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Christine Avanti's Healthy Holiday Treats

Christine Avanti's Healthy Holiday Treats

Healthy Holiday Pumpkin Mini Loaves

Ingredients:

• 1 cup egg whites, raw • 1 ½ cups pumpkin, canned • ½ cup applesauce, unsweetened • ½ cup water • ¾ cup sugar, white • ½ cup Zsweet for baking (find this at Wholefoods) • 1 tsp baking soda • 1 tsp cinnamon, ground • ¼ tsp clove, ground • ¼ tsp nutmeg, ground • ¾ tsp salt • ¼ tsp baking powder • 1 ⅔ cup flour • 1 tbsp walnuts, chopped
  1. Recipe: Preheat oven to 350°.
  2. Coat 5 mini loaf pans with cooking spray and set aside.
  3. Combine first six ingredients in a medium mixing bowl.
  4. In a separate mixing bowl combine baking soda, cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, salt, baking powder and flour.
  5. Pour liquid mixture with dry mixture and mix well.
  6. Pour mixture into mini loaf pans, filling pans half the way to allow room for bread to rise.
  7. Bake for 25 minutes or until you can poke a toothpick into center that comes out clean.
  8. Let cool on wire rack for 20 minutes, wrap loaves in colored plastic wrap and tie with a festive ribbon.

Chocolate Chip Christmas Cookie Balls

Ingredients:
• 8 tablespoons butter, softened • ¼ cup low fat cream cheese softened (2 oz) (Philadelphia ⅓ less fat has all real ingredients) • 1 cup Zsweet • ⅛ teaspoon salt • 1 egg • 2 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract • 1 cup flour • 1 cup whole-wheat flour • 1-12 ounce package miniature semisweet chocolate chips • 1 cup confectioners’ sugar (we realize that is refined sugar, and you can omit it if you wish) • 2 tablespoons soy milk (Silk organic, made without GMOs)
  1. Recipe: Preheat oven to 350 F.
  2. In a medium bowl, beat butter and cream cheese with an electric mixer for 30 seconds.
  3. Add sugar and salt.
  4. Mix until combined.
  5. Beat in egg and 2 teaspoons vanilla.
  6. Bet in flours.
  7. Stir in chocolate chips.
  8. Shape dough into 1½ inch balls.
  9. Place 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheet.
  10. Bake for 15 minutes, until bottoms are golden.
  11. Transfer to a wire rack and let cool.
  12. Meanwhile, combine confectioners’ sugar and ½ teaspoon vanilla in a bowl.
  13. Stir in 1 tablespoon of soymilk at a time until icing reaches desired consistency.
  14. Dip each cookie into frosting presentation side head first into frosting.
  15. Lightly sprinkle with green and red sugar crystals for a more festive design.
  16. *Note, the frosting dries quickly.

Gingerbread Spiced Nuts

Ingredients:
• 2 tbsp brown sugar • 2 tbsp molasses • ¼ cup egg whites • 1 tsp cinnamon • 2 tsp ginger • ⅛ tsp clove • ¼ tsp cayenne pepper • ½ tsp espresso powder • ½ tsp salt • 3 cups pistachios or walnuts Recipe:
  1. Preheat oven to 300 degrees.
  2. Line a rectangular baking pan with parchment paper.
  3. Spray parchment with cooking spray.
  4. Combine egg whites, molasses and brown sugar in a medium mixing bowl and whisk until frothy.
  5. Combine cinnamon, ginger, clove, espresso powder and salt a small bowl and mix well.
  6. Add spice mixture to wet mixture and lightly whisk.
  7. Add nuts to gingerbread mixture and coat well.
  8. Spread evenly on to lined baking pan and bake for 10 minutes at 300.
  9. Remove from oven and let cool for 30 minutes.
  10. Pack into small decorated jars tied with festive ribbon.
  11. I use old jelly jars or tea tins.

New Year’s Day Soup

Ingredients:
• 4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil • 8 cups water • 1 teaspoon oregano • 1 lb. lentils • 2 quarts (8 cups) chicken stock or low sodium chicken broth • 1 16 oz can diced tomatoes • 1 16 oz can tomato sauce • 1 large onion, diced • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  1. Recipe: Soak lentils for one hour, drain water.
  2. In a medium or large pot (6qt) place oil, oregano, onion, garlic, and simmer for five minutes.
  3. Add tomato sauce, chicken broth and water.
  4. Bring to a boil for several minutes.
  5. Add lentils and cook one hour.
  6. Season with pepper and salt.
  7. Garnish with fresh oregano and a dab of Greek yogurt if desired.


Get more great crafts and recipes from "Home & Family" on Pinterest at www.pinterest.com/homeandfamilytv.

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