Tag Archives: Holiday menu

Golden Raisin and Apple Stuffing

If you are making your holiday menu, and checking it twice, be sure to add this delicious recipe for stuffing (or dressing as it is properly named – thanks, Kristi) that can be adapted to be yeast and sugar free! So deck the halls and enjoy your family, friends and food during this festive season!

Yeast-Free, Sugar-Free Golden Raisin and Apple Stuffing
Ingredients:
–Bread (about 4 slices) cut into 1/2″ pieces (such as these hamburger buns for a yeast and sugar free option)
–12 sesame crackers, crumbled (Sesmark brand does not have yeast or sugar)
–1/3 cup golden raisins
–1 apple (such as Ida Red) cut into chunks
–2 cups homemade broth or water
–1/2 tsp Bell’s Poultry Seasoning
–pinch of garlic powder
–salt and pepper to taste

Directions:
Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Mix all of the ingredients together, and pour into a greased 8×8 pan. Bake for approximately 45 minutes or until golden brown.

I am sharing this recipe with Simply Sugar and Gluten Free, Miz Helen’s Country Cottage and Food Trip Friday.

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For the Holidays: Roasted Brussels Sprouts and Grapes

An easy vegetable dish for your next holiday menu is this one for roasted brussels sprouts with grapes and walnuts. You can prepare the dish ahead of time and then roast while your turkey or other entree is out of the oven and being carved. I saw this recipe in the November 2011 issue of Whole Living magazine and tweaked it a bit. I removed the vinegar so it would be free from yeast and added the walnuts into the mixture from the beginning so they would toast at the same time as the other ingredients. The next time I make them, I will prepare a bigger batch because there were hardly any leftovers. The sprouts are in the pink bowl on the far side of the table. We will get to the other delicious dishes on the table in future posts.

Ingredients:
24 oz brussels sprouts, halved
24 oz red seedless grapes
2 Tbs olive oil
salt and pepper
1/2 cup walnuts, coarsely chopped

Preparation:
Heat oven to 450 degrees. In a 9×13 glass baking dish, toss brussels sprouts and grapes with olive oil. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Toss walnuts on top. Roast until tender and golden brown, about 20-25 minutes.

I am sharing this recipe with Simply Sugar and Gluten Free, Miz Helen’s Country Cottage and Food Trip Friday.

Holiday Menu Ideas and Mashed Cauliflower Potatoes Recipe

This past Thanksgiving was a very special one for me because it was the first holiday that SensitiveHusband and I hosted, and the menu was free from yeasts and refined sugars. My family members were so kind by making sure that the foods they brought did not contain those sensitive foods, which resulted in one of the most delicious dinners! Plus the love and camaraderie around the table made for a very enjoyable holiday. The picture shows all of the wonderful dishes at our meal, and below lists the menu. Over the next few blog posts, I will share the recipes with you in case you would like to incorporate one or all of the foods at your next holiday celebration meal.

Holiday Dinner Menu:
Roasted Turkey with Gravy
Mashed Potatoes with Cauliflower
Golden Raisin and Apple Stuffing
Brussels Sprouts with Grapes and Walnuts
Green Beans with Almonds
Spinach Au Gratin
Pumpkin Raisin Bread

And for Dessert…
FIL’s Deep Dish Apple Pie
Pumpkin Pie

Is reading the menu making you hungry? I know that I could use a snack right now!

Let’s get started with the recipe for mashed potatoes and cauliflower. They are seen in the picture above, on the far side of the table, in a big bowl with a blue rim. What is great about them is that they tasted just like mashed potatoes, although with the moisture in the cauliflower you don’t have to add lots of cream. The result is a hearty mash with lots of vitamins and less fat. Even people who don’t really care for cauliflower (I loosely fall into this category) will enjoy this dish. My MIL made them for thanksgiving last year and we requested them again! Here is the recipe:

Potato/Cauliflower Mashed Potatoes
5 lbs. red potatoes, peeled and cubed
1 large cauliflower, stems removed and chopped
1 stick butter
1/2 cup low fat sour cream
milk to desired consistency (1 to 1 1/2 cups)
sprinkle of garlic powder
salt and pepper

Place potatoes in a saucepan and cover with water. Bring water to a boil, and cook for 20-25 minutes or until very tender. Add the cauliflower to the potatoes when there is about 10 minutes left so they can also cook. Drain well. Add cauliflower, butter, sour cream, garlic powder, salt and pepper. Start to mash, then add about 1/2 cup milk and mash until desired consistency. You may want to add another 1/2 cup milk, depending on how much moisture is in the cauliflower. The 1 cup milk total will create a consistency that is a little chunky; add another 1/2 cup milk (1 1/2 cups total) for a smoother consistency. If you wish, sprinkle a bit of paprika on top for a festive finish.

I am sharing this recipe with Simply Sugar and Gluten Free, Miz Helen’s Country Cottage, Food Trip Friday and Cybele Pascal Allergen Free Cuisine.