Learning that you’re diabetic is absolutely no fun. Suddenly your entire way of living has to change – especially when it comes to eating. Your favorite soda is out of the question; it’s diet soda from now on. Candies, cookies, cakes? No way! Those are forbidden! Boy, it sure can be depressing to find out that everything you love, when it comes to foods, are gone forever. Especially when it comes to the holidays! Those old holiday favorites, like fudge and cake and pie, are off-limits to you! That’s not going to make for a very festive Christmas, is it? Well, you might be happy to know that some of your old favorites just need small adjustments to be eaten by you. Other recipes, sugar-free concoctions, can become your new favorites. Just because you’re diabetic doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy the sweeter things in life!
Anyone can make a quick pie when they start with a graham cracker crust from the grocery store. The crust comes in its own pan making it very easy to create. Purchase sugar-free pudding, in chocolate, vanilla or another flavor, and pour it into the crust. The pudding can be found in ready-to-serve varieties that are not too expensive. After the pie shell is full spread sugar-free Cool Whip over the entire top. Chill. The proper serving size for this pie is one eight of a slice. Even if you’re diabetic you can enjoy this delicious creation.
Make sugar-free fudge that the entire family will enjoy when you start with 16 oz of softened cream cheese. Beat the cream cheese, 2 oz of unsweetened chocolate which has been melted and cooled, a half-cup of sugar substitute, and a teaspoon of vanilla together in a mixing bowl. Beat these ingredients until they are smooth. Now stir in a half-cup of pecans (optional). Pour into an 8 inch square, buttered pan. Allow to set up overnight. Cut the fudge into 16 identical pieces and serve. A serving is one piece.
Make unusual but delicious butterscotch candies by starting with butterscotch morsels. Melt them in a double-boiler until they are creamy. Stir in dry chow mein noodles and tiny pieces of pecans. Drop them, by the spoonful, onto buttered wax paper. Allow to cool in fridge for an hour before wrapping them or otherwise storing them. This recipe is perfect for diabetics since it contains no added sugar.
Melt chocolate morsels in a double-boiler until creamy. Spread creamy peanut butter onto a Ritz cracker then top it with a second cracker. Push them together tightly and remove any peanut butter oozing from the sides. Dip the peanut butter cracker into the chocolate then place on a piece of wax paper. These delicious chocolate-coated crackers are perfect for calming a sweet tooth without the use of added sugar.
Make a delicious cherry pie that’s much different than the traditional pie. Purchase a box of sugar-free vanilla pudding and make it, following the package directions. Bake a regular pie shell and spoon the pudding into the shell. Drain a can of red tart cherries – the kind that are packed in water. Place the cherries in a saucepan, add 2 and a half tablespoons of cornstarch, then bring slowly to a boil. The cornstarch will cause the cherry juice to thicken. When it’s good and thick you can add several drops of red food coloring, if desired, to give it a redder appearance. Remove the cherries from the burner and stir in 14 packets of sugar substitute. Allow the cherries to cool somewhat then spoon them on top of the vanilla pudding which is already in the pie shell. Chill for a couple of hours before serving. One serving is an 8th of the pie.
How are you going to have Christmas without eggnog? You don’t have to! Make a sugar-free version that’s delicious enough to serve to the entire crowd. Mix two cups of skim milk, two tablespoons of cornstarch, and 12 packets of sugar substitute in a saucepan. Heat until the mixture is boiling then let it boil for a full minute. Beat two eggs in a separate bowl. Pour half the boiled milk mixture into the bowl with the eggs. Stir. Now pour it all into the saucepan with the remainder of the milk mixture. This allows everything to mix well. Cook for a couple of minutes, over a low setting, until the mixture begins to thicken. Stir constantly to prevent scorching. Remove from heat and stir in two teaspoons of vanilla and a quarter-teaspoon of cinnamon. Allow the mixture to sit and cool until it is at room temperature. Now chill until time to serve. Just before serving stir in two cups of chilled skim milk. Place each serving in a glass and sprinkle with nutmeg.
Many other Christmas favorites of yours can be eaten by diabetics if you simply replace the required sugar with sugar substitute. This includes candies, cakes, pies, drinks and more. However, sugar isn’t the only thing diabetics must avoid or eat in very small quantities. Online you’ll find many resources that help educate you as to what foods and drinks are suitable for those who are diabetic. These resources will give you a new lease on life, allowing you to find delicious recipes you can still enjoy – for Christmas or any day of the year!
