Low Carb Dessert Recipes

Low carbohydrate type diets continue to be popular weight loss plans and often necessary for diabetic conditions. Restricting carbs, however, does not mean you can’t have your cake too. With the addition of fiber-rich foods, such as fruits and whole grain, carb-conscious folks can enjoy delectable and healthy treats at the end of a meal. Below are some delicious low carb dessert recipes sure to satisfy your sweet tooth and are easy to make. Please be sure to add your favorite dessert recipes too; the more dessert, the better!

Recipes

Nutty Fruit Pound Cake

Ingredients

* 1 pound cake loaf (10.5 oz.)
* 2/3 cup soft flavored cream cheese, such as strawberry
* 1 can (11 oz.) mandarin oranges, drained
* 2 cups fresh fruit of choice, cut into bite-size pieces
* 1/3 cup reduced-fat chocolate syrup
* ½ cup slivered almonds

Directions

1) Preheat broiler and position rack 4 to 5 inches from heat.
2) Place pound cake slices in broiler pan and broil for 2 minutes on each side, or until golden brown.
3) Spread each slice of cake with 2 teaspoons of cream cheese; top with mandarin oranges and desired fruit; drizzle with chocolate syrup and sprinkle with almonds; serve.

Tip: You can use prepackaged frozen or fresh pound cake found in most bakery sections of supermarkets. If desired, you can make your own cake from scratch or a packaged mix.

Serving and Nutrition Information

Makes 14 servings. Serving size = 1 piece
Per serving: 185 Calories, 22 g Carbohydrate, 2 g Fiber, 3 g Protein, 11 g Fat, 4 g Saturated Fat, 60 mg Sodium, 35 mg Cholesterol
Food Exchanges: 1 Starch, ½ Fruit, 2 Fat

Easy Oatmeal Brownies

Ingredients

* 2 ½ cups old-fashioned oats (can use quick-cooking)
* ¾ cup all-purpose flour
* ½ cup packed brown sugar
* ½ teaspoon baking soda
* ¾ cup butter or margarine, melted
* 1 package ( 1 lb. 6 oz.) brownie mix with chocolate syrup pouch included
* 1/3 cup water
* 1/3 cup canola oil
* 2 eggs
* ½ cup chopped nuts

Directions

1) Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray 13 x 9 x 2” baking pan with cooking spray.
2) In a medium bowl, combine oats, flour, brown sugar, and baking soda; stir in melted butter or margarine; reserve about 1 cup of oat mixture and set aside.
3) Press remaining oat mixture in prepared pan. Bake for 10 minutes and cool for at least 5 minutes.
4) In medium bowl, blend together brownie mix, syrup pouch, water, oil, and eggs; mix thoroughly. Stir in nuts.
5) Evenly spread batter over cooked oat crust and sprinkle with reserved oat mixture.
6) Bake 35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out nearly clean. Cool completely. Cut into 48 squares. Store in tightly sealed container to preserve freshness.

Variation: For cake-like brownies, use 3 eggs instead of 2. Also, if your brownie mix does not include a chocolate syrup pouch, you can use ¼ cup of reduced-fat chocolate syrup topping.

Servings and Nutrition Information

Makes 48 brownies. Serving size = 1 brownie
Per serving: 130 Calories, 19 g Carbohydrate, 1 g Fiber, 2 g Protein, 6 g Fat, 3 g Saturated Fat, 80 mg Sodium, 15 mg Cholesterol.
Food Exchanges: 1 Starch, 1 Fat

» Read More....

Low Carb Recipes

Whether you are looking for low carb recipes due to a diagnosis of diabetes or as your preferred weight loss diet plan, the following information is sure to guide you. Please be sure to check out Low Carb Dessert Recipes for a delectable ending to your low carb meal.

What are Low Carb Recipes

In order to understand what low carb meals represent, it is important to know what carbohydrates are in the first place. One of the macronutrients, with protein and fat being the other two, carbohydrates serve as a main source of energy for our bodies.

A list of common carbohydrates include:

* Bread
* Crackers
* Bagels
* Fruit
* Vegetables
* Rice
* Potatoes
* Pasta
* Cereals
* Legumes

Two Components of Recipes

A low carb recipe will simply have few grams of carbohydrates. The challenge in composing low carb recipes is often finding the appropriate ingredients to substitute for the reduced carbohydrate amount.

There are two types of carbohydrates: simple and complex. The difference lies in the amount of fiber found in any given carbohydrate; the more fiber, the more complex. Unlike simple carbohydrates that get digested in our system rapidly, complex carbs are broken down significantly slower due to the existence of fiber. A slower digestion rate is important for regulating blood sugar and insulin levels. The more regulated we keep our blood sugars, the more effectively and efficiently our insulin is produced. With quick blood sugar rises, insulin tends to spike, causing a myriad of issues, from low blood sugar levels to unwanted cravings and hunger. Hence, a low carb recipe will not only have few carbohydrate grams, but the carbohydrates that may be present are of the complex variety. These two components make the recipes diabetic-friendly and diet-friendly.

Recipes

Chicken Chili

Ingredients

1 tablespoon canola oil
½ cup chopped onion
2 cloves garlic, minced
3 teaspoons chili powder
1 teaspoon cumin
1 15-ounce can navy beans, rinsed and drained
1 14.5-ounce can reduced-sodium chicken broth
2 cups water
¼ cup diced chili peppers
1 ½ cups chopped cooked chicken
1 – 2 tablespoons parsley
¼ cup shredded cheddar cheese

Directions

In large saucepan, heat oil over medium heat. Add onion and garlic and cook until tender, about 4 minutes. Add chili powder and cumin. Cook for one additional minute.
Add beans, chicken broth, water, and chili peppers; bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer, covered, for 10 minutes.
Stir in chicken and parsley; heat through and top with a sprinkle of cheese.

Servings and Nutrition Information

Makes six 1 cup servings
275 calories, 8 g total fat, .5 g saturated fat, 45 mg cholesterol, 395 mg sodium, 19 g carbohydrate, 6 g fiber, 18 g protein

Deviled Roast Beef

Ingredients

2 pound roast, eye of the round
¼ cup Dijon mustard
¼ teaspoon black pepper 2 cups sliced mushrooms
1 cup beef broth
1 small onion, cut into thin wedges
¼ cup water
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
½ cup fat-free milk
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour

Directions

Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
Trim fat from beef.
In small bowl, whisk together mustard and pepper; rub onto beef roast.

Place beef on shallow roasting pan; insert meat thermometer and cook beef to 155 degrees. Cover with foil; let stand 15 minutes before carving.
Meanwhile, in medium saucepan, combine mushrooms, broth, onion, water, garlic, and Worcestershire sauce. Bring to a boil; reduce heat; simmer, covered, about 5 minutes or until vegetables are tender. In a small bowl, stir together milk and remaining mustard; gradually stir in flour. Add to mushroom mixture. Cook and stir over medium heat until thickened and bubbly.
Thinly slice beef across the grain. Spoon sauce over beef. Serve.

Servings and Nutrition Information

Makes 10 servings
215 calories, 8 g total fat, 3 g saturated fat, 74 mg cholesterol, 335 mg sodium, 5 g carbohydrate, 28 g protein

» Read More....