by Christina | Nov 29, 2016 | Recipes, Wellness
How did everyone’s Thanksgiving weekend go?! Lovely? I hope so. Thanksgiving was quite fun, but I’m really in heaven now that it’s officially Christmastime! Get ready for some yummy new recipes, because I have a lot of ideas.
Before I dive headfirst into all things Christmas, I have ONE MORE pumpkin recipe. I know, I know. Pumpkin time is supposed to be over. Buuuut I made this on Thanksgiving, and it would be a crime not to share it with you. Even though Thanksgiving is over, you can still rock a pumpkin dessert at Christmas. NO RULES.
I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I think this is my favorite dessert I’ve ever baked in my entire life. There was a lot of pumpkin pie at Thanksgiving this year, but everyone went for this pumpkin pecan cobbler instead. I’ll take that as a sign that this was a definite success.
Most people have no idea what a cobbler is. There are many variations of a cobbler, but the most common kind is a fruit cobbler, like a blackberry cobbler. It has a fruity bottom, similar to an apple crisp or apple crumble, with a crust-like topping.
However, there are many other cobbler variations besides the classic fruit-on-bottom-crust-on-top situation. One of those variations is a breaded, cake-like mixture combined with the fruit layer. I don’t know about you, but I really like cake.
This cobbler is topped with roasted, candied pecans to protect the gooey, spiced pumpkin cake layer below. And to add some crunch. This reminds me of a deconstructed cinnamon roll. You’ve got spiced pumpkin, pumpkin-flavored cake, warm pumpkin lava, and sweet pecans all rolled together into one absolutely divine dessert.
This is very seasonal, flavorful, rich, and festive. It’s also extremely easy to make. I really don’t have time for anything too complicated. I would definitely recommend topping this with vanilla ice cream – so gourmet. What I love most about this is that it’s not tart. The reason why I gravitate away from fruity desserts is because sometimes they’re just too sweet for me. This is sweet, but it’s rich and dense and flavorful without giving you that tangy BITE from too much fruit. Basically, it’s a pumpkin lover’s dream.
If you like cake but not frosting, this is for you. If you like cinnamon rolls, this is for you. If you like pumpkin, this is for you. If you like candied pecans, this is for you. If you like dessert, this is for you. If you have taste buds, this is for you.
This beauty is gluten-free, of course, and also vegan! In terms of sweeteners, I opted for a blend of Xylitol and coconut sugar to keep things lower on the glycemic index. STAY AWAY FROM THE CANE SUGAR, GUYS. You might be wondering where that gooey goodness comes from. No, I didn’t pour a bunch of maple syrup in there. There is no maple syrup in this whatsoever. It’s the magical power of something called…hot water mixed with sugar. BAM.
If haven’t already fainted with desire, let’s change that. RECIPE TIME.
Spiced Pumpkin Pecan Cobbler (Gluten-Free / Vegan)
Serves: 8
Total Time: 50 minutes
Ingredients:
Filling:
- 1 cup + 3 tablespoons gluten-free all-purpose flour (I used Bob’s Red Mill 1 to 1…make sure it’s a 1 to 1 replacement for regular flour!)
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 3/4 cup coconut sugar
- 1/2 tsp celtic sea salt
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp nutmeg
- 1/2 tsp cloves
- 1/4 tsp pumpkin pie spice
- 1/2 cup pumpkin puree
- 1/4 cup coconut milk
- 1/4 cup melted coconut oil
- 1.5 tsp vanilla
- 1/4 cup chopped pecans
Topping:
- 1/2 cup coconut sugar
- 1/2 cup Xylitol
- 1/4 cup chopped pecans
- 1.5 cups boiling water
Instructions:
- Preheat your oven to 350*F.
- Use coconut oil to grease a 9-inch baking pan with high sides.
- In a large bowl, stir together the flour, baking powder, salt, coconut sugar, and spices. Once combined, add in the pumpkin, coconut milk, melted coconut oil, and vanilla. Mix everything together, then fold in the pecans. The batter should be thick!
- Pour the batter into your greased pan/baking dish. Then turn on some water to boil.
- In a small bowl, mix together the topping ingredients – coconut sugar, xylitol, and pecans.
- Spread the topping mixture evenly on top of the batter in your baking dish.
- Pour 1.5 cups of hot water over the whole dish, and DON’T STIR ANYTHING.
- Place in the oven for about 40 minutes or until the center has cooked through. (I would put your baking dish inside of a larger dish or on top of a baking sheet in case the cobbler bubbles over while it’s cooking.) It’s normal for the top to look gooey/uncooked.
- Allow the cobbler to cool for about 10-15 minutes.
- Top with vanilla ice cream and enjoy!
I doubled this recipe for these photos, and you can definitely do that as well if you want more cobbler! However, you’ll need to increase the baking time to about an hour or so – just check that the middle is cooked! I’m seriously in love with this recipe and am desperate for you to try it out. TOTAL GAME CHANGER.
Let me know if you bake this and what you think! Now that we’re moving on from pumpkin…what should I bake next?! XO
by Christina | Nov 23, 2016 | Recipes, Wellness
I wasn’t going to post this until next week, but then I realized that Thanksgiving is in two days. So I thought it might be helpful to get this up ASAP in case you’re desperate for a super easy, non-pumpkin dessert recipe.
Apple crumbles are a total crowd-pleaser, and they’re one of the easiest desserts to throw together if you’re not into doing anything complicated. Fun fact: I don’t really like pie. DON’T JUDGE ME. I’ll eat it, but I’m not the biggest fan. Why? I don’t like crust. I know, I know. For a lot of people, that’s their favorite part. I’m not sure what it is about crust…It just tastes dry and bland to me. What I do like, though, is the warm gooey yummy center of a pie. THAT is my ish. And that’s why I ADORE fruit crumbles – I get the warm gooey delicious fruity center without the crust.
You might be thinking…what about the crumble part? Again, very different from pie crust. The crumble on top is basically like cinnamon granola – totally different texture and taste than a pie crust or a pie topping. You guys already know how I feel about texture when it comes to dessert – I need two conflicting things. I need something interesting! Warm, cinnamon, soft baked apples mixed with a crunchy, nutty, spiced topping? Perfection. And when you top it with vanilla ice cream (dairy-free, of course!), you enter a whole new world. Beyond. Divine.
I’ll be honest – the most annoying part of this process is peeling the apples. I would recommend forcing someone else to do it for you if you can. That’s what I always do. I made my roommate Nina peel the apples for me, and she did a fabulous job. Love you Nina <3
The rest is ridiculously easy. You mix the chopped apples up with the sweeteners and spices, throw ’em in the bottom of a pan, and then mix up the topping. You can even use the same bowl. I mean, you can use a separate bowl if you want, but who wants more dishes? Then you just place the crumble on top of the apples and throw it in the oven!
Now that I’m thinking about it, I lied. The hardest part is waiting while this is in the oven. And then waiting for it to cool. Your house is going to smell like a bakery. Try not to go crazy.
Anyways, so simple. If you’re in a pinch and need an easy dessert to impress your family with on Thanksgiving, pick up these ingredients. It might not be pumpkin, but a warm apple crumble or apple crisp is very fall. This was my family’s favorite Thanksgiving dessert last year, and my friends were raving about it again at our Friendsgiving this year. And don’t worry, they tell me when my recipes are sub-par.
As usual, this beautiful creation is gluten-free, dairy-free, and soy-free. It’s also vegan! Even though it’s healthified, I 100% guarantee no one will know unless you spill the secret. I used maple syrup and coconut sugar as the sweeteners, which are both lower on the glycemic index than most other sweeteners and also contain low amounts of fructose. Win-win! Without further ado…
Paleo Cinnamon Apple Crumble (Gluten-free / Vegan)
Serves: 8
Total Time: 50 minutes
Ingredients:
Filling:
- 6 peeled/chopped apples (I used Honeycrisp, but you can use any type! A mixture would taste amazing. We chopped these into really small pieces so it was extra crumbly, but if you want something with more “structure,” keep the slices larger.)
- 2 tsp lemon juice
- 1/2 cup coconut sugar
- 1/3 cup + 2 tbsp maple syrup
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 3 tbsp coconut flour
- 2 tsp cinnamon
- 1 tsp cardamom
Topping:
- 1/2 cup coconut sugar
- 3/4 cup chopped pecans
- 3/4 cup chopped walnuts
- 1/2 cup almond meal/flour
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1 tsp nutmeg
- 1 tsp allspice
- 1/8 tsp celtic sea salt
- 1/3 cup melted coconut oil
- 3 tbs slivered almonds (optional)
Instructions:
- Preheat your oven to 350*F. Grease a 9-inch pie dish or cake pan with coconut oil.
- Mix all of the filling ingredients together in a large bowl, making sure the apples are coated evenly. Place the coated apples into the greased pan.
- For the topping, mix together the coconut sugar, almond meal, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, and salt (I used the same bowl). Make sure there aren’t any clumps! Then add in the pecans and walnuts, mixing everything together. Next, add in the melted coconut oil and stir it all together one last time.
- Place the topping over the coated apples. Then take the slivered almonds and place on top of the crumble (if you want).
- Bake for about 35 minutes. You’ll know it’s done if the filling bubbles, the top is slightly browned, and the apples are soft.
- Allow it to cool for about 10-15 minutes.
- Serve and enjoy! (Top it with ice cream if you want!)
- Store any leftovers covered in the fridge for about 3 days.
Let me know if you make this, and tag me in any photos (@addicted_to_lovely)! And I need to know — does anyone else prefer a crumble to a pie?!
by Christina | Nov 22, 2016 | Wellness
Thanksgiving is this week. You ready?
I AM.
I feel like people generally feel one of the following emotions going into Thanksgiving: stress, dread, complete excitement, or a weird combination of all of that. There are a lot of different factors that can make Thanksgiving… tricky. Especially if you have a complicated relationship with food, which most of the population does, if we’re being honest. That in addition to the nagging questions from your grandparents about why you don’t have a boyfriend can make the day a total drag.
Because Thanksgiving can be an emotional day on numerous levels, it can also become an unhealthy day. But it doesn’t have to be. Some people take the approach of, “Oh, it’s Thanksgiving, so I’m going CRAZY.” Giving yourself permission to eat everything in sight, get drunk, and sit on the couch all night long will only make you feel like complete shit the next day. We don’t want that. You can enjoy Thanksgiving, have a great time, and eat a lot of great food without putting yourself out of commission for an entire week afterward or feeling guilty for indulging. So in case you’re wondering what my personal approach is to having a healthy Thanksgiving, here ya go.
Let’s start with the morning. The first mistake most people make on Thanksgiving is not eating breakfast or lunch because they’re “saving space for dinner.” Ok. No. This is one of my biggest pet peeves. Unless you’re someone who practices intermittent fasting on a regular basis, do not skip breakfast. Try to treat Thanksgiving like any other day. Make yourself a healthy breakfast and, depending on what time you celebrate Thanksgiving, a healthy lunch. Otherwise, you are probably going to binge and eat waaaaay too much at Thanksgiving dinner. Then you’ll feel like crap.
The second thing I like to do on Thanksgiving Day is something active. I either do a regular workout like I would on any other Thursday, or I make sure to go on a walk after breakfast with someone in my family. Starting your day off in an active way will make your body and mind feel better, and you’ll remember that later when you have mountains of food in front of you. A lot of families do the Turkey Trot half-marathon together every Thanksgiving, and I think that’s a great tradition! You definitely don’t have to do anything that intense, but it’s a great idea to plan on doing something active that morning to start your day off in a positive way. A family walk is a great option.
Another big one – make sure you drink plenty of water on Thanksgiving. It’s easy to forget about water when you have a million things going on and a ton of people around you, but force yourself to carry a water bottle with you. That will also prevent you from mindlessly snacking all day in case you’re actually thirsty instead of hungry – because we all know there’s going to be a lot of food around you.
Other quick tip – wear a dress. You’ll look cute, and you’ll be able to properly accommodate the food baby that will most likely develop later on that night. No shame.
If you’re going somewhere other than your own home for dinner and dessert, bring your own food to contribute. Unless you’re literally a baby (which you’re not if you’re reading this), you always have control over what you eat. Bring a healthy side or two and a dessert if you can. That way you’ll know there will be healthy options at dinnertime, you’ll know exactly what ingredients are being used, and you’ll be the best guest ever by contributing food. Bringing your own dishes is especially important if you have food allergies and intolerances. For example, bringing a healthy dessert is always my #1 priority because I want to make sure I can eat some pie along with everyone else and not feel like the oddball out. The rest of my family just looooves gluten, dairy, soy, and all of the other things. If you need ideas for healthy Thanksgiving dishes, check out my Thanksgiving recipe roundup!
Let’s talk about the actual dinner. In my family, we go buffet style. There’s a lot of food, and a lot of choices. My plan of attack is always to grab some turkey (gotta elbow my way into that dark meat…), lots of roasted veggies, and some sweet potato casserole (my true love). After you’ve either filled up most of your plate with protein and vegetables OR after you’ve eaten one round of protein and vegetables, then feel free to add some of the “less healthy” options. The point of this is to make sure you’re not eating an entire plateful of cornbread, NOT to not have it at all.
I want to reiterate that. Unless food allergies are the problem, if there’s something on the table you really want to eat, EAT IT. Just don’t get out of control with your servings. It’s Thanksgiving, and you should celebrate the day by eating yummy foods whether or not they’re “unhealthy.” Balance, guys. It’s honestly much unhealthier to restrict what you’re eating and drive yourself insane because you want the damn gravy than to just eat the gravy. EAT THE GRAVY. Have a glass of wine or two. It’s a holiday! The point is that you can have some of everything that you want. Don’t restrict yourself.
There’s another very important thing that half of you will roll your eyes at. Eat mindfully. Of all days, do it on Thanksgiving. Trust me, I’m not the kind of person who sits down at every single meal with her eyes closed and has a life-changing spiritual experience. But as you’re eating your food, think about it. Think about how yummy it is, how lucky you are to be able to eat it, how incredible it is that you are surrounded by such amazing people, and how much else you have to be grateful for. Think about the flavors and the textures of what you’re chewing. Just really taste it, in more than just the literal sense.
Back to staying active. Plan on going for a walk after dinner. I know everyone likes to think of Thanksgiving as a day when they can eat as much as they want and just YOLO it, but let’s not get too out of control. I’m going to eat a lot on Thanksgiving, but I’m not going to eat so much that I physically cannot walk. It’s easy for people to binge on Thanksgiving, but then they feel sick the next day. I’m all about having a food baby, but I’m also all about still being able to function after my meal. Basically, EAT. But make sure you can still stand up and walk afterwards. That is not an unrealistic goal.
When it comes to dessert, same rules apply. Unless you really hate sweets for some reason, don’t be that person who doesn’t eat dessert. Like, come on. It’s Thanksgiving. This is why you bring a dessert you’re excited to eat. A huge part of Thanksgiving is the community vibe – being with family and friends and celebrating what we have. In our culture, food is an important part of that, whether we like it or not. Also, sitting there not eating dessert for the sake of “being healthy” is just going to make you feel left out, and it’s not healthy anyways. There is definitely a place for dessert in a healthy diet, ESPECIALLY on a holiday.
On the other side of the spectrum, you don’t need to eat two whole pies by yourself. If you feel that urge, you probably either didn’t eat enough regular food at dinner (grab some more turkey!), or there’s a larger issue at play…like regularly restricting yourself from eating dessert and then going all out because it’s a holiday. Either way, those separate issues need to be addressed. Have a slice. Have two. CELEBRATE! But this is where the “I’m going to walk around the block after din tonight” mindset helps out. If you feel like that will be impossible, slow down.
Last, but not least, let’s address the social aspect of the holiday, because that’s another huge part of having a healthy Thanksgiving. Maybe this applies to you, maybe not. Family dynamics can be…interesting. I’ll keep this as succinct as possible. If someone asks you a question that makes you feel irritated or frustrated, just try to answer as politely as possible and move somewhere else in the room. Sit next to someone who you actually want to talk to. If someone makes a nasty comment, take a second to realize that that’s their shit. Not yours. Other people project. People get catty and jealous. Sometimes people just don’t understand. All we can do is take a breath and move on. Try to find the humor in it. Sometimes I’ll mentally take a step back from all of the commotion going on around me and try to envision the situation as if I were watching it on TV. Maybe Grandma insulting me didn’t seem funny right when it happened, but thinking about it a few minutes later from a different perspective might just make me chuckle.
I think the healthiest way to end Thanksgiving is with exactly that – giving thanks. Wish your friends a happy Thanksgiving, tell your loved ones how much they mean to you, and thank yourself for everything you’ve given yourself. Because no matter where you are right now in life, you’ve worked hard to get there. You deserve some props for that. In my opinion, being grateful is by far one of the most important emotions we can embrace. It can completely shift your mindset and make every day much better than the last.
I hope you all have a beautiful wonderful spectacular Thanksgiving! And in case you’re wondering, I am very very very thankful for YOU.
P.S. Send me Snaps of your meals so I can drool 😉
by Christina | Nov 19, 2016 | Wellness
So you know how I like to feature lovely humans? Well, this week I’m featuring a lovely chickpea!
LOL. Okay, but seriously. I’m obsessed with this girl.
Remember when Instagram added Instagram stories and the whole world freaked out and none of us knew what to do? Like, should we use these? Do we like them? At first I wasn’t really sure what to do about them either, but what I did like about Instagram Stories was the fact that I was finally seeing the faces and personalities behind so many of the food accounts that I loved. Before, I knew a person by their meals, but now I can attach a real human to those meals. Addie from Chickpea in the City was somebody I immediately became intrigued with. Not sure if this is creepy, but everyday I would scroll through my stories hoping she put up an Insta-Story on her walk to work/school/the gym/wherever. I found myself either laughing at or nodding my head vigorously in response to everything she said.
It quickly turned into one of those things where she was my friend but she didn’t know it. You know what I mean? HA. I just basically always agreed with her, and I loved hearing her daily thoughts and opinions. Aaaand she’s quite clearly very down-to-earth and real, which is my #1 need in a human. She’s just one of those girls you wanna be friends with!
Anyways, then Addie started saying exactly what I was thinking – CAN WE JUST DELETE SNAPCHAT AND USE INSTA-STORIES ONLY, PLEASE?! Everyone else says, “Absolutely not! I love Snapchat!” But not Addie. Love <3
Anyways, this girl is a total boss. She’s young and hungry, literally and metaphorically. Her blog is insane – so many amazing recipes, and she has a ton of restaurant/travel reviews that you definitely need to check out. She’s a college student, but she somehow still finds the time to kill it at her internship, create fabulous recipes, maintain her blog, stay active, travel, and explore new places. She literally does it all. Obviously, I need to know her secrets. Ready to find out?
Introduce yourself!
Hi! My name is Addie Martanovic and I was born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio but have been living in Chicago since 2013. I moved out here for school (I attend Loyola University) where I’m currently a senior public relations major. I’ve been interning for a gluten-free baking company, Simple Mills, since this past January and also worked at Whole Foods for a bit this summer (dream job for a food blogger). As I’m sure you could tell already, I have a huge love for healthy food and wellness.
When did you first get into health and wellness? What got you interested?
My passion started the middle of my junior year of high school, after I went through a change in my friend group and was consistently drinking, overeating processed foods, and just abusing my body. At the time I was heavily into going to concerts (think All Time Low/Paramore) and found Courtney Swan’s tumblr page (@realfoodology) where she would always post really informative facts about health. I started reading more and more, and one thing led to another!
How did you first get into blogging?
My freshman year of college I was alwaaaays taking photos of my food but only every now and then posting it to Instagram. My second semester I started writing healthy restaurant reviews for my school’s newspaper under the title “Healthy City Eats,” and by that summer, all of my friends said I had to start a blog. Eventually, the blog happened and I quit writing for the paper, ha!
How did you come up with the name of your blog? I love it.
I often always think of this question and am so stumped! When I created the blog I asked for my uncle (who is a tech geek) for help in all of the blogging areas, including my name. Somehow we both came up with it together. Maybe it was for my mad love of hummus? Haha, that’s what I just tell people now anyways! 🙂
Do you have any tips for someone who wants to start/grow a blog?
It takes a lot of time and effort, but it is so worth it! If you’re passionate about something and could literally ramble/talk about it for hours, dive headfirst into it. Be ready to invest: in the blog itself, a proper domain, a quality camera and backdrops/props (if you’re a food blogger). At the end of the day, it’s not about how many followers or viewers you have, it’s about the engagement and the people you meet through it along the way!
What’s it like working for Simple Mills?! What do you do?
Literally a dream come true, especially being able to use the products and create my own recipes out of them. My freshman year of college it was my goal to work for a local food company who focused on using real, simple (no pun intended) ingredients. I’m their marketing intern currently and I work on their blog posts, assist with Pinterest, and set up their social media weekly.
You’re doing a million things. How do you balance everything – work, school, blogging, social life, exercise, eating…?
I set a ton of alarms and have numerous reminders on my computer/calendar. Especially for the morning, I always try to set aside 30 minutes before my classes, work, or workouts to make sure I eat breakfast. I have tried working with planners and agendas but half the time I try to just balance out my life as the day comes. Because I’m still in school, I set up my workouts and social life around my classes. I’m lucky most of my best friends are bloggers so whenever we get together I am able to do a workout, blog, and/or socialize all at once.
Doing all of that, you must get stressed sometimes. How do you manage that?
Exercise is my top endorphin, especially a hot yoga or spin class. Also I love listening to music, which sounds pretty generic but in the past few months I think music has affected my mood so heavily. I am addicted to Soundcloud and Spotify (you can follow me under my name), probably thanks to my spin instructors.
A lot of college students feel like they don’t have time to workout or eat healthy food. What advice would you give to them?
If you care enough, you can make time for it, truly. The moment you start changing your diet and workout regime, it slowly will just become a lifestyle. Even after a super long day of class and work, I’ll make food at 10p.m. for the next day, whether it’s breakfast or lunch or both. I’ve found that group classes have helped motivate me a ton in the past few years. If you find a friend that loves to workout just like you, it makes it 10x easier (and more fun).
What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learned during your college experience?
Your experiences in college matter so much more than anything you’ll learn in the classroom. I’ve had three internships through my four years and those have been the best things I’ve taken away from my education. By getting involved in groups and clubs around campus, you can find your passion and best friends more than by going to parties or from a professor’s lecture.
I know you struggled with disordered eating in the past. What helped you overcome it and how do you stay balanced now?
I think starting my blog and befriending people who struggled like me was what really helped me overcome it. I think it’s one of those things I’ll always struggle with but I’m at such a better place now than I was when I was 18. I actually remember reading The Balanced Blonde/Jordan’s story about overcoming orthorexia and realized then that that was what I experienced. The summer going into my junior year of college I did yoga about 5 days a week and I think that really helped me mentally as well. Now I try to stay balanced with the food I eat by not letting certain foods get to me or freaking out if I have a scoop of ice cream. The hardest part used to be if I went a few days without working out, but now I look at that time as crucial and valuable for my body to rest.
What’s your exercise routine like?
I go to a spot in downtown Chicago called Studio Three which is a three-level building that has HIIT, yoga and cycling. I try to do at least 2 of each during the week but right now I’m on the HIIT 2x a week and spin 3-4x a week train. I always try to do morning classes when I don’t have school or right after work, it’s the best time!
I know you love to travel! What’s your favorite place you’ve ever been to?
California, hands down. I love Palm Springs and Newport Beach! I also loved Kansas City, Missouri when I went two years ago. Such a cute up-and-coming city.
What’s one health trend/belief that you wish people would stop buying into?
Unrealistic food porn, I cannot stand it. It’s not realistic whatsoever that someone can eat an almond butter-based bar covered in more almond butter with a foot long turkey sandwich and banana “nice cream” on the side. Ya feel me? 🙂
What’s your favorite go-to, quick and easy meal?
If you follow along on my Instagram/blog you’ll know how bad of an addiction to tacos I have. I had this for lunch this afternoon actually but scrambled eggs, roasted sweet potatoes, spinach and some other vegetable with avocado on top in 2 corn or grain-free tortillas. So easy. So good.
I love that you do restaurant reviews on your blog! What are some of your top restaurant picks?
Cafe Gratitude hands down is my favorite, although Chicago lacks it. 🙁 But others I love are Sweetgreen, Ema (favorite mediterranean spot), True Food Kitchen, Café Clover (in NYC), and The Little Beet Table.
What’s your favorite sweet treat?!
Pistachio & Honey ice cream from Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams. Oh my god, it’s life-changing. But because it’s so pricey and I try not to do dairy too often, I love a thick acai bowl or a chocolate banana smoothie with cacao nibs on top!
What are your plans/goals for the future? Post-grad?
I am going to move closer to downtown Chicago than I live right now, hopefully. I am crossing my fingers to work for Simple Mills full-time because I love them as a company so so much, and of course keep blogging on the side, maybe full-time one day down the road!
Tell me what your current favorite recipe is!
Because Thanksgiving is coming up, I’ll tell you my go-to is Hummusapien’s Green Bean Casserole. I’ve made it for my family the past two Thanksgivings and they are obsessed. I also love this smoothie I started making when I was a sophomore in college which is super simple! Here it is:
- 1 frozen pear
- ½ frozen apple
- 1 tbsp sunflower seed butter
- 1 cup almond milk
- Handful of ice
- 1 scoop of vanilla plant-based protein, usually Vega
How DELISH does that sound?! HUGE thanks to Addie for letting me pick her brain! To find more of Addie’s recipes and to learn even more about her, visit her blog and follow her on Instagram! Tell her I sent ya, and send her some love! XO
by Christina | Nov 17, 2016 | Recipes, Wellness
Thanksgiving is almost a week away!
….What?! Where has the time gone?! I know it’s cliche to say, but it’s so true.
Whenever a holiday comes up, I dedicate extra time to Pinterest/blog stalking for festive recipes. Does anyone else think it’s weird that we associate specific foods and flavors with certain holidays? Like, who decided that? I mean, don’t get me wrong – I love it! I’ve only posted 8,000 pumpkin recipes this fall. Nonetheless, I still think it’s interesting.
Thanksgiving is definitely one of my favorite holidays. How could it not be? It’s all about food, and we all know there’s nothing I love more than EATING.
For the first year ever, I’m not going to my family’s big, crazy Thanksgiving dinner. Holidays in my family are practically out of a movie. Picture a lot of stubborn, loud, opinionated people elbowing each other to be first in line at the dinner buffet. It’s intense. And then there’s the very loud, long, passionate dinner conversation, usually followed by a very serious game of Catchphrase. Let’s just say things have been thrown.
I have so many beloved memories, but this year I’ll be going to a friend’s house to have a smaller Thanksgiving with her family. I might have invited myself. Whoops. But I’m a good guest…. I bring healthy dessert!
Since I’m not going to my family’s Thanksgiving dinner, I won’t be cooking any extravagant dishes that day. (I am, however, cooking A LOT this weekend for Friendsgiving…so stay tuned!) But I can still look at recipes and dream of what I would make, right?
In case you’re still unsure of what to cook on the big day, I thought I’d round up some of the most scrumptious recipes I could find so you would have plenty of healthy, delicious Turkey Day options! Everything on this list is gluten-free. Most of it is Paleo, or can be adapted to be Paleo, and a lot of it is vegan (besides the meat section). I tried to cover all of the “classic” Thanksgiving foods. Obviously, those will be different for everyone, but these are what come to mind for me: turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, fall salad, cranberry sauce, lots of veggies, pumpkin pie. NOM.
Meat
I have to include the classic – turkey. There is NOTHING I adore more than a huge, perfectly roasted, tender chunk of turkey. That dark meat, though. It gets me every time. I feel like roasting a turkey can be tricky for a lot of people, so if you’re nervous, go with the crockpot! It’s so easy, and it will save you oven space. I love this Crock-Pot Turkey from Stupid Easy Paleo. It’s so simple, and it tastes like a dream.
If you’re not into turkey, then how about pot roast? Feels Thanksgiving-y to me, although I’m not totally sure why. This Slow Cooker Pot Roast with Gravy from PaleOMG is the BOMB. Super easy, too! And that gravy…you’ll love it.
Lamb also seems Thanksgiving-appropriate to me. A well-cooked lamb chop is seriously divine. If there’s any day to chow down on some lamb, it’s a holiday dedicated to eating. Can we talk about these Herbed Lamb Chops from The Toasted Pine Nut? I’m literally drooling.
Salads
With all of the typical heavy Thanksgiving foods, I think we could all use a nice fall salad to even things out. This Roasted Acorn Squash Salad with Maple Cinnamon Vinaigrette from kaleinit.com practically screams Thanksgiving. This is def the kinda salad you bring to Thanksgiving when you wanna impress the fam. Like, yes. I can make a kickass salad.
Another salad to knock grandma’s socks off? This Autumn Jewel Salad from Real and Vibrant. This is super seasonal, light, fresh, and yummmmylicious! You honestly can’t go wrong.
Cranberry Sauce
I honestly don’t even like cranberry sauce, but for some reason on Thanksgiving I magically do. Maybe I just like the tradition. Why are cranberries such a Thanksgiving thing?! Anyways, I adore this Paleo Cranberry Sauce from Against All Grain. Most cranberry sauces are filled with unnecessary sugars and extra bleh ingredients, but this one is Christina approved. So yummy!
Stuffing
I’ve honestly never really been a stuffing person, but that was because I always ate traditional stuffing. NO MORE. These healthified stuffing recipes are total game changers.
If you want something more traditional, go with this Gluten-Free Cornbread Stuffing from The Balanced Berry. If it’s a recipe from Les, you already know it’s gonna be good. This is a good way to secretly serve your family something on the healthier side without them knowing… #tricky. 😉
If you want something lighter and even sneakier, then I’d highly suggest this Cauliflower Rice Stuffing from The Healthy Maven. Cauliflower rice stuffing. Needs to be repeated. Davida is literally a genius. I bet no one will even know this is cauliflower.
Cornbread
Cornbread is one of those things I randomly crave whenever I’m around someone older than 65. Just me? Anyways, there is a way to make it healthy. Check out this Gluten-Free and Vegan Healthy Cornbread from Emilie Eats. Told you you don’t have to give anything up when you follow a healthy diet!
Potatoes
Potatoes are such a Thanksgiving thing. Mashed potatoes with gravy? Classic. Sweet potato casserole? New kid on the block with the cool moves.
Back to the mashed potatoes with gravy thing. It CAN be done in a healthy way. Check out this recipe for Caramelized Shallot & Bacon Gravy with Creamy Whipped Cauliflower and Parsnips from Real Food with Dana. I AM DROOLING. When I saw this on Dana’s Instagram feed, I almost passed out. Make it.
If you want actual potatoes, go for these Vegan Mashed Potatoes with Garlicky Kale from Emilie Eats. Definite crowd-pleaser, and the garlicky kale gives a fun new twist on an old classic, don’t ya think?!
If you’re a sweet potato lover like myself, you’ll literally die for this Healthy Sweet Potato Casserole from Nutrition Stripped. It’s basically like eating dessert, but not. Healthy food is so delicious, I can hardly take it.
Veggies
Some fancified veggies are a MUST at Thanksgiving. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again – if you don’t like vegetables, you’re making them wrong! There are so many possibilities. You just gotta add the right ingredients!
First of all, you need some brussels. They are my FAVORITE. I looooove this recipe for Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Balsamic Almond Dressing from Fit Mitten Kitchen. It’s super simple, but has SO MUCH FLAVOR. Vegetables, or candy? Could’ve fooled me.
Green beans are another Thanksgiving must-have in my eyes. I’ll be honest, though, I’m really not into plain green beans. So boring. Enter: Coconut Crusted Green Beans and Cashew Dip from The Toasted Pine Nut. It sounds much more complicated than it is, I promise. These are magical, and they’ll change the way you feel about green beans forever.
Roasted carrots are my everything. And they’re orange, so that means they’re Thanksgiving-y, right? Dying over this recipe for Roasted Carrots and Parsnips with a Tahini Dressing from Balance with B. Incredibly simple, but so delicious.
Last, but not least, gotta have asparagus. And bacon. Asparagus WRAPPED in bacon?! I die. Check out this recipe for Bacon Wrapped Asparagus with Garlic Scape Pesto from Real Food with Dana. You can do it with or without the pesto, but either way it’ll seem like you put way more effort into it than you really did. DIVINE.
Dessert
We all know this is by far my favorite part, so I have a lot of suggestions. And yes, dessert can be healthy too! I’m the kinda person who likes to have multiple desserts at Thanksgiving. To start off, there definitely needs to be a pumpkin pie involved. I’m obsessed with this recipe for Paleo Pumpkin Pie in a Pumpkin Seed Crust from The Healthy Maven. Don’t get intimidated by baking! It’s so fun. And this will taste waaaaaay better than any artificial ish you find at the store.
If you’re on the pie train but not into pumpkin, I’d highly suggest this Healthy Chocolate Pecan Pie from Chocolate Covered Katie. I made it last year for Thanksgiving and basically ate the entire thing in twenty minutes.
Really wanna impress the fam? Make this Pumpkin Pie Dessert Pizza from Emilie Eats. It’s killer. Looks super fancy, and it’s beyond scrumptious. I mean, who can turn down a dessert pizza?
If you want some good ole’ CAKE, you need to try my Pumpkin Spice Cake with Cinnamon “Cream-Cheese” Frosting. It’s a total crowd-pleaser, and looks super impressive. The fam will never know how simple it really was.
Want something fruity? You could go with a classic apple pie, but I’m way more into this Caramelized Apple Cider Hot Fruit Bake from Cotter Crunch. If your stomach didn’t growl just reading that…then I’m not sure what to tell you. Make this. Your house will smell like heaven.
If don’t want a warm dessert, then go for some seasonal ice cream! I’m loving this Vegan & Gluten-Free Autumn Pumpkin Spice Ice Cream from Leah’s Plate. All healthy ingredients, and you don’t even need an ice cream maker! Definitely drizzle this with some almond butter and top it with pecans. Thank me later.
PHEW. That was a lot. But if you can’t find an option from this list, then you’re really SOL. I don’t know about you, but this is making me so excited to chow down next Thursday…
What’s your favorite Thanksgiving recipe?! Let me know in the comments! XO
