Healthy Christmas Desserts

There are actually some healthy Christmas Dessert options available that will finish off the Christmas tradition of presents and over eating.

One of my very favorites is Trifle, using a light sponge as a base and working in some healthy fruit and jello options makes this a very Healthy Christmas Dessert.

Trifle

Christmas Trifle

Ingredients

• 1 (9 inch) sponge cake, cut in cubes
• 1 cup raspberry jam
• 8 ounces fresh raspberries, strawberries , kiwi
• Or whatever fruit is in season
• 1 red Jelly
• ½ pint of custard, or make your own is better
• 10 fluid ounces heavy cream
• 2 ounces sliced almonds

Directions

1. Spread a little jam on the sponge cake and then cut the sponge cake up into 2 inch by 2 inch pieces, then throw into a large dessert bowl. Sprinkle raspberries over cake.
2. Make one jelly, any color will do, but I like the red, pour over cake mixture in bowl, while the jelly mix is hot.

3.   Make Custard with 2 tablespoons of custard powder, 1 egg, 2 tablespoon of sugar and milk until it thickens to the right texture; pour over sliced cake mix in bowl.  

4.   This is where I put a little brandy in,purley optional, just for that special Christmas occasion, and then I cover with glad wrap and leave in the fridge overnight.

5. Then just before dessert is due on Christmas day, whip 10 fl oz. cream until soft peaks form. Place almonds, strawberries and Kiwi on top.

Rice Pudding

The heavenly smell of rice pudding brings back Christmas memories, this pudding is super simple to make, rich and creamy - and the highlight of any holiday feast. Serves 12.

Healthy Rice Pudding

Ingredients

·         1 cup whipping cream

·         3/4 cup sugar

·         1/2 cup uncooked white rice

·         ½ raisins or fruit of your choice

·         4 cups 2-percent milk

·         Cinnamon and orange zest for garnish (optional)

Instructions

1.   Heat the oven to 325º. Combine all the ingredients, except the garnish, in a 2 1/2-quart casserole (low and wide is better than tall and deep).

2.   Bake the pudding for 2 hours without stirring. Let it sit half an hour to set.

3.   Serve the pudding warm or cold, garnished with the cinnamon and orange zest, if desired. Serves 12.

I have a low calorie Apple Pie that is amazing as well as so many other Great Healthy Christmas Desserts. Christmas Dessert recipes for kids to make, the traditional Christmas Pudding recipes, 3 tasty Christmas Cake recipes, Christmas Sweet recipes and so much more in this great little e book below.

Most Favorite Christmas Dessert Recipes

Trifle

Apple Pie

Rice Pudding

Christmas Dessert Recipes for Kids

Christmas Cup Cakes

Santa Claus Cup Cakes

Holly Cupcakes

Christmas Pudding Recipe

Christmas Pudding Cup Cakes

Christmas Pudding

Christmas Cake Recipes

My Mother’s Christmas Cake

Christmas Cherry Cake

Moist Fruitcake

Christmas Pie Recipes

Pumpkin Pie

Apple Pie

Christmas Sweet Recipe

Chocolate Christmas Fudge

Brandy and Rum Balls

Chia Muffins

Chia Muffins

Chia seeds are the new superfood health experts are talking about. These nutrient-packed seeds have been shown to fight cancer and suppress appetite while providing mega amounts of calcium and omega-3s. How can you incorporate chia into your diet? This muffin recipe is a tasty and delicious way to get your dose.

Ingredients

1 tbsp ground chia seeds
1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup sweet potato purée
1 cup unsweetened apple sauce
2 egg whites
1/2 cup agave syrup
2 tsp lemon juice
1 tsp lemon zest
1 tbsp vanilla extract
1/2 cup dried cranberries

Directions
Mix together wet ingredients. In a separate bowl, mix dry ingredients.
Fold wet ingredients into dry ingredients.
Scoop into muffin tins and bake for 15-20 minutes at 350˚F   

The Miracle Berry

The berry, also known as the Miracle Berry, Magic Berry, or Flavor Berry, was first documented by explorer Chevalier des Marchais during a 1725 excursion to its native West Africa.

The taste of the berry itself has been likened to a less flavorful cranberry. However, the pulp packs a big punch. To experience the full effect, the berry's pulp should remain in your mouth and be spread all over your tongue for about a minute.

It's a great way to have a "Miracle Berry Party" , give everyone ust one berry, then have a mixture of foods and dips that people may not like, but they try them and they won't believe the results. They can now eat and enjoy foods they never dreamed of liking.

Once you have done this, miraculin changes the taste of sour foods to sweet. The effect will last about an hour. The taste of sweet foods tastes about the same, if not overly sweet.

Miraculin is a protein, so heat will destroy the effect. Therefore, the berry cannot be cooked and heated foods will not taste any differently than they would otherwise.

Healthy Thanksgiving Recipes

Looking for some healthy Thanksgiving Recipes, here is one of my favorite healthy stuffing recipe.

But please check out all my Healthy Thanksgiving Recipes., there are Thanksgiving tips and a healthy recipe option for you, to help make your Thanksgiving Day a stress free day.

Healthy Thanksgiving Stuffing

Cornbread and Sausage Stuffing

Cornbread stuffing, a Southern favorite, is a nice change from more traditional white-bread stuffing. Our delectable recipe uses Italian turkey sausage, rather than pork, and omits all the butter and cream to cut the fat by two-thirds. The stuffing is lower in sodium as well and so easy to make that it's sure to become a favorite side year-round.

Ingredients

• 1 pound sweet Italian turkey sausage, (about 4 links), casings removed
• 2 cups finely chopped onion
• 1 1/2 cups finely chopped celery
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• Freshly ground pepper, to taste
• 2 pounds prepared cornbread, cut into 3/4-inch cubes (about 12 cups)
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh sage
• 1 1/2-3 cups reduced-sodium chicken broth

Preparation

1. Preheat oven to 325°F. Coat a 9-by-13-inch baking pan with cooking spray.
2. Cook sausage in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat, stirring and breaking up with a wooden spoon, until browned, about 10 minutes. Add onion and celery; cover, reduce heat and cook, stirring occasionally, until tender, about 10 minutes. Transfer the mixture to a large bowl. Season with salt and pepper. Add cornbread, parsley and sage.
3. Bring broth to a simmer in a small saucepan. Pour 1 cup over the stuffing mixture and toss gently (the cornbread will break into smaller pieces). Add as much of the remaining broth as needed, 1/2 cup at a time, until the stuffing feels moist but not wet. Spoon the stuffing into the prepared pan and cover with foil.
4. Bake the stuffing until thoroughly heated, about 25 minutes. Serve warm.

Tips & Notes

Make Ahead Tip: Prepare through Step 3, cover and refrigerate for up to 1 day. Bake at 350°F until hot for about 30 minutes.

Nutrition

Per serving: 242 calories; 8 g fat ( 3 g sat , 0 g mono ); 29 mg cholesterol; 34 g carbohydrates; 10 g protein; 2 g fiber; 692 mg sodium; 79 mg potassium.

Healthy and Safe Body Cleanse

Breakfast

Quinoa With Chopped Prunes

Ingredients
1/2 cup quinoa, rinsed
1 cup water
1 pinch nutmeg
1 tsp grated ginger
1 tbsp flax seed oil
1/3 cup chopped prunes
1/4 cup rice milk

Directions
In a small pot, stir 1/2 cup quinoa, a pinch of nutmeg and 1 tsp of grated ginger into a cup of water.

Bring to a boil. Reduce the heat, cover the pot and simmer for 10 minutes.

Stir in the prunes and rice milk. Cover again and cook another 5 minutes.

Before serving, stir in 1 tbsp of flax seed oil.

Lunch

Fruit Smoothie

Ingredients
1/2 cup almond or hemp milk (plain/unsweetened)
1 tablespoon ground flaxseed or chia
1/4 cup frozen blueberries
1/4 banana
1/2 cup ice

Directions
Combine all ingredients in a blender. Blend until smooth.

Dinner

Vegetable Broth Soup

Ingredients
2 red onions, roughly chopped
2 stalks celery, roughly chopped
1 fennel bulb, fronds and stalks included, roughly chopped
2 tsp caraway seeds
2 tsp sea salt
Freshly ground pepper
1 cup sliced shitake caps
4 large cloves garlic, chopped
1 cabbage, roughly chopped
2 quarts water
2 tbsp paprika
2 tbsp fresh oregano, chopped
8 sprigs parsley, chopped stems and leaves
1/2 cup parsley, chopped

Directions
Combine all ingredients, except for the chopped parsley, in a pot. Add 2 quarts of water.

Bring to a boil and then reduce heat. Simmer covered for about 1 hour. Adjust seasoning.

Remove whole parsley sprigs and serve topped with some freshly chopped parsley.

Healthy Drinks

Kale, Pineapple and Ginger Detox Drink

Ingredients

1/2 cup pineapple

2 large cucumbers

1 bunch kale without stems (4 cups chopped)

1/2 lemon, squeezed

1/4 inch of ginger

1 bunch of mint (1/2 cup)

Directions

Combine all ingredients and blend in juicer.

or Pineapple, Lemon and Pomegranate Blend-Free Detox Drink

Ingredients

3/4 cup unsweetened pineapple juice

1 lemon

1 cup unsweetened pomegranate juice

3 cups water

Directions

Combine all ingredients and mix in a cup. Enjoy!

Healthy Snacks

Fresh Veggies

Ingredients

Celery

Radishes

Cucumber

Green beans

Olive oil

Lemon juice

Salt

Pepper

Directions

Cut up celery, radishes, cucumber and green beans.

For dressing, combine olive oil, lemon juice, salt and pepper. Mix well

Brain Boosting Recipe

Whole wheat noodles, spinach and peanuts contain vital nutrients to keep your brain healthy. Whole wheat noodles contain thiamine, a B vitamin important for building nerve cells, while spinach is high in folic acid. Top the stir fry with peanuts, which contain choline, an essential building block for the brain.

Brain-boosting Shrimp and Spinach Stir Fry

Shrimp Stir Fry

Ingredients
Makes 4 servings
1 tbsp olive oil
1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
1 1/2 lb extra large shrimp, shelled and deveined
2 large cloves garlic, finely chopped
3 cups cooked whole wheat spaghetti
5 cups fresh baby spinach
1/2 tsp sea salt
Freshly ground pepper
2 tbsp low sodium soy sauce
4 tbsp unsalted peanuts

Directions
In a large, non-stick skillet, heat the oil and stir in pepper flakes. Cook for 30 seconds. Add the shrimp and cook until just turning pink, about 2 -3 minutes.

Stir in the garlic and let cook for 30 seconds. Then, toss in the spaghetti and spinach.

Let it all cook together for 1-2 minutes until heated through; barely cook the spinach.

Season with salt, pepper and soy sauce. Top with the peanuts (chopped or crushed).

Brain-Boosting Grilled Eggplant&Red Onion Bruschetta

This brain-boosting bruschetta is an easy and delicious way to keep your memory sharp. Quarcetin from the red onions helps your brain perform at its best; nasunin, found in eggplant, protects the fats around brain cells. Lastly, rosemary's wonderful aroma has been shown to improve memory.

Ingredients
1 1/2 cups roughly chopped grilled eggplant
1 cup roughly chopped grilled red onion
2 tbsp rosemary, chopped
1 clove garlic, finely chopped
1 tbsp olive oil
Toasted bread slices

Directions
In a medium to large bowl, combine all ingredients and mix well. Let the mixture rest for 30 minutes, so flavors can develop.

Serve on toasted bread slices.