hiking in stilettos: Thanksgiving

Showing posts with label Thanksgiving. Show all posts

Monday, November 24

A Paleo Thanksgiving

Holidays can be tough when you and your extended family have different ideas about food. Having been through multiple holiday seasons being paleo, I think that we have a good balance figured out, so I thought I'd share it with you. Note that this is what works for us and that things are a little different on the years that we are hosting. Honestly it's easier to stay paleo when we do host, but here are my tips for a healthy, paleo Thanksgiving.

1 - Bring your own dishes

When we are going to another family member's home, this is sides and a small dessert. Bonus points if you get to bring the turkey! We take two side dishes that we like and are also crowd pleasers and if we want it, some cranberry relish.

Here are some of my favorites:

Maple sage roasted butternut squash

Brussels sprouts with bacon (I add dried cranberries)

Paleo green bean casserole

Cranberry orange relish (so much better than canned cranberry sauce!)

Paleo dinner rolls

Paleo pumpkin pie

Skillet apple pie from this book - a favorite!

I also make a grain-free stuffing to take to my mom's. This recipe is pretty killer as well.

And if you're interested, my favorite turkey recipe and cranberry butter.

It is definitely more work to make a few of your own sides or rolls, but we leave our extras at home and eat them over the weekend! You can find some of my favorite paleo holiday recipes here.

2 - Plan ahead

We go in knowing that our meat is going to be cooked in less than ideal ingredients and isn't going to be the best quality. This is just a concession that we make. We don't partake in the Honeybaked ham/turkey since they are laden with sugar and additives, but will definitely eat an oven-roasted variety. If we are going somewhere that we know there won't be anything we would eat, we eat at home beforehand and have a cup of coffee or cider at the gathering.

We also talk about what, if any, things we want to eat that are not paleo, and limit ourselves to one thing.

3 - Take a walk

It feels so wonderful to get outside and move around, especially after a day of indulging, sitting and chatting with family and watching football. Even if you don't feel like it and even if it's just for a ten minutes, go outside and take a walk. You will feel so much better!

Happy Thanksgiving week! Wishing you a wonderful week and a happy and healthy Thanksgiving!

xoxo

Wednesday, December 4

Thanksgiving Recap

Thanksgiving came twice for us this year. On Thursday we hosted husband's family at our house, which was a complete success! Our turkeys turned out perfectly {I will probably never use another recipe since this one is so good.}, the nephews had fun feeding the horses behind our property, the pumpkin pie was topped with homemade whipped cream, and everyone enjoyed catching up and making plans for the little one on the way.

On Sunday, husband and I headed over to my parent's house to have Thanksgiving with my family. Spending time over there during the holidays is always so special. It just doesn't feel like the holiday season without the smell of mom's apple cinnamon candles and fresh greenery on the mantle. Her decorations fill every room, with no corner left bare. There are gently flickering lights on the mantles, vintage trees and twinkle lights in all the rooms. It's perfect, really.

I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving and were surrounded by those you love. I certainly was!
xoxo

copyright Hiking in Stilettos

Monday, November 25

Monday Meal Planning: A Paleo Thanksgiving

For this week's meal planning tips, I decided to share some of my favorite paleo Thanksgiving recipes with you. Since husband and I host for his family, we usually have a mix of paleo and traditional items as most of his family isn't exactly on board with our way of eating. That being said, husband and I still feel like we get all the benefits of Thanksgiving {even the pumpkin pie!} without sacrificing our health or priorities. Some of these recipes aren't strict paleo and include things like honey or coconut sugar, but they are much better alternatives to the standard American Thanksgiving menu.

The main event: the turkey

We use this recipe for roasted turkey with cranberry butter, and it is easily my favorite turkey recipe I've had. We also use a simple brine for our turkey overnight, which I have done both with and without the brown sugar. I will say that the sugar in the brine does help if you're using fresh cranberries for the butter. I decrease the sugar content to 1/4 cup and have used both brown sugar and coconut sugar with the same results. For the rub, you could simply substitute ghee for the grass-fed butter to make this dairy-free. I wouldn't suggest leaving out the honey or a sweetener of some sort, just because the fresh cranberries can be a bit tart.

Support staff: side dishes

~ Maple bacon pecan roasted butternut squash: savory and sweet and so delicious that even non-paleo eaters will love this recipe

~ Primal cauliflower casserole: this recipe does include dairy so it's not strict paleo but would be good for a mix of eaters like we have. {This creamy cauliflower and artichoke soup is also delicious, but I'm just not a fan of soup at Thanksgiving dinner. No real reason, just not for me. This soup is amazing for breakfast though!}

~ Brussels sprouts with toasted walnuts & dried cherries: I've been making a similar version of this recipe for years, using walnuts and dried cranberries or cherries {depending on what I have at home!}. I don't use the chick peas or cheese in mine, making it completely paleo and amazingly delicious. Substitute frozen Brussels for fresh for some cost savings as well as time savings. Added bonus: this dish is tasty served either hot or cold.

~ Green (not bean) casserole: again, not strict paleo because of the use of heavy cream, but you could substitute full fat coconut milk or even almond milk to make this completely paleo.

A Sweet Ending: desserts

~ Pumpkin pie: LOVE this recipe from Elana, the woman behind one of my favorite cookbooks. I suggest making your own pumpkin puree from a freshly roasted pumpkin. It makes the pie much more flavorful. And really, what Thanksgiving table is complete without pumpkin pie?
~ Eggless eggnog cookies: served with a glass of spiced cider, these cookies are a great way to end a Thanksgiving meal.
~ Apple pie tartlets: for those who prefer apple over pumpkin. Me? I'm equal opportunity.
~ Gingerbread squares: you can also cut these into shapes with the littles (after baking them) for a fun twist.

Quite a few of these recipes will be on our Thanksgiving table this year, specifically the turkey, Brussels sprouts, butternut squash and pumpkin pie. Hopefully you will find a few that you can use as well! Let me know what you think!

xoxo

copyright Hiking in Stilettos

Monday, November 11

Holiday Hosting

{I love this simple, rustic table. I also LOVE the idea of relocating our farm table outside, but we will most likely end up just eating in the dining room and venturing outside after our meal.}

The holiday season is definitely one of my favorite times of year, possibly second only to the cool mornings and changing leaves of fall.. that promise the start of the holidays in just a couple short months. In keeping with our new tradition, we are hosting Thanksgiving at our house for K's family. Last year was the first year that we did this, and it was so wonderful having everyone over to our home. (We live the farthest out from the city, so it is rare that K's family comes over.) I am really looking forward to hosting again, even making the Thanksgiving turkey! Recipes and decoration how-to's are in the near future, but for now here are some of my inspirations for our Thanksgiving dinner.

{A simple but festive place setting (that will smell delicious) + GF iced oatmeal cookies for the kids... and me, who am I kidding!}

{Rosemary roasted carrots + roasted cauliflower with whipped goat cheese}

{Homemade spiced apple cider + pumpkin icebox cake (not paleo, but delicious and easily made GF)}

{I think making stars out of sticks would be a great project for the kids. We can collect sticks from the yard, make the stars, and then have the kids hang them on our tree. For our tree this year, we are doing a smaller one (maybe 3-4 feet tall?) placed in a galvanized bucket and decorated with white and neutrals.}

xoxo

{all links, recipes and images can be found here}

Monday, December 5

Thanksgiving

{My masterpiece pumpkin pie}

This year Thanksgiving was especially important in my family as we recently experienced the loss of a very precious loved one. It's difficult to think about last year's celebration, when we were blissfully unaware that our time together was coming to a close. But if I have learned anything throughout this season of grief, it's that we must truly treasure each and every moment of our time together. And that is exactly what this year's Thanksgiving weekend was about.

{My nephew "driving" the truck... I love the little tongue sticking out in concentration.}

{My mom's breakfast casserole - to die for.}

{Cuddling with this little guy. He's so grown up now!}

I'm already looking forward to Christmas Eve.
xoxo

copyright Hiking in Stilettos

Sunday, November 20

Days 19 & 20

Last week was by no means a bad week, but it was long. Filled with early mornings {hello 4:30 am wake up call}, long hours at the hospital, and quite a lot of reading, the week felt much longer than it actually was. By Friday afternoon I was completely spent {I contemplated a nap when I got home on Friday but luckily realized that a nap would easily turn into me sleeping until Saturday morning}, and I was so very grateful for the weekend....

For not setting my alarm and for sleeping past 7am.
For scrambled eggs with balsamic salsa, turkey bacon, & spiced apples.
For curling up on the couch and watching a movie.
For the fact that my husband makes me laugh uncontrollably.
For time to meet deadlines, work on projects, and catch up on blog reading {clearly a priority}.

{more gratitudes}
What are you thankful for today?
xoxo

copyright Hiking in Stilettos

Friday, November 18

Day 18

Today I am thankful for food & tastebuds & ....

Delicious recipes, like this and this that I plan to make very soon.

Homemade {sugar-free, gluten-free} sweet potato fries - made from scratch & fried in coconut oil.

The combination of red wine, dark chocolate & a good movie.

Green smoothies that start my day off right.

Chips and salsa - not paleo, but one of my favorite cheats.

Strong coffee & the man that makes it for me every morning.

What are you thankful for today?

xoxo

image

Thursday, November 17

Day 17

Dear accessories living in my closet,

Don't tell the clothes, but you may very well be my favorite part of dressing. Glitzy jewels, fun nail colors, chic clutches, and wedge heels, oh my! I enjoy the daily quest for the perfect combination of accents equally as much as the simplicity of a pair of pearls.

Dear squirrels living in the oak trees in our yard,

I love watching you hunt around in the trees for acorns and chase each other when someone steals your stash. Your mannerisms are really quite amusing. Just don't hide any acorns in my potted plants... that might be awkward when I find you digging up my mums.

Dear little MacBook,

Thanks for keeping up with my ridiculous amount of presentations, projects, and papers over the last six months. You've really earned your keep lately. Not to mention housing all my pictures and blogging! I am thankful for you. Please don't quit.

Dear Christmas season,

I am so very thankful for you. The months of November and December are among my favorite - the cold weather, the sparkly decorations. But most of all I enjoy the time with my family, the warmth of great company, laughing and crying as old stories are told, and the promise of the birth of a holy child, my Lord & Savior.

What are you thankful for today?

xoxo

Wednesday, November 16

Days 15 & 16

I am back on rotations at the hospital after five weeks off* and it's already slammed. My days are jam-packed with patient counseling, reading treatment guidelines, decompensated heart failure & hypertensive emergency. Holy. Goodness. It's definitely a bit overwhelming, but a great learning experience.

{*I use this term lightly, considering that I worked, moved, and went to a conference in Pittsburgh during my break.}

So today I am thankful for...

The opportunity to see a CABG first-hand.

Sleeping in on Saturdays.

A spicy chai latte made with almond milk.

My health.

The promise of lasik surgery after graduation.

A couple days off next week.

Trail runs and new {minimalist} running shoes.

What are you thankful for today?

xoxo

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Monday, November 14

Days 12, 13 & 14

This weekend passed all to quickly as we spent most of our time surrounded by family. We woke up to a big breakfast on Saturday {courtesy of my parents}, and spent the afternoon in the city with husband's family, watching the game

and munching on tasty pizza. Sunday was gorgeous and perfect for a trail run in our new running shoes, and the cold evening had us curled up on the couch with a bit of television. Throughout the weekend, I was acutely aware of how precious these times are and how blessed I am to have such a wonderful family.

Today {and this weekend} I am thankful for...

A warm fire in the fireplace.

Everything cozy, from fleece blankets to snug socks to plush pillows.

This season of thanksgiving and togetherness.

Woodsy scents, like my favorite fall candle.

My health and the ability to run, shape & challenge my body.

Hot water in the shower.

Crunching leaves with my nephew.

Clean foods that make me feel healthier and stronger.

What are you thankful for today?

xoxo

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Thursday, November 25

Giving Thanks

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday because it centers around being grateful for what comprises our lives. While I am very thankful to have a great apartment & rent that allows me not to work while in school, the things on my list this year aren't things. This year {and always} I am thankful for the people in my life who make me feel happy and loved - my family, my friends, and you. But most of all I am thankful for a kind, caring husband who is strong in his faith.

I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving.
xoxo

image via we heart it
copyright Hiking in Stilettos

Tuesday, November 23

It's All About the Veggies

I've never met a vegetable that I don't like {well, except for baby corn, which just freaks me out & has a weird texture}, so Thanksgiving to me is more about the veggies than the center-stage bird. Honestly, I've often filled my plate with delicious-looking sides and completely forgotten about the whole turkey thing. After I stumbled upon this article, my stance on vegetables was only more solidified.

I absolutely love Thanksgiving. An entire day devoted to family, friends, blessings, and food? It's perfect. This year I'm trying out recipes with a twist on the traditional. Here are some veggies that are contenders for this year's table.