An Elegant Ostara Meal         Roasted Crown Roast of Lamb with Green Peppercorn Sauce  (makes 6 servings)
         | 16-chop |  crown roast of baby lamb, about 4 pounds (1920 g), bones Frenched |    | 2 |  large cloves garlic, slivered |    | 1 |  tablespoon (15 ml) minced fresh rosemary |     |  freshly ground pepper |    | 1/4 |  teaspoon (1.25 ml) kosher salt |     |  butter-flavored refrigerated cooking spray |    | 1 |  shallot, minced |    | 1/2 |  cup (120 ml) dry red wine |    | 1/2 |  cup (120 ml) low-sodium canned beef broth |    | 1 |  teaspoon (5 ml) Dijon mustard |    | 1 |  teaspoon (5 ml) green peppercorns, crushed with side of knife |     |  Rice Pilaf with Currants, Almonds, and Mint (recipe follows) |       - Preheat oven to 450°F (230°C), Gas Mark 8.  
 - Remove all fat from roast. Place aluminum foil on the bone ends to prevent burning. Sliver the garlic. With a sharp knife make small slits in the meet and place a sliver in each slit. Pat the rosemary onto the meat. Grind pepper and combine with the salt. Press into the meat. Place a meat thermometer into the thickest part of the lamb roast. Roast for 20 to 25 minutes, until the thermometer reads 130° to 135°F for medium rare. Transfer to a platter and let stand, loosely covered with aluminum foil for 15 minutes.  
 - While the lamb is roasting, make the sauce. Lightly coat a nonstick pot with cooking spray. Sauté the shallot for 3 minutes until wilted. Add the wine, broth, mustard, and crushed peppercorns. Bring to a boil and reduce by half. Transfer sauce to a small serving dish. Keep warm.  
 - To serve, fill the crown roast with the rice. Carve at the table, slicing the roast into chops between the bones. Place 1 teaspoon (5 ml) sauce on each chop. Serve immediately. 
       | Per serving (lamb and sauce only): |  245 calories (50% calories from fat), 27 g protein, 13 g total fat (4.7 g saturated fat), 1 g carbohydrates, 0 dietary fiber, 87 mg cholesterol, 188 mg sodium |    | Diabetic exchanges: |  4 lean protein |           Rice Pilaf with Currants, Almonds, and Mint  (makes 6 servings)
          |  butter-flavored refrigerated cooking spray |    | 1/2 |  teaspoon (2.5 ml) ground cumin |    | 1/2 |  tablespoon (7.5 ml) ground cinnamon |    | 1 |  bay leaf |    | 6 |  ounces (120 g) finely chopped onion |    | 1 1/2 |  cups (225 g) raw white rice |    | 3 |  cups (720 ml) water |    | 1/4 |  teaspoon (1.25ml) kosher salt |    | 1 |  tablespoon (15 g) currants |    | 1 |  tablespoon (15 g) slivered almonds, toasted |    | 1/4 |  cup (28 g) chopped fresh mint |       - Lightly coat a nonstick covered pot with cooking spray. Add the cumin, cinnamon, and bay leaf and stir until the mixture is fragrant. Add the onion and cook, stirring for 2 minutes. Add the rice and stir to coat. Stir in the water, salt and currants. Bring to a simmer, cover and cook for 20 minutes until all the liquid is absorbed.  
 - Just before serving, remove bay leaf and stir in almonds and mint. Fill center cavity of crown roast of lamb with rice mixture or place in a serving bowl. Serve immediately. 
       | Per serving: |  194 calories (5% calories from fat), 4 g protein, 1 g total fat (0.2 g saturated fat), 42 g carbohydrates, 2 g dietary fiber, 0 cholesterol, 84 mg sodium |    | Diabetic exchanges: |  3 carbohydrate (2 1/2 bread/starch, 1 vegetable) |           Roasted Asparagus with Balsamic Vinegar  (makes 6 servings)
         | 2 |  pounds (960 g) fresh asparagus, tough ends removed, peeled if thick |    | 1 |  teaspoon (5 ml) olive oil |    | 1 1/2 |  tablespoons (22.5 ml) balsamic vinegar |       - Preheat oven to 450°F (230°C), Gas Mark 8.  
 - Place the asparagus in a baking pan and drizzle with oil. Toss to coat. Roast, shaking the pan every 3 minutes, until tender and lightly browned.  
 - Remove from the oven and drizzle with vinegar, toss to coat the asparagus. Serve immediately. 
       | Per serving: |  46 calories (15% calories from fat), 3 g protein, 1 g total fat (0.1 g saturated fat), 7 g carbohydrates, 3 g dietary fiber, 0 cholesterol, 1 mg sodium |    | Diabetic exchanges: |  1/2 carbohydrate (1 1/2 vegetable) |           Grilled Pineapple with Raspberry Puree  (makes 8 servings)
         | 1 |  large fresh pineapple |    | 1 |  cup (124 g) fresh raspberries |       - Light a grill or preheat broiler.  
 - Cut pineapple lengthwise through the leaves into 8 wedges. Remove the tough core. Grill or broil the pineapple until just charred, 2 minutes on each side.  
 - Puree the raspberries in a food processor or blender until smooth. Drizzle about 1 tablespoon (15 ml) of the puree into a decorative pattern on each of 8 large dessert plates. Top with pineapple wedge and serve at once. 
       | Per serving: |  51 calories (7% calories from fat), 1 g protein, 1 g total fat (0 saturated fat), 13 g carbohydrates, 2 g dietary fiber, 0 cholesterol, 1 mg sodium |    | Diabetic exchanges: |  1 carbohydrate (fruit) |     |