Healthy Holidays to YOU!!!! — Lifestyle Therapeutix

Yaaawwwwlllll!!!

It’s literally 3 weeks till Thanksgiving and 7 weeks till Christmas. Then we’ll be ringing in the New Year. WHEW!!!! This year has moved so quickly!! Are you ready for the Holidays?!?!

One of the traditions of this Holiday Season, is lots of opportunities to eat. Whether it’s Thanksgiving Dinner and all those leftovers, office parties, social gatherings, kids events, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Hanukkah or New Year’s there will be plenty to choose from.

If this is the year that you’ve embraced a plant powered diet, you might be a little concerned about your holiday options. Not to worry!! Auntie Donna’s got you covered with some of my favorites that have been tried and tested. It’s always good to let your host know of your needs, but, sometimes offering to bring a plant powered dish can take the stress off your host and assure you having something great to eat. And, with so many people making the change, it’s a great time to host gatherings like Friendsgiving with other likeminded plant powered people!! Here are some of my favs.

In my tradition, macaroni and cheese is central, and you bet not have no new people tryna make it for the gathering. My late mom and I worked hard to get a good vegan mac n cheese. And, I think we hit the jackpot. You can use our recipe…..demonstrated here. Or, take a look at your traditional recipe and find plant powered versions of your ingredients. I guarantee, it will be delicious. And, remember, when cooking with plant powered cheeses, ALWAYS cover the dish for best melt!!

When you think of Thanksgiving leftovers, you often think of turkey and dressing and cranberry sauce……in a plate. One year, I wanted something quick to take with me as I shopped for Black Friday Deals. OMG!! This Cranberry Eggnog Smoothie was PERFECT and full of everything I needed for my long day at the mall!!

Cranberry/Eggnog Smoothie

1 cup fresh cranberry sauce

1 cup diced pineapple

1 cup orange sections - Mandarin oranges are my fav

1 whole apple

1/2 - 1 cup alcohol-free, vegan eggnog (We LOVE Califia Farms Brand)

Add all ingredients to blender and blend well to desired consistency. Enjoy.

If you’ve got a party to go to and need to bring a dish, this Texas Caviar will be a big hit. You can make it as spicy or mild as you like. Serve with a variety of tortilla chips….(red, blue, white, yellow). Believe me, they won’t even realize how healthy it is. Full of fiber, it’s a great dish for diabetics who want to keep their sugars under control during the holidays. Yum, Yum!!!

Texas Caviar

1 can or 2 cups black beans, drained

1 can or 2 cups pinto beans, drained

1 can or 2 cups black-eyed peas, drained

1 can or 2 cups corn, drained (yellow or white)

2 cans or 4 cups diced tomato OR 4 cups vinegar-free salsa

1 bunch green onions, chopped

1 bunch cilantro, chopped

1-2 red onions, chopped

1 each, red, yellow, green bell pepper, diced

2 small or 1 large can diced green chilies, you choose the heat

2-4 cups Italian salad dressing*

garlic powder, cumin, salt, Pepper-like seasoning, to taste

Combine ingredients in a large bowl. Adjust seasonings to taste as desired. Chill and serve with tortilla chips. *Italian Salad Dressing - 1 package Good Seasons Italian Salad Dressing Mix, 1/4 cup lemon juice, 3/4 cup water, 1/2 cup oil. Mix all ingredients well.

My friends and I love to share recipes. Got this one from my friend Fiona. I shared it with my friend Jackie, who made it right away. We were shooketh!!! We could not believe that we could make this yummy whipped topping out of garbanzo bean juice. It’s one of our favorite now. It’s a perfect option for your non-dairy friends who want to add it to their desserts. I’ve used it on banana puddings and punch bowl cakes. And, it will brown beautifully on banana puddings and lemon meringue pies. Make it! See for yourself! You will be amazed.

Whipped Topping

Liquid off 2 cans of garbanzo beans

1-1 1/2 cups natural sugar

2 teaspoons vanilla extract (optional)

1/4 heaping teaspoon cream of tartar

Pour ingredients into a mixer and mix for about 10-15 minutes with a two prong mixer until the topping fluffs up and the peaks hold! NOTE: If any is leftover, refrigerate. It will probably flatten. No problem. Whip again to serve again.

If you’re gonna make whipped topping, you probably need some cake. Here’s my favorite recipe. My cousin Lisa gave it to me. Perfect for topping with homemade cranberry sauce or sliced strawberries and whipped topping. See me demonstrate it here.

Lisa’s Luscious Pound Cake

3 cups unbleached flour (may mix unbleached and whole wheat pastry)

2 cups natural sugar or turbinado sugar

3 ½ teaspoons Baking Powder

1 teaspoon salt

1 ½ cups your favorite non dairy milk, plain or vanilla

½ package silken tofu, firm

2 tablespoons your favorite vanilla flavoring, alcohol-free

1 cup oil

2 tablespoons lemon juice

Preheat oven to 350°. Mix dry ingredients together in a bowl. In a blender, blend liquid ingredients, flavoring and tofu together. Slowly pour liquid mixture into dry mixture and gently blend together with a spoon or spatula. Be careful not to over-mix. Batter will initially be coarse. Add 2 tablespoons of lemon juice to the batter and mix briefly. Batter will become smoother from lemon juice. Pour batter into prepared Bundt pan. Bake for 50 to 55 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool for 30 to 45 minutes before applying frosting or glaze.

Okay!! An entire menu for a Plant Powered/Vegan Holiday (including homemade cranberry sauce) is here. Hope this helps you this Holiday Season. And don’t you even worry about your non vegan/plantpowered friends and family. If they taste your food, they will be hooked!! Love You!! Eat Well!!!

We’re Cookin’ Up Good Health!! It’s The Holidays!! Healthy Holidays to YOU!! It’s First Thursday Yawl!!

I’m Still Shoutin’ Ova Here!!

Donna

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