The holidays are a time for food, food, and well, more food. If your parties are anything like mine, you just can’t escape the endless sea of dips, cookies, cakes, chocolates and goodies. Last Christmas I introduced some organic Christmas foods in place of those typically loaded with preservatives and artificial flavors, and they were a hit. Plus, it gives your guests a reason to feel a little less guilt when savoring all those yummy offerings. Here are a few organic food ideas you can pitch in at holiday parties or give as presents this year.
Christmas cookies.
Making Christmas cookies is a treasured holiday tradition for many families. The aroma of ginger and cinnamon…it’s a great way to kick off the season. This year you and your loved ones can enjoy the tradition without the artificial ingredients, refined sugars, fillers, hydrogenated oils or preservatives. Remember, just because it is an organic cookie does not mean that it doesn’t contain lots of calories, but at least your body will thank you for feeding it natural ingredients. Most of your favorite recipes can be made simply by substituting organic ingredients for traditional ones. Look for the USDA Organic seal on flour, sugars, even chocolate chips to ensure you have a totally organic cookie. Now, the only question left is what kind will you leave for Santa?
Holiday mixes.
Cookie mixes in decorated jars are great gifts for family and friends or for fund-raising. Since organic ingredients and glass jars can be a bit expensive, if you decide to do a holiday fund-raiser, make sure you mark up the price and attach a label with a catchy phrase about why organic food is the better choice. All you have to do is layer your baking mixes, with exact measurements, in a jar and add a holiday gift tag with baking instructions. Another option is to make bath jars. All you have to do is fill a jar half full of organic salt or sugar, add organic olive oil or grapseed oil to the other half, and add 20 drops of your favorite essential oil. The result is a relaxing bath scrub. The best part is, it's a thoughtful gift with a personal touch. A lot of food comes in glass jars, so be creative and save them for gifts instead of recycling.
Holiday dips.
Dips are always a party favorite. You can find organic ingredients to substitute in almost any holiday dip recipe, whether cheese, shrimp, spinach or other. Last year I made a five-layer bean dip and everyone loved it. Start with a 24-ounce container of organic sour cream for the bottom layer. Next, add a 14-ounce can organic black beans, 8-ounce package organic shredded cheese, 2 smashed organic avocados, chopped organic onion and sprinkle cumin on top. You can also add organic jalapeno peppers if you want to spice it up a bit. If you are vegan, then you can use black beans mixed with thick and chunky salsa. This is a simple, yummy recipe!
