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Diabetic Birthday and Holiday Celebrations
By Brenda Hyde
Family celebrations are always a little tricky pleasing everyone's
tastes, but if you have a diabetic in the family it can be an even
bigger challenge. My Mother was diagnosed with diabetes after
she was 50. Our family had been so used to the traditional sweets
and cakes that it was hard to adjust during celebrations. We
have discovered over the years that there have been wonderful
improvements in sugar free candy and desserts. I have two recipes
for homemade cakes and several suggestions for
the older diabetic or younger family member as well!
Angel food cakes are usually permitted in the diabetics diet.
We have decorated purchased angel food cakes with great
success. They can be topped with packaged sugar free dessert
topping. Decorate the cake with sugar free candy and candles
for birthday celebrations. You can also prepare sugar free
pudding, which comes in some great flavors now, and pour
over the top and sides of the cake. This can also be done
with the cake recipes below.
Orange Cake
Ingredients:
1/3 cup reduced calorie margarine, melted
1/4 cup granulated brown sugar substitute
1 tsp. powdered sugar substitute
1 egg
1 1/4 cups flour
2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. cinnamon
2/3 cup unsweetened orange juice
Vegetable cooking spray
Combine margarine, sugar substitutes and egg. Beat at
high speed with an electric mixer for 2 minutes. Combine
flour, baking powder, soda and cinnamon, stirring to blend.
Add flour mixture to creamed mixture alternately with
orange juice, beginning and ending with the flour. Beat at
low speed after each addition. Spoon batter into an 8
inch square pan coated with cooking spray. Bake at 350
degrees for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick comes out
clean when inserted. Note: You can make two of these
and layer them if you wish or bake them in round pans
instead. 9 servings.
Combine 2 1/2 cups water and raisins in a heavy pan and
bring to a boil. Boil until the water evaporates or is
absorbed by the raisins. (watch carefully) Remove
from heat. Add applesauce, eggs, sugar substitute,
oil, and remaining water. Stir to combine. Sift together
flour, cinnamon and soda, then gradually add to the
applesauce mixture with vanilla, stirring after each addition.
Spoon batter into a 10 inch Bundt pan coated with cooking
spray. Bake at 350 degrees for 40-45 minutes or until a
toothpick inserted comes out clean. Cool in pan for 10
minutes; remove from pan and cool on rack. Frost as
desired. Makes 28 slices.
Brenda Hyde is a freelance writer living on ten acres in rural Michigan with her husband and three kids. Stop by and visit her garden blog, Garden of Grace & Whimsy, and her photography blog, A Dance of Words & Photos.
SeptemberLady "Born and have lived in Southern MD most of my life. My husband and I just finished building a new home on the family farm, where I hope to retire in the near future.
My interests: Doll collecting, cookbook collector (especially old ones), antiques, family/friend get-togethers, cooking/baking, flower and vegetable gardening, bird-watching."
Memorial Day: Backyard Grilling Memorial Day signals the start of barbecue season. Everyone wants to light that fire and charcoal that first meal. A few tips might pre- vent your entree from becoming a "Burnt Offering."
Read these tips for plenty of grilling ideas, make this year's barbecue perfect!
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The stems and blooms are both edible and have a mild garlic onion taste. I've noticed many writers will list this as primarily as an Asian herb, as they are also known as Chinese chives, Chinese leeks, ku chai (China) or Nira (Japan), but it has many other uses as well!
The Perfect Porch Swing Perhaps it is the soothing rhythm or the reassuring creak of the porch swing that attracts us. Perhaps it is the companionable silence or quiet conversation. Or maybe swings simply remind us of more genteel times.
Although porch swings can be purchased in a wide range of materials, the most common are wicker and wood. You can also make your own porch swing from one of the myriad of woodworking patterns available at garden centers, hardware stores, or on the Internet.
Memorial Day: Backyard Grilling
Growing and Using Garlic Chives
The Perfect Porch Swing