Healthier Holiday Recipes

Fancy, easy and delicious appetizer ideas.

Holiday eating has already begun. Once Halloween opens that door, it’s a slippery slope through Valentine’s Day fueled by shorter days, colder temperatures and rich family recipes. No time like the present to try a couple of new ideas. Here’s a revamp on whole, easy and delicious appetizers. Thank you to Danielle Walker’s Celebrations Cookbook for these incredible recipes.

Herb Ranch Dressing

Serve with an assortment of colorful fresh veggies.

1 cup mayo
½ cup full fat coconut milk
¼ cup fresh flat leaf parsley, chopped
2 garlic cloves, chopped
2 tbsp fresh chives, chopped
2 tbsp fresh dill, chopped (may sub 1 tsp dried)
4 tsp freshly squeezed lemon juice
½ tsp onion powder
½ tsp sea salt

Mix all ingredients together and serve.

Revamped Dipper Ideas:
Jicama slices
Cucumber rounds
Snap peas
Radish slices
Mini peppers, halved

Pesto Deviled Eggs 2.0

12 eggs

Filling
12 hardboiled egg yolks
1/3 cup store bought pesto
½ cup olive oil
2 ½ tsp lemon juice
3 tbsp chopped sun-dried tomatoes

Add eggs to a saucepan. Add water so that the eggs are covered by about 2 inches. Heat water until begins to boil then cover, turn off heat. Let the eggs sit for 10 min. Drain and rinse the eggs under cold water for 1 min. Crack the eggshells and peel. Slice eggs in half. Put the yolks in a bowl. Put the whites on a platter-they are now ready to fill.

Mash yolks and combine rest of ingredients except sun-dried tomatoes. Put mixture into a large zip-lock bag and snip off a hole in the bottom corner. Pipe the mixture into the egg whites and garnish with sun-dried tomatoes.

Fruit Kabobs with Whipped Cream

Pick out 4 kinds of fruit that look good at the market. Skewer. Ideas: strawberries, blueberries, grapes, pineapple, kiwi, peaches.

Whipped Cream
Basic OR Fruity OR Chocolate
1 cup cashews, raw
1 ½ cups full-fat coconut milk
1/3 cup melted coconut oil
1 ounce raw cacao butter, melted (find this at Sprouts, Whole Foods or any upscale mkt)
¼ cup maple syrup

Optional: 1 cup mashed raspberries (or strawberries) OR 2 tbsp cocoa powder
½ tsp vanilla
Pinch of salt

Put cashews in a bowl and cover with water. Let soak for at least two hours, up to 4. Drain cashews and transfer to a blender. Add coconut milk, oil, butter, maple syrup, vanilla and salt. If you are using fruit or chocolate, add it here. Blend until smooth. Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours. Then using a stand-up mixer (or hand mixer), beat the cream until it holds its peaks. Serve with fruit kabobs.

For more info on blood sugar balance, good energy or feeling your best through smarter food choices, please contact our holistic nutritionists. It’s a personal puzzle, but we can assist in figuring out what’s best for your body.

Read more on sugar issues and book a free 20-minute consultation with Healthy Nest Nutrition owner Robin Hutchinson. Follow us on Instagram for more healthy holiday recipes. Next up: Entrees, cocktails, hot drinks and desserts!