Wednesday, November 23, 2016

Thanksgiving Meal - A Healthier Twist!

Here are some ways to enjoy Thanksgiving with a Healthier Twist. These alternatives have been tested and taste exactly the same / BETTER than the alternative!


Instead of Mashed Potatoes make Creamy Mashed Cauliflower

Image result for creamy mashed cauliflower

4 servings

Ingredients
8 cups bite-size cauliflower florets (about 1 head)
4 cloves garlic, crushed and peeled
1/3 cup nonfat buttermilk 
4 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided
1 teaspoon coconut oil or butter
1/2 teaspoon pink salt
Freshly ground pepper to taste
Snipped fresh chives for garnish

Preparation

Place cauliflower florets and garlic in a steamer basket over boiling water, cover and steam until very tender, 12 to 15 minutes. (Alternatively, place florets and garlic in a microwave-safe bowl with 1/4 cup water, cover and microwave on High for 3 to 5 minutes.) Place the cooked cauliflower and garlic in a food processor. Add buttermilk, 2 teaspoons oil, butter, salt and pepper; pulse several times, then process until smooth and creamy. Transfer to a serving bowl. Drizzle with the remaining 2 teaspoons oil and garnish with chives, if desired. Serve hot.



Instead of Candied Sweet Potatoes make Oven-Roasted Squash with Garlic & Parsley

Image result for oven roasted butternut squash

10 servings

Ingredients
5 pounds butternut Squash, peeled and cut into 1-inch chunks
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper, divided
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 tablespoons chopped Italian parsley

Preparation

Preheat oven to 375°F. Toss squash with 4 teaspoons oil, salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Spread evenly on a large baking sheet. Roast, stirring occasionally, until tender throughout and lightly browned, 30 to 45 minutes (depending on the variety of squash). Heat the remaining 2 teaspoons oil in a small skillet over medium heat. Add garlic and cook, stirring, until fragrant but not brown, 30 seconds to 1 minute. Toss the roasted squash with the garlic and parsley. Taste, adjust the seasoning and serve.



Instead of Fried Turkey Make a Herb Roasted Turkey

Image result for herb roasted turkey

12 servings

Ingredients
1 10-12-pound turkey
1/4 cup fresh herbs, plus 20 whole sprigs, such as thyme, rosemary, sage, oregano and/or marjoram, divided
2 tablespoons EVOO or Coconut oil
1 teaspoon pink salt
1 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
Aromatics, onion, apple, lemon and/or orange, cut into 2-inch pieces (1 1/2 cups)
3 cups water, plus more as needed

Preparation
Position a rack in the lower third of the oven; preheat to 475°F. Remove giblets and neck from turkey cavities and reserve for making gravy. Place the turkey, breast-side up, on a rack in a large roasting pan; pat dry with paper towels. Mix minced herbs, oil, salt and pepper in a small bowl. Rub the herb mixture all over the turkey, under the skin and onto the breast meat. Place aromatics and 10 of the herb sprigs in the cavity. Tuck the wing tips under the turkey. Tie the legs together with kitchen string. Add 3 cups water and the remaining 10 herb sprigs to the pan. Roast the turkey until the skin is golden brown, 45 minutes. Remove the turkey from the oven. If using a remote digital thermometer, insert it into the deepest part of the thigh, close to the joint. Cover the breast with a double layer of foil, cutting as necessary to conform to the breast. Reduce oven temperature to 350 degrees and continue roasting for 1 1/4 to 1 3/4 hours more. If the pan dries out, tilt the turkey to let juices run out of the cavity into the pan and add 1 cup water. The turkey is done when the thermometer (or an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thigh without touching bone) registers 165°F. Transfer the turkey to a serving platter and cover with foil. Let the turkey rest for 20 minutes. Remove string and carve.


Instead of Fried Green Bean Casserole make Lemon Dill Green Beans 

Image result for lemon dill green beans

4 servings

Ingredients
1 pound green beans, Fresh or Frozen
4 teaspoons chopped fresh dill
1 tablespoon minced shallot
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 teaspoon whole-grain mustard
1/4 teaspoon Pink Salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper      

Preparation

Bring an inch of water to a boil in a large saucepan fitted with a steamer basket. Add green beans, cover and cook until tender-crisp, 5 to 7 minutes. Remove from the heat. Meanwhile, whisk dill, shallot, oil, lemon juice, mustard, salt and pepper in a large bowl. Add the green beans and toss to coat. Let stand about 10 minutes before serving to blend flavors.


Instead of Gluten Pumpkin Pie Make a Grain Free Pumpkin Pie


Servings: 8

Ingredients:
1 cup almond flour
3 T coconut oil
1/2 t cinnamon
1 (15 ounce) can of pumpkin  or approx 2 cups of homemade pureed pumpkin with excess liquid drained
4 eggs
1 t liquid stevia
1 T pumpkin pie spice
1 t vanilla
coconut or almond milk to thin (no more than about ⅓ cup)

Directions:
Preheat oven to 325.

Grease pie pan with extra coconut oil.

Mix almond flour, coconut oil, cinnamon, and 1 egg together by hand in a medium sized bowl.

Press mixture to form crust into bottom and sides of pie pan.

Bake 10-15 minutes (remove the crust as it barely starts to brown).

Combine pumpkin, 3 eggs, stevia, pumpkin pie spice, and vanilla and mix using an immersion blender. If you don't have one of these, use a regular blender or food processor. It should be smooth and spreadable, but not really pourable.

Add coconut milk if needed to thin slightly.

Pour/smooth the filling over the crust.

Bake for about an hour or until center is no longer jiggly. (Will set more as it cools)


Instead of Stuffing with Bread make Gluten Free Stuffing with Homemade Bread

Easy Gluten Free Stuffing - This stuffing is moist and so packed with flavor, you would never know how easy it is to make! Perfect for Thanksgiving or any holiday meal! | Foodfaithfitness.com | @FoodFaithFit

Servings 8

Ingredients
3 Tbsp Olive Oil
2 Cups Onion finely chopped
2 Cups Celery finely chopped
1/4 Cup Garlic minced
1 Loaf of Simple Almond Flour Bread cut into large cubes* (about 14 )
1 2/3 Cup Chicken broth
4 tsps Fresh parsley minced + additional for garnish
1 tsp Poultry seasoning
1/2 tsp Sage powder
Pepper

Instructions

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees and spray a casserole dish with cooking spray. Set aside.

Heat the olive oil in a large pan over medium/high heat. Add in the chopped onion, celery and garlic and cook, stirring frequently, until golden brown and soft, about 8-10 minutes

Place the cut bread cubes into a large mixing bowl, and add in the cooked onion mixture. Toss to mix well and evenly coat the bread in the onion mixture.
Pour the chicken broth over the cubes and gently mix until they're evenly moistened.

Add in the fresh parsley, poultry seasoning, sage powder and a few pinches of pepper and gently toss to mix the spices evenly among the bread cubes. Transfer to the prepared casserole dish.

Bake until the top of the stuffing is lightly crisp and golden brown, about 50-60 minutes.

Garnish with additional fresh parsley, if desired and DEVOUR!



Instead of Store Bought / Boxed Gravy Make a Gluten Free VEGAN Friendly Version! 

Vegan and Gluten-Free Gravy

Makes 1 1/2 cups
1/4 cup chickpea or brown rice flour
3 tablespoons nutritional yeast flakes
1 1/2 cups low sodium vegetable broth
1 1/2 to 2 tablespoons reduced-sodium tamari or soy sauce (you may need to modify based on how salty your broth is)
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme, crushed
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
Black pepper, to taste
Instructions:
Heat the brown rice flour or chickpea flour, along with the nutritional yeast flakes, in a small saucepan over medium heat. Stir them frequently, until fragrant.
Remove from heat and whisk in the vegetable broth, tamari, olive oil, thyme, and garlic powder.
Return to heat and cook, whisking constantly, until the gravy is thick and bubbly. Season to taste with black pepper. Serve.

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