Diabetes is a disease that is caused when the pancreas does not function properly. Often, diabetics' bodies produce little or no insulin, causing their blood sugar levels to be dangerously low or high. Insulin levels can be controlled to some extent by eating a low-carbohydrate diet. There are homemade food gifts that can be made for a person with diabetes.
Shepherd's Pie
A shepherd's pie easily can be made for a diabetic. To make a low carbohydrate shepherd's pie, brown about 1 pound of ground beef or ground turkey in a pan and place the browned meat in the bottom of a baking dish that has been sprayed with a cooking spray to prevent sticking. Then add a can of vegetable soup and ½ cup of chopped onion, celery and ½ teaspoon of thyme. On the top, spread 3 cups of pre-made mashed potatoes and top with 1 cup of shredded cheese. Bake in a preheated oven at 375 degrees for approximately 20 minutes. The pie should be golden brown on top. Let cool completely before the dish is covered. Shepherd's pie can be kept in the freezer until the recipient is ready to eat it and then reheated in the oven at 375 degrees for about 50 minutes. This recipe serves about four people.
Tropical Nut Cookies
Cookies can make a great homemade gift for diabetics. They can be put in a decorative tin that reflects the recipient's taste. Tropical Nut Cookies are a unique dessert or snack that are healthy and full of flavor. To make, preheat the oven to 375 degrees and place parchment paper on a baking sheet. Mix a large egg, ¼ cup of pineapples, 2 peeled bananas and a teaspoon of vanilla. Then add 1¼ cups of flour, 1/3 cup of coconut, ½ teaspoon of baking soda and salt. Add ½ cup of macadamia nuts. Place small balls of the cookie dough on the baking sheet, leaving at least 2 inches between the dough balls. These cookies take about 10 minutes to bake. Cookies should be light brown when they are finished baking. Be sure to let the cookies cool completely before they are removed from the baking sheet. A sugar substitute such as Splenda can be sprinkled on top of the cookies to add a sweeter taste. About 24 cookies can be made with this recipe.
Italian Spinach Pie
To make an Italian spinach pie, preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Mix a 16-ounce container of cottage cheese, a 10-ounce package of thawed spinach, 1 cup of shredded mozzarella cheese, four eggs, 7 ounces of roasted red peppers, 1/3 cup of Parmesan cheese and 1 teaspoon of oregano leaves. Pour the mixture into a greased pie plate. Bake for approximately 40 minutes. When the center is set, the spinach pie is finished baking. This recipe serves about eight people.
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