The Happy Diabetic’s Oven Roasted Salmon with Fruit Salsa Recipe

I was thrilled to be a guest on my friend, Chef Robert Lewis, The Happy Diabetic‘s Kitchen Podcast. I had the chance to reflect on my twentieth anniversary of presenting diabetes outreach diva-style.

Several years after graduating from the prestigious Culinary Institute of America in 1976, Chef Robert Lewis was diagnosed with Type-2 diabetes. His love of food and cooking motivated to alter his recipes to achieve diabetes wellness.

“I suspected that my days of good eating were over; yet as I worked through my ups and downs, I came to realize that the selection of foods I could and should eat was vast and included many of my favorites,” he says.  “This motivated me to attempt to create delicious, diabetic-friendly dishes that were also easy to prepare.”

As a nationally recognized author, public speaker, and spokesperson for all people affected with diabetes, he travels the country, speaking on the benefits of healthy eating not only for people affected with diabetes but also for anyone who would like to eat well and live a healthy lifestyle.

The Happy Diabetic’s Oven Roasted Salmon with Fruit Salsa Recipe

Ingredients

  • 1⁄4 Cup of Fresh Mango diced (or use canned)
  • 1⁄4 Cup of Fresh Pineapple diced (or use canned)
  • 2 Fresh Strawberries diced
  • 1 Kiwi peeled and diced
  • 1 Teaspoon fresh lime juice
  • 1 Tablespoon leaf fresh cilantro chopped
  • 4-  5- 6 oz salmon filets
  • 2 Tablespoon of Splenda
  • Ground Pepper
  • Balsamic Glaze

Directions

Peel and dice the mango, strawberries, kiwi, and pineapple. Place them into a bowl. Add the lime juice and cilantro. Set aside. 

Season the salmon with cracked pepper and a dusting of Splenda. Place the fish into a non-stick oven pan lightly coated with canola oil on med heat (heat the pan first).

Place the salmon in a preheated 425-degree oven. Roast the tuna for about 10-12 minutes. The cooked fish will be firm to the touch, and the internal temperature will be about 140 degrees.

Remove from the oven and let the fish rest for 2-3 min. Place the fish on the plate. Top with fruit salsa.

Nutrition Information: Calories: 196 Fat: 4.31 g Sugar: 18.53 Fiber: 5.81 g Protein: 12.97 g 

The Happy Diabetic Kitchen Podcast: A Conversation with Max ‘Mr. Divabetic’ Szadek LISTEN NOW

Are you a Picky Eater? The happy healthcare host, Mr. Divabetic plays his food game, Serve, Taste or Trash! at Central Farm Market in Bethesda, MD.

Chef Robert Lewis, The Happy Diabetic, stars with Mr. Divabetic in Divabetic Mysteries: Gypsies, Tramps & Peas podcast. Tune in to find out if Mr. Divabetic can solve the murder of his former swim coach with the help of his nosey Italian mother and friends. Along the way to revealing the identity of the murderer, he uncovers expert tips for diabetes self-care during the Summer months.

 

 

Blueberry Ricotta Cake Recipe by Splenda

Looking for a Summertime treat that won’t put your diabetes wellness at risk? Enjoy this wonderful Blueberry Ricotta Cake recipe from our friends at Splenda.

Packed with antioxidants and phytoflavinoids, blueberries are also high in potassium and vitamin C, making them the top choice of doctors and nutritionists. Not only can they lower your risk of heart disease and cancer, but they are also anti-inflammatory.

Ricotta is an Italian curd cheese made from whey left over from the production of other cheese. Compared to most cheeses, ricotta is a healthier choice because it contains less salt and fat – 10 percent fat, of which 6 percent is saturated.

Blueberry Ricotta Cake Recipe by Splenda

Ingredients

1 cup all-purpose flour

1½ teaspoons baking powder

½ teaspoon salt

4 large eggs + 2 large egg yolks, at room temperature

⅔ cup Splenda® Stevia Granulated Sweetener

½ cup unsalted butter, melted

1¼ cups low-fat ricotta cheese

¼ cup sour cream

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 tablespoon freshly grated lemon zest

1½ cups blueberries, rinsed and dried

See FULL RECIPE

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.

During this Baking Party on Zoom, The Diabetic Pastry Chef prepares a Sugar-Free Dessert recipe, demonstrates her favorite kitchen tools, and shares expert baking tips for substituting sugar substitutes and alternative flours in recipes.

Win gifts courtesy of The Diabetic Pastry Chef, 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.

We’ve also been fortunate to offer a Splenda Gift Basket as one of our prize offerings at our previous Baking Parties.

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Speaking of ‘blueberries,’ the first song that comes to mind is Fats Domino’s Blueberry Hill.

In 1949, the musician and singer made one of the first rock’n’roll records, called The Fat Man, and instrumental in the early rock’n’roll scene of the 1950s and early 1960s.

His hits included ‘Ain’t That a Shame’ and ‘Blueberry Hill.’ In the 1950s his records were only outsold by those of Elvis Presley, according to Rolling Stone.

Patriotic Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe by Splenda

Our friends at Splenda have been graciously donating Baking Kits for our free Baking Parties with the Diabetic Pastry Chef on Zoom.

Patriotic Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe from Splenda 

Ingredients

3/4 cup vegetable oil spread, room temperature

2 small eggs, room temperature

2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1 cup Splenda® Monk Fruit Granulated Sweetener

1 cup almond flour

2 teaspoon cornstarch

1 tablespoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 1/4 cup stevia-sweetened semisweet chocolate chips

Red food coloring

Blue food coloring

Star sprinkles (optional)

Click HERE for the Full Recipe

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.

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Baked Stuffed Peppers Recipe from Walden Farms

Linda B. from Pennsylvania won our Walden Farms Prize package at last week’s Divabetic Baking Party with the Diabetic Pastry Chef.
Linda received several flavors of Walden Farms Calorie-free Salad Dressing, USA Today Best-Selling Author Tonya Kappes cozy mystery, and Peak 10 Save My Soles Foot Rescue Cream. Made with culinary-inspired blends of herbs and spices, the finest kinds of vinegar, and a wide variety of natural flavors, Walden Farms Salad Dressings add the perfect flavor to your salad faves – without adding calories, carbs and fat. Try some today!
Enjoy this lighter twist to a tasty classic recipe:

Baked Stuffed Peppers Recipe from Walden Farms 

Ingredients

2 medium yellow bell peppers
2 tsp olive oil
1 shallot, minced
1 1/2 cups priced cauliflower
6 slices of turkey bacon, cooked and chopped
1/4 cup Walden Farms Raspberry Vinaigrette
2 tbsp raisins
1 tbsp mint, minced
salt and pepper, to taste
Directions
Heat the oven to 400 degrees. Cut the top off each pepper and scoop out the seeds and the white membrane.
Heat a small skillet, add oil, and shallot, and cook for a few minutes. Add cauliflower, raisins, salt, and pepper. Cook 3 to 4 minutes longer. Remove from the heat and add bacon, mint, and vinaigrette. Toss to combine and stuff the peppers. Transfer stuffed peppers, uncovered, along with the tops, into a small, sprayed baking dish and bake for 20 to 25 minutes. When done, cover peppers with the tops and serve.
Prep time: 15 minutes 
Cooking time: 30 minutes 
Servings: 2
Walden Farms kitchens develop the world’s only comprehensive assortment of calorie-free products with zero calories, fat, net carbs, gluten, or sugars of any kind! Since 1972, Walden Farms has created delicious tasting zero calorie and zero fat Salad Dressings for healthy eaters. Today, their offerings also include syrups, coffee creamers, condiments, spreads, dips, sauces, and a full line of specialty condiments and food enhancers.

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.

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Zoodles In Homemade Marinara Sauce Recipe by Divabetic

We’re celebrating ‘all things Italian’ on Divabetic’s podcast featuring music by Dean Martin on Tuesday, February 8, 2022, at 6 PM EST. 

Our musical inspiration, Dean Martin‘s favorite restaurant, was Da Vinci Ristorante in Beverly Hills. There was even a booth marked Dean Martin Booth adjacent to the small bar.

Eating at an Italian restaurant can be a minefield for anyone with diabetes trying to watch their calories and carbohydrate intake. So many of the items on the menu are smothered in either creamy sauce or gooey cheese, and they’re high in fat, carbs, sodium, and calories.

We thought it would be fun to challenge the Original Divabetic to make a lighter version of a conventional plate of pasta. 

She’s been living with type 2 diabetes for over a decade. Her goal this year is to keep her blood sugars in a target range without feeling deprived every time she sits down to eat. 

She’s sharing her Zoodles In Homemade Marinara Sauce Recipe to inspire you to lighten up your menu! Now, that’s Amore! 

Zoodles In Homemade Marinara Sauce Recipe By The Original Divabetic

I decided to skip using Prego or another brand of spaghetti sauce. Store-bought spaghetti sauce is a sodium grenade. One cup of spaghetti sauce can have a sodium content of nearly 1,000 mg. 

Instead, I decided to make my own sauce. I roasted red peppers, garlic, tomatoes (seasoned with basil, thyme, and sage), and onions in the oven at 400 degrees for approximately 25-30 minutes.  

Then, I pulsed the mixture in my blender before transferring it to a small pot on the stove to stay warm. This way, the flavors could blend together. 

I swapped out flour-based pasta for zoodles to cut back on the carbohydrates. Zoodles are zucchini noodles or spaghetti-like strands made from spiralized, raw zucchini and other squash. They contain no flour or wheat whatsoever and are very low in calories and carbs. A cup of Zoodles includes 30-40 calories and 5 net grams of carbs. Traditional pasta has 210 calories and 40 net grams of carbs per cup. In addition, zoodles provide a good dose of nutrients like vitamin A, vitamin C, B vitamins, potassium, and a modest fiber intake in every cup.

I put the Zoodles in the oven to roast. But you can also cook your Zoodles in a nonstick skillet with a tablespoon of olive oil on medium-high heat, tossing frequently. They will release water and cook quickly, so only heat them for 2–5 minutes for best results to avoid sogginess. Personally, I like to keep them in the oven for as long as possible. Plated and sprinkled a little mozzarella cheese on it and went to town! .. So yummy! Sorry, Prego, I’m making my own sauce from now on.

While I was eating, the Zoodles did release the water, but it did not remove any flavor.

Don’t miss Divabetic’s February 2022 podcast featuring music by Dean Martin.  We’re talking about 50 years with type 1 diabetes, alcohol’s effects on blood sugars, and the Spare A Rose campaign with musical inspiration from Dean Martin.  Podcast guests: Fran Carpentier, Mama Rose Marie, and Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDCES. Throughout this podcast, we will be featuring music from The Essential Dean Martin album courtesy of SONY Music.

Join us for Divabetic’s Baking Party with The Diabetic Pastry Chef on Zoom on Wednesday, February 9, 2022, 7 – 8:30 PM, EST

The Diabetic Pastry Chef prepares a Valentines-themed Sugar-Free Dessert Recipe and shares Expert Baking Tips for using Sugar Substitutes. one lucky participant will win a Divabetic Gift Basket featuring Splenda products, Best-Selling Author Tonya Kappes‘s Cozy Mystery, PEAK 10 Skin Save My Soles Rescue Cream, and an assortment of Walden Farms Salad Dressings. You must be present on Zoom to participate in our random drawing.

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Once In A Blue Moon Program Recap & Butternut Squash Soup Recipe

In honor of National Diabetes Awareness Month, the happy healthcare host, Mr. Divabetic presented Divabetic’s Once In a Blue Moon program on Zoom. This free, fun-filled, informative hour of diabetes outreach featured presentations from Maryann Nicolay MEd, NDTR, Wendy Satin Rapaport LCSW, PsyD, and Divabetic Image & Style Advisor Catherine Schuller.

Wendy Satin Rapaport, aka The Diabetes Psyche, shared strategies to help us overcome negative feelings related to judgment and stigma. Dr. Wendy encourages us to use a technique called positive reframing. Positive reframing involves thinking about an adverse or challenging situation in a more positive way. Rather than contemplating feelings of frustration and helplessness, look at your situation with fresh eyes. For example, instead of saying, “I’d did something bad,” when looking at the number on your glucose meter, say, “Oh, this is helpful information.” Suppose you’re in a situation you truly can’t change. In that case, you can reframe your thoughts and change how you feel about it by finding benefits in the situation you face. She also encouraged us to find humor in our daily diabetes lives. When you’re looking for benefits, it doesn’t mean you gloss over negatives; you simply notice positives as well and focus on them.

MaryAnn Nicolay spotlighted the benefits of adding winter squashes (butternut, acorn, pumpkin, and spaghetti) to your meal plan. Winter squashes contain LOTS of vitamins, minerals, and fiber. In addition, they can promote heart and eyes health, lower risks of some cancers, and help with high blood pressure. 

Below is the Creamy Butternut Squash Soup recipe from MaryAnn Nicolay’s presentation.

Creamy Butternut Squash Soup Recipe from Robin Blair-Ackinson MPH

Ingredients

2 Butternut Squash, medium

2 Granny Smith Apples

2 cups Vanilla Almond Milk (or Soy Milk)

½ tsp Salt

1 tsp Ground Nutmeg

2 tsp Ground Cinnamon

½ tsp Ground Ginger (optional)

Directions:

  1. Peel and dice squash and apples
  2. Season squash with a little cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt
  3. Roast squash and apples on a roasting pan for 40-45 minutes in a 425-degree oven
  4. Heat milk to just below boiling
  5. Place squash and apples in a blender.  Slowly add milk.  If the soup is too thick, thin it with a little vegetable stock.
  6. Return to pot and add spices.  Simmer until hot

Makes 6 servings. Recipe by Robin Blair-Ackinson, MPH Cooking with C.A.R.E Unlimited. All rights reserved

Divabetic Image & Style Advisor Catherine Schuller helped us to determine which style and type of blue jeans work with our figures. The blue circle is a symbol for World Diabetes Day, November 14, 2021. In addition, the blue circle signifies the unity of the global diabetes community in response to the diabetes pandemic.

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?

The happy healthcare host, Mr. Divabetic hosts this free, fun Virtual Holiday-themed Baking Party with our special guest, Stacey Harris aka The Diabetic Pastry Chef on Thursday, December 9, 2021,  7 – 8 PM, EST on Zoom.

During this virtual Baking Party on Zoom, The Diabetic Pastry Chef will prepare a holiday Sugar-Free Dessert recipe and share expert baking tips for substituting sugar substitutes and flours in your favorite holiday recipes.

Over 120 people registered for our last Divabetic Baking Party so don’t miss out!

After being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, Stacey Harris (The Diabetic Pastry Chef) taught herself how to make pound cake, pecan rolls, pies, muffins, cupcakes, and other baked goods with about half the carbs you’d get from traditional bakery items.

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No Sugar Added Pumpkin Ice Cream Pie Recipe by The Diabetic Pastry Chef

pumpkin pie

One of Stacey Harris aka The Diabetic Pastry Chef‘s professional baking tips is to make your own homemade vanilla extract. It’s easy! You only need two ingredients for homemade vanilla extract: vanilla beans and vodka. Let the vanilla beans infuse the vodka for as little as 8 weeks, but for optimal flavor, wait at least 6-12 months before using.

pumpkin pie

No Sugar Added Pumpkin Ice Cream Pie Recipe by The Diabetic Pastry Chef 

Ingredients

1 1/2 pints no sugar added vanilla ice cream, room temp

3 eggs, room temp

1 3/4 cup pure pumpkin puree

1 tsp pure vanilla extract

3/4 cup Splenda or Whey Low D Granular

1/2 tsp salt

1 tsp ground cinnamon

1/4 tsp ground ginger

1/4 tsp ground nutmeg

2  9-inch unbaked pie shells

Preheat oven to 425 degrees.

Directions

In a large mixing bowl, whisk eggs and add remaining ingredients combining well. Pour into unbaked pie shells. Bake 15 minutes and lower oven temperature to 350 degrees. Bake an additional 30 to 45 minutes, or until the filling is set. Filling may rise and puff while baking but should deflate when removed from the oven.

Yield: 2 pies

 

Stacey Harris aka ‘The Diabetic Pastry Chef’ has created a simple four-part substitution system that turns any decadent dessert into a diabetic-friendly delight. Learn more about The Diabetic Pastry Chefs Book available on Amazon.

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 Holiday-themed Baking Party with our special guest, Stacey Harris aka The Diabetic Pastry Chef on Thursday, December 9, 7 – 8 PM, EST on Zoom.

REGISTER NOW