Holiday Recipe Ideas

When it comes to holiday entertaining, here are a few recipes that can truly add a touch of festive flair to your celebrations this season - Caprese Wreath Salad, No Bake Reese’s Bites, Pull Apart Snowflake Bread, and a Grapefruit Pomegranate Mocktail. So, as you prepare to host your loved ones this holiday season, I hope these delicious recipes make their way into your menu, creating lasting memories and a truly festive atmosphere.

Wishing you a wonderful holiday season! - Molly

Caprese Holiday Wreath (Image Source: Molly Morgan)

CAPRESE WREATH SALAD

This salad is perfect for the holiday season because it is SO simple to pull together and looks beautiful too.

Here’s a quick how-to: Layer the outer edge of a platter of choice with fresh baby spinach. Then arrange grape tomatoes and mini mozzarella balls around the top. Then just before serving, drizzle with balsamic glaze. If desired, serve with additional dressings of choice.

No Bake Reese’s Bites (Image Source: Molly Morgan)

NO BAKE REESE’S BITES

These no bake bites are oat-based, filled with crushed Reese’s, and they are quick easy to make! Click here to pick-up the recipe.

Snowflake Pull Apart Bread (Image Source: Molly Morgan)

SNOWFLAKE PULL APART BREAD
Indulge in the comforting embrace of winter with this exquisite creation, Pull Apart Snowflake Bread. It goes great with a cup of coffee in the morning or even can double as a dessert. Click here for the recipe from Half Baked Harvest.

Grapefruit Sparkling Pomegranate Mocktail (Image Source: iStock)

GRAPEFRUIT POMEGRANATE MOCKTAILS

Mocktails are a festive drink option for holiday parties!

How to: In a tall glass muddle a grapefruit slice, add ice, and fill the glass with grapefruit sparkling water (like LaCroix Pamplemousse - Grapefruit). The add a few pomegranate aerials to each glass and garnish with a grapefruit slice.

Holiday Survival Tips

As the holiday season is upon us and your schedule gets extra busy! Here are some tips to help you through the holiday whirlwind.

Holiday Preparation Burns Calories

Schedule time and sneak in time to stay active throughout the holidays! Although, also embrace the other ways that you will burn calories during the holiday season preparing for gatherings. For example, one hour of wrapping presents burns about 90 calories, one hour of cleaning burns about 150+ calories, one hour of cooking burns about 240 calories.

Calorie counts based on 150-pound person. Click here for a calorie calculator.

Stock up on healthier snacks!

Sure there will be extra snacks and treats around throughout the holidays. Also stock up on healthier staples like: almonds, pistachios, sunflower seeds, etc. They are perfect to put out at holiday gatherings or grab to take with you to keep your energy up while running errands.

Other quick and easy ideas to have on hand: clementines, bananas, fruit and nut bars (opt for lower sugar varieties), popcorn, whole grain fig bars

It’s all about balance!

Holiday celebrations often come along with drinks! Balance out alcohol by mixing in a glass of water or club soda between drinks. It will help to keep your overall intake in check, hydrate you, and leave you feeling better the next day.

Plus remember the calorie count that comes along with drinks to help balance out your intake! For example: long island iced tea (8 ounces) 780 calories, eggnog with rum (8 ounces) 370 calories, gin and tonic (7 ounces) 200 calories, light beer (12 ounces) 95 - 135 calories, red or white wine (5 ounces) 120 calories,

If you are throwing a party, serve up a fun non-alcohol “mocktail” like a Sparkling Holiday Mule! See the recipe below.

Sparkling Holiday Mule Mocktail

Sparkling Holiday Mule Mocktail

Ingredients:
Ice
Poland Springs Ginger Lime Mule Seltzer
Fresh Lime Slices
Whole Cranberries (for garnish)
Sprig of rosemary (for garnish)

Directions:

1. Muddle a lime slice in a copper mug (or other serving glass).

2. Add ice and fill with ginger lime mule seltzer.

3. Garnish with whole cranberries and a sprig of rosemary.

Cheers!

PB Chip Cookie Dough Easter Egg Bites

PB Chip Cookie Dough Easter Egg Bites (Image: Molly Morgan)

PB Chip Cookie Dough Easter Egg Bites
Serves 18

Ingredients:
3/4 cup coconut flour
1/4 cup gluten-free 1:1 baking flour
1/2 cup maple syrup
1 cup creamy peanut butter
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon coconut oil
1 1/2 cups chocolate chips, divided

Directions:
1. In a 350 degree oven, bake the gluten-free 1:1 baking flour for 12 to 15 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool.

2. In a mixing bowl combine coconut flour, baked gluten-free flour, maple syrup, creamy peanut butter, vanilla, and salt. Once combined, stir in 1 cup of the chocolate chips. Using your (clean) hands, shape mixture into egg-shaped pieces and place on parchment lined baking sheet. The dough will make about 18 egg-shaped pieces that are about 1.5-inches in size and about 1/2-inch thick.

3. Refrigerate shaped ‘eggs’ for 30 minutes.

4. Microwave the remaining 1 cup of the chocolate chips with the coconut oil. Microwave in 30 second intervals, stir and then repeat, until chocolate is melted and smooth.

5. Carefully dip each cookie dough ‘egg’ into the melted chocolate. OR alternately, using a fork drizzle chocolate over the eggs. Place on the parchment lined baking sheet. Refrigerate for 30 minutes or until chocolate is hardened. Transfer to storage container, cover and refrigerate until serving.

5 Holiday Stocking Stuffer Ideas

If you fill stockings as part of your holiday traditions, we have some stocking stuffer ideas for you! This is a collection of some healthier ideas at a variety of price points to help finish up your list.

SNACK PACKS

A smapler bag of healthier snacks like trail mixes and pistachios will fill up stockings with delicious snacks! We love this mix from Nuts.com which has some of our favorites including PB & J Trail Mix, Raw Almonds, and Organic Trail Mix.

Each sampler bag has 10 single serve snacks, which can be wrapped up separately!

MINI SPATCHULA

A mini spatchula like this one from OXO is a kitchen staple! It’s the perfect size at about 1.85 x 1.65 X 9 inches and is great to for cooking and serving.

It has a sharp edge that will cut through dishes when serving dishes like Baked Zucchini Parmesean or Mango Crumble Bars.

HIKING SOCKS

Tough and comfortable hiking socks like those from Darn Tough, make a great stocking stuffer and perfect for keeping feet warm and dry on upcoming adventures.

We especially love this pair with a tree line in the design (pictured here).

Another favorite classic hiking socks are from Smart Wool, also perfect for moutain biking, skiing, and other outdoor adventures..

OUTSIDE MAGAZINE

Outside Magazine is a great gift for those who love to be outside with great gear reviews, highlights of adventure sports, and travel coverage that is incredible.

Each edition has well written content that is informative and entertaining to read.

It is a monthly magazine and the subscription through Amazon will get you access to the print and digitial version.

DRINK YOUR WAY TO GUT HEALTH

A great gift for the smoothie lover on your book! This book is a collection of 140 probtioic-rich smoothies and drinks by Creative Nutrition Solutions owner and registered dietitian, Molly Morgan.

Included are recipes for DIY staples like: kombucha, almond milk, and yogurt. Along with favorite drinks like Icy Ginger Blue, Creamy Blackberry Smoothie, Tart Cherry Kefir, and more!

Holiday Gift Ideas!

If you are wondering what gifts to get the foodies and active people in your life? Here are some of our favorite picks!

Note: The products selected are not an advertisement, the links provided throughout this article are via the Amazon Affilate program.

Tazo Herbal Tea Sampler

TAZO HERBAL TEA

Herbal tea is naturally caffeine-free and full of flavor! There are so many delicious varities of herbal tea to try. Some of our favorites are from Tazo.

We especially love the refresh mint and the passion tea. This 5-pack sampler is available from Amazon.com and goes great paired with some honey! See our pick for honey below from Savannah Bee Co.

Tupelo Honey

TUPELO HONEY

There is something that makes Tupelo honey so perfect! It is naturally sweet and has such a wonderful taste.

We especially love it in tea!

Tupelo honey is produced in the threatened Tupelo ecosystem of the Altamaha and Apalachicola River Basins of Georgia and Florida.

This sweet treat will be enjoyed for sure!

Rocket Fuel by Matthew Kadey

ROCKET FUEL BY MATTHEW KADEY

Rocket Fuel is a book packed with recipes that help you to stay energized during workouts and refeul after! This is written by Matthew Kadey, a registered dietitian and James Beard Award-winning food journalist.

One of our favorites are the Mango Lime Bars on page 109! Also grab his Chocolate Quinoa Energy Bite recipe from the Fuel2Win blog, click here.

Urban Accents Veggie Roaster Spice Mixes

URBAN ACCENTS VEGGIE ROASTER SPICE MIXES

These spice mixes are something that will be enjoyed them throughout the year!

The Veggie Roaster mixes included: Asian Curry & Honey, Parmesan Mediterranean, Manchego & Roasted Garlic, and Balsamic & Roasted Onion.

The mixes are so delicious and versatile - we especially loved the Parmesan Mediterranean mix… actually, we really loved them all!

Honey Stinger Waffles

HONEY STINGER WAFFLES

For the athletes on your list, these honey stinger waffles will be perfect!

They are a great source of fuel to keep energy up pre-workout or even during long workouts or runs. Our favorite is the the classic, Honey!

There are lots of delicious flavors and a gluten-free version available too.

Tennessee Mule

One of my favorite adult holiday drinks is a Tennessee Mule - ginger beer with bourbon! The recipe is simple a mix of Crabbie’s Ginger Beer and lightened up with club soda or seltzer. Cheers!

Tennessee Mule (Image Source: iStock)

Tennessee Mule
Serves 2

Ingredients:
1 bottle of Crabbies Ginger Beer
1 lime, cut into quarters
2 ounces bourbon
4+ ounces club soda or Poland Springs Peach Ginger Seltzer*
Ice

*Peach Ginger Seltzer is a 2020 Poland Springs holiday seltzer flavor

Directions:
1. In each glass muddle 2 slices of lime with 1 ounce of bourbon. Add 1/2 bottle of ginger beer.

2. Fill the glass of choice with ice and add 1/2 bottle (about 5.5 ounces of ginger beer). Top with each glass with club soda or seltzer.

Cheers!

Nutrition Facts (per serving): 165 calories, 0 grams fat, 0 grams saturated fat, 0 grams trans fat, 0 milligrams cholesterol, 0 milligrams sodium, 12 grams carbohydrates, 0 grams fiber, 0 grams sugar, 0 grams protein

Fall Squash Soup

Peanut Squash - Photo Source: iStock

This soup is perfect for fall! The best part is that you can use a variety of squash like peanut squash (aka honey nut), butternut, acorn, delicata, etc. In fact, the last batch of this soup that I made I used a mix of peanut and delicata and it tasted delicious.

Butternut Squash Soup
Makes 6 to 8 servings

Ingredients:
7 cups of squash cubes*, any variety (about 2 1/2 pounds of squash)
3 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided
2 - 3 leeks, white and light green parts only, quartered lengthwise, sliced thin, (about 1 1/2 cups)
Salt and pepper
1 tablespoon flour or gluten-free flour of choice
4 cups low sodium vegetable broth or low-sodium chicken broth
1 to 2 cups water
Pinch of cayenne pepper or dash of red hot

*To prepare squash cubes - slice squash in half and remove seeds. Peel skin and cut into 1 - 2 inch cubes.

Directions:
1. Roast the squash until tender (about 45 minutes) at 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Melt 2 tablespoons of butter in a large soup pot over medium-high heat. Add the 1 cup of the sliced leek and cook, stirring occasionally until lightly browned. Then add the roasted squash and cook until the squash begin to break down about, 10 to 13 minutes.
3. Add 2 cups broth and mix to combine. Add remaining 2 cups broth, 1 cup water, and cayenne pepper.
4. Working in batches, process soup in blender until smooth, 1 to 2 minutes. Return soup to pot and bring to a boil and then simmer for 10 minute or more. If desired, thin with up to 1 cup water to desired consistency. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
5. Toss the remaining 1/2 cup of leeks with 1 - 2 tablespoons of flour to lightly coat. In a small skillet melt 1 tablespoon of butter and add the leeks. Cook until lightly browned.

Serve the soup garnished with the crispy leeks.

Nutrition Facts (per serving): 165 calories, 6 grams fat, 4 grams saturated fat, 0 grams trans fat, 15 milligrams cholesterol, 400 milligrams sodium, 27 grams carbohydrates, 4 grams fiber, 6 grams sugar, 4 grams protein

Summer Mojitos

I think that mojitos could be my official drink of summer! Could it be the fresh mint that is making them taste extra perfect? Here are two simple mojito recipes that are easy to make and so refreshing with only 80 - 85 calories each!

For the mint, I have been using pineapple mint which is a variety of mint that I picked up at a local farm stand, which has a light sweet flavor and tastes great.

Plus minus the rum, this makes great mojito-infused water!

Cheers to summer!

Pineapple Mojito (Photo: Molly Morgan)

Pineapple Mojito

Serves 1

Ingredients:
4 - 5 mint leaves
2 - 3 cubes fresh pineapple
2 slices lime
1 oz white rum
ice
club soda

Directions:

1. In a glass muddle together mint, lime, pineapple, and white rum.

2. Add ice and fill with club soda.

If you think you need an extra hint of sweetness, add a drizzle of agave nectar or simple syrup!

Nutrition Facts (per serving): 80 calories, 0 gram fat, 0 grams saturated fat, 0 grams trans fat, 0 milligrams cholesterol, 0 milligrams sodium, 4 grams carbohydrates, 1 gram fiber, 2 grams sugar, 0 grams protein

Mango Mojito (Photo: Molly Morgan)

Mango Mojito

Serves 1

Ingredients:
4 - 5 mint leaves
2 - 3 cubes fresh mango
2 slices lime
1 oz white rum
ice
club soda

Directions:

1. In a glass muddle together mint, mango, lime, and white rum.

2. Add ice and fill with club soda.

If you think you need a extra hint of sweetness, add a drizzle of agave nectar or simple syrup!

Nutrition Facts (per serving): 85 calories, 0 gram fat, 0 grams saturated fat, 0 grams trans fat, 0 milligrams cholesterol, 0 milligrams sodium, 5 grams carbohydrates, 1 gram fiber, 3 grams sugar, 0 grams protein

Recipe! Garlic Parmesan Spaghetti Squash

As you are getting ready for the holiday season, while it’s fun to go to the tried and true traditional recipes, here is a recipe that would go great with a holiday meal! Or this garlic Parmesan spaghetti squash recipe would make a delicious side dish with dinner too!

Garlic Parmesan Spaghetti Squash - Image Source: iStock

Garlic Parmesan Spaghetti Squash
Serves 6 - 8

Ingredients:
1 spaghetti squash (about 3 pounds)
Salt and pepper to taste
2 tablespoons olive oil plus more for brushing
4 garlic cloves, finely chopped
1 small shallot, finely chopped
¾ cup finely grated Parmesan cheese

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 400º F.
2. With a knife, carefully score squash and poke holes lengthwise where you’re going to cut it in half. Microwave the squash for 5 minutes. Allow to cool. Carefully cut the squash in a half. Scoop out the seeds.
3. Brush the inside of both halves of the squash with olive oil. Season with salt and pepper.
4. Place the two halves cut side down on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Roast the squash until tender, about 30 minutes. Allow several minutes to cool. Using a fork, scrape the insides to create spaghetti like texture. Set aside.
5. Heat 2 tbsp of olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add garlic and shallots. Cook until soft and slightly browned, about 2 - 3 minutes.
6. Add the spaghetti squash and sauté for about 3 minutes. Remove from the heat and then stir in the Parmesan cheese. To finish, season with salt and pepper to taste.

It's All About Balance - Tips for the Holiday Season

With Hallmark movies getting ready to air on TV and Halloween candy everywhere, here are some practical tips for balance with the influx of treats this holiday season.

PLAN IT

It is a given that there will be more sweets around this time of year, come up with a plan to enjoy them. For example - have a sweet treat on a specific night per week. Having a plan can help to take it off of the mind knowing that on the specific day it will be time for something sweet. Plus it can help you from having to say no so often!

PICK AND CHOOSE

When thinking about excess, think about sugar in drinks too. For example a 20-fluid ounce bottle of regular soda has about 17 - 19 teaspoons of added sugar.

Instead of having a sugary drink with a meal - have a glass of water or milk instead to cut back on added sugar.

DONATE IT

Send a gratitude package with some sweets to service menu through programs like Operation Gratitude, click here to learn more about the program OR Soldiers’ Angels, click here for more details.

Or look for other ways in your community to donate excess candy!

FUN - YET HEALTHIER

Serve up trays of creatively arranged or designed fruit. Pictured here - Mandarin orange ‘pumpkins’, apple monster mouths, strawberry mummies, ghost pumpkins, or monster kiwi. Fruit kebabs are are great way too to creatively display and serve fruit.

Wishing you a healthy holiday season ahead! Stay tuned for more tips and ideas!