Christmas 2014 Menu Ideas

I just realized it's only a few days till Christmas!  Wow, I thought I had more time. I'm going to give lots of healthy options for a Christmas menu ( and some rather indulgent ones), I know a lot of us are last minute shoppers anyway, so the timing isn't too bad, right?  Ok down to business.



Turkey 

http://www.jamieoliver.com/recipes/turkey-recipes/turkey-wellington/#

 http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Maple-Roast-Turkey-and-Gravy-2/Detail.aspx?evt19=1 

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Herb-Glazed-Roasted-Turkey/Detail.aspx?evt19=1


Stuffing:

http://www.delish.com/recipefinder/apple-walnut-stuffing-recipe-clx1114

http://www.delish.com/recipefinder/sausage-herb-stuffing-recipe-wdy1112

(Gluten Free ) http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/recipe/classic-gluten-free-stuffing

(Gluten Free) http://www.jamieoliver.com/recipes/pork-recipes/gluten-free-parsnip-pork-apple-stuffing/

 Gravy :

 http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/easy-turkey-gravy

 http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/2429/date-and-red-wine-sauce-



Ham 

http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/2762670/apricot-and-ginger-ham

http://www.halfbakedharvest.com/chipotle-pineapple-jerk-glazed-ham/

http://www.simplyrecipes.com/recipes/glazed_baked_ham/

Gravy :

http://homecooking.about.com/od/condimentrecipes/r/blsauce23.htm


Side Dishes : 

http://www.halfbakedharvest.com/winter-salad-maple-candied-walnuts-balsamic-fig-dressing-big-giveaway/

http://www.eatingwell.com/recipes/sizzled_green_beans_with_crispy_prosciutto_pine_nuts.html


http://www.eatingwell.com/recipes/baby_beet_greens_with_spicy_mediterranean_vinaigrette.html

 http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/crispy-smashed-potatoes

 http://www.cookinglight.com/entertaining/holidays-occasions/holiday-cookbook-soups-salads/smoky-bell-pepper-soup_2

 http://www.delish.com/recipefinder/sauteed-brussels-sprouts-bacon-onions-recipe

 http://www.ambitiouskitchen.com/2014/11/lightened-sweet-potato-casserole-pecan-oat-streusel/

Vegan / Vegetarian: 

(Vegan )   http://ohsheglows.com/2014/11/24/crowd-pleasing-vegan-caesar-salad/

(Vegan) http://ohsheglows.com/2014/11/04/saweet-potato-casserole-with-a-crunchy-nut-crumble-vegan-gf/


(Vegan)  http://www.vegkitchen.com/recipes/mixed-greens-with-beets-and-walnuts/

(Vegan)  http://www.vegkitchen.com/recipes/wild-rice-salad-with-corn-and-black-eyed-peas/

(Vegan) http://www.vegkitchen.com/recipes/classic-veggie-shepherds-pie/

(Vegan )  http://www.sheknows.com/food-and-recipes/articles/998789/green-bean-and-wild-mushroom-saute

(Vegan) http://www.sheknows.com/food-and-recipes/articles/998775/spiced-wild-rice-pilaf-with-butternut-squash-dried-cranberries

(Vegetarian) http://www.jamieoliver.com/recipes/vegetables-recipes/veggie-arrosto-misto/

(Vegetarian) http://www.jamieoliver.com/recipes/vegetables-recipes/mushroom-and-squash-vegetarian-wellington/

(Vegan) http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/glazed-sprouts-caramelised-red-onions

(Vegan) http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/roast-parsnips-maple-syrup-rosemary

(Vegetarian) http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/cauliflower-cheese-walnuts-crumbs

(Vegetarian) http://www.delish.com/recipefinder/roasted-vegetables-cheddar-tart


Breads : 

http://www.delish.com/recipefinder/soft-whole-wheat-dinner-rolls-recipe-5807 

(Vegan) http://honeyandfigskitchen.com/2014/03/1-hour-fluffy-dinner-rolls-vegan.html

(Gluten Free) http://mygluten-freekitchen.com/pull-apart-dinner-rolls-gluten-free/



Desserts : 

 http://www.halfbakedharvest.com/chocolate-candy-bar-baklava-butter-rum-sauce/ 

http://www.halfbakedharvest.com/chocolate-chip-cookie-bottomed-salted-rum-caramel-tart-toasted-marshmallow/

http://www.halfbakedharvest.com/gingerbread-surprise-beignets-spiced-mocha-hot-chocolate/

(Vegan ,gluten-free, grain-free, no bake/raw, nut-free, ) http://ohsheglows.com/2014/10/31/double-dark-chocolate-coconut-macaroon-tart-vegan-gluten-free-grain-free/

(Vegan) http://www.food.com/recipe/fudgy-brownies-343010 

(Gluten Free ) http://australian.food.com/recipe/sago-christmas-pudding-273846 

(Gluten Free, Egg Free ) http://www.food.com/recipe/chocolate-raspberry-bonbons-412488 

(Gluten Free)   http://www.food.com/recipe/gluten-free-chocolate-cake-roll-357099 

(Gluten Free, Flour free ) http://www.food.com/recipe/the-worlds-best-fruitcake-124172 

 http://www.joyofbaking.com/YuleLog.html 

http://www.simplyorganic.com/recipes/plum-pudding 

http://smittenkitchen.com/blog/2013/03/chocolate-hazelnut-macaroon-torte/

(Vegan) http://happyholisticliving.blogspot.com/2014/12/chocolate-dipped-orange.html



So this is the end of the yummy recipes. I hope you find these helpful no matter what your diet restrictions are.  
You can find more ideas at my Christmas and New Years Pinterest Board! 
https://www.pinterest.com/happyholisticli/christmas-and-new-years/

Merry Christmas!  

Chocolate Dipped Orange

Christmas is only 7 days away! Are you excited? Can you feel my excitement? If not, it's ok, I live in the hills of Kentucky..so I'm sorta in the middle of nowhere I suppose. I'm swamped with oranges right now. We decided to buy a "small" box of oranges from the local high school agriculture class. I'm excited about all these oranges, and making lots of awesome things with them ( other than just eating them the usual way). Then yesterday I had the idea for these chocolate dipped oranges, they're amazing, sweet, and kinda healthy ( it's still fruit even if it's coated in chocolate) . I was planning to make them an exclusive cookbook thing, but since they're so simple, and Christmas is coming, and I have 2 other exclusive recipes to add there, these could be shared. It didn't take me 20 minutes to make these, so it's a fast dessert for entertaining company.

Shall I also tell you they're vegan? Yep. The recipe is below. Remember to try to use Organic! 



Chocolate Dipped Orange 
 ( This is for 1 serving. For more, just use more oranges. ) 


* 1 Seedless, Navel Orange 
* 1 Cup Vegan Chocolate Chips 
* Sea Salt 


Directions : 

Slice the orange vertically ( to create whole orange segments. ) 
Peel, and separate into individual segments. 
Melt the Chocolate Chips. 
Begin dipping the orange segments into the chocolate, leave half of the segment naked ( not covered in chocolate) 
Place the dipped oranges onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. 
Sprinkle sea salt onto the hardening chocolate.   
Store in the refrigerator.  
 

How to make Sauerkraut

It's been a while I know. It was my birthday on Friday. So that justifies a long weekend right? I think so. I've also been waiting on this one post. It's been weeks in the making. I'm excited about it, and just wish I had more pictures. Any way, this Kraut! We used one giant head of cabbage. Really, it was the size of a basketball.
So lets start making sauerkraut! Remember to try to use Organic!


How to make Sauerkraut 

First you'll need a large or 2-3 small to medium cabbage heads. 
( The amount of cabbage needed depends on how much kraut you plan to make. ) 

( Told you it was huge! )


Next you need to wash, dry and begin cutting or slicing up the cabbage.  You can use a knife, or a mandolin works well too.

Now you have to salt the cabbage. The basic amount of salt needed is 3 tbsp per 5 pound of cabbage. Make sure to use canning salt only.   ( I'm not quite sure how much we used in our cabbage, perhaps about 1-2 Tbsp ) 

Now allow the cabbage to sit , covered, for a few minuets. Next begin packing into a large jar. There should be enough natural fluid from the cabbage to cover the cabbage. If not, make a quick brine of  1 1/2 Tbsp of pickling salt to 1 qt.  water. Bring the brine to a boil, then remove from heat and allow it to cool to room temperature. Pour over the cabbage, add a small glass jar filled with remaining brine into the jar to help keep the water over the cabbage.  Store the jar in a cool dark area. Keep the lid off the jar, instead cover it with a very thin dish towel and perhaps sit the jar in a bowl ( in case some water spills out of the jar during the fermentation process ) . Every day remove any film or murky water from the top of the water.

Begin tasting the kraut after 3 days but you can let it ferment for up to 6 weeks. Once it's to your liking, you can store it in the fridge for a couple weeks, or can it. To can it, bring the kraut to a simmer ( 180 degrees ) and DO NOT BOIL , once it's brought to a simmer, pack the kraut and water into sterilized jars.  Wrap clean dish towels or "jackets" around the jars, and wait for them to seal. 

Enjoy! 

Asian inspired Rice, Cabbage, and Pork, Stuffed Avocado

Weird title? Weird sounding recipe? Maybe. It's also weird looking, but so yummy! I've been slow about posting anything, simply due to lack of inspiration and cookbook work, and general Holistic consultation work. But lets get on with this awesome light meal!

I know. I KNOW. It doesn't look that amazing. ( Do you know how hard it is to get a stuffed avocado to sit still, and look pretty? It's hard. ) The pork I used is left over pork from last night dinner. Yep. I took the easy way out , but hey, this pork loin roast, was braised, then cooked slowly in a pot of water and stock with carrots, onions and apples on top the stove for a few hours. It was lovely.  The cabbage was also a left over ( as is the rice from my rice ball recipe I made for the cookbook) , I fried it last night. It's still good and crunchy even after being stuffed and baked in an avocado. The recipe is below. Remember to try to use Organic! 



Asian Inspired Rice, Cabbage, and Pork, Stuffed Avocado 

* 1 Tbsp White Rice, Cooked
* 1/4 Cup Fried Cabbage 
* 2 Tbsp Shredded Pork  
* 2 tsp Rice Vinegar 
* 2 tsp Soy Sauce 
* Sprinkle of Garlic Powder
* 1/2 tsp Honey 
* pinch of Sesame seeds
* 1 Avocado, Split, pit removed.  


Directions : 
 Using a spoon, make a slightly larger hole in each side half of the avocado, Set them aside. Next mix together in a small bowl the vinegar, soy sauce, garlic, honey, and sesame seeds. Make slices into the avocados and pour a small amount of the soy sauce mixture into the cuts.  Now add the pork, rice and cabbage to the remaining soy mixture. Mix well, and stuffed into each avocado half.  Bake at 350 for 10 Minutes.  Enjoy! 

 

 
 

Baby Sushi / California Rolls

How was your Thanksgiving? Mine was long, and full of foods I probably shouldn't have eaten. Sorry for taking so long to get a new post out, I've been busy with a client and cookbook stuff. This is also "cookbook stuff" but I decided it could be blog stuff too.  I wasn't sure about the correct term for these rolls...Sushi or California roll? These are salmon, but the salmon is broiled , ( this is wild caught sockeye salmon, so pretty ! ) for safety. I'm going to call it a California roll , ( google might have played a roll in this decision.) but this would work for sushi too, just use sushi grade raw fish! ( I'm so going in search of this, or I'll just go to the closest sushi bar and let the pro's make sushi for me... ) Also my seaweed wrap is a small sheet for the hand rolls?  I just rolled it like a normal sushi roll, because I wanted a tiny portion. So it's a baby California roll. Watching my weight remember?

Adorable right? Kinda perfect for kids too. This was my first time rolling California rolls, so don't hate me if they're not perfect. My Recipe is down below! Remember to try to use organic!    ( Also my diet doesn't include a ton of rice on the side...I just though it looked nice next to the California rolls.)



Baby California Rolls

* Nori ( seaweed wraps) 
* 1, 3oz fillet Salmon ( preferably the best you can find) 
* 1 1/2 cup Sushi Rice , prepared ( Use your preferred amount of sugar in the rice . I saved what was left of the rice for another recipe )
* 1 tbsp rice Vinegar
* 1 tbsp  Soy sauce 
* 1/4 tsp Garlic Powder
* 1/2 tsp Honey 
* Cucumber sliced in very long thin slices. 
* Baby Carrots sliced very thin
* Avocado Slice very thin

Directions : 

 ( Before I cooked it. Look at that color! ) 

Mix the vinegar, soy sauce, garlic powder, and honey together. Coat the salmon in the mixture. Broil  the fish on each side till cooked through. 

Next wet a dish towel and wring it out well. Place flat on a  counter or table. Put some plastic wrap on the towel. Place the nori on the plastic. Apply a SMALL amount of rice to the nori. 

 
 Now begin adding a small amount of fish and veggies. Less is more here. The more you add, the more likely you won't be able to roll it. Next, wet the edges of the nori a bit with some water. ( I do it to make sure it sticks well.) Lift the towel lightly, make sure all the filling stays in the nori, and roll.  Apply a light even pressure over the roll. Take the plastic off.

Slice, serve and enjoy with your favorite sauce. 

 

Enjoy!