult to manage his daily diabetes self-care.

B.B. King was one of the best-known blues singers and guitarists in the world. He recorded more than 50 albums, was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987, won a lifetime achievement award from the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences in 1988, and received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1990 and a National Heritage Fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts in 1991.

https://youtu.be/GKYci8mmHVU

In B.B.’s words, “When I sing, I play in my mind; the minute I stop singing orally, I start to sing by playing Lucille.”

Looking for a fun way to socialize without putting your diabetes wellness at risk? Are you interested in baking tips and recipes?

Back by popular demand! The happy healthcare host, Mr. Divabetic, hosts this free, fun Virtual Baking Party with our special guest, Stacey Harris,The Diabetic Pastry Chef, on Thursday, September 28, from 7-8 PM EST.

REGISTER NOW

Join us for Divabetic‘s 9th Annual Mystery podcast, Tomorrow Is Not On The Menu, on Tuesday, September 27, 2022, at 6 PM, EST.

The happy healthcare host, Mr. Divabetic, lands his to-die-for job as a caterer for the nation’s hottest health guru, Wendy Wattage’s Wellness Retreat on the Jersey Shore. Everything is hunky-dory until the body of the nasty food critic, Marilyn Macaroni, is found stabbed to death with one of Max’s new chef knives. Now he’s the prime suspect in a big, fat murder investigation! Can he and his team of friends, diabetes educators, and his nosey Italian mother, Mama Rose Marie, find the killer before the police arrive? Weight loss murder never tasted so good.

Starring Mr. Divabetic, Best-Selling Author Tonya Kappes, Mama Rose Marie, Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDCES, Maryann Horst Nicolay MEd, NTDR, Kathie Dolgin aka ‘High Voltage,’ Seveda Williams, Catherine Schuller and Lorraine Brooks. Produced by Leisa Chester-Weir. Music from The Pink Panther and The Return of The Pink Panther soundtracks by Henry Mancini courtesy of SONY Music.

07/02/2022

Sugar-Free Banana Pudding Recipe by The Diabetic Pastry Chef

This past Wednesday night, we presented another diva-style diabetes wellness program with our friend, Stacey Harris, who is known as The Diabetic Pastry Chef.

I love the way Stacey experiments and encourages others to experiment with different flours and sugar substitutes in recipes. For example, Stacey will substitute one cup of sugar for a half cup of Splenda and a half cup of Whey Low D or replace white flour with a mixture of almond, soy, or bean flour in her recipes. Her approach corresponds to leading experts’ belief that a ‘one size fits all’ diet doesn’t exist for people living with diabetes. They recommend that we should develop our own personal nutrition plans for diabetes wellness. Read MORE.

Sugar-Free Banana Pudding Recipe by The Diabetic Pastry Chef

Ingredients

1 pkg. Sugar-free Vanilla Wafers

1- 1-oz. box Sugar-free Instant Vanilla Pudding

2 cups Whole Milk, Almond milk, or a combination of the two

1-2 ripe Bananas

1 cup of Sugar-free Whipped Cream or Sugar-free Whipped Topping

Directions

Prepare pudding per package directions using the 2 cups milk, almond milk, or a combination of the two; set aside. Line a small casserole dish, parfait dish, or trifle bowl with a layer of vanilla wafers. Top with a layer of prepared vanilla pudding. Add a layer of sliced bananas, and spread the top with a full layer or dollop of whipped cream. Garnish as desired (toasted coconut, raspberries, lemon twists, or cherries.

Do You Know?

Cup for cup, whole fat milk contains fewer carbohydrates than low-fat or skim because more of its volume is made up of fat, which does not contain lactose. It also has slightly less protein.

Stacey Harris has a blog full of great recipes. Click HERE.

Personally, I feel the kitchen is a great place to stretch, your creativity. It’s been widely reported that baking has the benefit of enhancing creative expression – which has been found to have a strong connection with overall wellbeing. Lately, I have been having fun creating fruit platters to glamorize good health!

The happy healthcare host, Mr. Divabetic talks to divas living with type 1 and type 2 diabetes about their favorite forms of exercise at NYC Summer Streets.

06/14/2022

Mr. Divabetic Gets His Energy Up!

This photo was taken in 2012 when I worked on the amazing national nonprofit organization, Energy Up! Program promoting healthy attitudes in young women with my friend and mentor, High Voltage.

The mission of Energy Up! is to prevent childhood obesity. Energy Up! is the only health and wellness childhood obesity program built on the Energy Up! Addiction model with a published medical study.

At the time, I was also working full-time on Divabetic ‘s ongoing outreach programs and podcasts. It was an amazing moment in my life to be working on two programs to encourage women of all ages to stay healthy and upbeat about their wellness. High Voltage and I share a passion for glamorizing good health. She loves to add sparkle to her events just like I do!

Fast-forward to this year. High Voltage still continues to motivate and inspire me every step, every day in my personal wellness journey.

I’m thrilled to announce that High Voltage joins the cast of Divabetic’s Annual Mystery podcast entitled Tomorrow’s Not On The Menu, debuting in Fall. She is helping us raise awareness of the high amounts of added sugar in our diets. The American Heart Association recommends limiting added sugars to no more than 6 percent of calories each day.

The American Heart Association recommends limiting added sugars to no more than 6 percent of calories each day.

For most American women, that’s no more than 100 calories per day or about 6 teaspoons of sugar. For men, it’s 150 calories per day or about 9 teaspoons. The AHA recommendations focus on all added sugars without singling out any particular types, such as high-fructose corn syrup.

Looking for a fun way to socialize without putting your diabetes wellness at risk? Do you need a little help staying on track with your diabetes self-care?

Back by popular demand! The happy healthcare host, Mr. Divabetic, hosts this free, fun Virtual Baking Party with our special guest, Stacey Harris, aka The Diabetic Pastry Chef, on Wednesday, June 29, 2022, 7 – 8:30 PM, EST on Zoom.

REGISTER NOW

06/06/2022

Mayor Adams’s $10 A Day Diet Dispels Common Myth About Healthy Eating

“There is a myth out there that states eating healthy is too expensive. You can take a bag of lentils which costs about $2.80. You can make lentil stew, lentil burger, you can make lentil pasta,” said New York City Mayor Eric Adams.

He pledged to live on a $10 a day plant-based diet to dispel the myth that healthy diets are expensive.

Mayor Adams’s motivation to eat healthy seems to stem from his mother’s battle with type 2 diabetes health-related complications. It’s important to point out that mismanaged diabetes leads to complications, not diabetes alone.

In 2016, Mayor Adams witnessed his mother inject herself with insulin to manage her Type 2 diabetes.

He said, “Despite several years of being on this injection routine, the grimace on her face clearly showed that she had never gotten used to the sharp pain. When I left her home, I sat in my car and had a conversation with God. “I am not a doctor,” he added, “but I wish I could do something for my mother to address her diabetes.”

I grimace too when people beat up on insulin. Insulin is a miracle! Every day I am grateful to Sir Frederick Banting and Charles Best for their discovery. So many wonderful people, including my brother, require insulin therapy to stay alive. Turning insulin into the enemy makes me nuts.

That said, I respect the Mayor’s initiative to dispel common misconceptions about healthy eating and to bring awareness to the healthy food deserts in New York City.

“We want you to show New Yorkers- not only what happens in the hospitals- but we want to show New Yorkers that you can have culturally sensitive food that is healthy. That is not what people have been shown,” said Mayor Adams.

While Mayor Adams has long claimed to be a vegan, the mayor did have to admit on Monday that he does eat fish. “I aspire to be plant-based 100% of the time. I want to be a role model for people who are following or aspire to follow a plant-based diet, but, as I said, I am perfectly imperfect, and have occasionally eaten fish.”

We’re talking about ‘THE SWEETEST TABOO’ aka ‘ADDED SUGAR’ on this episode of Divabetic’s podcast with musical inspiration from Sade.

Divabetic’s podcast guests include Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDCES, Tameka Milline, Catherine Schuller, Kathy Dolgin aka ‘High Voltage’, and Stephanie MacKendree. Throughout the podcast, we will be featuring music from ‘The Essential Sade’ album courtesy of SONY Music.

Looking for a fun way to socialize without putting your diabetes wellness at risk? Do you need a little help staying on track with your diabetes self-care?

Back by popular demand! The happy healthcare host, Mr. Divabetic, hosts this free, fun Virtual Baking Party with our special guest, Stacey Harris, aka The Diabetic Pastry Chef on Wednesday, June 29, 2022, 7 – 8:30 PM, EST on Zoom.

REGISTER NOW

06/02/2022

New Beauty Trend: Oat Milk Blondes

According to Allure magazine the latest hair color trend that will be everywhere this summer is… “oat milk blonde.”

What is Oat Milk Blonde?

Well, it isn’t super bright or not borderline brown. The color lands in between those two shades. Still confused?

It’s more of a lived-in blonde that has soft shades of brown mixed in. Some of our favorite oat milk blonde celebrities are Uma Thurman, and Elizabeth Olsen.

For those who would be more likely to drink oat milk rather than get it for hair color, oat milk is generally low in protein and high in carbohydrates. Oat milk contains only about 1.5 grams of fat and 2 grams of protein. With a creamy texture, oat milk generally has a mild flavor that goes well in coffee. Calories per cup of oat milk are comparable to skim cow’s milk at 90 per serving. Don’t forget even plain oat milk has about 4 grams of added sugar! It also contains more fiber than either cow’s milk or nut-based milk, but hold off on swapping a bowl of steel-cut oats for glass.

We’re talking about ‘THE SWEETEST TABOO’ aka ‘ADDED SUGAR’ on this episode of Divabetic’s podcast with musical inspiration from Sade.

Looking for a fun way to socialize without putting your diabetes wellness at risk? Do you need a little help staying on track with your diabetes self-care?

Back by popular demand! The happy healthcare host, Mr. Divabetic, hosts this free, fun Virtual Baking Party with our special guest, Stacey Harris, aka The Diabetic Pastry Chef on Wednesday, June 29, 2022, 7 – 8:30 PM, EST on Zoom.