Holiday Hunger-stoppers

My sweet and sassy mini is SO excited about the holidays!  We have been busy crafting all sorts of fun projects and writing letters to Santa...and now she wants to know when we are making the cookies.  The hubs and I have fiends that make dozens upon dozens of cookies every year.  They could feed a village on cookies.  We do a few dozen to share with family and Santa and usually call it a day.

We have an annual holiday get together with some fiends of ours too each year at our house and in the past my hubby has made some of the above mentioned cookies for them as "host gifts."  Yes, they are THAT good.  I do tend to boast how awesome my fam is but you don't understand...there aren't words to describe how amazing the hubs cookies are.  They are the only ting that is ever actually requested by the extended family for any and all gatherings...the girls look forward to special events because they know they will be made...they are epic cookies in our household.  He makes both chocolate chip and sugar and they are equally as delish!  I am curious as to whether he is going to attempt them this year with gluten free flour, or just make them "regular" style. 

Now, with the holidays coming up it brings concern as to how to get through the holidays without misbehaving too much.  The hubs and I have been doing really well with not eating the gluten, we also have a friend who is vegan, and most recently we have a family that has decided to cut back on sugar.  Now first and foremost, I am so proud of my family and friends for taking steps towards healthier lives, but with the holidays how is this possible?!?!?!  Well for our annual gathering, to add some fun to the event, I issued a healthy food challenge.  I made no restrictions but have challenged everyone to make the tastiest and healthiest food to bring to our potluck!  Lets not end up pot-bellied from our pot luck!!

So I have been looking for recipes, and am asking you for any suggestions you may have.  IN a perfect world, I would find the yummiest sugar free, non dairy, gluten free item to serve, and I have not lost hope in that endeavor. 

What do you recommend?!?!?!

 

 

also, a few resources I have found so far in my searching

 

12 Days of Vegan Treats

 

Sugar Free Holiday Treats and Sweets

 

Super Easy Gluten Free Christmas Treats

 

Seasons Eatings: Healthy Holiday Recipes

 

Holiday Central



Mary Mary Quite Contrary

I think that if I had known how hard it would be to get a good garden going, I would have done a little more research before jumping in to get my hands dirty.  It has been AWESOME so far, but due to unseasonably cold weather for late May, it has been a tough road to hoe (get it...hoe hahaa gardening humor there).

Anyways, we literally went from having our AC on one day last week to flipping the furnace on the next.  It has made for a panicked little gardener on my end.  This week with the craziness has been a full force family effort on the garden.  My hubby made tent topper like frames for our raised bed and got plastic sheeting to cover from the frost warning...oh yes, the frost warning issued the day after we hit 91*.  My big girl and my hubby made sure to get the plastic off a day later when the sun finally reemerged and the temp started its SLOW ascend again. 

my sweet garden boxes with there weather protection



Once the weather started to break (again), we were able to uncover and see how we were doing.  My mini me is having some luck with her potted strawberries, there aren't an abundance of berries yet, but she gets a couple every few days so far.  We noticed yesterday too that there is some little critter that has sampled our berries. :)

 

one of the strawberry pots

up close of the "fruit of our labor" (in progress)

showing off her freshly picked berries!  Ready to eat!

 

 

This whole process has been so educational for all of us, and it actually has my girls EXCITED about trying more veggies.  They want to sample their hard work, which to me is a miracle!  Don't get me wrong, mini me has always been good about trying things....but to have the 11 year old willing to try squash and kale...I am just beside myself.  This could open so many doors to better eating for all of us!

 

our broccoli patch

the broccoli and mint

herbs and red and orange peppers, also 1 snacking pepper plant

zucchini, squash and peas

various lettuce plants, kale, collards, Brussel sprouts and spinach

green peppers and various tomatoes

 

 

 

Do you do any gardening?  What are your fav veggies or fruits to grow and what tips do you have?