Thanksgiving Beauty
Every 4th Thursday of November is a day for us
to throw dietary caution to the wind
Thanksgiving Is Upon Us!
to throw dietary caution to the wind
Thanksgiving Is Upon Us!
This month we'll be sharing two of my All Time Favorite recipes. As previously stated, they aren't going to be on your list of healthy eats, but who cares! There is a time for that and there is a time for indulging, this caters to the latter. Just go with the whole 80/20 theory and shove these into the 20. Trust me, You'll be happy you did! I will, however, give you some peace of mind as you pile your plates high and enjoy all the season has to offer with a bit of information on how these foods (from antioxidant rich cranberry - to vitamin packed pumpkin) can positively impact your body.
Turns out, our favorite Thanksgiving foods are packed with vitamins and minerals our bodies love. Let's start with good old fashioned cranberry sauce. And no, not that gelatinous mess that gets sliced and served straight from the can. This recipe calls for a few simple ingredients that will compliment your turkey each and every year no matter how you choose to prepare your bird.
- 1 cup of white sugar
- 1/2 a cup of fresh orange juice
- 1 tsp of fresh grated ginger
- 1/2 cup of white wine or water
- 1 12oz bag of cranberries
- 1tsp. orange zest
Place all ingredients into a medium sized pot. Bring to a boil, reduce to a simmer, stirring occasionally, until cranberries have burst open. Once the sauce is slightly thickened, about 10 - 15 minutes, remove from heat and let cool to room temperature [it will continue to thicken a bit more] or serve warm.
Truly, this couldn't be a tastier or an easier recipe! Try it once, you'll want it again and again every single year.
The next recipe is a new favorite:
- 2 tbsps of EVOO
- 2 heads of garlic
- 1 tbsp of quality butter
- 1 tbsp of tomato paste
- 1.5 cups Chicken Stock
- 1 can of pumpkin puree
- 1/4 cup of heavy cream
- 2 packages of cooked gnochii
- 3 tbsps of sweetened condensed milk
- a handful of sage leaves + a tsp of powdered
- Cinnamon
- Parmesean
- Chives
Start with EVOO, heat that up with the butter in a braising skillet or a large pan. Mince the garlic and sage leaves, add it into the hot pan, cook it down with the tomato paste. Once it's mixed and fragrant, pour in the chicken stock. Stir, bring to a soft boil then add in the pumpkin puree. Simmer and stir in the powdered cinnimon [just a pinch] and sage. Let the mixture simmer for about 5 - 8 minutes [on low] so the flavors can merge - toss in the [cooked] gnocchi, sweetened condensed milk and heavy cream. Stir in the hot pan for 2 mins. Remove from heat and serve with sprinkled parmesan and chives [over top] and a pinch of salt if desired.
This seems lengthy, but in reality, it's super quick and easy to make! The longest wait time is the boiling of the gnocchi in preparation for this side. It's like a savory yet slightly sweet pumpkin pie but as a dish worthy (and heavy) enough to be considered a part of your main course. This Gnocchi [in our pumpkin sage sauce], is delicious and will absolutely be a new staple that will be on our table year after year.
And just to give you a quick rundown here, for those interested - Did You Know that cranberries are little health powerhouses with numerous benefits for the body?! Particularly when it comes to skincare; cranberries seem to provide a multitude of benefits because (much like cinnamon) they are a rich source of polyphenols. Not sure what that is or does? Polyphenols have been shown to contain antibacterial, antiviral, antimutagenic, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Talk about a serious [super] food! I'll happily be adding these into my diet on a more regular basis.
As for the pumpkin, it may not be a high ranking member of any “healthiest foods” lists but pumpkin seeds are a different story! These little guys are full of omega-6 fatty acids, which can help lower bad cholesterol and boost the good! When it comes to the pumpkin itself, it's a great source of fiber; but what does that mean for your beauty? Well, believe it or not, fiber has been shown to promote weight loss and dietary adherence in people who are trying to lose weight.
So, if you’re worried about packing on the pounds this holiday season, pumpkin may be a great way to help keep those calories in check! ...just, maybe not in the dish listed above...but remember, no matter how you chose to indulge on Thanksgiving day, part of caring for yourself is listening to that inner voice and letting loose every once in a while. It's all about moderation. So, maybe just for "today" - we encourage you all to dive in for seconds!
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