A hodge podge of ideas for the holidays
Okay, so you're told you need to bring _______ for your holiday gathering. In an attempt to school your friends and family on the fact that healthy food is also really freaking good tasting food, let's brainstorm some options for you to wow them all!
Appetizers/finger foods:
- Bacon wrapped scallops could not be any more paleo! Look for nitrite/nitrate free bacon, with reduced sodium. I think Trader Joe's sells some of that. Basic recipe here. Warning: the picture alone could be considered food porn. Just saying.
- Guacamole. It's a healthy fat. Bring vegetables to dip in it, and you're assured you'll be getting some favorable carbs and some tasty goodness. Here ya go for the recipe.
- Meat or chicken skewers. If you know people are doing a gluten-free life, make sur e your marinades are wheat/gluten free (soy sauce typically has gluten - look for tamari that is labeled gluten free). Dipping sauces could be a simple tomato sauce or you could get all fancy and do a spicy aioli. Instead of a peanut satay sauce, try it with almond butter instead of the peanut butter. Or, better yet, just make the protein more flavorful...try this recipe out!
Side dishes:
If you've been following this blog, revisit some of the past postings, or go out on your own and stick with a nice autumn-inspired salad. Pears and walnuts on top of greens with a simple vinaigrette...Melissa Hayes makes a fantastic slaw of napa cabbage, bacon and mushrooms sauteed up. Did someone say bacon and mushrooms? Sold! Or grill up some veggies, oven roast some cauliflower or broccoli, or mash up some cauliflower and add in some of that rosemary or bacon. This page offers you some ideas on stuffings/dressings that are pretty paleo!
Main course:
Turkey for you...turkey for me. Doesn't get any better than that! Don't know how to cook turkey? There are a bazillion ways/thoughts/ideas/methods. Go use that internet machine and check it out. Cooks Illustrated (America's Test Kitchen) has some methods they've tested that yield great results. Alton Brown on the Food Network too. Just find one, give it a go, and there you have it.
Desserts:
Here, life can get a little more challenging, because, after all, sugar is sugar. HOWEVER, try to stick with fruit-based desserts where the natural sugars come to light with some simple baking or sauteeing, and you won't need to add refined sugar. Or try to use just a little honey, but add cinnamon or allspice as well. One of my favorites? Sliced up granny smith apples, and some frozen berries, mixed in a ramekin with some fresh-squeezed lemon juice and sprinkles of cinnamon. Top with some crushed almonds, pecans and walnuts. You can use a little butter to bind it all. Bake in an oven at 350 degrees until it's all bubbly and the nuts have browned. You honestly won't miss the sugar. You can also make this in a big 9x13 baking dish and it's your "apple/berry crisp." Top with some heavy whipping cream that you "whip" into whipped cream, and voila - very paleo-ish dessert where you're keeping the sugar wayyyyyy down.
This is not to say we should all strive to be totally perfect in our eating over the holidays. However, everything in moderation (as much as possible) and reward yourself and those you love with some healthy and nutritious things you can bring to the table. It will help you continue to feel great through the holidays, and will help you save a little room for that favorite aunt's pumpkin pie you simply must have!
Hope you all have a safe and wonderful Thanksgiving! Of course, feel free to share what you're going to be making this Thanksgiving!!
Jules
Reader Comments (5)
Jules...what kind of berries do you use for the Apple Berry Crisp? I'm wondering if blackberries do well with cinnamon...
Hey Drew!
We've used strawberries, blueberries and blackberries, and all have tasted way good.
The key is using some of the tarter apples (is tarter a word?). A squeeze of lemon juice will help with flavors too.
So did anyone make anything really fun over Thanksgiving? Who can guess what food item I was asked to help make by my future mother-in-law? Hint: Paleo man voted me off the island for this one.
Something with gluten in it....
I made the apple crisp recipe thats on the recipe of the day... It was fantabulous amazingly. I brought it to the Century. Not sure if peeps like it but I sure did! Also made the brussel sprout slaw and that was to die for. In-laws loved it too!
This isn't Thanksgiving related but I recently made a Paleo version of Shepherd's pie that was so awesome I wanted to share! Enjoy!!
Shepherd’s Pie
1 head cauliflower
¼ c coconut milk
2 tbsp olive oil
1 to 2 pounds ground meat (I used turkey)
1 large carrot diced
1 large celery stalk diced
½ small onion diced
1 large tomato diced
½ tsp black pepper
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a large sauce pan heat the olive oil over medium heat. Saute the carrot, celery, onion and tomato for about 5 minutes until they soften. Add the meat and black pepper and cook for 10 to 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Meanwhile steam the cauliflower until it is easily pierced by a fork about 10 minutes. In a blender, mix cauliflower with 1/8c coconut milk and puree. Add remaining coconut milk to get desired consistency.
Oil a square oven pan and spoon the meat & veggie mixture. Cover with the mashed cauliflower and bake for 20 minutes.