3 Countdown to Christmas

Book Review: Last Christmas in Paris:... 2 Countdown to Christmas

3 Countdown to Christmas

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Some of us struggle during the holiday season with wanting to taste all the delicious treats and wanting to keep our waist lines in tact. Well, I’m providing some really good dessert options today that will give you that sweet taste and not let the weight topple over you. I hope you’ll enjoy these recipes. Don’t be alarmed by the ingredients because some of them sound disgusting, but I promise you they are quite delicious.

Recipes

Gingerbread Spice Cake

(With Broccoli and Carrot)

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Nonstick cooking spray

1 cup whole-wheat flour

1 cup all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon ground ginger

1 teaspoon cinnamon (optional)

1/4 teaspoon ground cloves

1/4 teaspoon allspice

1/4 teaspoon salt

3/4 cup firmly packed light or dark brown sugar

1/4 cup canola or vegetable oil

1 cup broccoli puree

1/2 cup carrot puree

1/2 cup nonfat plain yogurt

1/4 cup molasses

2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

1 tablespoon grated orange zest

Preheat oven to 375 F. Coat a 9×5-inch loaf pan with cooking spray.

In a bowl or zipper-lock bag, mix the flours with the baking soda, ginger, cinnamon, cloves, allspice, and salt; set aside.

In a large mixing bowl or the bowl of an electric mixer, beat the sugar, oil, egg until smooth. Beat in vegetable purees, yogurt, molasses, vanilla, and orange zest. Add the flour mixture and mix until smooth.

Pour the batter into the pan and smooth the top. Bake until toothpick comes out clean when inserted into the center of the cake, 45 to 50 minutes. Cool 5 minutes in the pan before turning the cake out onto a rack to cool completely.

Add powdered sugar if desired.

Serves: 8-10

Hot Cocoa

(With Sweet Potato)

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1 1/4 cups nonfat (skim) milk

1/2 cup sweet potato puree

2 tablespoons chocolate syrup

1/8 teaspoon salt

1/8 teaspoon cinnamon or pumpkin pie spice (optional)

Marshmallows, for serving

Combine milk, puree, syrup, salt, and spice in a blender and blend until smooth. Transfer to a saucepan and bring to a simmer. Pour into mugs and top with marshmallows.

Serves: 2

Marshmallow Crispy Treats

(With Brown Rice)

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Nonstick cooking spray

1 tablespoon trans-fat-free soft tub margarine spread

1 (10-ounce) package marshmallows

6 cups crisp brown rice cereal

1/4 cup flaxseed meal

Coat an 8×8-inch pan with cooking spray.

Melt the margarine in a large pot over low heat. Add the marshmallows and stir until completely melted. Remove pan from the heat.

Add the rice cereal and flaxseed, and stir until the rice is well coated with the marshmallow. Press the mixture into a baking dish and let cool before cutting into squares.

Serves: 8 large squares

NOTE: All these recipes were taken out of, Deceptively Delicious, Simple secrets to get your kids eating good food, by Jessica Seinfeld

Movies I love to watch with my kids and family

Polar Express

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It’s a Wonderful Life

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Miracle on 34th Street

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Prancer