This cookbook is just the thing for my wife and I. Just diagnosed with Diabetes it’s just what we need. We’ve tried 3 recipes so far and each one was very good.
SHORT BIO: Kelley Cleary Coffeen, PhD, is a food consultant, blogger, and cookbook author who has been fascinated with – and immersed herself in – Southwestern cooking all her life. Following the call of the coyote, she’s moved between Colorado, Arizona, and even stopped to “mess with” Texas for a time before settling in southwestern New Mexico. These days she’s less than hour from the Mexican border – as the roadrunner sprints – in one direction, and just a tamale’s throw from the world-famous Hatch Green Chile fields in the other.
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You say the recipes are “guilt-free”. How so?
In an effort to reduce excess carbs, calories and fat in each recipe I make sure to use lean meats and protein for taco and burrito, enchilada fillings. I add fiber with a lot of fresh greens, onions, tomatoes and peppers. I have created salsas and sauces that are considered “free” exchanges within the ADA guidelines made from fresh produce, herbs and spices. Finally, I only use low fat dairy products and employ cooking techniques such as baking tortilla chips and taquitos using cooking spray in a high heat oven.
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Do you include recipes for every meal of the day and special occasions?
Yes, these recipes are simple enough can be made for everyday meals but they can be served for special occasions, they are very versatile for example:
Fajita Tacos, Classic Rolled Tacos, or Seared Sirloin Tacos with Guacamole can be a week night favorite as they are quick and easy. But they could also be elevated to be served for a special birthday or celebration. Pan Huevos with Avocado is a delicious brunch entrée. I love to serve it with my Spiced Fresh Fruit and Yogurt Parfait for a special occasion.
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What are some of the traditional recipes included that you’ve changed to make them healthier and accessible living with diabetes?
Using only a few simple techniques and tricks, even recipes like churros or sopapillas can be healthy! Oftentimes, the solution is simply changing the cooking technique from frying to baking or switching out an ingredient like sugar for a substitute.
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What are some of the truly surprising recipes readers will find in the book?
I think readers will be the most shocked by how many fun cocktails and desserts they’ll find in my book! You can have your Frozen Margaritas and Fruity Red Sangrias without any of the guilt but all of the flavor by replacing a few sugary ingredients with healthier alternatives.
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Tex-Mex cuisine feels like such a melting pot of different cultures – is it Mexican? Is it Texan? Is it a mashup of foods from different regions? What are the origins of TexMex cooking and how did it become so popular here?
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Rooted in the state of Texas’s Tejano culture with traces of Native-American, Mexican, and Spanish cultures intertwined, Tex-Mex is a culinary adventure all on its own. Tex-Mex has evolved into a style of ethnic cuisine that features rich gravies and cheeses melted over enchiladas, grilled meats folded into tortillas, crispy nachos topped with lean meats and hot chiles, rich quesos, and crispy corn tortilla chips. Tex-Mex has become a mainstay in Mexican American cuisine over the past 60+ years. Its popularity is due to the flavorful lean proteins used in tacos, burritos, nachos and enchiladas accented with greens, veggies and fresh salsas and sauces.
Bold and hearty, the flavors of the Southwest are a rich mixture of cultures, history, and unique regional ingredients. When prepared with traditional ingredients, the cuisine is a heady blend of aromas and spices that is delicious, fulfilling, and—surprisingly—healthy!
In Tex-Mex Diabetes Cooking, cookbook author and Southwestern cuisine expert, Kelley Coffeen, takes you on a tour of the region with more than 140 recipes that focus on fresh local vegetables, fruits, beans, cheeses rich in protein, lean meats, fish, and poultry—all with calorie, carb, and fat levels dialed in for those looking to lose weight or manage their diabetes. This is not a diet book, but a classic collection of beloved and soon-to-be favorite Southwestern and Mexican dishes prepared in easy, delicious, healthy recipes.
Inside you’ll find traditional classics such as:
- Smoked Cheddar Cheese and Green Chile Tamales
- Pork and Pepper Burritos (Another great one)
- Stacked Saucy Enchiladas with Fresh Greens
- Seared Sirloin Tacos with Guacamole (Tried this one it was great)
- Roasted Pineapple Salsa
- Whole-Wheat Hot Cakes with Cajeta and Coconut
- Green Chile Corn Chowder
- Chopped Mexican Salad with Lime
- And much more!Who can resist enjoying more of their favorite food (Mexican dishes rank alongside Italian and Chinese cuisine as All-American favorites) while doing their body a favor at the same time? It’s a winning menu for young and old alike—healthy and nutritious, without losing the authenticity and flavor of its cultural origins. Kelley Coffeen knows from a lifetime of experience, living and cooking in various regions across the Southwest, that Tex-Mex fare is easy and fun to prepare at home, and a crowd-pleaser on the table. With this in mind, she created Tex-Mex Diabetes Cooking as the go-to book for home cooks looking for easy, diabetes-friendly, satisfying, and healthy Southwestern dishes to feed their family.
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