Appetizer, start to finish: 25 minutes, EASY
Here’s a simply elegant hors d’oeuvre that’ll take center stage at any holiday party. The blending of flavors is exquisite. Hints of curry and garlic accent the other delectable tastes. Not too little. Not too much. Just enough. Both play brilliantly against the sweet-tart fruit, the smoky chipotle heat, the crunchy cashews and the savory mellow cheese. Multi-depth melty goodness. (Man, oh man, is this good!)
Ah, and the fragrance while this is baking…. ‘Mouthwatering’ doesn’t do it justice. It’s a symphony for your senses. Pair this appetizer with plain low-carb crackers or sliced-thin and toasted-crisp bread. You want the appetizer to carry the flavor; so, don’t use highly seasoned crackers. They’ll detract from the cheesy-yumminess. They are the accompaniment, not the star of the show, after all.
*World Table™ (Wal-Mart brand) offers some varieties of low-carb crackers. Joseph’s Bakery has low-carb pita, tortilla and lavash options that are perfect to cut into smaller ‘slices’ and toast. (Preheat oven to 350° Fahrenheit. Spray baking sheet with non-stick olive oil spray. Arrange ‘slices’ in a single layer on sheet and bake 10 minutes. Store in an airtight container.) Or you can get ambitious and make your own low-carb plain flaxseed crackers/crispbreads. (See credits for more info.)
Ingredients
· 1/2 cup cashews, coarsely chopped and toasted
· 16-ounce wheel Brie, do not remove rind (can use multiple smaller-sized wheels)
· 1 teaspoon curry powder
· 2/3 cup Smucker’s® Sugar-Free Red Raspberry Preserves with SPLENDA®
· 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
· 1/2 teaspoon ground chipotle chile powder (or Cajun or Creole seasoning powder)
Preparation
1) Preheat oven to 350° F. While oven preheats, toast cashews in a dry skillet over medium-low heat, 2 to 3 minutes, stirring constantly, until fragrant. Set aside.
2) Sprinkle curry powder evenly over top, bottom and sides of Brie wheel(s). Rub curry into the rind to thoroughly coat the surface on all sides. Place each wheel in a decorative oven-proof dish.
3) Combine sugar-free preserves, garlic and ground chipotle powder in a small bowl. Spread mixture evenly over the top of cheese, allowing some to drip down the sides. Sprinkle toasted cashews over top.
4) Bake 15 minutes in the preheated oven, or until cashews are slightly golden and cheese inside the rind is melted.
5) Serve warm with your choice of crackers or toasted pita/tortilla/lavash ‘slices’.
Numbers you need to know: This recipe yields 16 servings, 2 tablespoons per serving. Per serving: Calories: 125; 10g Fat; 32mg Cholesterol; 7g Protein; 5g Carbohydrates; trace Dietary fiber; 179mg Sodium. (This nutrition breakdown DOES NOT include the information for the crackers/pita/tortilla/lavash. You’ll need to figure those carbs, etc., and add those into your totals.)
Nita’s notes:
I’m not really a dessert person. Didn’t grow up with them as the norm. This “Raspberry Baked Brie” has the kind of ‘special occasion’ carbs I like to consume and how I like to consume them—combined with an almost equal number of protein grams. This helps temper the effect of the carbs on my blood glucose level, helping me avoid the dangerous spikes that leave me feeling awful. Can’t count the terrible holidays I had as a child. I was allowed a ‘special treat’ (sugary dessert) for said occasion, only to wind up very sick shortly thereafter. Sometimes hospitalized. Sometimes not.
Always, especially at the holidays, be aware of what you are eating. Carbs, fats, calories and sodium add up. And add up in a hurry when you’re attending a holiday party. Just because this is a diabetic-friendly appetizer, doesn’t mean you can consume it like a ‘free’ food. You can’t graze at the appetizer buffet. You can’t consume LOTS of diabetic-friendly (but not ‘free’ food) food and it not affect your blood glucose level. Even low-carb options consumed without regard will turn into high-carbs. Party smarter.
And don’t forget to count the ‘accompaniments’ to dips and spreads. Some people don’t realize how high-carb most of these things are. I’m pairing this Brie with “World Table™ Original Rice Crackers (Oven-Baked)”, which have 25g carbs and 130 calories in a serving of 15 crackers. No, I’m not going to eat 15 crackers at one time. But, that does translate into 1.7 grams of carbohydrate and 8.7 calories per cracker, which makes these crackers VERY low-carb/low-cal to eat with this spread. Just pay attention. Avoid the spike. (I’d try to make a football reference; but, I’m team-sports-impaired.)
Here’s my party-hardy-but-healthy protocol: 1) Check blood sugar. Check blood sugar. Check blood sugar. And check it OFTEN during the festivities. I mean it. It’s better to know than to be willfully ignorant. Too many consequences. 2) I always take something I know is safe for me to eat in moderation, like my Raspberry Brie and rice crackers. But, I do cut myself off when I’ve reached my carb/cal limit. 3) I ALWAYS, ALWAYS take ‘free’ foods to nosh on once I’ve reached that carb/calorie quota. I’m lucky. I happen to L-O-V-E raw veggies. So that’s never a compromise for me. I take ‘em because I love ‘em. I also keep a few single-serving mint tea bags and artificial sweetener in my Peacock Mini diabetes handbag. That makes a nice sweet drink with no carbs and no post-party repercussions.
I know many people say they just eat what they want and take extra insulin; but, that doesn’t work for me. And it’s not worth the “I feel like death warmed over” ickiness. (I don’t want to celebrate my holiday in DKA. That’s not celebrating. That’s comatose.) But, that’s me. You have to decide for yourself. What you are willing to sacrifice. For me, it’s no choice. I’d rather feel bright-eyed and alert to enjoy our holidays. Play with the kids. Hold the new babies. Converse with a clear head. Be involved.
If in doubt about how to handle your holidays, talk to your healthcare team. Even if you think you know what to do, it’s always a good idea to run it by your doc and dietician.
—Happy, HAPPY holidays from my home to yours.
And, as always, make healthier choices for a happier life!
Anita Peacock
Lifelong Type 1 Diabetic
Check out my diabetes bags, y'all: http://www.mydiabeticbag.com/
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Credits:
· “Raspberry Baked Brie” is my much lower-carb, much improved flavor version of “Chutney Baked Brie” in Ultimate Guide to Holiday Appetizers, http://images.allrecipes.com/site/allrecipes/appetizers2.pdf
· Flax cracker/crispbread recipe: http://www.lowcarbfriends.com/bbs/lowcarb-recipe-help-suggestions/688339-flax-crackers.html
· http://www.josephsbakery.com/Smucker's is a registered trademark of The J.M. Smucker Company. http://www.smuckers.com/products/
· World Table™ “Original Rice Crackers (Oven-Baked)”, distributed by Wal-Mart Stores, http://mypbrand.com/2010/11/08/a-closer-look-at-walmarts-world-table/ (World Table™ also has a “Brown Rice & Flax Rice Crackers” option that I really wanted to try; but, we didn’t find it here in our local Wal-Mart.)
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| from MyDiabeticBag.com |
