Eggplant Lasagna - A Tasty Diabetic Alternative to Pasta

One of the things I miss the most about this ultra-low carb, pre-diabetic diet is pasta. I am a big fan of pasta. It's not that we never have any, and I do use whole wheat or diabetic pastas on occasion, but with the restrictions my mother's doctor has given her it's hard to work it into a meal plan.

This lasagna uses slices of eggplant in place of noodles, and it's really pretty darn fabulous! I'm still tweaking it to make it work exactly how I picture it in my head, but this recipe (with a few adaptations) is the closest I've come thus far.

Another Way to Use Some of Your Farmer's Market Bonanza

Not that your fresh produce needs to come from a farmer's market, of course. It could be your own garden, a friend's garden, that co-worker who has a garden so huge they cannot possibly eat everything it grows, a CSA... even the grocery store, although that makes me sad. Fresh produce straight from the farm or garden has a taste that grocery store produce, no matter how they try to hype it as organic, fresh, local, or what-have-you, simply cannot match. Its flavour bursts on your tongue like a waterfall of tastiness.

What To Do With an Abundance of Fresh Vegetables?

So you've been to the farmer's market, and you could not resist buying some of everything because it's so cheap! And so good! And so fresh! And now you're looking at a mountain of fresh produce, knowing full well it will be impossible to eat all of it before it goes bad.

Before you resign yourself to having paid good money for compost, why not consider freezing vegetables for later use? I get it if you don't want to can... I am not a canner, never have been and most likely never will be. But freezing? I can freeze stuff!

Take Advantage of Summer Bounty with a Farmstand Strata

About an hour away from my house is the best farmer's market I've ever had the great pleasure of shopping. Everything in this recipe could easily have come from there, although since I already owned bacon, eggs, sour cream, and cheese I didn't buy them. If you've got a farmer's market near you (and I know you do), this should be an easy way to simultaneously eat healthy, eat local, and enjoy good food.

Carbohydrates and Hidden Sugar and Dieting, Oh My!

As you know, I cook for a pre-diabetic. Which means I've had to learn a whole new way of thinking about food, and carbs in particular. If you're confused, here's a quick definition that helps me keep in mind what I should and should not be serving, along with some ideas on how to get the "good" carbs into your diet.

Healthy carbs (sometimes known as good carbs) include whole grains, beans, fruits, and vegetables. Healthy carbs are digested slowly, helping you feel full longer and keeping blood sugar and insulin levels stable.

Unhealthy carbs (or bad carbs) are foods such as white flour, refined sugar, and white rice that have been stripped of all bran, fiber, and nutrients. Unhealthy carbs digest quickly and cause spikes in blood sugar levels and energy.

Simple Skillet Dinners - Quick, Easy, and Adaptable

One of the things I love best about summertime is the abundance of fresh, locally-grown vegetables. With a sense of adventure and access to a variety of seasonings, you can toss pretty much anything in a skillet and come up with a dinner that's healthy, tasty, colourful, and doesn't break the bank.

Chocolate "Lasagna": Your New Favourite No-Bake Dessert

Don't let the name fool you; this "lasagna" contains no pasta, just layers. But it's tasty and easy and I've rarely had any left no matter where I've taken it. Using a food processor makes it a lot easier, but it can all be done by hand if you have to.