Crunchy Crab Salad in Honeydew Bowls

These edible bowls not only have a lot of eye appeal, they are very yummy as well, especially when honeydew is fresh and in season!

Crunchy Crab Salad

Honeydew Bowls-Yield: 6 (1/2 honeydew) servings

Raspberry Cream Spread

Reduced-Fat Crackers-Optional

Crunchy Crab Salad -Yield: 6 (11/4-cup) servings

Calories 213 (5% fat); Total Fat: 1g; Cholesterol: 56mg; Carbohydrate: 25g; Dietary Fiber: 1g; Protein 16g; Sodium: 219mg

Diabetic Exchanges: 1 vegetable, 1 1/2 other carbohydrate, 2 very lean meat

1 medium red bell pepper, finely chopped (1-cup finely chopped)

2 large cucumbers, sliced thin with skin on (41/2-cups chopped)

1 green onion, finely chopped

1/2 cup fat-free French vanilla non-dairy creamer

1 1/2 teaspoons ranch salad dressing mix, dry (Do not make as directed on package.)

1 1/2 teaspoons fresh dill weed*

3 (8-ounce) packages imitation crab meat chunks

Honeydew Bowls-Yield: 6 (1/2-honeydew) servings

Calories 165 (0% fat); Total Fat: 0g; Cholesterol: 0mg; Carbohydrate: 42g; Dietary Fiber: 4g; Protein 2g; Sodium: 82mg

Diabetic Exchanges: 3 fruit

3 small honeydew melons

Raspberry Cream Spread-Yield: 10 (1-tablespoon servings)

Calories: 42 (0% fat); Total Fat: 0g; Cholesterol: 2mg; Carbohydrate: 7g; Dietary Fiber: 0g; Protein 3g; Sodium: 110mg

1(8-ounce) fat-free cream cheese, softened

1.4 cup raspberry jam

2 teaspoons Spenda granular

Low-fat Crackers

30 minutes before dinner, cut 1-red bell pepper to make 1-cup finely chopped.  Cut 2-large cucumbers into small bite size chunks to make 41/2-cups.  Finely chop 1-green onion. Set aside.

23 minutes before dinner, tart making the salad.  In a blender process on high: 1/2-cup fat-free French vanilla non-dairy creamer, 1 1/2-teaspoons ranch salad dressing mix and 1 1/2-teaspoons fresh dill weed until well blended.

20 minutes before dinner, in large bowl gently stir the dressing from the blender with 1-cup finely chopped red bell pepper, 41/2-cups chopped cucumber, 1-finely chopped green onion, and 3 (8-ounce) packages imitation crab meat chunks. Cover and keep refrigerated until ready to eat.

17 minutes before dinner, make honeydew bowls. Cut each melon in half. With a spoon scoop out and discard the seeds from the inside of the honeydew. Cut off about 1/2-inch from the bottom of each melon half to make a melon bowl.

6 minutes before dinner, set each melon bowl on an individual dinner plate.

Place 1 1/4-cups Crunchy Crab Salad into the center of each Honeydew Bowl. Put each meal at individual place settings on the dinner table.

4 minutes before dinner, prepare the spread for the crackers. Combine the 1 package of cream cheese, 1/4 cup jam, and 2 t. Splenda granular in a medium bowl. Stir with a spatula or wooden spoon until well mixed and smooth.  Transfer to a serving bowl and place on a serving plate.

1 minute before dinner, the place crackers on the serving plate around the Raspberry Cream Spread and place on the dinner table.

*Note: If desired 3/4-teaspoon dried dill weed can be substituted for 11/2-teaspoons fresh dill weed.

Supplies List

Timer

Blender

Large bowl

Medium bowl

Serving bowl

6 individual dinner plates

Large knife

Spoon

Grocery List

Fresh Fruits and Vegetables

1 medium red bell pepper

2 large cucumbers

1 green onion

3 small honeydew melons

Meats

3 (8-ounce) packages imitation crab meat chunks

Dairy

1 container fat-free French vanilla non-dairy creamer (only 1/2-cup needed)

1 (8-ounce) fat-free cream cheese

Seasonings/Condiments

1 1/2 teaspoons fresh dill weed*

Splenda Granular (2 teaspoons)

Raspberry Jam (1/2 cup)

Other

1 package ranch salad dressing mix (only 1 1/2-teaspoons needed)