Coconut Almond Hot Chocolate
After being outside for a day of skiing, going for a walk, or sometimes just coming home from work in the winter, it is nice to have a warm drink to take the chill off. Sometimes tea doesn’t cut it and your craving something a little sweet. Before you reach for the hot chocolate mixture, why not treat yourself to something really special and make yourself some homemade hot chocolate! I am sharing with you a vegan recipe that I created to be just as tasty as the typical dairy laden hot chocolate. I use whipped coconut cream to top it off, and as an alternative lite coconut milk in the drink itself.
Dessert Drink Beginner Easy Dairy-Free Gluten-Free Vegan Vegetarian
Vegan Roasted Vegetable Lasagna
When having guests over for the holidays, it can be a challenge to get all of your dishes that you are serving in order and on the table. Which is why I love to serve things like Lasagna which can be prepped the day before, then baked the day of. There are many recipes for lasagna out there but few are vegan. I decided to share one of mine with you today, which will please vegan and dairy-free guests. It can also be made gluten-free if you use gluten free noodles. It is packed full of veggies and flavor so it is substantial, but won’t leave you feeling weighed down.
Filo Wrapped Squash Triangles
Anything wrapped in filo is always a hit. At least that is what my mother says. She has asked me to make her filo wrapped appetizers for work parties a couple of times now. Although I made spanikopita once, a cheese and spinach pastry, my favorite was a veganized squash and cheese filled appetizer. I originally made them with chevre, but they work just as well with Tofutti cream cheese. The filling is creamy and scented with a touch of cumin and thyme, as well as sweet from the squash and apples. It may look like it is a little complicated to prepare, but once you get the hang of wrapping it is really quite easy. The best part is that they can be prepared the day before and baked when needed! Serve these at your holiday party and you will wow your guests.
Festive Cranberry Orange Macaroons
Coconut has always been a part of the Christmas cookie spread at my house; my mom and grandma both love it! They used to make coconut bon bons, coconut macaroons, and coconut wreaths. This year, I thought I would continue with the coconut theme and make my own macaroons jazzed up with a bit of cranberries and orange for a flavorful twist. These easy to make macaroons are raw, vegan and gluten free, and you would not be able to guess that they are. But most importantly they taste wonderful. Although I have used a dehydrator for this recipe, you can use an oven at a low temperature if you do not have one. They would be perfect to give as gifts in a pretty box to any coconut lover!
Dessert Snack Beginner Easy Dairy-Free Gluten-Free Raw Vegan Vegetarian
Coconut Pecan Yam Cookies
I tend to have leftovers whenever I make a big meal. Especially when it involves potatoes or yams. I usually make extra because I am not always sure how much they will yield and leftovers seems like a good idea at cooking time. But life gets busy and getting around to eating them sometimes happens but not in quantity I anticipated. I have come up with quite a few recipes that use leftover yams, some savory, but my favorites involve desserts. I thought I would share a favorite cookie using yams with you, because you may have some left over this time of the year. These easy to make, gluten free cookies are a great way to get a yam or sweet potato hater to enjoy them. You will never look at leftover yams the same again! These are especially good if the yams have been roasted.
Dessert Beginner Easy Dairy-Free Gluten-Free Vegan Vegetarian
Creamy Roasted Autumn Root Vegetable Soup with Cornbread Croutons
Are you looking for a creamy, satisfying soup without all the dairy? Look no further than this root vegetable soup recipe. I came up with it because someone asked me to create a creamy dairy-free soup that was still delicious. The best part is it is filled with nutritious root vegetables which are roasted to give it a lot of flavor. It was delicious on its own, but I topped it off with toasted corn bread croutons and vegan sour cream to make it extra special. This would be perfect with a salad or served in small bowls before a meal.
Pomegranate Basil Spritzer
The holidays are a time for entertaining. This busy season of our lives is full of social gathers around the same theme of food. One area of party planing that typically gets neglected is the beverage department. Soda, coffee and water are the typical offerings. Here is a delicious non-alcoholic beverage that is unusually tasty. This spritzer is a beautiful addition to a holiday spread when served in a glass pitcher. So if you are looking for a lightly, sweet alternative to the “same-ole, same-ole”, you’ll enjoy this colorful showstopper bursting with sweetness and healthy dose of 0mega-3s. If you want to add a little kick, add 1 oz. vodka to each glass.
*Some guests may prefer the drink to be muddled while others will enjoy eating the seeds and basil leafs.
Drink Easy Dairy-Free Gluten-Free Heart Healthy Vegan Vegetarian
Beet and Pomegranate Jewel Salad
In the deli department, there are many customer favorites. But one that always stands out to me are the beet salads. If they are missing from the case, people always ask when they are going to be made again. I do not blame them, as beets are one of my favorites as well. Its lovely color, sweet flavor and nutritional density make it very desirable. One of my favorite ways to serve them is with citrus fruits, the flavors are perfect together. So, I decided to share with you one of my favorite winter salads featuring red and gold beets! It is a show stopper that I love to serve to guests.
Salad Side Dish Beginner Easy Dairy-Free Gluten-Free Heart Healthy Paleo Vegan Vegetarian
Swedish Meatball Gravy over Mashed Potatoes
Minnesotans are known for their Swedish and Norwegian ancestry. My family is no exception. We have our traditional Swedish meatball dinner every Christmas that has been passed down over five generations. The simplicity of the ingredients is what I believe is what makes the meatball and gravy so delicious. My husband especially loves this meal. On vacation in Florida, my grandma, who lived there, made the traditional family dinner like only she could make it. The thing of it was she made a 38 quart size pot of just Swedish meatballs and gravy for 7 of us. She didn’t know how to cook small portions. The motto in our family always was “well you gotta eat.” After we had all dished out our plates, it looked at is if no one had eaten. My grandma found great joy in cooking and people’s appreciation for her meals. We all knew it too, so my husband in his attempt to show his gratitude ate 17 meatballs a little bigger than the size of a golf ball that year. We all laugh about it now. While he won’t be making an encore of that day, he loves it when I make Swedish meatballs, but it is very time consuming meal. I have since made an easier version that can be made for a everyday dinner. It is sure to bring happiness and satisfaction to your meat and potato eater in your family.
Spiced Cranberry Walnut Shortbread Balls
The holidays always make me think about Christmas cookies. Every year, my mother and I would make at least 12 different types of cookies. Spending time with her making and picking the types of cookies in the kitchen was one of my favorite seasonal traditions. One of her favorites was a cranberry shortbread cookie. I have since lost the recipe, but I decided to create a gluten-free vegan version. I added a bit of spice to them in the form of cinnamon, nutmeg and cardamom along with some walnuts for crunch. Top them off with a bit of crunchy turbinado sugar on the outside for sparkle. They smell wonderful while baking. and they are perfect sweet little bites to have at a holiday party!
Dessert Beginner Easy Dairy-Free Gluten-Free Heart Healthy Vegan Vegetarian
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