I am excited to be the spokesperson  for the Shurfine/Shurfresh brand in the Associated Food Stores.  I have tested recipes using their products with wonderful results.  I felt this was a great partnership for me as I can guide people to buy afforadable groceries and shop local!  Affordability continues to be a buzz word these days, and if I can help everyone cook healthier and more affordable with local shopping–why not!  Look for my weekly featured recipes in the Associated Food Stores ads and I will also feature each weekly recipe on my blog.  So, everyone start cooking and start shopping local!

Shop local! With Holly and Shurfine/Shurfresh!!!

I am always thrilled when my diabetic cookbook is selected by the ADA.  Tis’ the season for grilling but there are many more grilling options than traditional burgers, steak, chicken and tenderloins.  Wait until you check out these new innovative recipes featured in the ADA Chef’s Grilling  Throwdown.  I selected a Tuna Burgers, as I love tuna and love burgers–so that cinches the deal!  And, even though the Mandarin Sauce is optional, I think this topping perfectly complements the tuna.

Make the burgers ahead of time and refrigerate until ready to cook. Or, in the mood for sliders, make mini Tuna Burgers and put on miniature buns for a Tuna Slider.  With an Asian flair, this recipe will quickly become a favorite!

You can find all the recipes from the chefs on their site but I wanted to give you my version of Tuna Burgers, which of course, is diabetic friendly and featured in my diabetic cookbook with the ADA.  Support the ADA and purchase my Holly Clegg’s trim&TERRIFIC Diabetic Cooking discounted at the ADA Store.

Tuna Burgers from Holly Clegg’s trim&TERRIFIC Diabetic Cooking

Tuna Burgers   
If you prefer hamburgers to any food, try this great tuna alternative with an Asian flair. It’s as simple to make as any hamburger, but so much better for you!

4 servings/serving size: 1 burger

1 1/4 pounds fresh tuna
2 teaspoons minced garlic
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1 teaspoon lite soy sauce
3 green onions, chopped
1 1/2 teaspoons fresh grated ginger or 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
Salt and pepper to taste (optional)
1 teaspoon sesame oil
1 recipe Mandarin Sauce (optional; see recipe below)

1. Remove any skin from tuna, coarsely chop in blender or food processor (or with knife) until it is consistency and texture of ground meat.
2. Transfer tuna to bowl, combine with garlic, mustard, soy sauce, green onion, ginger, salt and pepper (if using). Shape tuna into 4 patties, refrigerate 30 minutes before cooking.
3. Heat sesame oil in large nonstick skillet over medium heat, cook tuna burgers 2–4 minutes on each side or until done. Serve topped with Mandarin Sauce (if using).

Mandarin Sauce

1 tablespoon teriyaki sauce
1 tablespoon lite soy sauce
1 teaspoon minced fresh ginger
1/2 teaspoon minced garlic
1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon honey
1 (8-ounce) can mandarin oranges, drained, chopped
1/3 cup mandarin juice, reserved from can

1. In small saucepan, bring all ingredients to boil. Reduce heat, simmer 10–15 minutes until sauce thickens.

Calories  179
Calories from Fat  25
Total Fat  3 g
Saturated Fat  0 g
Cholesterol  64 mg
Sodium 166 mg
Total Carbohydrate  3 g
Dietary Fiber  1 g
Sugars   1 g
Protein 34 g
Diabetic Exchanges: 4 very lean meat

American Diabetes Association Grilling Throwdown

When I am developing diabetic recipes, I would say my greatest challenge isn’t about fat or carbs, but sodium.  When people have health issues and need to have a lower sodium diet, they are surprised when I steer them to my diabetic cookbook.  In all my cookbooks, I include sodium in the nutritional information, however, not all the recipes fit into the Americans Diabetes Association guidelines.  There are some astonishing facts I have found.  Most people think the majority of salt comes from the salt added to food when cooking and eating.  But, 80 to 90% of American daily sodium intake actually comes from restaurant meals or processed foods.  With that in mind, there are ways to control your salt intake easier than you think by preparing home-cooked meals! 

I always enjoy serving an entree salad, and my Taco Rice Salad is light enough for the ladies and hearty enought to please the men.  Best of all, even the kids love this recipe.  This satisfying taco salad is from my  Holly Clegg’s trim&TERRIFIC Diabetic Cooking cookbook.  It is a toss together last minute recipe

Check out my recipe for Taco Rice Salad

Sodium solution-diabetic friendly recipes-Taco Rice Salad

Cold soup is soothing and refreshing on any day, but especially a warm day.  Two of my favorites, avocado and cucumber meld together for a creamy, crisp soup.  With only a few ingredients, you can whip up this recipe in now time at all.  Best of all, Avocado Cucumber Soup is from my diabetic book–so you are getting a healthy treat!  Serve with a salad or sandwich and your meal is complete.

Avocado Cucumber Soup from Holly Clegg’s trim&TERRIFIC Diabetic Cooking
Creamy avocadoes and cucumbers pair together in this fantastic chilled soup
 
6 servings/serving size: 3/4 cup

1 large avocado, peeled, pitted, and halved
2 cucumbers, peeled, seeded, and halved
1 cup fat-free low-sodium chicken or vegetable broth
1 cup fat-free evaporated milk
2 tablespoons lemon juice
Salt to taste (optional)
1/4 cup chopped green onion
1/2 cup chopped tomatoes
 
1. In blender or food processor, blend the avocado, cucumbers, chicken broth, evaporated milk, and lemon juice until smooth.  Season with salt and pepper (if using).  Refrigerate, covered, until chilled.
2. If soup is too thick, stir in a little more broth or evaporated milk. Sprinkle individual servings with green onion and tomatoes before serving.

TERRIFIC TIDBIT
To easily seed cucumbers, cut in half and run a knife or fork down the center of the cucumber to scrape out the seeds.
 
NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION PER SERVING
 
Calories 102
Calories from fat 46%
Fat 5 g
Saturated Fat 1 g
Cholesterol 2 mg
Sodium 65 mg
Carbohydrate 11 g
Dietary Fiber 3 g
Sugars 7 g
Protein 5 g
Diabetic Exchanges: 1 vegetable, 1/2 fat-free milk, 1 fat

Hot Outside: Try this refreshing summer soup: Avocado Cucumber Soup-Diabetic Friendly

I am always thrilled when my diabetic cookbook is selected by the ADA.  You will enjoy all the chicken recipes featured in the ADA Chef’s Chicken Throwdown.  I selected a Chicken Pot Pie-the ultimate comfort food!  You can find all the recipes from the chefs on their site but I wanted to give you my version of Chicken Pot Pie, which of course, is diabetic friendlly and featured in my diabetic cookbook with the ADA, Holly Clegg’s trim&TERRIFIC Diabetic Cooking.

Chicken Pot Pie from Holly Clegg’s trim&TERRIFIC Diabetic Cooking
Nothing beats a good old-fashioned chicken pot pie that’s almost effortless to make. Toss in your favorite veggies and use rotisserie or leftover chicken to save time.    

6 servings/serving size: 2/3 cup

1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts
Salt and pepper to taste (optional)
1 cup sliced carrots
1/2 cup sliced mushrooms
1 onion, chopped
1/2 cup diced peeled sweet potatoes (yams)
 1 teaspoon dried thyme leaves
4 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 cups fat-free low-sodium chicken broth
1/2 cup frozen peas
Dough of 5 flaky refrigerator biscuits

1. Preheat oven 400 degrees.
2. In nonstick skillet coated with nonstick cooking spray, cook the chicken breasts over medium heat 7–10 minutes or until done. Season with salt and pepper (if using) and cut into pieces.
3. Recoat skillet with nonstick cooking spray and sauté the carrots, mushrooms, onion, and sweet potatoes r 5 minutes or until tender. Add thyme and flour, stirring  30 seconds. Gradually add chicken broth, stirring and cooking over medium heat until thickened and bubbly. Add chicken and peas and cook another 5 minutes.
4. Coat 9-inch pie plate with nonstick cooking spray and fill with chicken mixture. Split biscuits in half and lay them on top. Bake 10–12 minutes or until the pastry is golden brown.

Terrific Tidbit
For a timesaver, use a bag of frozen mixed vegetables in this delete fragrant use easy classic  pot pie.

Exchanges
1 Starch
1/2 Carbohydrate
2 Lean Meat
Calories 236
 Calories from Fat 44
Total Fat 5 g
 Saturated Fat 1 g
Cholesterol 44 mg
Sodium 404 mg
Total Carbohydrate 24 g
 Dietary Fiber  2 g
 Sugars  5 g
Protein 22 g

ADA Diabetic Chicken Throwdown

I always keep pork tenderloins in the freezer to pull out for a last minute dinner.  We usually don’t grill which I think is the best preparation so I think this recipe is so good you won’t miss the grill  A Dijon twist turns basic pork tenderloins into a feast.  If you grill, grill over  medium hot grill about 20 minutes or until internal temperature is 160 degrees.

Glazed Dijon Pork Tenderloin from Holly Clegg trim&TERRIFIC Diabetic Cooking

Makes 8 servings/serving size 3 ounces

2 (1-pound) pork tenderloins, trimmed of excess fat

1/4 cup Dijon mustard

1/4 cup finely chopped green onions

1 teaspoon dried rosemary leaves

1/2 teaspoon minced garlic

Salt and pepper to taste (optional)

1/4 cup sugar-free orange marmalade

1. Preheat oven to 350° F.

2. In small bowl, combine mustard, green onions, rosemary, garlic. Add salt and pepper (if using). Cover tenderloins with mustard mixture. Spread orange marmalade evenly over each tenderloin.

3. Bake 40-50 minutes until internal temperature is 160 degrees.

Nutritional information per serving:
Calories 156, Calories from fat 40%, Fat 4 g, Saturated Fat 1 g, Cholesterol 63 mg, Sodium 200 mg, Carbohydrate  5 g, Dietary Fiber 1 g, Sugars 3 g, Protein 23 g, Diabetic Exchanges: 1/2 carbohydrate, 3 very lean meat

TERRIFIC TIDBIT: Keep pork tenderloins in zippered freezable plastic bag in freezer, already marinated. Defrost in refigerator or place directly in a 350-degree oven for 50 minutes.

Glazed Dijon Pork Tenderloin-Quick Dinner

Click here to view the embedded video.

Holly appears on Fox & Friends with her new trim&TERRIFIC Diabetic cookbook where she partnered with the ADA.  “There is no magical diabetes Diabetes diet-it is just the healhiest way to eat!”  Close your eyes and pretend the word, “diabetic” is not on the cover and you will enjoy these easy recipes from pot roast to Southwestern lasagna.

Holly’s Diabetic Cookbook on Fox & Friends with Easy Diabetic Recipes

These are time saver recipes combining favorite holiday recipes into one dish.  Looking for a new twist to dressing…check out this easy combination of Louisiana yams and cornbread for the ultimate Yam Cornbread Dressing-diabetic friendly!  Also, Yam Pecan Pie with Gingersnap Crust!

Click here to view the embedded video.

Recipes from:  Holly Clegg’s trim&Terrific Too Hot in the Kitchen:  Secrets To Sizzle At Any Age

Time-Saver Sweet Potato Recipes featuring Louisiana Yams: Yam Cornbread Dressing and Yam Pecan Pie Cooking Video

When I woke up on Tuesday morning and had an email that said your diabetic book is featured in USA Today, I thought my friend was kidding.  After going to the USA Today website, I saw the article featuring my book and was thrilled.  The article titled, Holiday Dishes Fit for a Diabetic, includes recommendations for five books, and Holly Clegg trim&TERRIFIC Diabetic Cooking was one of them.  All the books are available through the new ADA website that has recently been launched.  The article says:  “Best for Simple, family-friendly recipes made from basic stpale foods”--that about sums up my trim&TERRIFIC cookbook series!  Remember, whether you are diabetic or not, this book is jus the healthiest way to eat, not some odd magical diet!  Actually, the Peanut Butter Cookies are my favorite peanut butter cookie recipe, found in my diabetic book bu my mother loves the Southwestern Lasagna.

Holly’s diabetic book featured in USA Today

96.1-The River Radio Team

LSU Basketball Team

I was excited to be the Honorary Chairman of the 2010 Step Up Walk for Diabetes in Baton Rouge.  Even the LSU Basketball team was there to lead the race!  When I found out my buddies at 96.1, The River Radio Station, were involved I knew the event would be fun and meaningful.  Not only is 96.1 a great station but there is non better than their morning show, Murphy, Sam and Jodi!  I remember the old days of radio with no automation and Murphy and Sam would graciously have me on the show.  Today, with Jodi’s enthusiasm, their team is untouchable and are in other markets nationwide.  Producers, Drew and Emily, are also wonderful additions.  I have treasured my relationship and my association with Murphy, Sam and Jodi-and am proud that people know me from their morning show.  They are my friends as well as a great team that helps me get my trim&TERRIFIC message out there.  I will be in the studio next week  with Time Saver Recipes from Too Hot in the Kitchen.  For easy diabetes recipes, visit www.hollyclegg.com or check out my diabetic cookbook with the ADA, Holly Clegg trim&TERRIFIC Diabetic Cooking-pretend the word diabetes isn’t on the cover, as you sure can’t tell from the recipes.  Check out this Southwestern Lasagna.

Murphy, Sam & Jodi from 96.1 and LSU Basketball Team join ADA Walk