Earthy and irrepressible, the "kitchen diva," Angela Shelf Medearis lives surrounded by diabetics - her husband, mother, father, and youngest sister are all diabetic. At home she prepares food that will not only satisfy the health needs of the diabetics around her, but will satisfy the taste buds of the entire family at the same time. Flavor is the key and The Kitchen Diva's Diabetic Cookbook contains more than 150 recipes that are not only melt-in-your-mouth good, and designed to keep insulin from spiking, but also gentle to the pocketbook. Her eye is on children, and their pleasure in good food is primary to this earthy diva. "I love preparing inventive recipes that retain the intense flavors and luxurious textures of popular favorites while providing lower calorie counts, wholesome ingredients, and nutrients needed to maintain a healthy diet."
Knowing the challenges of preparing diabetic food, she tackles the diet for all diabetic needs - those of prediabetics, juvenile diabetics, type 1 and type 2 diabetes, women with gestational diabetes related to pregnant and those with diabetes-related complications. She gives tips in stocking the pantry and freezer, and keeps flavor-enhancing spices and herbs in supply.
The kitchen diva is divided into seven basic chapters:
Flavor Infusions: Dips, dressings, Sauces, and Spice Mixes
Jump-Start Your Day: Breakfast
Midmorning Snacks and Afternoon Energizers
Let's Do Lunch
Delectable Dinners
Sensational Side Dishes
Sweet Finishes and Nighttime Nibbles
With an eye to American and Ethnic comfort foods, the chapters are filled with delicious recipes such as Peanut Butter Breakfast Bars, Cinnamon-Apple Chips, After-School Berry Smoothie, Buttermilk Pecan-Crusted Tilapia and Diva-licious Potpie, along with everyday favorites, such as Apple-Stuffed Waffle Sandwiches, Jerk Chicken Salad with Tropical Fruit Dressing, Roasted Tomatoes Stuffed with Lemon and Herb Cauliflower Couscous, Asian-Style Asparagus with Walnuts, and Easy Fruit Cobbler.
The Kitchen Divass Diabetic Cookbook is packed with sidebars and full-page inserts to open vistas, and each recipe has a detailed nutritional and caloric analysis, certified by Jackie Mills, MS, RD, as nutrition consultant. There are color photos throughout by Penny De Los Santos. We can't decide if our favorite photos are of the enticing food or of the family diving into healthy, delicious dishes.
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