DARLENE

Anne, Davenport
Hi Darlene,
I'm a diabetic on Weight Watchers. I enjoyed watching the dinner party on episode two, but I would not be able to eat it. How about a dinner party menu for my friends and me? We're looking for something low in carbs, calories and fat, but high in fiber. Thanks.

Hi Anne, Thanks for watching the show. I'm glad you're enjoying it. Being hypoglycemic myself, I know exactly what you mean about the dinner we served. Foods closest to their natural state, vegetables low in salt and sugar and whole grains help to stabilize the insulin levels. A smart ratio of protein complex carbs is key. I'd also like to recommend "Eating Well" magazine. They have informative food articles, superb recipes, mouth-watering photos and per serving counters at the bottom of each recipe.

The following is one of our family's favorite simple meals and I do serve it to friends as well. I hope you enjoy it.

Salad
Strawberry spinach salad with sweet poppy seed dressing

Entree
Feta Stuffed Chicken Breast
Green Beans Almandine
Uncle Ben's Original Wild Rice

Dessert
Pumpkin custard
Blue Bunny Bunny Tracks Ice Cream low fat sweetened with Splenda.

Salad 1 pkg. baby washed spinach
1 pint fresh strawberries
1 cup Splenda
2 tablespoons poppy seeds
3 tablespoons dried minced onion
1/2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
1/2 teaspoons paprika
1/2 cup red wine vinegar
3/4 cup sunflower oil

1. Mix Splenda, poppy seeds, onion, Worcestershire sauce, paprika, vinegar and oil.
2. Wash and slice strawberries and add to spinach in salad bowl.
3. Pour dressing over spinach and toss just before serving.

Chicken
1 pkg. Purdue boneless chicken breasts.
1 pkg. basil and oregano feta cheese
1 pkg. Neufchatel cheese (8 oz.)
6-8 egg whites whisked in a bowl
1 cup Progresso Italian seasoned breadcrumbs in a bowl with 2 tablespoons of bran flakes mixed in

Preheat Oven To 350 Degrees
1. Trim off any fat and cut chicken breasts in half crosswise. This will yield 3-4 oz. servings.
2. Butterfly breast creating an inner pocket for cheese stuffing.
3. Blend feta and cream cheese in bowl.
4. Place approximately 1 tablespoon of cheese mixture inside each pocket and close.
5. Dip stuffed chicken breast half in egg whites.
6. Roll in breadcrumbs until lightly coated.
7. Place in casserole dish. Repeat until all breasts are in casserole.
8. Cover dish tightly with foil.
9. Bake covered for 35-40 minutes. Serve immediately.


Green Beans
1 1/2 lbs. fresh green beans
1 small pkg. slivered almonds
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1/2 teaspoon almond extract

1. Wash and trim beans and steam until just tender and bright green.
2. Remove from heat and dip in cool water to stop cooking process.
3. Roast/ toast almonds on cookie sheet until golden. Remove and cool.
4. Drizzle olive oil over beans
5. Add almonds and extract. Toss and return to stovetop to warm before serving.

Wild Rice
1 box Uncle Ben's Original Wild Rice

Follow directions on box and substitute olive oil for butter.

Dessert
It seems as though every week there are new products sweetened with Splenda on my grocer's shelves. Pumpkin Pie is delicious with Splenda instead of sugar. One cup of pumpkin has 49 calories, 1.76 grams protein, 12 grams complex carbs, 0.17 grams fat and 2.7 grams fiber not to mention vitamin A. Use fat free unsweetened condensed milk and 4 egg whites instead of 2 whole eggs. Pumpkin custard is creamy and comforting as a crust-less dessert, cutting out the troublesome simple carbs. We eat it year round, not just at Thanksgiving.
Cook it in individual Pyrex dessert cups and top with a scoop of your favorite Splenda sweetened low fat ice cream. You'll have everyone hooked.

Bon Appetit! Darlene