Day 59 of 365 - Holiday Indulgences
When I was young, my mother made a lot of holiday cookies and squares. She liked baking all the time, and personally really liked sugar. Also, during the holidays, boxes of chocolates would show up in the house, often gifts given by friends of my parents who came to visit. I can remember gorging on these sometimes, especially the caramel ones which I loved the best. Then I would feel sick. The pleasure was temporary, the discomfort more lasting.
Just because I have chosen to eat a much cleaner diet in recent years does not mean I no longer enjoy sweet tasting or other treats, especially in the holiday season.
A few years ago, I became interested in doing mainly gluten free baking. It had become a popular trend then, and even the mainstream magazines had added some gluten free recipes to their spreads of holiday baking. Some, like Flourless Chocolate Snow Mountains, or a gluten free Thumbprint Cookie became a staple, but, they still contained granulated or icing sugar or some kind of ground up grain.
In the last year, since spending several months on a pretty accurate ketogenic diet, which included the holiday season, I searched for other alternatives. What I ended up doing last year was to make a few of the standards I knew my family enjoyed, and then just a couple of other treats for myself.
Though I am not currently a complete purist for either gluten free or keto recipes in my general diet, I thought I would see what I could find for cookie baking this year. This morning I easily found two sites, each with at least twenty keto cookie recipes that I bookmarked. I went through part of one and have already written out four recipes to try. These include cinnamon butter cookies, which seem like they may taste like shortbread; low carb peanut butter cookies; keto thumbprint cookies; and, pecan pie biscotti. All of these are both gluten free and sugar free. That variety will probably be more than adequate but I'm open to trying others if I feel I need more.
In the past year, I've become much more comfortable baking with flour and sugar alternatives. It does take a little practice but the results can be quite satisfying. You just need to get used to a difference in the texture of the cookie, but I personally enjoy dense and chewy.
The other indulgence for me is dark chocolate, and this is not confined to the holiday season. I've been delighted by the variety of recipes for an array of chocolate treats from puddings to cheesecake to truffles. My husband and son, who usually joins us for Sunday dinners, have enjoyed them too. They have been my taste testers, and honestly, there have not been many fails in the dessert category.
Aside from baking, I enjoy a couple of pieces of good quality dark chocolate just about every day. The darker the chocolate, the lower the sugar content. I have come to appreciate very dark chocolate flavors much more, although I realize this can be an acquired taste.
Because of the increased popularity of free trade and organic chocolate in recent years, health food stores and online shopping sites sell quite a variety of amazing flavors of bars. Some of these are always on my Christmas stocking request list. They are a bit pricey for regular consumption but definitely good for a gift or holiday treat. And they do go on sale sometimes too.
Eating cleaner and healthier does not need to mean holiday deprivation. My body and mind both appreciate that. I still feel the pleasure of having a treat without the unpleasant side effects. It's a win-win for me.
Just because I have chosen to eat a much cleaner diet in recent years does not mean I no longer enjoy sweet tasting or other treats, especially in the holiday season.
A few years ago, I became interested in doing mainly gluten free baking. It had become a popular trend then, and even the mainstream magazines had added some gluten free recipes to their spreads of holiday baking. Some, like Flourless Chocolate Snow Mountains, or a gluten free Thumbprint Cookie became a staple, but, they still contained granulated or icing sugar or some kind of ground up grain.
In the last year, since spending several months on a pretty accurate ketogenic diet, which included the holiday season, I searched for other alternatives. What I ended up doing last year was to make a few of the standards I knew my family enjoyed, and then just a couple of other treats for myself.
Though I am not currently a complete purist for either gluten free or keto recipes in my general diet, I thought I would see what I could find for cookie baking this year. This morning I easily found two sites, each with at least twenty keto cookie recipes that I bookmarked. I went through part of one and have already written out four recipes to try. These include cinnamon butter cookies, which seem like they may taste like shortbread; low carb peanut butter cookies; keto thumbprint cookies; and, pecan pie biscotti. All of these are both gluten free and sugar free. That variety will probably be more than adequate but I'm open to trying others if I feel I need more.
In the past year, I've become much more comfortable baking with flour and sugar alternatives. It does take a little practice but the results can be quite satisfying. You just need to get used to a difference in the texture of the cookie, but I personally enjoy dense and chewy.
The other indulgence for me is dark chocolate, and this is not confined to the holiday season. I've been delighted by the variety of recipes for an array of chocolate treats from puddings to cheesecake to truffles. My husband and son, who usually joins us for Sunday dinners, have enjoyed them too. They have been my taste testers, and honestly, there have not been many fails in the dessert category.
Aside from baking, I enjoy a couple of pieces of good quality dark chocolate just about every day. The darker the chocolate, the lower the sugar content. I have come to appreciate very dark chocolate flavors much more, although I realize this can be an acquired taste.
Because of the increased popularity of free trade and organic chocolate in recent years, health food stores and online shopping sites sell quite a variety of amazing flavors of bars. Some of these are always on my Christmas stocking request list. They are a bit pricey for regular consumption but definitely good for a gift or holiday treat. And they do go on sale sometimes too.
Eating cleaner and healthier does not need to mean holiday deprivation. My body and mind both appreciate that. I still feel the pleasure of having a treat without the unpleasant side effects. It's a win-win for me.
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