Holiday Entertaining Tips & Recipe

Does the thought of entertaining for the holidays without sabotaging your healthy lifestyle seem to be an impossible feat? Holiday entertaining doesn’t have to be stressful or unhealthy! I will share a few tips to make your holiday entertainment delicious and guilt-free!

Let’s discuss how to entertain with delicious snacks that will allow you and your guests to be able to focus on the good company, not the bad food choices!

As an advocate of eating a plant-based, whole foods diet I am not comfortable serving my guests foods that I would not personally eat. But I also recognize that most of my guests aren’t following the same kind of plant-based, whole-foods diet that I choose. Instead of worrying about how my guests will not like my snacks, I focus on how much I love the opportunity that this provides for me to educate and delight my guests with shockingly health and delicious foods.

Here are a few tips that I follow to help me through the holiday entertaining season:

1. While veggies are an easy “go to” snack and I typically always do have a nice veggie tray out to serve with Hummus, Vegan Dill Dip or Notcho Nocheez (my own creation!); try serving another dish that will delight your guests and surprise them how delicious plant-based whole foods can be! I find that a lot of folks don’t realize how many amazing things vegans eat but rather think they live on carrots & celery sticks and think that we eat boring & bland foods. Serve a delicious vegan onion dip with crackers that will please herbivores and carnivores alike! I’ve shared the recipe below…
2. Have easy finger foods available. Some of my favorites include olives and salted or seasoned edamame. Make a delicious snack mix containing walnuts, almonds, mulberries and goji berries. This quick and easy mix will delight any snacking palette!
3. Don’t forget the drinks! Serve Kombutcha, and a variety of hot teas. Check out the site www.barnivore.com to see if your favorite alcoholic beverage is vegan-friendly. Many people don’t realize that wines are often processed with animal products like fish bladders and egg whites. Some of my favorite vegan wines are from Vegan Vine or Frey Wineries. Make a Sangria or an Almond Holiday Nog (most rums are vegan friendly!)

I hope these tips will help you to enjoy your guests and not stress over the guesswork of what to serve at your holiday parties to keep them simple and healthy.

Try this vegan onion dip recipe:

Ingredients:

• 3 Medium Onions, Diced
• 3 Tablespoons Earth Balance Buttery Spread
• 1 Tablespoon Canola Oil
• 1/4 Teaspoon Cayenne Pepper
• 1 Teaspoon Salt
• Black Pepper, to Taste
• 1 12-Ounce Package Extra-Firm Silken Tofu
• 1 Teaspoon Dijon Mustard
• 1/2 Teaspoon Garlic Powder
• 1/4 Cup Nutritional YeastDirections:

1. Melt the Earth Balance spread in a sauce pan over medium heat.
2. Add in the oil once the Earth Balance is liquefied, and then add the onion, tossing to coat.
   
3. Turn the heat down to medium-low, and continue to cook gently for 40 – 45 minutes, stirring occasionally.
4. Add the cayenne pepper, black pepper and salt, cooking for an additional 10 minutes until amber brown and nicely caramelized. Remove the onions from the pan (put on a plate) and let cool.
5. Completely puree the tofu in a food processor, scraping down the sides of the bowl as necessary so that there are no lumps remaining.
6. Blend in the mustard, garlic powder, and nutritional yeast.
7. Add the caramelized onions, and pulse to combine, making sure not to over-process it so that you still have nice chunks of onions.
8. Transfer the dip into an air-tight container, and refrigerate overnight to allow flavors to blend together and intensify.
9. Serve at room temperature with Mary’s Gone Crackers or other cracker or chip of your choice!