Dec 16 2008
Healthy, Happy Holiday Food
I find the holidays immensely difficult to navigate, what with the buffets, the parties, the drink, the nibbles, the chocolate, and the “oh-go-on-just-have-one” attitude of the candy pushers. As a vegetarian I’m doubly burdened, for I must also endure enless “I heard we were having a vegetarian round so I went out back to collect some grass clippings for you” to “oh yes, this turkey’s vegetarian *tee hee*” jokes (mostly from my grandfather). But all is not lost, for it is possible to enjoy festive treats without having to punch another hole in your belt. This post is a round-up of tasty treats in blogworld.
One way to avoid the cream-laden treats is to prepare vegan baked goods. Now, before you cringe, vegan doesn’t necessarily mean tasteless and it doesn’t necessarily mean healthy. What is does mean is less saturated fat, oftentimes less sugar, and safety in knowing that you aren’t laying brick in your arteries with each cookie you consume.
First up is Celine from Have Cake, Will Travel with her moorish Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies .
Carrots ‘N’ Cake has healthy, easy Christmas Morning Muffins that have me drooling.
Vegan Dad has developed a winter warmer in the form of Winter Vegetable Pie , which will make you nostalgic for your mom’s chicken pot pie.
And for the adventurous, Fat-Free Vegan’s Eggnog Cheesecake, which knocks quite a few calories off of its more traditional cousin.
And for the meat and milk loving among you:
Chocolate and Zucchini’s Flourless Poppy Seed Cake brings back fond memories of my grandma’s traditional Poppyseed Bread, made once a year for Christmas breakfast. My sister tries to replicate the recipe, but alas, has not my grandma’s soft touch with dough.
Whether it’s with hummous as a starter or party dish, or with cheese after the meal, everyone needs a good staple cracker for entertaining. Some of the artisan crackers can be ridiculously expensive considering the ingredients (primarily flour, water and salt), so who could resist making your own (healthy) crackers? Smitten Kitchen shows you how with her spelt everything crackers .
