Cauliflower Mac & Cheese Recipe by the Original Divabetic

“I’m trying to reduce my carbohydrates as one of my New Year’s resolutions,” says the original Divabetic. Since the pandemic, she’s been attempting to raise her game as a healthy home cook.

After joining us for several Divabetic Cooking and Baking Parties on Zoom, she challenged herself to create a healthy meal at home. Fortunately, she agreed to share it with our Divabetic community.

“I have been living with type 2 diabetes for over a decade,” says our guest Divabetic. “Cauliflower and cheese is it for me now, no macaroni involved.”

Cauliflower is muc lower in carbohydrates than macaroni.

“I have discovered that cauliflower takes on the flavor of whatever it’s cooked with, she says. “So you taste nothing but delicious cheddar and parmesan cheeses!”

This picture is crabcakes over garlic sauteed spinach with a side of cauliflower macaroni and cheese.

Generally speaking, I no longer feel like spending a ton of time in the kitchen, so here’s my fast and lazy way to make Cauliflower Mac & Cheese.

Cauliflower Mac & Cheese Recipe Ideas by the Original Divabetic

I started with a bag of uncooked riced cauliflower. I put it in a large bowl sprinkled some Parmesan, Cheddar, and Mozzarella cheeses on it. , Then I added a bunch of different seasonings, including onion powder, black pepper, garlic powder, and sage.

I was afraid the mixture would be watery because it was my first time making this. That’s why I added 3 tablespoons of mayonnaise to my mix. Yes, I said “mayo” because, in my opinion, it makes things delicious and creamy. I often use mayo as a substitute for egg and oil. As an afterthought, I decided to add a couple of tablespoons of butter, even though I used mayo.

Then, I eyeballed a small amount of half-and-half just enough so everything blended together nicely and held. Next, I chose a small loaf pan. The smaller pan was the perfect size for the amount I made. I had topped it with a bit of extra cheese and into a 370° oven for about 30 to 35 minutes. I knew it was done when I peeked in, and it was nicely golden and bubbly on the top. I took it out of the oven topped it with a bit of parsley. And as Rachel Ray would say, it was “yum-o”!!!

The original Divabetic gushes, “There is a 100 % guilt-free deliciousness in every mouthful. I plan to make it again and again.”

Enjoy the Diabetic Pastry Chef’s Sugar-Free Carrot Cake Recipe. Click HERE

The Diabetic Pastry Chef prepares a Valentines-themed Sugar-Free Dessert Recipe and shares Expert Baking Tips for using Sugar Substitutes & Free Gift Prize! Join us on Wednesday, February 9, 2022, 7 – 8:30 PM, EST

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Divabetic’s first podcast of the year featuring Rachel Zinman, Arthur Aston, and Patricia Addie Gentle RN, CDCES. Rachel will be presenting a guided mediation you won’t want to miss! Throughout the podcast, we will be featuring music by Teddy Pendergrass courtesy of SONY Music.

01/28/2022

Don’t Miss Divabetic’s Upcoming Baking Party with The Diabetic Pastry Chef

Register now for Divabetic’s upcoming free Baking Party with The Diabetic Pastry Chef on Zoom on Wednesday, February 9, 2022, 7-8:30 PM, EST. Click to REGISTER

One lucky participant will win a Splenda Gift Gasket and additional Divabetic prizes (featuring Tonya Kappes’s Camper Cozy Mystery, Peak 10 Skin’s Save My Soles Rescue Cream, and Walden Farms Zero Calorie Salad Dressing) in our random drawing. You must be present at our Baking Party to win.

Since our program is still two weeks away, enjoy these free Divabetic resources to help you stay upbeat and on track with your diabetes wellness. And remember to treat yourself with kindness!

Enjoy the Diabetic Pastry Chef’s Sugar-Free Carrot Cake Recipe. Click HERE

Enjoy Splenda’s Sweet Potato Soup Recipe. Click HERE

Listen to Divabetic Podcast Inspired by Dolly Parton. Guests include Poet Lorraine Brooks, Dr.Beverly S. Adler PhD, CDCES, Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDCES, Catherine Schuller, Lisa R Young, PhD, RDN, and Type 2 Diabetes – What To Know Facebook Community member, Crystal. Click HERE

Watch Mr. Divabetic’s video filmed at the New York City Easter Parade. Click HERE

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12/09/2021

Sugar-Free Linzer Torte Recipe by The Diabetic Pastry Chef

The Diabetic Pastry Chef, Stacey Harris, demonstrated how to make her fabulous Sugar-Free Linzer Tortes at last night’s Divabetic Baking Party. Stacey has mastered the art of substituting sugar substitutes and flours in traditional favorites without compromising taste or texture.

Stacey says, ”To cut back on sugar, I started using all-natural substitutes, like agave nectar, and trying erythritol. I also bake with a store-bought blend of sugars that tastes delicious.”

The Diabetic Pastry Chef shares her recipes in a fabulous book so that people with diabetes and others looking for sugar-free treats can make their own lower-carb versions of baked goods at home. The most common thing she hears from customers is, “I don’t even miss the extra sugar!”

Sugar-Free Linzer Tortes Recipe by The Diabetic Pastry Chef

Ingredients
10 tbsp. butter softened
1/3 cup dry sugar substitute
1 1/4 cup white whole wheat flour
1 cup ground almonds or almond flour
1 tsp. lemon zest
1/4 tsp. cinnamon
1/8 tsp. nutmeg
2 raw egg yolks
2 hardboiled egg yolks
1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
1 (12.75-oz.) jar sugar-free raspberry jam
1 egg white, beaten
sliced almonds for topping

Directions
In a mixing bowl with a mixer at medium speed, combine butter and sugar substitute until fluffy. Add flour, ground almonds, lemon zest, cinnamon, nutmeg, raw egg yolks, boiled egg yolks, and vanilla. Continue to mix until well combined. Chill for at least 1 hour.

Divide chilled dough into 2 pieces. Roll out 1 piece, and fit it into a greased 8×8-in. pan or springform pan. Spread jam over the dough with a spatula.

Roll out and cut strips with the remaining dough to make a lattice top to cover jam. Brush with egg white and sprinkle almonds on top. Bake at 350 degrees for approximately 45 minutes, or until torte is a pale golden color. Cut into squares to serve.

The Diabetic Pastry Chef shares the sweet secrets of her simple-to-use formula that will convert most any recipe into a lower-carb alternative without compromising taste or quality in her book. Now people living with can enjoy Chocolate Truffle Cookies, Blueberry Tartlets, Cream Cheese Cupcakes, Coffee Bread Pudding, and hundreds of others.

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?

Join the happy healthcare host, Mr. Divabetic for our next free, fun Virtual Valentines-themed Baking Party with our special guest, Stacey Harris aka The Diabetic Pastry Chef on Wednesday, February 9, 2022, 7 – 8:30 PM, EST on Zoom.

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12/08/202112/08/2021

Good Morning Gorgeous By Mary J. Blige

“I wake up every morning and tell myself

Good morning gorgeous

Sometimes you gotta look in the mirror and say

Good Morning Gorgeous”

The Queen of Hip Hop, Mary J. Blige sings these words in her new self-empowering song, “Good Morning Gorgeous”. Do you tell yourself that you are beautiful each day? I bet you don’t, but maybe you should. What would happen if you did? Take a moment to appreciate your curves, the way your body is solid and sure with strength in some places or sensuous with softness in others. End quiet moment you spend appreciating is a gift to you. Good thoughts become good feelings and feeling good on the inside is expressed on the outside, too.

Kind and gentle self-talk has helped Mary J. Blige overcome many obstacles in her life. She is not living with diabetes but she had a rough childhood. Her father, a war veteran who suffered from PTSD, left when she was just a young girl leaving the young Mary and her two siblings in the hands of an alcoholic mother. She was sexually abused by a family friend at the age of five. She turned to alcohol, drugs, and promiscuity to deal with the pain of her experiences.

“We numb ourselves with drugs and alcohol and people and shopping and shit, to cover up what’s really going on inside,” she said in an interview with Self.

Her resilience like her fame has grown over the years.

“People are watching,” she said to Self. “So much painful, embarrassing, public stuff has happened from the time I came out in this music industry. This stuff happens so that we can talk.”

Loving the body that you have and celebrating it makes you want to take care of it better inside and out, and all of that beauty just grows and grows. If you say it and hear it enough times I bet you’ll begin to believe it.

Enjoy Mary J. Blige’s song, “Good Morning, Gorgeous!” We believe in YOU!

Need a boost? Join us tomorrow night for Divabetic’s free Holiday-themed Baking Party with the Diabetic Pastry Chef on Thursday, December 9, 2021, at 7- 7:30 PM. EST.

We will be hosting two raffles during our virtual program. First, we will be giving away a beautiful Splenda Gift Basket filled with different Splenda products for you and your loved ones to enjoy. Then, Divabetic Image & Style Advisor, Catherine Schuller will raffle off a gift from Gem Desire. Catherine is the newest Brand Ambassador for Gem Desire, a curated jewelry brand at affordable prices. You must be present during our virtual program to qualify for the random drawings.

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09/15/2021

Join Us For Divabetic’s Baking Party with Stacey Harris aka “The Diabetic Pastry Chef”

90+ People have already registered, how about you? Join us for Divabetic’s largest diabetes outreach of 2021.

Register now for our free, fun Virtual Baking Party with special guest, Stacey Harris aka “The Diabetic Pastry Chef” on Thursday, September 23, 7 – 8 PM, EST on Zoom.

Stacey plans to demonstrate one of her favorite sugar-free recipes, answers your questions, and provide tips for baking with popular sugar substitutes, and other sugar alternatives including Splenda.

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 a traditional bakery item.

“I started experimenting by using almond milk or whole milk mixed with water to cut down on carbs, then tried different flours, incorporating white whole wheat flour, soy flour, oat flour, black bean flour, and other alternatives into my brownies, cakes, and cookies,” she said in a How 2 Type 2 article.

She adds, ”To cut back on sugar, I started using all-natural substitutes, like agave nectar, and trying erythritol. I also bake with a store-bought blend of sugars that tastes delicious.”

REGISTER NOW – FREE REGISTRATION

07/27/202107/27/2021

Recipe of The Week: Strawberry Pistachio Chocolate Greek Yogurt Bark

Sometimes scrolling through Instagram pays off. I came across this easy-to-make Eating Well’s Strawberry-Chocolate Greek Yogurt Bark recipe. It’s a perfect Summertime time snack because this treat is frozen so you can break it into chunks just like chocolate bark. I shared this recipe with my friend and fellow Divabetic Mystery podcast castmate, Seveda Williams. Seveda has appeared in Gypsies, Tramps & Peas (‘Boom Boom LaRue’), Swan Wake, Gingerbread Men Prefer Blondes (‘Agnes Frumpster’), Kill Me Madam (‘Goldie Hightower’), and the upcoming A Christmas Peril (‘Ruby Garland’) podcasts.

“This year’s podcast is an early Christmas treat because it’s so much fun to be a part of. On top of the crazy plot twists, there’s so much great information and explanation. Plus, this year’s mystery has an important message to share with isteners.”

Seveda texted me back that this Greek Yogurt Bark is delicious! “It’s a delightful cold treat that’s easy to make, says Seveda. “I added some vanilla bean, cinnamon, and pistachios because I love chocolate and pistachios. Keep in mind, it takes a while to set up in the freezer so leave it in overnight.”

Eating Well’s Strawberry-Chocolate Greek Yogurt Bark Recipe

Ingredients

3 cups whole milk plain Greek Yogurt

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/4 cup pure maple syrup or honey

1 1/2 cups sliced strawberries

Click HERE for Full Recipe

This recipe takes about 10 minutes to prepare. It’s low calorie, low carb, gluten-free, and low sodium. Plus, it’s packed with protein.

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?

Join the happy healthcare host, Mr. Divabetic for this free, fun Virtual Salad Making Party with special guest, Jill Weisenberger MS, RDN, CDCES, CHWWC, FAND on Wednesday, August 18, 2021, 7 – 8 PM, EST on Zoom.

Eating a salad sounds healthy, doesn’t it? But a leafy green salad can go bad when you pile on the high calorie and high carb toppings, dressings, and other deep-fried offerings.

FREE REGISTRATION – REGISTER NOW

Tune in to Divabetic’s 11th Podcast Anniversary with musical inspiration from Toni Braxton. Click Here.

The seven-time Grammy Award-winner has sold over 70 million records and is one of the best-selling R&B artists of all time.

When Toni Braxton was first diagnosed with systemic lupus in 2008, her doctors told her that she would need a heart transplant and might not ever perform again.

“I remember being petrified,” she said. “I was scared. I didn’t know anything about lupus.”

Lupus is an autoimmune disease that can affect the joints, skin, brain, lungs, kidneys, and blood vessels. It can also lead to heart disease and kidney disease.

Insulin resistance is increased in people with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Insulin resistance occurs when excess glucose in the blood reduces the ability of the cells to absorb and use blood sugar for energy. This increases the risk of developing prediabetes, and eventually, type 2 diabetes.

Guests include Dr. Sara Reece, PharmD – NGMC, GME, Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDCES, Keith Anthony Fluitt, and Sonya Hogans. Hosted by Max ‘Mr. Divabetic’ Szadek.

05/11/2021

We Love Catherine Schuller!

Barbra Streisand singing ‘Being Alive’ from her The Broadway Album, you’ll hear it on next week’s Diabetes Late Nite podcast, is inspiring this post. Seriously, the combination of Barbra’s voice, lyrics from a popular Broadway musical, and the sunshine streaming through my window at 7 AM are like a multi-vitamin for an older gay gent like me.

If there’s any truth to the saying or Madonna’s Vogue song lyric ‘beauty is where you find it then it’s clear I found it in Catherine Schuller. From the most moment we met, back in 2005, she has been a powerful, positive, and empowering force in my life. Always stylish, always upbeat, always sparkling! She has helped me to define and refine Divabetic’s GLAM MORE, FEAR LESS philosophy. Together found a way to stamp out the shame and blame associated with a diabetes diagnosis by making people feel better about themselves right now, not tomorrow. It’s funny how a bit of mascara, a bright-colored feather boa, and the hook to your favorite disco tune can push the clouds away.

I have plenty of reasons to love Catherine just for her work as Divabetic’s Image & Style Advisor on Divabetic’s national tour of Makeover Your Diabetes outreach programs. Her ability to comfort, care, and cheer on all types of divas (type 1, type 2, LADA, gestational, and prediabetes) was remarkable. But love beams are shooting straight out of my heart because of the passionate way Catherine lives after experiencing a stroke. I don’t think a day goes by that she doesn’t make the most of every moment.

During the pandemic, when I wasn’t sure if it was Monday or Thursday, Catherine managed to give Dr. Birx a run for her money! She took up my challenge to demonstrate many ways to tie a scarf on one of Divabetic’s past Zoom programs.

Next week Catherine joins me for the two-part stroke prevention webinar, Keep Your House A Home, for the Frazier Coalition for Stroke in Philadelphia. My good friend and health champion, Senior Health Educator for Center for Urban Health at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Neva White DNP, CRNP- BC, CDCES is organizing it.

Catherine plans to share her powerful testimony about advocating for her health after experiencing a stroke. After her husband told her to go upstairs and lie down, she told him in no uncertain terms to call an ambulance so she could get to a hospital. Her wise decision to seek help right away and not wait is why her recovery has been so excellent. Fortunately, Catherine’s quick thinking is precisely why she able to receive the stroke drug tPA. This potent clot-busting medication, tPA, may save critical brain tissue if a patient arrives at the emergency room within three hours of experiencing stroke symptoms. And there’s a new study that suggests that the traditional three-hour time window is too short. Combining data from multiple clinical trials, Maarten Lansberg, MD, PhD, assistant professor of neurology and neurological sciences at Stanford, and colleagues from Belgium and Germany have shown that treatment can benefit patients up to 4.5 hours experience their first symptom. Their findings were published online on May 21 in the journal Stroke.

The timing of treatment is essential because giving a blood thinner like tPA during a stroke can cause bleeding inside the brain. The longer a patient waits to get treatment, the more likely the risks of treatment will outweigh the benefits.

My life and the lives of many others were devasted by Luther Vandross’s stroke, related to his mismanagement of type 2 diabetes. I can’t turn back time and change his outcome, but hopefully, you can change yours. Let Catherine Schuller inspire you to GLAM MORE, FEAR LESS, and advocate for your health today, not tomorrow!

02/25/202102/25/2021

A ‘Handy’ Guide To Figuring Out Portion Sizes

Lately I feel the real culprit in managing my weight is portion size. It’s not what I eat, it’s how much I eat. I’ve been learning the hard way that the amount of food I used to eat at 20 or 30 is making me gain weight! Old eating habits are hard to break too.

When I was growing up, my father told me to “clean your plate.”

The problem is that dinner plates, especially in restaurants, have gotten bigger. And so has the amount of food we put on them. If I clean my plate now, I’m overeating.

If you struggle like me with portion sizes, the best help might be right in the palm of your hand.

Use Your Hand To Figure Out Portion Sizes

Your fist = the size of a cup

The palm = the size of 3 ounces of meat

Your thumb = the size of 1 ounce of cheese

Another helpful tip is to check food labels and restaurant menus for hidden calories. Learn to “eyeball” your food to gauge what’s too much — and what’s just right.

The good news is that experts agree that when you downsize to healthy portions, your body will, too!

Love New Recipes?

Join the happy healthcare host, Mr. Divabetic for this free Virtual Cooking Party with special guest, Author of The Beginner’s Guide To What To Eat With Type 2 Diabetes, Registered Dietitian and Certified Diabetes Educator Jill Weisenberger MS, RDN, CDE, CHWC, FAND on Zoom on Tuesday, March 2, 2021, 7-8 PM, EST. Jill shares her favorite quinoa recipes with us!

REGISTER NOW – FREE REGISTRATION

02/18/202102/18/2021

Don’t Let Diabetes Hinder Your Romance Advice

‘Diabetes & Intimacy’ Co-Author Janis Roszler, LMFT, RD, LD/N, CDE, FAND answers our questions about how diabetes can impact our sex lives on February’s Divabetic Diabetes Late Nite podcast.

Diabetes can cause numerous problems in the bedroom, including erection challenges, reduced libido, vaginal dryness, pain during intercourse, orgasm difficulties, and mood swings. If you experienced a diabetes-related weight gain or have marks on your skin from blood sugar checks, insulin pump infusion sets and/or injections, you may also feel uncomfortable having a sexual partner see you undressed.

Fortunately, there are many things you can do to reclaim your mojo and enjoy sexual activity again. Tune in for Janis’s advice on how to resolve 3 of the most common problems facing couples with diabetes in the bedroom.

Janis Roszler is a board certified sex therapist, licensed marriage and family therapist and award-winning diabetes educator.

One of Janis Roslzer’s Tips For Reclaiming Your Mojo

Janis recommends following the Mediterranean Diet. She shared in an article for Modern Intimacy that research has shown that choosing foods according to this plan can reduce the risk of sexual complications in people with type 2 diabetes.

The Mediterranean Diet means eating lots of vegetables, fruits, herbs, nuts, beans and whole grains. Meals are built around these plant-based foods. Moderate amounts of dairy, poultry and eggs are also central to the Mediterranean Diet, as is seafood. In contrast, red meat, sugar-sweetened beverages, added sugars, refined grains, refined oils and other highly processed foods are avoided.

Authors Janis Roszler and Donna Rice use humor, helpful examples, and insightful questions to present key topics about sexual health in an engaging, approachable way. ‘Intimacy & Diabetes’ is perfect for anyone (regardless of gender, sexual orientation, age, or health status) looking to rekindle intimacy with their partner or be proactive about their sexual and emotional wellbeing. Intimacy & Diabetes is your key to a happy, healthy intimate life with diabetes.

Love New Recipes?

Join the happy healthcare host, Mr. Divabetic for this free Virtual Cooking Party with special guest, Registered Dietitian and Certified Diabetes Educator Jill Weisenberger MS, RDN, CDE, CHWC, FAND on Zoom on Tuesday, March 2, 2021, 7-8 PM, EST. Jill shares her favorite quinoa recipes with us!

REGISTER NOW – FREE REGISTRATION

02/17/2021

Do Weight Loss Drugs Really Work?

We’re talking with pharmacist Dr. Sara (Mandy) Reece PHARMD, CDCES, BC-ADM, BCACP, FADCES about the effectiveness of various weight loss drugs marketed for people with type 2 diabetes on March’s Divabetic Diabetes Late Nite podcast with music from Jessye Norman.

For the first time, a drug, semaglutide, made by Novo Nordisk, has been shown so effective against obesity that people may avoid developing obesity health-related consequences reports The New York Times.

Many people with type 2 diabetes are already using semaglutide.

Three quarters (75%) of people who received semaglutide 2.4mg lost more than 10% of their body weight and more than one-third lost more than 20%. No other drug has come close to producing this level of weight loss.

Up until now, the most effective weight loss treatment to help people lose 25 percent to 30 percent of body weight has been bariatric surgery.

READ MORE

Love New Recipes?

Join the happy healthcare host, Mr. Divabetic for this free Virtual Cooking Party with special guest, Registered Dietitian and Certified Diabetes Educator Jill Weisenberger MS, RDN, CDE, CHWC, FAND on Zoom on Tuesday, March 2, 2021, 7-8 PM, EST. Jill shares her favorite quinoa recipes with us!