“The holidays are only holy if we make them so.” — Marianne Williamson from Christmas for Mystics 12/12/12 http://blog.marianne.com/journal/index.php
Thought for Today
That Green Bean Casserole
You know the one I’m talking about. That staple at many holiday tables. Unfortunately canned cream of mushroom soup and French fried onions make this a problem for the gluten free. Lose those ingredients and you lose the convenience and the flavor. I’ve tried a few gluten free recipes and decided I would rather do without.
That is until I tried the Green Bean Casserole with Onion Topping from 1,000 Gluten Free Recipes by Carol Fenster. I crossed my fingers and said under my breath, “please Carol, I hope you got this one right.” She did. The sauce looks and tastes like mushroom soup and the onions are crisp and tasty.
This is the green bean casserole we remember from the 70’s and 80’s. It makes a small casserole; but most of us know how to multiply.
As good as this casserole is, remember this is a holiday treat. Don’t forget fresh green beans in season. Lightly steamed with a little lemon juice or sliced almonds they can’t be beat.
Get your own copy of 1,000 Gluten-Free Recipes (1,000 Recipes)
For more information on Carol visit Carol Fenster Cooks.
Thought for Today
“It is Christmas in the heart that puts Christmas in the air.” ~W.T. Ellis
Have you Considered Sending eCards this Year?
I love to send eCards and I love to receive them — and this from a girl who used to make her holiday cards. There are a few advantages to sending eCards:
1. Many eCards are free. You save money.
2. No postage. You save more money.
3. You don’t have to hand address your cards. You save time.
4. No driving to the post office and waiting in line to mail cards. You save more time.
5. You can attach a gift card so you don’t have to go to crowded stores to shop. You save even more time as well as your sanity.
6. eCards are paperless. You save a tree.
Who knew sending an eCard could make you a Superhero.
Thought for Today
“I truly believe that individuals can make a difference in society. Since periods of change such as the present one come so rarely in human history, it is up to each of us to make the best use of our time to help create a happier world.” — His Holiness the Dali Lama
Quick and Easy Angel Craft Video
Thought for Today
“Today is a very special day. Today we open our hearts to love again so that we can tell each other ‘I love you,’ without any fear, and really mean it.” — Don Miguel Ruiz [Source: Don Miguel Ruiz’s Prayers for Freedom and Love ]
Let’s Have a Holiday Potluck!
Let’s have a holiday potluck. We can’t share actual food, but we can share recipes for our favorite healthier holiday side dishes and healthy holiday eating tips.
Please leave a comment to share a link to your favorite healthier holiday side dish. You may leave you healthy holiday eating tips in the comment section or as a link. This is one time I will allow links in comments. This can be your recipe or a link to a recipe you love on someone else’s site, but please specify which you are doing.
I’ll start. Since this is my blog I am posting my recipe here. Even though I’m mostly a “from scratch” kind of cook, nobody wants to be trapped in the kitchen at the holidays. That’s why I like this easy way to serve sweet potatoes. These are pretty much mashed sweet potatoes with a little zip and zing added. I like to serve these in my Gram’s casserole dish.
Orange Spice Sweet Potatoes
Ingredients:
1 orange
3 medium sweet potatoes
enough water to cover sweet potatoes
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
Directions:
Peel and chop sweet potatoes. Cover with water in saucepan. Cook over medium heat.
Zest the orange. Then cut the orange in half and juice it.
When sweet potatoes are soft mash with a potato masher or in a blender or food processor. Add orange juice as needed to reach a soft but not runny consistency.
Stir in spices and half of orange zest.
Garnish with remaining orange zest. Serve.
Now, what are you bringing to the holiday potluck?
Thought for Today
“Do all the good you can,
By all the means you can,
In all the ways you can,
In all the places you can,
At all the times you can,
To all the people you can,
As long as ever you can.” —
John Wesley
[Source: Letters (1915), Rule of Conduct]
Thought for Today
“What are the key first steps to enter into Advent? We can all slow down. We can all breathe more deeply. We can all begin to trust that this will be a blessed time. Then, when we let ourselves be who we are, and hear the Scriptures, we can begin to quietly pray, ‘Come, Lord, Jesus.’” — [Source: What am I experiencing in my life, as Advent begins from Creighton Univ. online ministries. ]
espirational.com 