The 'IT' Food for You?

For me, a cheese log covered in pecans with crackers always signified 'Christmas' to my mouth ~ there was always one out for the holiday.

For Thanksgiving it was Fritos and Onion Dip (made from Lipton Onion Soup). I had the dip/chips at Thanksgiving this year ~ did not enjoy it. The dip seemed too salty and the chips seemed too greasy after nearly 90 days of not eating chips & dip.

I'm going to pick up a cheese log for Christmas but am better prepared it may not seem as 'great' as in the past

Curious ~ if you want to share ~ is there a specific food you MUST have on Christmas and if you have tried / had it since changing how you eat. Thanks.

That would be frosted sugar cookies (homemade). Cannot resist them. Seriously thinking about not making them this year. Haven't baked anything yet this year for the holiday much to the consternation of my five grown children. They know why I'm doing it, for my health, so they are sitting on their tongues but they must be very sore by now. I have always baked and eaten so many treats at Christmas. Very big change for me but don't feel secure enough to bake and not eat them. Looking forward to January actually. Enough temptation is enough.

1/2 cup sweeteners of your choice -- (I used 1/4 cup Swerve and 6 packets Truvia)
1/2 cup Spectrum Organic Shortening, or butter
1 large egg
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 cups almond flour
1 teaspoon xanthan gum

In large mixing bowl, combine sweeteners, shortening, egg, baking powder, vanilla, and salt. With electric mixer beat on low speed until smooth and creamy and light*.

In separate bowl, combine almond flour and xanthan gum. Sift together and pour into creamed mixture. Beat on low speed until well combined and easily forms into a ball. Chill several hours for an easier dough to work with or make cookies right away. I made them right away.

Place a piece of parchment paper on counter and spray with non-stick cooking spray. Sprinkle with small amount of cornstarch or resistant starch. Place dough onto parchment paper, push down and shape into a square with hands.

Cover with another piece of parchment paper, sprayed with non-stick cooking spray and roll out to about 1/4-inch. Cut shapes with cookie cutters*. Roll up remaining dough and roll out again until all dough is used up. Bake in preheated 350F oven about 10 to 12 minutes or until lightly browned around the edges. let cool completely on pan before removing or they will fall apart.

*Helpful hint: You can also combine this all in a food processor.

*Helpful hint: I dusted the top of the dough before cutting out cookies as well as spraying the cookie cutters with non-stick spray. To remove I sprayed a 13-inch spatula with non-stick cooking spray and very carefully ran it under each cookie thoroughly before lifting it off the parchment paper.

Frost with your favorite low carb frosting. Decorate as desired.

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Based on 21 cookies/1 Cookie Per Serving: 108 Calories; 10g Fat (81.7% calories from fat); 3g Protein; 3g Carbohydrate; 1g Dietary Fiber( without frosting)

For me, I am pretty good at turning away most sweets at Christmas. However, I love banana bread, zucchini bread and homemade pecan pie! I decided only to do zucchini bread this year and only did one batch (one loaf for desserts this week and one for Christmas). But MIL does pecan pies every year. YES,the zucchini bread is yummy as ever! This week (a few days) I've needed the calories but definitely not the carbs.

I'm thinking I'm going to overdo sparkling wine instead of food this year.

I have no idea what the exact "IT" food will be for me, but I have been thinking about sweets all week Thinking about the dessert table at my Aunt's house for Christmas.. (sigh) Hopefully all this dreaming and thinking about any "type of sweet" will satisfy me and on the actual day I won't endulge or over-endulge.... I'm Just Saying..

After saying all this again - I say I have no idea.. Hope my taste buds don't work that day so I won't eat anything..

Well I finally chose an interesting looking goat herb cheese from the deli last night. Just holding that same old cheese log in my hand and thought 'this looks really oily and I can already anticipate I probably won't enjoy it. I think I'll try something new.' Will update after I try it.

Im just making sure I am eating a filling, veggie packed, full lunch and keeping my water intake well up leading up to xmas eve dinner on the theory that I wont snack while cooking the turkey.