Healthy Holiday Recipes and Wishes

I'm so thankful for you and your interest in optimal health. Here are a few quick easy recipes you may want to enjoy throughout the holidays. We will be serving these desserts for Monday's open house so come and get a taste!

Cranberry & Pomegranate Chia Pudding              

INGREDIENTS

* 2 1/2 cups of Coconut milk

* 1 cup of cranberries raw

* 1 cup pomegranate seeds or from one pomegranate

* 1 teaspoon vanilla

* ¼ cup of honey

* ½  cup of chia seeds

DIRECTIONS

1.   In food processor add all ingredients except pomegranate seeds and process till smooth.

2.   Cut open pomegranate and squeeze out liquid and seeds, being careful to discard the fibrous pith.

3.   Add to the mixture and stir, let sit ~ 10 minutes and stir again, then refrigerate. May stir again before serving.

Beautiful and delicious holiday dish! You can use any fruit to sweeten and color. Add pumpkin and cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves and cardamom for a different twist.

Fresh Raw Cranberry Sauce    

INGREDIENTS

•  2 Cups Fresh Cranberries

•  1 Apple, cored and quartered

•  1 Orange, peeled, seeded, quartered (zest saved)

•  1 Tsp orange zest

•  1 Cup dates, pitted

In a food processor, process cranberries, apple, orange, orange zest and dates only until blended, but chunky.

Why would you ever open a can of cranberry sauce again?

Raw Pumpkin Pie

Adapted from Luzy in the Raw

Yield: 8 servings

Prep Time: 15 minutes

INGREDIENTS

Crust:

•  1 Cup Dates

•  2 Cups Pecans (soaked overnight)

•  Pinch Salt

•  The Pecans should be soaked overnight and the dates soaked for 20 minutes. Combine in food processor and pulse until mixed evenly. Press into a glass pie plate.

Filling:

•  2 cups pumpkin meat, peeled, seeded, chopped

•  1 Cup Dates

•  1/2 Cup Almond Butter

•  2 tsp cinnamon

•  1/4 tsp Cardamon

•  1/2 tsp cloves

•  1 tsp Ginger root, grated, fresh

•  1/2 tsp nutmeg

•  The dates should be soaked for 20 minutes. Combine all ingredients in a food processor and puree. Spoon filling into crust and serve. Refrigerate to get a firmer pie.

Cashew Cream

Decadently Delicious! Use for lattes, in place of whipped cream or ferment and use in place of sweet cream cheese.

•  1 cup of raw cashews soaked and drained*

•  1 Tablespoon of maple syrup or coconut nectar or

stevia to taste

•  1/4 - 1/2 cup of filtered water to desired consistency

•  pinch of sea salt

Place raw cashews and sweetener in a high-speed blender, start with 1/4 cup of water and blend until smooth and slowly add more water until desired consistency.

*Cashews should be soaked for 2-4 hours and if you are like me and forget, you can soak them in hot water for ~15 minutes. For lower glycemic load replace maple syrup with coconut nectar or stevia. I personally do not like the taste of stevia as well but it is great for diabetics and those needing low carb and watching insulin levels.

Whatever you do, please spend some time thinking about what and who you are grateful for. What we focus on is what we will get more of. 

Happy Thanksgiving!

Lisa

PS What's your favorite holiday recipes?