Every Christmas Eve, my family gathers together, often at my grandma’s but sometimes at the home of my cousin and NGPT/Inferno participant, Dustin Headley. This evening is always a hot mess of appetizers and desserts. Pretty much everything involves crescent dough, fatty meats, cream cheese, salt, sugar, chocolate…the usual suspects! So I love finding appetizer and small bites recipes that taste good and pass the family test but still offer healthier alternatives.
Maple-Glazed Peanuts and Bacon http://www.foodandwine.com/recipes/maple-glazed-peanuts-and-bacon-cocktails-2009
- ½ cup sugar-free maple syrup
- 3 cups unsalted roasted peanuts (1 lb)
- ½ teaspoon dry mustard
- 1 Tablespoon thyme leaves, minced
- ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 3-5 slices of turkey bacon (3 oz)
- 1 Tablespoon kosher salt (omit if using salted nuts)
Preheat oven to 325°. In a medium skillet, cook bacon over med heat until crisp. Transfer to paper towels to drain, then finely chop. In a medium bowl, mix thyme, salt, cayenne and dry mustard. Add peanuts, syrup, and bacon, and toss until peanuts are evenly coated. Scrape nuts onto a parchment paper-lined baking sheet and roast for ~30 min, stirring once, until syrup has thickened. Let peanuts cool completely, stirring frequently to break up large clumps. Transfer peanuts to glass jars or large bowl and serve. Can be stored in airtight container up to 5 days. This makes 12 fat servings.
Special bonus recipe: not quite as on-plan but a nice alternative for the holidays…
Christmas Chocolate Bark http://www.elanaspantry.com/christmas-chocolate-bark/
- 2 cups dark chocolate chips – I subbed unsweetened baker’s squares and Splenda
- ⅓ cup pistachios
- ⅓ cup dried cranberries – not approved for Meltdowns, could omit
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
In small saucepan over very low heat, melt chocolate. Pour chocolate into parchment paper lined 8″ baking dish (I just poured onto parchment paper on my counter). Sprinkle pistachios and cranberries over. Using a metal spatula, spread mixture evenly to ~½ in thickness. Sprinkle salt over bark (I omitted to save sodium). Allow to sit until set, 1-2 hrs. Cut or snap into pieces and serve. In addition to omitting cranberries, you can add in or use other nuts and seeds. Using unsweetened chocolate requires LOTS of sweetener – this is very bitter. Next time I may mix some sugar-free syrup into the melting chocolate. Not recommended for those bootcamping or on another major program.
As you prepare for entertaining or attending parties for Christmas or New Year’s Eve, keep in mind these recipes! Feast maple-y, feast pistachio-y, and as always…FEAST ON!!!
~Coach Lauren
