Diet, Dessert and Dogs

Hi Everyone!  Well, my computer wasn’t participating today, so this will be a short blurb to our WW this week.   But a short intro doesn’t mean YOU skimped in any way in last week’s event–in fact, it was the biggest event ever!! I can’t thank you all enough or tell you how impressed I always am with your creativity and the variety of healthy dishes in the event.  I’m looking forward to this week’s, too!

UPDATE: I had to sneak back in to let you know about an exciting event this coming Monday, February 6th!  I’ll be hosting a Tweet Chat (chat on twitter) with Amy Green (of Simply Sugar and Gluten Free), all about “Beyond the Gluten Free Diet.”  It will be a little sneak peek into the topics at Nourished, the food blogger conference (at which I’ll be speaking on April 13th) for those of us on special diets!

Here are a few favorites on the theme of “quick”:

• Orange Cilantro Dressing from Gluten Free Cat whips up in a jiffy!
• Scallion Cashew Vegan Cheese from City Life Eats is faster than most vegan nut cheeses to make, and sure does look delish!
• Triple Berry Smoothie from The Grecian Garden provides loads of antioxidants and a hit of green as well.

And this week’s Readers’ Choices:

Readers’ Choice, Savory: Mama’s Green Power Juice from Flip Cookbook. How great to see that y’all love green juices as much as I do!

Readers’ Choice, Sweet: Healthy Almond Joy Bars from Adrienne at The Balanced Platter. I’d say this recipe took you all by storm, with almost 150 clicks to the thumbnail!

Thank you to every one of you who played along by submitting your recipes! I love seeing what you all make each week. I always look forward to seeing what you’ll come up with!

Please join us for Wellness Weekend this weekend! There are so many options for healthy foods. . . whether or not you’re vegan, remember that many salads, veggie side dishes, pasta dishes, desserts, smoothies, and more are naturally vegan and can all be included!

Here’s How to Participate (PLEASE READ THESE GUIDELINES CAREFULLY BEFORE LINKING UP!):

1. The event occurs once a week, starting Thursdays at 8:00 PM my time and running until Monday at midnight.
2. Simply link up a recipe you made (and posted about) within the past week that contains health-supporting ingredients (see list below). Use the Linky Tool at the bottom of the page. Please do not link more than once to the same web page!
3. Please link the post with your recipe, NOT your blog’s home page or another event page. The post must contain a recipe.
4. You may submit more than one recipe, but please follow the guidelines for each one individually. ONLY ONE THUMBNAIL PER POST, PLEASE.
5. Please be sure to mention this event and include a link back to this post so that others can find all the recipes posted!
6. Feel free to use the blog badge, above (or see the left sidebar of this page–if you need the html code, let me know and I’ll send it to you). Many thanks to Adrienne of Whole New Mom for setting up the badge code for me!
7. As always, I hate to remove links, but will do so if they don’t comply with the guidelines. I will try to email you to let you know, but I can’t always do so–if you’re wondering why your post was removed, you can email me, or read the last section below.

What your recipe CAN contain:

• Any good-for-you, whole foods, especially those with antioxidant properties or “functional foods” (ie, offering naturally medicinal or health-promoting qualities–such as garlic, coconut oil, all vegetables, fruits, herbs, etc.)–but any fresh, real food is welcome!
• Natural sweeteners (coconut sugar, agave, brown rice syrup, maple syrup, stevia, Sucanat, rapadura, coconut nectar, yacon syrup, etc.)
• Vegan ingredients (even if you’re not vegan, OF COURSE you can still play along! You’ll be surprised at how many foods are naturally vegan; and if not, there are many subs you can use for eggs, milk or butter–include vegan options and we’re good to go!).
• Note that this is NOT AN ACD-ONLY EVENT. Any real food ingredients that are sugar-free and vegan are more than welcome–so use that maple syrup, those mushrooms, that nutritional yeast, miso, etc! I’m just looking for healthy, whole foods recipes.

What your recipe cannot contain:

• White flour, white sugar, or any highly refined, highly processed ingredients (note that regular brown sugar is actually refined!);
• Anything almost entirely artificial (ie, most boxed mixes, fast food, faux “cheese,” faux “meat,” or margarine, unnaturally colored cereals or other foods, etc.);
• Animal products (meat, chicken, fish or seafood, or their by-products, gelatin, eggs, dairy, butter or honey).

“Hey! Why was my entry removed?”

• The most common reason entries are removed is because they don’t adhere to the guidelines: either they don’t contain a link back to this post, they contain ingredients that aren’t listed here, they are a re-post of a blog entry that is more than one week old, they link to another blog event, or they contain neither a recipe nor anything directly related to food preparation. If you render a recipe vegan-friendly by adding a vegan option to your ingredients, your post will be good to go! For older posts, you’re welcome to re-post them during the week of the event, or choose a newer recipe.
• Another reason posts are removed is because the link leads to an advertisement or a business blog. Please do NOT link up posts that are merely referrals to a different post or the home page for another blog event.
• Only one thumbnail per post, please. If your post contains two suitable recipes, link up once and people will still see all your fabulous recipes when they click on the linky.
• I hate to have to remove links! PLEASE read the guidelines before posting!

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Isn’t it great how the days are getting longer these days (well, over here in the northern hemisphere, anyway)?. 

To me, the only saving grace when it’s the middle of winter is that I get to bask in the sunshine for a few minutes longer each day.  Well, sunshine–plus all of your fabulous recipes for Wellness Weekend! Thanks to everyone for submitting another great week of fabulous foodie finds last week!

Below are a few of my picks on the topic of ”creative combinations”: 

• Chickpea Arugula Salad with Warm Blackberry Balsamic Dressing from Allergy-Free Vegan Cookery.  Blackberry Balsamic on its own would be great, but warm?  Yessir!
• Creamy Heart of Palm Soup from Sometimes I Veg.  I adore hearts of palm in salads but had never thought to include them in soup.  Looks spectacular!
• Hazelnut Roasted Kabocha Squash, Cucumber and Avocado Collard Wrap from The Taste Space.  Y’all know how much I love my raw collard wraps–and this sounds like a stellar combo!

Readers’ Choice, Savory: Gluten-Free Naan Flatbread from Hobby and More.  This spiced naan looks perfect for eating alongside dal, curries–well, anything, really!

Readers’ Choice, Sweet: Seed-Sational Paleo Breakfast Bars from Fresh 4 Five.  What a great way to start the day. You clearly all thought so, too, with almost 150 clicks on this entry last week!

Thank you to every one of you who played along by submitting your recipes! I love seeing what you all make each week. I always look forward to seeing what you’ll come up with!

Please join us for Wellness Weekend this weekend! There are so many options for healthy foods. . . whether or not you’re vegan, remember that many salads, veggie side dishes, pasta dishes, desserts, smoothies, and more are naturally vegan and can all be included!

Here’s How to Participate (PLEASE READ THESE GUIDELINES CAREFULLY BEFORE LINKING UP!):

1. The event occurs once a week, starting Thursdays at 8:00 PM my time and running until Monday at midnight.
2. Simply link up a recipe you made (and posted about) within the past week that contains health-supporting ingredients (see list below). Use the Linky Tool at the bottom of the page. Please do not link more than once to the same web page!
3. Please link the post with your recipe, NOT your blog’s home page or another event page. The post must contain a recipe.
4. You may submit more than one recipe, but please follow the guidelines for each one individually. ONLY ONE THUMBNAIL PER POST, PLEASE.
5. Please be sure to mention this event and include a link back to this post so that others can find all the recipes posted!
6. Feel free to use the blog badge, above (or see the left sidebar of this page–if you need the html code, let me know and I’ll send it to you). Many thanks to Adrienne of Whole New Mom for setting up the badge code for me!
7. As always, I hate to remove links, but will do so if they don’t comply with the guidelines. I will try to email you to let you know, but I can’t always do so–if you’re wondering why your post was removed, you can email me, or read the last section below.

What your recipe CAN contain:

• Any good-for-you, whole foods, especially those with antioxidant properties or “functional foods” (ie, offering naturally medicinal or health-promoting qualities–such as garlic, coconut oil, all vegetables, fruits, herbs, etc.)–but any fresh, real food is welcome!
• Natural sweeteners (coconut sugar, agave, brown rice syrup, maple syrup, stevia, Sucanat, rapadura, coconut nectar, yacon syrup, etc.)
• Vegan ingredients (even if you’re not vegan, OF COURSE you can still play along! You’ll be surprised at how many foods are naturally vegan; and if not, there are many subs you can use for eggs, milk or butter–include vegan options and we’re good to go!).
• Note that this is NOT AN ACD-ONLY EVENT. Any real food ingredients that are sugar-free and vegan are more than welcome–so use that maple syrup, those mushrooms, that nutritional yeast, miso, etc! I’m just looking for healthy, whole foods recipes.

What your recipe cannot contain:

• White flour, white sugar, or any highly refined, highly processed ingredients (note that regular brown sugar is actually refined!);
• Anything almost entirely artificial (ie, most boxed mixes, fast food, faux “cheese,” faux “meat,” or margarine, unnaturally colored cereals or other foods, etc.);
• Animal products (meat, chicken, fish or seafood, or their by-products, gelatin, eggs, dairy, butter or honey).

“Hey! Why was my entry removed?”

• The most common reason entries are removed is because they don’t adhere to the guidelines: either they don’t contain a link back to this post, they contain ingredients that aren’t listed here, they are a re-post of a blog entry that is more than one week old, they link to another blog event, or they contain neither a recipe nor anything directly related to food preparation. If you render a recipe vegan-friendly by adding a vegan option to your ingredients, your post will be good to go! For older posts, you’re welcome to re-post them during the week of the event, or choose a newer recipe.
• Another reason posts are removed is because the link leads to an advertisement or a business blog. Please do NOT link up posts that are merely referrals to a different post or the home page for another blog event.
• Only one thumbnail per post, please. If your post contains two suitable recipes, link up once and people will still see all your fabulous recipes when they click on the linky.
• I hate to have to remove links! PLEASE read the guidelines before posting!

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<

Brrr! Winter has finally hit with its full force in Toronto.  I won’t tell you what I said when I first looked outside and saw the snow (hint: it wasn’t “Oh, joy!”).

Well, at least I had all your fabulous recipes from last week to console me!  It was the biggest Wellness Weekend yet, with 36 incredible entries! Thanks so much, everyone! 

And now, here are some favorites from last week on the theme of “Sunny” (because I long for the sun this time of year!):

• Nana “Scream with a Kick from Gluten Free Goodness.  Banana soft-serve “ice cream” at its best. And so easy!
• Cinnamon Roasted Sunchokes (Jerusalem Artichokes) from Until We Eat Again.  How could I resist these fabulous root veggies–that have “sun” right in their name? If you’ve never tried sunchokes, you’re in for a real treat!
• Squashed Polenta from My Munchable Musings.  An ingenious mix of ingredients that gives this polenta its sunny hue.

Readers’ Choice, Savory: Massaged Kale Salad from Farmer’s Market Vegan.  If you love kale as much as I do, you know there are never enough massaged kale salad recipes!

Readers’ Choice, Sweet: Raw Chocolate Macaroons from Tessa the Domestic Diva.  Incredibly yummy looking, with a short and sweet list of ingredients, too!

* * * * * * * * * * * *

Thank you to every one of you who played along by submitting your recipes! I love seeing what you all make each week. I always look forward to seeing what you’ll come up with!

Please join us for Wellness Weekend this weekend! There are so many options for healthy foods. . . whether or not you’re vegan, remember that many salads, veggie side dishes, pasta dishes, desserts, smoothies, and more are naturally vegan and can all be included!

Here’s How to Participate (PLEASE READ THESE GUIDELINES CAREFULLY BEFORE LINKING UP!):

1. The event occurs once a week, starting Thursdays at 8:00 PM my time and running until Monday at midnight.
2. Simply link up a recipe you made (and posted about) within the past week that contains health-supporting ingredients (see list below). Use the Linky Tool at the bottom of the page. Please do not link more than once to the same web page!
3. Please link the post with your recipe, NOT your blog’s home page or another event page. The post must contain a recipe.
4. You may submit more than one recipe, but please follow the guidelines for each one individually. ONLY ONE THUMBNAIL PER POST, PLEASE.
5. Please be sure to mention this event and include a link back to this post so that others can find all the recipes posted!
6. Feel free to use the blog badge, above (or see the left sidebar of this page–if you need the html code, let me know and I’ll send it to you). Many thanks to Adrienne of Whole New Mom for setting up the badge code for me!
7. As always, I hate to remove links, but will do so if they don’t comply with the guidelines. I will try to email you to let you know, but I can’t always do so–if you’re wondering why your post was removed, you can email me, or read the last section below.

What your recipe CAN contain:

• Any good-for-you, whole foods, especially those with antioxidant properties or “functional foods” (ie, offering naturally medicinal or health-promoting qualities–such as garlic, coconut oil, all vegetables, fruits, herbs, etc.)–but any fresh, real food is welcome!
• Natural sweeteners (coconut sugar, agave, brown rice syrup, maple syrup, stevia, Sucanat, rapadura, coconut nectar, yacon syrup, etc.)
• Vegan ingredients (even if you’re not vegan, OF COURSE you can still play along! You’ll be surprised at how many foods are naturally vegan; and if not, there are many subs you can use for eggs, milk or butter–include vegan options and we’re good to go!).
• Note that this is NOT AN ACD-ONLY EVENT. Any real food ingredients that are sugar-free and vegan are more than welcome–so use that maple syrup, those mushrooms, that nutritional yeast, miso, etc! I’m just looking for healthy, whole foods recipes.

What your recipe cannot contain:

• White flour, white sugar, or any highly refined, highly processed ingredients (note that regular brown sugar is actually refined!);
• Anything almost entirely artificial (ie, most boxed mixes, fast food, faux “cheese,” faux “meat,” or margarine, unnaturally colored cereals or other foods, etc.);
• Animal products (meat, chicken, fish or seafood, or their by-products, gelatin, eggs, dairy, butter or honey).

“Hey! Why was my entry removed?”

• The most common reason entries are removed is because they don’t adhere to the guidelines: either they don’t contain a link back to this post, they contain ingredients that aren’t listed here, they are a re-post of a blog entry that is more than one week old, they link to another blog event, or they contain neither a recipe nor anything directly related to food preparation. If you render a recipe vegan-friendly by adding a vegan option to your ingredients, your post will be good to go! For older posts, you’re welcome to re-post them during the week of the event, or choose a newer recipe.
• Another reason posts are removed is because the link leads to an advertisement or a business blog. Please do NOT link up posts that are merely referrals to a different post or the home page for another blog event.
• Only one thumbnail per post, please. If your post contains two suitable recipes, link up once and people will still see all your fabulous recipes when they click on the linky.
• I hate to have to remove links! PLEASE read the guidelines before posting!

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<

Can it really be the last weekend of the YEAR?!   After last’s week’s Holiday Edition, I’m pleased to present you with our final Wellness Weekend event–the one that spans right into 2012!

And so, as we make our way out of 2011 (in our case, blanketed in snow, which arrived yesterday–sniff, boo hoo!), I wish you all a stellar end to the year.  I can’t tell you all how much I appreciate your support each week, not only for this event (and I’m thrilled with the great response to it so far!), but for DDD in general, its recipes, ACD-related information, and, of course, The Girls’ musings. 

I love hearing from you, whether in comments, by email, on Facebook,  twitter or Pinterest–so please keep those comments, questions and reactions coming!  I can’t wait to see what 2012 holds for all of us. 

Here’s to another year together on DDD!

Hugs,

Ricki xo

And now, for last week’s highlighted recipes. . . .based on the theme, “made for sharing”: 

• Celery and Chestnut Soup from Green Gourmet Giraffe. I was never a fan of chestnuts until I made my own soup with them last year–and now this soup sounds totally dreamy to me!
• Pumpkin Oaties with Rosemary, Pecans and Cranberries from Tri2Cook.  Shannon made these no-added sweetener treats for a cookie exchange.  Lucky recipients!
• Grain-Free Vegan Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies from Gluten-Free Pantry.  These cookies would make a great addition to your post-New Year’s table!

Readers’ Choice, Savory: Homemade Sauerkraut with Nori Flakes from Natural Health and Prevention.  I’ve made my own sauerkraut before and loved it–next time, I’m adding nori!

Readers’ Choice, Sweet: Healthy Chocolate Truffles from Healthy Kitschy Vegan. With over 120 clicks on the linky, Danni’s easy raw truffles were clearly your top choice in this category last week! 

Thank you to every one of you who played along by submitting your recipes! I love seeing what you all make each week. I always look forward to seeing what you’ll come up with!

Please join us for Wellness Weekend this weekend! There are so many options for healthy foods. . . whether or not you’re vegan, remember that many salads, veggie side dishes, pasta dishes, desserts, smoothies, and more are naturally vegan and can all be included!

Here’s How to Participate (PLEASE READ THESE GUIDELINES CAREFULLY BEFORE LINKING UP!):

1. The event occurs once a week, starting Thursdays at 8:00 PM my time and running until Monday at midnight.
2. Simply link up a recipe you made (and posted about) within the past week that contains health-supporting ingredients (see list below). Use the Linky Tool at the bottom of the page. Please do not link more than once to the same web page!
3. Please link the post with your recipe, NOT your blog’s home page. The post must contain a recipe.
4. You may submit more than one recipe, but please follow the guidelines for each one individually. ONLY ONE THUMBNAIL PER POST, PLEASE.
5. Please be sure to mention this event and include a link back to this post so that others can find all the recipes posted!
6. Feel free to use the blog badge, above (or see the left sidebar of this page–if you need the html code, let me know and I’ll send it to you). Many thanks to Adrienne of Whole New Mom for setting up the badge code for me!
7. As always, I hate to remove links, but will do so if they don’t comply with the guidelines.

What your recipe CAN contain:

• Any good-for-you, whole foods, especially those with antioxidant properties or “functional foods” (ie, offering naturally medicinal or health-promoting qualities–such as garlic, coconut oil, all vegetables, fruits, herbs, etc.)–but any fresh, real food is welcome!
• Natural sweeteners (coconut sugar, agave, brown rice syrup, maple syrup, stevia, Sucanat, rapadura, coconut nectar, yacon syrup, etc.)
• Vegan ingredients (even if you’re not vegan, OF COURSE you can still play along! You’ll be surprised at how many foods are naturally vegan; and if not, there are many subs you can use for eggs, milk or butter–include vegan options and we’re good to go!).
• Note that this is NOT AN ACD-ONLY EVENT. Any real food ingredients that are sugar-free and vegan are more than welcome–so use that maple syrup, those mushrooms, that nutritional yeast, miso, etc! I’m just looking for healthy, whole foods recipes.

What your recipe cannot contain:

• White flour, white sugar, or any highly refined, highly processed ingredients (note that regular brown sugar is actually refined!);
• Anything almost entirely artificial (ie, most boxed mixes, fast food, faux “cheese,” faux “meat,” or margarine, unnaturally colored cereals or other foods, etc.);
• Animal products (meat, chicken, fish or seafood, or their by-products, gelatin, eggs, dairy, butter or honey).

“Hey! Why was my entry removed?”

• The most common reason entries are removed is because they don’t adhere to the guidelines: either they don’t contain a link back to this post, they contain ingredients that aren’t listed here, they are a re-post of a blog entry that is more than one week old, or they contain neither a recipe nor anything directly related to food preparation. If you render a recipe vegan-friendly by adding a vegan option to your ingredients, your post will be good to go! For older posts, you’re welcome to re-post them during the week of the event, or choose a newer recipe.
• Another reason posts are removed is because the link leads to an advertisement or a business blog. Please do NOT link up posts that are merely referrals to a different post or the home page for another blog event.
• Only one thumbnail per post, please. If your post contains two suitable recipes, link up once and people will still see all your fabulous recipes when they click on the linky.
• I hate to have to remove links! PLEASE read the guidelines before posting!

NOTE: A few of you have mentioned problems linking up in the past couple of weeks because of the backlink requirement. If the linky won’t work for you, please let me know so I can tell the Linky Tools owner and the problem can be fixed!

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[Some of the spoils of the 25th.]

Hope you all had a fantastic holiday!  Over here in the DDD household, we’ve had a wonderful time the past few days, what with the HH on holidays between Christmas and New Year’s.

(“Yes, Mum, we’ve loved it, too! It’s great to have those extra trail-walks. . . and play time. . . and. . . ooh, whatever that yummy food is called!  Um. . . do you think I could have some more of that stuff?”)

After scrambling at a cougar’s pace (that would be the feline kind, not the Courtney-Cox kind) the last few weeks to complete my work at the college (ie, marking last-minute assignments and over 170 exams within the space of 4 days); keep up with writing commitments; and buy gifts for my loved ones (then wrap and give said gifts to their intended recipients)–on Christmas Eve, finally, I began to unwind, think about some serious chillaxing, and prepare for a fabulous festive feast (including triple alliteration, no less).

“Yeah, Mum, chillaxing is great this time of year! I’m feeling toasty warm over here by the fireplace.  Oh, and by the way, I’m happy to help with leftovers. . . you know what I’m talking about.”

This year, the HH announced once again that he would like a tradtional turkey dinner.  As regular readers of this blog likely know, my honey is a devoted carnivore.  Most days, this state of affairs presents no problem at all: we coexist peacefully; he eats his meat at lunch time, or orders off restaurant menus when we dine out; or he cooks his own steaks or hamburgers and consumes my dinner as his side dish.  (For a good description of how another vegan-omni couple works it out in a similar way, see JL’s recent post). A huge turkey, however, is another matter entirely. 

“Yeah–turkey–that’s what it’s called!  So, did I hear you say, ‘turkey,’ Mum?”

One thing I love about the HH is his full acceptance of me–quirks, blemishes, and all, including aspects of myself that even I find difficult to tolerate.  Neurotic tirades about germs, disease, airplanes, strange noises in the house at night, having to wash the dishes just so–et cetera–are all met with (mostly) patient, even responses or calm rebuttals.  In the nearly-15 years we’ve been together, my sweetie has witnessed my physical proportions vacillate wildly a half dozen times, bouncing between an initially svelte, mini skirted physique to that of an engorged beach ball (nearly 200 pounds at the height of my candida woes in 2009).  And not once–not even in a whisper–has he ever uttered a negative word about my weight, acted less affectionate, or suggested that I might like to go on a diet. 

And so, on Christmas Day, after sleeping in and chasing the lethargy with a shot of coffee (the HH) and matcha tea (moi), we opened our presents in front of the fireplace. And then the HH got to work cooking his turkey.

After he popped it in the oven, he played sous-chef for me, chopping veggies, sautéing onions, slicing potatoes and trimming brussels sprouts.  

[Perfect gluten-free stuffing waiting to go into the oven.]

The rest of the day was spent alternately sipping warm apple cider drink (me, courtesy of Lexie). . . .

. . . or wine (he, courtesy of Casillero del Diablo). . .

. . . while reading (he: The Absolute Sound; she: The Blue Notebook and a few new cookbooks), playing with the Girls, doing the mega-crossword in The Globe and Mail (that’s a week-long project, I suspect) and listening to The Nutcracker, Buena Vista Social Club, Peggy Lee, Chopin and Zacharia.

["That's pretty nice music, Mum! Perfect for listening while waiting for more turkey. . . "]

Throughout the day as we reclined and prepped, we snacked intermittently on this cranberry-crusted cashew goat-cheese log I’d made  (simply whir about half of them in a blender to create a paste, then mix with the remaining whole berries and press the mess into your cheese; bake at 250F/120 C for 20 minutes to set). Heavenly!

[Cranberry-Crusted Cashew Goat Cheese on oat crackers. . . almost made me forget about the meal!]

My final menu included Fava Bean Balls (I loved the flavor but not the texture–I’ll keep working on it and post the recipe once I perfect it) with Apple-Cranberry Sauce; Creamy Whipped Kabocha (processed with soaked raw cashews and a splash of lemon juice for a sour-cream effect); Scalloped Potatoes adapted from Alta’s recipe; our favorite brussels sprouts; gluten-free stuffing (loosely based on this recipe); and onion gravy.  It was an incredible, indulgent, celebratory meal, and we relished every bite.  In fact, I even enjoyed it again the next day for lunch:

The HH savored his turkey, too, alongside all the same sides as me. And because it was far too much for the HH alone, he shared amply with The Girls, who, it seemed to me, reacted much the way Marilyn Monroe did to a moving camera, or William S Burroughs did to a bag of cocaine on the table, or a gas stovetop element does to a lit match.  In fact, I’d say that Chaser still gets that “crazy eye” look any time someone utters the word, “turkey.”

["What? What's that you say?  Oh, no, Mum, you're totally wrong about that. No way, Mum.  Oh, I can stop any time I want.  Really.  No problem.  No worries.  It's just that I like turkey.  I choose to eat turkey. I mean. . . hey, by the way, is there any more?  I mean, I wouldn't mind some turkey. . . I'd actually love a little turkey. . . just a little. . . just one piece. . . . "]

For dessert, I attempted my very first Sticky Toffee Pudding, combining recipes from both Angela and Lexie.  The result was a thick, dense, spiced cake rendered gooey and sticky from soaking in toffee sauce, with a hefty scoop of Caramel Ice Cream alongside, also doused in more sauce (sorry, no photo–we lapped it up pretty quickly).  While The HH loved the dessert, I would have been happier with just the ice cream and sauce.

By this morning, I was ready to revert to lighter fare and more of my regular routine.  Ever since you all weighed in on what you’d like to see here, I’ve also been thinking about quicker, easier dishes for the Flash in the Pan series of recipes.

This breakfast is a hybrid of a classic chia pudding and a breakfast smoothie. It can be prepared the night before and left in the fridge to soften and plump up overnight.  The pudding combines some of my favorite smoothie ingredients (rice protein powder, avocado, rice milk, cacao) with the texture of a pudding, resulting in a high-protein, high Omega-3 meal-in-a-bowl that provides a whole host of other health benefits as well.  Pillowy soft, luxuriously creamy and rich tasting, this breakfast is a quick way to acquire a full serving of protein in what tastes like a dessert.  It’s a great way to use up those ripe avocados on your countertop, too.

I can’t think of a better way to cap off the holiday feasting. Can you?

“Well, Mum, if you really want to know, I’s say that another slice of that turkey would do just fine. . . but chances aren’t looking too good at the moment.  I may as well just give up on it for now. . . *Sigh*.”

And finally. . . your opinion, please!

I loved learning what you’d like to see on the blog in 2012 (and please feel free to keep those ideas coming in the comments!).  For now, I’ve got a more immediate question for y’all (I already asked this one on Facebook, so if you answered there, thanks!):  The HH and I have been invited to the home of a friend of a friend for a New Year’s Eve bash.  All I know about this gent is that he’s a true gourmet who loves to cook and eat.  I’ve been asked to bring a sweet treat and am considering the following three (note that they’re not ACD friendly or gluten free–but then again, these are for a crowd of conventional eaters). 

Which one would you choose?

The Classic Chocolate Fudge (with a hint of orange zest):

The quirky Spiked Sweet Potato Truffles:

or The elegant Matcha Chocolate Truffles?

I’ll be back next time with some musings on the end of the year, resolutions and health in 2011!

I’m sharing this recipe at Amy’s Slightly Indulgent Tuesday event.

Last Year at this Time: African Sweet Potato Stew (gluten free; ACD, all stages)

Two Years Ago: Quick and Easy Dal and Chickpea Koftas (gluten free; ACD Stage 2 and beyond)

Three Years Ago: Apple Noodle Pudding (kugel) with Tart Dried Cherries (not gluten free; ACD maintenance only)

Four Years Ago: A Joy: Pot Luck Club

© Ricki Heller, Diet, Dessert and Dogs

Holiday time is here! After waiting patiently throughout the year, this week people will celebrate Christmas and continue to celebrate Hanukkah.  (Have you got all your shopping done yet? Me, neither).

It may be a cliché to say it, but blogging has truly changed my life, and I am so thankful that you’ve chosen to spend a bit of your precious time with me here during the past year.  Thank you!

Happy holidays to each and every one of you.  I look forward to sharing more great food, health information, stories and comments from The Girls over the next year!

And while I’m sure everyone is insanely busy with their own holiday celebrations, I decided to go ahead with Wellness Weekend this week just in case you have the chance to share some of your festive meals with everyone here. I loved seeing all your entries from last week, with so many already in the holiday spirit!

Enjoy your time with friends and family, and have a great holiday season!

xo Ricki

Some highlights from last week, based on the theme of “holiday veggies”:

• Brussels Sprouts and Potato in Tomato Gravy from Hobby and More. I’m always looking for new ways with sprouts, and these sound fabulous!
• Kale Chips with the Works from Cats in the Kitchen. Do you love kale chips? (Doesn’t everyone??)
• Beetroot Hummus from Allotment2Kitchen.  Another hummus, this one redolent with pink.  Beautiful for a celebration!

Readers’ Choice, Savory: Low Fat Hummus from Healthy Kitschy Vegan. Wonderfully spiced, with a secret ingredient and no oil!

Readers’ Choice, Sweet: Black Bean Chocolate Mint Cookies from Janet at The Taste Space.  I just posted my own version of these, so I can attest that they’re yummy!

Thank you to every one of you who played along by submitting your recipes! I love seeing what you all make each week. I always look forward to seeing what you’ll come up with!

Please join us for Wellness Weekend this weekend! There are so many options for healthy foods. . . whether or not you’re vegan, remember that many salads, veggie side dishes, pasta dishes, desserts, smoothies, and more are naturally vegan and can all be included!

Here’s How to Participate (PLEASE READ THESE GUIDELINES CAREFULLY BEFORE LINKING UP!):

1. The event occurs once a week, starting Thursdays at 8:00 PM my time and running until Monday at midnight.
2. Simply link up a recipe you made (and posted about) within the past week that contains health-supporting ingredients (see list below). Use the Linky Tool at the bottom of the page. Please do not link more than once to the same web page!
3. Please link the post with your recipe, NOT your blog’s home page. The post must contain a recipe.
4. You may submit more than one recipe, but please follow the guidelines for each one individually. ONLY ONE THUMBNAIL PER POST, PLEASE.
5. Please be sure to mention this event and include a link back to this post so that others can find all the recipes posted!
6. Feel free to use the blog badge, above (or see the left sidebar of this page–if you need the html code, let me know and I’ll send it to you). Many thanks to Adrienne of Whole New Mom for setting up the badge code for me!
7. As always, I hate to remove links, but will do so if they don’t comply with the guidelines.

What your recipe CAN contain:

• Any good-for-you, whole foods, especially those with antioxidant properties or “functional foods” (ie, offering naturally medicinal or health-promoting qualities–such as garlic, coconut oil, all vegetables, fruits, herbs, etc.)–but any fresh, real food is welcome!
• Natural sweeteners (coconut sugar, agave, brown rice syrup, maple syrup, stevia, Sucanat, rapadura, coconut nectar, yacon syrup, etc.)
• Vegan ingredients (even if you’re not vegan, OF COURSE you can still play along! You’ll be surprised at how many foods are naturally vegan; and if not, there are many subs you can use for eggs, milk or butter–include vegan options and we’re good to go!).
• Note that this is NOT AN ACD-ONLY EVENT. Any real food ingredients that are sugar-free and vegan are more than welcome–so use that maple syrup, those mushrooms, that nutritional yeast, miso, etc! I’m just looking for healthy, whole foods recipes.

What your recipe cannot contain:

• White flour, white sugar, or any highly refined, highly processed ingredients (note that regular brown sugar is actually refined!);
• Anything almost entirely artificial (ie, most boxed mixes, fast food, faux “cheese,” faux “meat,” or margarine, unnaturally colored cereals or other foods, etc.);
• Animal products (meat, chicken, fish or seafood, or their by-products, gelatin, eggs, dairy, butter or honey).

“Hey! Why was my entry removed?”

• The most common reason entries are removed is because they don’t adhere to the guidelines: either they don’t contain a link back to this post, they contain ingredients that aren’t listed here, they are a re-post of a blog entry that is more than one week old, or they contain neither a recipe nor anything directly related to food preparation. If you render a recipe vegan-friendly by adding a vegan option to your ingredients, your post will be good to go! For older posts, you’re welcome to re-post them during the week of the event, or choose a newer recipe.
• Another reason posts are removed is because the link leads to an advertisement or a business blog. Please do NOT link up posts that are merely referrals to a different post or the home page for another blog event.
• Only one thumbnail per post, please. If your post contains two suitable recipes, link up once and people will still see all your fabulous recipes when they click on the linky.
• I hate to have to remove links! PLEASE read the guidelines before posting!

NOTE: A few of you have mentioned problems linking up in the past couple of weeks because of the backlink requirement. If the linky won’t work for you, please let me know so I can tell the Linky Tools owner and the problem can be fixed!

**********************************************

Welcome to our final week of A Gluten Free Holiday 2011!  It’s been great sharing the holiday season with you, one gluten-free Thursday at a time. 

So far, we’ve covered a variety of holiday themes:

I. Week One: Staying Healthier Over the Holidays with Amy at Simply Sugar and Gluten Free

II. Week Two: Thanksgiving Favorites with Kim at Cook it Allergy Free

III. Week Three:  Gifts of Good Taste with Alta at Tasty Eats at Home

IV. Week Four: Holiday Entrées and Sides with Hallie at Daily Bites

V: Week Five: Breakfast and Brunch with yours truly

And this week marks one of my favorite themes of all : DESSERT! It’s being hosted by Maggie at She Let Them Eat Cake.

Be sure to hop over to Maggie’s blog to check out her Gingerbread Cupcakes and giveaway!  You can also link up your own GF dessert recipes and leave a comment to enter today’s giveaway.  Here’s what Maggie will be giving away:

One copy of Blackbird Bakery Gluten-Free by Karen Morgan, with desserts from the famous bakery;

and

A copy of Simply. . . Gluten-Free Desserts by Carol Kicinski!  Carol writes the wildly popular blog of the same name.

To enter to win either book, just leave a comment on Maggie’s blog, or link up a recipe of your own!

And now, who’s ready for dessert?  I think we’ve waited long enough!

I actually first made this pie quite a while ago (some of you may remember that I posted about it on Facebook), but I’ve been holding on to the recipe, clinging to it like Scrooge gripping his last penny so that I could save it for this very post. Seriously, this is one is a show-stopper, a perfect finale to a holiday meal or any special occasion. And it’s worth every second of the effort involved. 

I recently served this to a friend of the HH’s who came for dinner (he’s a typical Standard American Diet kinda guy–McMuffin for breakfast, cheeseburger for lunch, Pringles on the go and pizza for dinner) and he scraped the plate clean, eagerly accepting a second serving.  The HH, who is fond of any dessert that’s light, cool and creamy, declared this to be one of my best recipes to date.  I think so, too.

The funny thing is, I don’t consider myself to be a “pie person.”  There are folks who adore pies; those who dive right in to the filling, virtually ignoring the crust; and, alternately, those who pick away at the pastry indifferent to the oozing cherries or blueberries or glistening apple slices within.  I would normally consider myself one of the latter, if I ever ate pie at all. I thought of the filling as merely a “crust delivery vehicle.”

In this case, though, the entire package must be savored, the layers of crust, ganache, mousse and drizzle melding together in one tantalizing confection. The base is a chocolate shortbread crust, adapted from the recipe in Sweet Freedom  (revamped to be gluten-free and ACD-friendly).  Next is a layer of intense dark chocolate ganache, a perfect marriage of smooth and condensed.  The top layer, a serendipitous combination of coconut whipped cream, smooth almond butter and dark chocolate, is so pillowy, rich and creamy that you may need a moment to compose yourself after you take your first sinful bite.  

I also experimented with the pie as a torte in a springform pan, with an equally enticing outcome.  So no matter what your own preference, you can still enjoy this exquisite dessert.

Depending on which format you choose, you may end up with a tad extra ganache at the end of the process.  In fact, I found myself with about 1/2 cup (120 ml) left over after the pie was assembled. 

So, what did I do with it? 

[Pumpkin Oatmeal Bowl with Chocolate Ganache Swirl.]

Oh, yes.  Yes, I did. Maybe I am a pie person, after all.

And here are the desserts that other Gluten Free Holiday participants made today:

• Amy at Simply Sugar and Gluten Free baked Fig-Filled Chocolate Pinwheel Cookies
• Alta at Tasty Eats at Home made Chewy Apple Cider Blondies
• Kim at Cook it Allergy Free shared Caramel Apple Pie
• Hallie at Daily Bites offers up Cranberries & Cream Tart

And don’t forget. . . I’ve got a Holiday Mega Ebook Sale going on from now until the end of the year–any two of my ebooks (including Sweet Freedom!) for just $10.95!  Details or place an order here. 

Last Year at this Time: My Way of Eating (my food philosophy, sort of)

Two Years Ago: Flash in the Pan: Brazil Nut-Cilantro Pesto (gluten free;  All Stages)

Three Years Ago: Flash in the Pan: “My Life in Balance” Buttery Spread (gluten-free; ACD maintenance only)

Four Years Ago: Pumpkinseed Shortbread Buttons (Gluten free; ACD maintenance only)

© Ricki Heller, Diet, Dessert and Dogs

[You wanna piece of me?  Recipe at end of post.]

I’m delighted to be taking part in the Home for the Holidays event, organized by Shirley over at Gluten Free Easily.  The event spans almost a month, with a new blogger each day (25 in all!) presenting to you the recipe that spells “home” to her or him: the one that sparks memories of family gatherings when you were a child, warms your insides, makes you smile and evokes love and community. The one you immediately think of when you think, “holidays“!  And we hope you’ll join in on your own blog by posting the badge, below, and linking up to the event as well!

So what does this mean?  Well, there are twenty five amazing recipes–AND twenty five amazing giveaways!  Just as there will be a new recipe posted every day (mine’s at the end of the post), there will also be a new set of prizes each day (each blogger will be giving away 3 prizes, with some repeated, so if you don’t win a favorite book on one day, you can try again later!).  In addition to the individual bloggers’ giveaways, Shirley is coordinating three incredible Grand Prizes–and you’re automatically entered for each of the grand prizes every time you enter any of the individual giveaways throughout the month (such as the one you’ll find below!). D

Here’s the jaw-dropping lineup:

3rd prize: Caveman Cookies  ($89.00 value!)

2nd prize: Shopping Spree at Free From Gluten ($150 value)

GRAND PRIZE: Top of the Line VitaMix blender! (and you all KNOW how much I love my VitaMix!!)

To enter to win these three prizes–or any of the others—leave a comment on any, or all, of the blogs presenting in the event. Every entry also counts toward the three grand prizes. The more you enter, the more chances you have to win! The three prizes above will be announced on Gluten Free Easily on Christmas.

Today, I’m giving away these two prizes: THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED. THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO ENTERED!

TWO Copies of Living Without Magazine!  This is a fantastic resource for anyone who has food intolerances, sensitivities or allergies.  You’ll find great information and recipes for people who live without eating gluten, dairy, eggs, soy, corn, etc!

And 

ONE copy of Sugar Nation: The Hidden Truth Behind America’s Deadliest Habit and the Simple Way to Beat It by Jeff O’Connell. As you know, this is a topic close to my heart.  O’Connell talks about how we’ve become sugar addicts in our society, the causes, the effects, and what we can do about it. 

TO ENTER TO WIN ONE OF THESE GREAT PRIZES THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED. THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO ENTERED! (all entries are also eligible for the three grand prizes): simply leave a comment on this post. 

You can gain extra entries by doing one or more of the following.  FOR EACH EXTRA ENTRY, PLEASE COME BACK AND LEAVE A COMMENT TELLING ME THAT YOU’VE DONE SO.

• Post about this giveaway on your own blog, on Facebook, Twitter, Google +, or Stumble it.
• Follow DDD on Facebook, twitter, Pinterest, or subscribe to this blog.

The giveaway will run until MIDNIGHT ON TUESDAY, DECEMBER 13.  THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED. THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO ENTERED! Shirley will announce the winners on her blog at the end of the week, and I’ll also announce them here thereafter.

To see Kelly’s amazing Peanut Butter Pie with Double Chocolate Crust from yesterday, click here.  And check in tomorrow for a treat from Iris at The Daily Dietribe.

For a complete list of all the prizes and their sponsors, see the end of this post (just after the recipe).

[Chocolate + peppermint + truffles = My kinda holiday food!]

When I thought about what foods evoke “holidays” for me, there was only one answer: chocolate.  As an avowed chocaholic (okay, serious, recidivist, chocolate addict), pretty much any special occasion has to include the beloved blissful brown bite, but wintertime holidays in particular bring this confection to mind.

When I was a singleton living on my own, I rented the basement apartment of a fabulous Victorian home that had been converted into four flats.  The woman on the top floor was a jetsetting, run- (and flirt)-with-the-wolves kind of gal, with a fashion sense that combined pixie-cute appeal with a definite siren-sexiness factor. (In the end, she nabbed the son of Canada’s richest billionaire as her husband.  The marriage has since dissolved, but I have no doubt that the bank account is as healthy as ever).

One  year, Ms. Jetsetter invited me to a Christmas party in her flat.  Emerging from the bowels of the building, my eyes still squinting from the light, I was entirely entranced by the fantasty winter-wonderland theme of her party and the dreamy quality of the decorations in her apartment. It was as if she had smeared the camera lens with Vaseline and strung gauze all over the place, with everything slightly blurred, the edges softened, silver and white undertones to the light and shadows throughout the place. The antique tree decorations were illuminated in glimmering beams, reflecting off the glowing embers in the fireplace. Tabletops were crowded with plates of food and drink and small, flickering candles emitting a soft and sensuous glow.  And there, in the bathroom (yes! the bathroom!) was a lovely bowl of individually wrapped chocolate truffles on the counter, so guests could sneak a little treat with them after checking their reflections, fixing their lipliner, or straightening a tie.

I was in love with the idea of offering truffles in virtually every room of the party, and since then, have blatantly copied the concept any time I throw a holiday bash.  But the truffles themselves were easier to attain, since they came from Canada’s own President’s Choice line.  Anyone who lives in Ontario (or has access to the brand) will likely be familiar with these rich little squares, covered in milk chocolate and concealing a mint-chocolate ganache filling. 

Now that I can consume neither chocolate nor sugar, I just had to create an ACD friendly version of my own.  I think you’ll find these incredibly reminiscent of milk chocolate, and just as irresistible.  The insides are a blended-till-silky-smooth mix of coconut, cashews and chocolate (somebody save me), all covered in a thick and intense dark chocolate cloak. The contrast in flavors and textures is enough to make even the richest billionaire swoon.

The next time you throw a holiday party, you can proudly lay these treats out for your guests–in whichever room you choose.

[Didn't I tell you they look like milk chocolate?  Rich, minty, smooth. . . heaven.]

Here’s the full lineup of participating sponsors and prizes for Home for the Holidays:

PRINT BOOKS (Cookbooks and Resource Books, or Combos):

–More Make It Fast, Cook It Slow and Totally Together Journal combos–by Stephanie O’Dea, three combos (3)
–Simply … Gluten-Free Desserts by Carol Kicinski, 2 signed copies (2)  each with a package of Carol’s Gluten-Free Flour mix
–Artisanal Gluten-Free Cooking by Pete and Kelli Bronski, one signed copy (1)
–Artisanal Gluten-Free Cupcakes by Pete and Kelly Bronski, one signed copy (1)
–Gluten-Free Baking for Dummies by Jean Layton and Linda Larsen, one copy (1) (release date Dec. 6)
–Gluten-Free on a Shoestring by Nicole Hunn — 2 copies (2)
–Gluten-Free in 5 Minutes by Robin Ryberg — 2 copies (2)
–Gluten-Free Makeovers by Beth Hillson – 2 copies (2)
–The Gluten-Free Almond Flour Cookbook by Elana Amsterdam, six signed copies (6)
–The Gluten-Free Cupcakes Cookbook by Elana Amsterdam, six signed copies (6)
–The Gluten-Free Asian Kitchen by Laura B. Russell, two copies (2)
–The Dairy-Free Gluten-Free Kitchen by Denise Jardine, ONE EXCLUSIVE ADVANCE COPY (1)
–The Pure Kitchen by Hallie Klecker, two copies (2)
–Cooking for Isaiah by Silvana Nardone, three copies (3)
–Free for All Cooking by Jules Shepard, one signed copy (1)
–The First Year: Celiac Disease and Living Gluten Free: An Essential Guide for the Newly Diagnosed by Jules Shepard, one signed copy
–Healthier Without Wheat by Dr. Stephen Wangen, three signed copies (3)
–Sugar Nation by Jeffrey O’Connell, four copies (4)
–Wheat Belly by William Davis, three copies (3)
–Dangerous Grains by Ron Hoggan and Dr. James Braly, two copies (2)
–The Food Allergy Kitchen by Amra Ibrismovic and Carmel Nelson, one copy (1)
–The Whole Foods Kosher Kitchen* by Lévana Kirschenbaum and Lisa R.Young
–The Spunky Coconut Cookbook 2nd edition, by Kelly Brozyna, one signed copy (1)
–Grain-Free Baked Goods and Desserts by Kelly Brozyna, one signed copy (1)
–Paleo Comfort Foods by Julie and Charles Mayfield, three copies (3)
–Go Dairy Free* by Alisa Fleming, two signed copies (2)
–Modern Spice by Monica Bhide, one copy (1) (in combo package with Monica’s app, iSPICE)
–Perfect One-Dish Dinners* by Pam Anderson, one signed copy (1)
–The Whole Life Nutrition Cookbook by Ali Segersten and Tom Malterre, two signed copies (2)
–The Steamy Kitchen* by Jaden Hair, one copy (1)

–100 Best Gluten-Free Recipes by Carol Fenster, one copy (1)

E-BOOKS (Cookbooks and Resource Books) 

–Gluten-Free Goddess E-Book: Best Loved Recipes by Karina Allrich (1)
–The Gluten-Free Diner Cookbook by Diane Eblin, one copy with tote bag (1)
–7 Quick Start Tips for Living a Healthy Gluten-Free Fit Life, by Erin Elberson, five copies (5)
–Sweet Freedom*, by Ricki Heller, one copy (1)
–Combo Set of following: Good Morning Breakfasts, Desserts Without Compromise, and Anti-Candida Feast Book by Ricki Heller, one copy (1) of set 

MAGAZINES–Easy Eats, three subscriptions–electronic (3)
–Delight, two subscriptions–print (2)
–Living Without, two subscriptions–print (2)  

APPS

–Cook IT Allergy Free by Kim Wilson-Maes, three apps (3)
–iSPICE by Monica Bhide, one app (in combo package with her cookbook, Modern Spice; already mentioned above) (1)  

OTHER

–GlutenTox Testing Kit, two packages (two tests in each kits) (2)
–Tropical Traditions Gold Label Virgin Coconut Oil Certified Organic, one quart (1)

–Five pound bag of Honeyville organic almond flour (1)

*Indicates prize is not exclusively gluten free, but offers much that is gluten free or easily adapted 

GRAND PRIZE–A top-of–the-line Vitamix—woohoooo! Specifically, Vitamix is offering its Super Healthy Lifestyle package, which includes a 5200 machine and a 32 oz. dry grains container for grinding your own, gluten-free flours. Note that on Cyber Monday (11/28), Vitamix will be offering this package at $499 as part of its holiday special; that’s $50 off the normal price. The winner will also receive a copy of the e-book, Eat Fresh and D-Tox Your Life. This e-book is the perfect companion for this amazing Vitamix; read more here. 

SECOND PRIZE—A $150 shopping spree at Free From Gluten (freefromgluten.com). Free From Gluten is the largest gluten-free store offering everything from basic products like gluten-free flours and xanthan gum to those treats like Enjoy Life semi-sweet mini chocolate chips and special products like baguettes and ice cream cones.

THIRD PRIZE—Caveman Cookies giveaway package ($89 value).  One large bag of each of the current three flavors , Original, Tropical, and Alpine ($28.95 value) plus one large bag of the soon-to-be released new flavor, Rainforest ($9.95 value; will be shipped as soon as available; anticipated end of Dec); 1 large variety pack ($32.50 value), and 1 t-shirt ($17.50 value; your size, your color). 

Last Year at this Time: Rich and Creamy Chai Carob Latte (gluten free; ACD   Stage 2 and beyond)

Two Years Ago: Stevia-Sweetened, Gluten-Free Blueberry Lemon Muffins (ACD Stage 2 and beyond)

Three Years Ago: Blended Hot Cereal (gluten free option; ACD maintenance)

Four Years Ago: Dog Day: Bonehenge

© Ricki Heller, Diet, Dessert and Dogs

NOTE: THE GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED! THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO LEFT A COMMENT. 

It’s just insane how quickly this month is whizzing by–before we know it, it will be 2012!! Okay, I don’t mean to rush things along, or anything. . . . let’s just enjoy the rest of December as best we can.    And one thing I truly enjoy is all of your great recipes for Wellness Weekend!  Another stellar show of recipes from y’all last week, for sure.

Before I get to today’s lineup, I’ve got a few little announcements to make:’

First, just in case you missed it, this morning marked Week 5 of the “A Gluten Free Holiday” event.  I served up some Oatmeal Poppyseed Scones, and I’m giving away TWO cookbooks–Gluten Free and Vegan Holidays by Jennifer Katzinger, and my own Sweet Freedom.  So hop over to this morning’s post and leave a comment, or link up your breakfast recipes to enter to win!

Second, are you in the Chicago area, or planning to visit in April?  I’ll be presenting at the Nourished Food Bloggers Conference, and I’d love to see you there!  For more info, check the Nourished home page. 

Finally, thank you to everyone who supplied ideas for blog changes to DDD in 2012–I am already working on posts as a result of your suggestions! But I’m still interested in your ideas about topics or pages you’d like to see, what you could live without, what you like best on the blog.  Please feel free to leave a comment on the post if you haven’t yet!

And now. . . . what we’ve all been waiting for: the food!

Some highlights from last week, based on the theme of “quick”:

• Raspberry Pineapple Smoothie from Wayfaring Chocolate. I love pineapple in, well, just about anything.  And this smoothie looks like a snap to prepare.
• Warm Pumpkin Porridge from The Gluten Free Edge. This grain-free porridge has been my breakfast (with minor adjustments) three times this past week.  Love it. (I add hemp seeds and/or ground coconut as well).
• Pomegranate Ice Cream from Gluten Free Pantry. Yes, it’s December and freezing where I live, but this looks so festive, and I adore pomegranate!

Readers’ Choice, Savory: Savory Breakfast Bowls with Rice, Kale and Butternut Squash from Celiacs in the House. I love savory breakfasts, and these bowls look like a perfect way to start the day with a balanced and delicious mix of carbs, protein, and healthy fats.

Readers’ Choice: Vegan Chocolate Sunbutter Pillows from Cats in the Kitchen.  A fabulous treat in any case, but doubly so if you miss peanut butter cups (as I do!).

Thank you to every one of you who played along by submitting your recipes! I love seeing what you all make each week. I always look forward to seeing what you’ll come up with!

Please join us for Wellness Weekend this weekend! There are so many options for healthy foods. . . whether or not you’re vegan, remember that many salads, veggie side dishes, pasta dishes, desserts, smoothies, and more are naturally vegan and can all be included!

Here’s How to Participate (PLEASE READ THESE GUIDELINES CAREFULLY BEFORE LINKING UP!):

1. The event occurs once a week, starting Thursdays at 8:00 PM my time and running until Monday at midnight.
2. Simply link up a recipe you made (and posted about) within the past week that contains health-supporting ingredients (see list below). Use the Linky Tool at the bottom of the page. Please do not link more than once to the same web page!
3. Please link the post with your recipe, NOT your blog’s home page. The post must contain a recipe.
4. You may submit more than one recipe, but please follow the guidelines for each one individually. ONLY ONE THUMBNAIL PER POST, PLEASE.
5. Please be sure to mention this event and include a link back to this post so that others can find all the recipes posted!
6. Feel free to use the blog badge, above (or see the left sidebar of this page–if you need the html code, let me know and I’ll send it to you). Many thanks to Adrienne of Whole New Mom for setting up the badge code for me!
7. As always, I hate to remove links, but will do so if they don’t comply with the guidelines.

What your recipe CAN contain:

• Any good-for-you, whole foods, especially those with antioxidant properties or “functional foods” (ie, offering naturally medicinal or health-promoting qualities–such as garlic, coconut oil, all vegetables, fruits, herbs, etc.)–but any fresh, real food is welcome!
• Natural sweeteners (coconut sugar, agave, brown rice syrup, maple syrup, stevia, Sucanat, rapadura, coconut nectar, yacon syrup, etc.)
• Vegan ingredients (even if you’re not vegan, OF COURSE you can still play along! You’ll be surprised at how many foods are naturally vegan; and if not, there are many subs you can use for eggs, milk or butter–include vegan options and we’re good to go!).
• Note that this is NOT AN ACD-ONLY EVENT. Any real food ingredients that are sugar-free and vegan are more than welcome–so use that maple syrup, those mushrooms, that nutritional yeast, miso, etc! I’m just looking for healthy, whole foods recipes.

What your recipe cannot contain:

• White flour, white sugar, or any highly refined, highly processed ingredients (note that regular brown sugar is actually refined!);
• Anything almost entirely artificial (ie, most boxed mixes, fast food, faux “cheese,” faux “meat,” or margarine, unnaturally colored cereals or other foods, etc.);
• Animal products (meat, chicken, fish or seafood, or their by-products, gelatin, eggs, dairy, butter or honey).

“Hey! Why was my entry removed?”

• The most common reason entries are removed is because they don’t adhere to the guidelines: either they don’t contain a link back to this post, they contain ingredients that aren’t listed here, they are a re-post of a blog entry that is more than one week old, or they contain neither a recipe nor anything directly related to food preparation. If you render a recipe vegan-friendly by adding a vegan option to your ingredients, your post will be good to go! For older posts, you’re welcome to re-post them during the week of the event, or choose a newer recipe.
• Another reason posts are removed is because the link leads to an advertisement or a business blog. Please do NOT link up posts that are merely referrals to a different post or the home page for another blog event.
• Only one thumbnail per post, please. If your post contains two suitable recipes, link up once and people will still see all your fabulous recipes when they click on the linky.
• I hate to have to remove links! PLEASE read the guidelines before posting!

NOTE: A few of you have mentioned problems linking up in the past couple of weeks because of the backlink requirement. If the linky won’t work for you, please let me know so I can tell the Linky Tools owner and the problem can be fixed!

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Are we feeling the holiday buzz yet?  Seems that the instant Halloween is over, the holiday carousel begins!  Here at the DDD household, celebrations begin the week before Halloween, with my birthday.  Then, mid-November, it’s the HH’s turn.  Seems like we’ve been feeling the holiday spirit for a few weeks now!

Your contributions to last week’s Wellness Weekend were pretty darned spirited, too.  So many fabulous recipes worthy of a celebration!  Here are just a few of my own picks, based on the theme of “celebration pirit”:

• Tiramisu Pancakes from Hobby and More.  Really, don’t these make you want to say, “Yippee!”??
• Roasted Sweet Potatoes and Pears from The Gluten-Free Pantry.  Perfect for Thanksgiving, or any party table!
• Roasted Celeriac Mash from My Munchable Musings.  Another great recipe that would work as a Thanksgiving celebration side dish.
• Parsnip Pâté from The Mommy Bowl. I love the sound of this recipe! (Okay, I love it twice as much because it’s also perfect for this month’s SOS Challenge on parsnips–hope you’ll submit there, too!)

And the Reader’s Choice this week was a new take on a classic:

• Samoa Style Coconut Chocolate Chip Cookies from Shirley at Gluten Free Easily.  Both gluten-free (and grain free, egg free, dairy free and refined sugar free) and easy to make, these cookies were definitely something to celebrate (trust me, I know–I ate quite a few of these babies myself last week).

Thank you to every one of you who played along by submitting your recipes! I love seeing what you all make each week. I always look forward to seeing what you’ll come up with!

Oh, and if you missed it this morning, today also marks Week Three of the “A Gluten Free Holiday 2011″ event! Today’s topic is Gifts of Good Taste. I’ve got a list of recipes that would make great gifts here.  Alta from Tasty Eats at Home is hosting the event this week, with a great giveaway.  Check it out on her blog!

Please join us for Wellness Weekend this weekend! There are so many options for healthy foods. . . whether or not you’re vegan, remember that many salads, veggie side dishes, pasta dishes, desserts, smoothies, and more are naturally vegan and can all be included!

Here’s How to Participate (PLEASE READ THESE GUIDELINES CAREFULLY BEFORE LINKING UP!):

1. The event occurs once a week, starting Thursdays at 8:00 PM my time and running until Monday at midnight.
2. Simply link up a recipe you made (and posted about) within the past week that contains health-supporting ingredients (see list below). Use the Linky Tool at the bottom of the page. Please do not link more than once to the same web page!
3. Please link the post with your recipe, NOT your blog’s home page. The post must contain a recipe.
4. You may submit more than one recipe, but please follow the guidelines for each one individually. ONLY ONE THUMBNAIL PER POST, PLEASE.
5. Please be sure to mention this event and include a link back to this post so that others can find all the recipes posted!
6. Feel free to use the blog badge, above (or see the left sidebar of this page–if you need the html code, let me know and I’ll send it to you). Many thanks to Adrienne of Whole New Mom for setting up the badge code for me!
7. As always, I hate to remove links, but will do so if they don’t comply with the guidelines.

What your recipe CAN contain:

• Any good-for-you, whole foods, especially those with antioxidant properties or “functional foods” (ie, offering naturally medicinal or health-promoting qualities–such as garlic, coconut oil, all vegetables, fruits, herbs, etc.)–but any fresh, real food is welcome!
• Natural sweeteners (coconut sugar, agave, brown rice syrup, maple syrup, stevia, Sucanat, rapadura, coconut nectar, yacon syrup, etc.)
• Vegan ingredients (even if you’re not vegan, OF COURSE you can still play along! You’ll be surprised at how many foods are naturally vegan; and if not, there are many subs you can use for eggs, milk or butter–include vegan options and we’re good to go!).
• Note that this is NOT AN ACD-ONLY EVENT. Any real food ingredients that are sugar-free and vegan are more than welcome–so use that maple syrup, those mushrooms, that nutritional yeast, miso, etc! I’m just looking for healthy, whole foods recipes.

What your recipe cannot contain:

• White flour, white sugar, or any highly refined, highly processed ingredients (note that regular brown sugar is actually refined!);
• Anything almost entirely artificial (ie, most boxed mixes, fast food, faux “cheese,” faux “meat,” or margarine, unnaturally colored cereals or other foods, etc.);
• Animal products (meat, chicken, fish or seafood, or their by-products, gelatin, eggs, dairy, butter or honey).

“Hey! Why was my entry removed?”

• The most common reason entries are removed is because they don’t adhere to the guidelines: either they don’t contain a link back to this post, they contain ingredients that aren’t listed here, they are a re-post of a blog entry that is more than one week old, or they contain neither a recipe nor anything directly related to food preparation. If you render a recipe vegan-friendly by adding a vegan option to your ingredients, your post will be good to go! For older posts, you’re welcome to re-post them during the week of the event, or choose a newer recipe.
• Another reason posts are removed is because the link leads to an advertisement or a business blog. Please do NOT link up posts that are merely referrals to a different post or the home page for another blog event.
• Only one thumbnail per post, please. If your post contains two suitable recipes, link up once and people will still see all your fabulous recipes when they click on the linky.
• I hate to have to remove links! PLEASE read the guidelines before posting!

NOTE: A few of you have mentioned problems linking up in the past couple of weeks because of the backlink requirement. If the linky won’t work for you, please let me know so I can tell the Linky Tools owner and the problem can be fixed!

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