Got a great recipe for a diabetic cake?

[Paula H]

I know, I know, there are plenty of diabetic cookbooks out there. But I don't have the time to experiment with various recipes over the next week (out every night - and not socialising either), so I'm hoping someone will have a tried and true recipe for me.

One of my friends has just been diagnosed with Type II diabetes - she's still got another two weeks til she gets into the diabetic clinic to sort out diet stuff. But next Sunday we're having our regular girls' night - a monthly event that usually involves vast quantities of chocolate. The rest of our group is happy to modify our pot-luck dinner dishes to be a bit healthier (so far we take into account two vegetarians, one pregnancy with cravings, and my low-fat tastes - so I'm sure we can handle this!) and we're skipping the chocolate. But I'd quite like to make something a bit "naughty" for dessert, as she's feeling quite depressed about what she sees as diet restrictions. I also know that if our dessert consists only of fruit salad, she'll probably end up feeling bad that we're "sacrificing" for her (just her personality type - it really doesn't bother us!).

So I'd like to make a cake (preferably chocolate or lemon) that would be fine for her. Has anyone got a great recipe they can share?

Thanks!

[yorkshirepud]

Sorry, I know you're looking for tried recipes, but I wanted to help anyway. There's a stack of dessert recipes here: http://www.diabetic-recipes.com/cat_desserts.htm

Here's a sample from the list - Chocolate-Banana Parfaits, Creamy Cheesecake with Fresh Raspberries, Lemon Cheesecake with Fresh Berries and Mexican Chocolate Torte

Adele

[HRJ]

It's so nice of you to be making adjustments to accommodate your friend.

The things is, though, that until she has a meal plan and course of treatment, there's no way to say what's "appropriate" for her. It's quite possible for someone with diabetes to be able to enjoy a slice of the same cake as everyone else, chocolate or not. Granted, it will probably be a small slice, but there's not necessarily any reason why she has to eat "special" desserts or be sentenced to a life of fruit salad.

I'm not a doctor or RD and don't know the specifics of your friend's case. I do, however, have Type 2 diabetes myself. While I'm not always the poster child for good eating behavior, I do know, from consulting with some very good diabetes docs and dietitians and from my reading and research, that the old "no-sugar" stuff is no longer considered scientifically valid and a lot of people are struggling to live with "special" diets and fake, chemical-laden (artifically-sweetened) food when they really don't have to.

Here's a link your friend may find helpful:

Disproving the myth of a "diabetic diet." (http://www.joslin.org/education/library/nodiet2.shtml)

So please, tell your friend NOT to depressed about her food future. I eat very, very well, despite this disease, and I know many others who do, too -- and I'm not just talking about indulgent desserts.

I know both the American and Canadian diabetes associations offer a lot of good material on this topic -- sorry, but I'm just not familiar with what's available in New Zealand.

As for your upcoming social event: no harm in checking out those "diabetic" recipe sites, but, I'd hesitate to make anything with artificial sweeteners unless you know for a fact that your diabetic friend prefers that -- and that the others in your group won't mind that, either (particularly since you mentioned there will be a pregnant woman there, too?)

If you're still unsure about bringing out a cake or cookies, why not try an elegant fruit dessert, rather than just a fruit salad -- like poached fruit with a sauce? I don't know if you can get good peaches in NZ this time of year, but CL Complete has a great recipe for Poaches Peaches with Vanilla Sauce.

Hope some of this has been helpful -- feel free to PM me if you'd like. Good luck to your friend.

Helene