The Christmas countdown

There are now only 16 days to go until we wake up knowing that an intruder named Santa snuck into our houses overnight and delivered an array of presents – well that’s what we will tell the kids, just maybe not using those exact words!

Its also 16 days until we sit around a table with friends and family to give thanks to each other and move one day closer to what we think is starting afresh for the new year. We have learnt many lessons in 2016 and one of those lessons are to ‘if you think today, you DO today’. We don’t set New Year resolutions, why wait until the 31^st December to dream up all new challenges and goals – start planning for them today, there is no time like now to put the wheels in motion, after all what are you waiting for? The right time?

Our focus for 2017 like most years is food + fitness. The focus of today is FOOD and giving you a few ideas for meal planning over this festive season. We refer to the Christmas day fare as a feast but let’s look at the definition of ‘feast’:

• A large meal, typically a celebratory one
• An annual religious celebration ‘feast day’
• Eat and drink sumptuously

Gluttony

Oh that sounds like gluttony to me, what do you think? Always around this time of year we note how much people buy and then cook, it’s excessive. Our recommendation to you this year is; think of what you are buying and cooking and reduce by half. We promise you even with this mind set you will still have leftover’s to enjoy the day after.

Christmas is hot in Australia, although if you live in Melbourne you will be wondering if we are ever going to see hot weather again; wind, rain and a fresh breeze seem to be the norm these days. BUT we live in hope so with this our festive menu is dreamt up around a warm balmy day with blue skies and sunshine.

Nibble Plate –an ideal way to kick start the appetite

• Dips; beetroot, hummus, tahini and baba ganoush
• Celery and carrot sticks
• Mary’s gone crackers (organic, gluten and wheat free)
• Late July Sweet Potato chips
• Tamari sunflower seeds and pepita mix
• Nut mix; almonds, Brazil, walnuts, cashews (the raw kind not roasted and salted)
• Trail mix; coconut shreds, goji berries, currants, almonds and inca berries

Entrée

• Pan-fried gnocchi, sundried tomato, basil leaf and black olive stacks (threaded onto a toothpick)

Main Feast (or ‘fare’ for a better word)

• Roasted cauliflower with dukkah
• Steamed broccolini with toasted slivered almonds drizzled in lemon oil
• Baked Portobello mushrooms with kale pesto and fresh chillies
• Garlic infused butter spread on corncobs
• Roast potatoes
• Steamed and roasted Brussels sprouts with sesame seeds

Salads

• Barley, puy lentil and edamame salad
• Beetroot, currant, almond and mint salad

Main

• Tofu and vegetable (pumpkin, sweet potato) mini pies
• Onion gravy
• Yorkshire puddings

Dessert

• Fruit platter; strawberries, blueberries, raspberries and pomegranates
• Coconut & mango ice cream with chocolate flakes
• Fruit pudding with brandy butter
• Mince pies

Post Festive – Ideal for the evening if you have had a festive feast lunch

• Cheese Platter
  • The Vegan Dairy garden herbs marinated feta
  • Sprout & Kernel pepper crusted cashew nut cheese
  • AVS Organic Foods Kale muenster cheese
  • Damona Divine Cow Brie
  • Botanical Cuisine paleo mushroom cashew cheese
• Kitz Living Foods raw crackers
• Red grapes
• Dried Turkish apricots
• Quince paste
• Raisin or Fruit bread

Chocolate & Herbal Tea

• Pana Chocolate
• Loving Earth
• Made with Raw Love
• Pumpy Jackson
• Storm in a Tea Cup
• The Rabbit Hole

Designated driver? Then fill up your champagne glass with Kombucha bubbles!

This festive season make it a more mindful one; go cruelty free, appreciate the now, love those dearly around you and keep setting goals beyond what you thought was possible.