Looking for a healthy appetizer? Or a simple spread for a charcuterie platter? Think smoked salmon spread on crackers, low-carb and low-cal.It’s good for you but tastes rich and indulgent. Real Food, Fresh & Festive. Weeknight Easy, Weekend Special. Great for Meal Prep. Potluck & Party Friendly. Low Carb. Low Fat. Weight Watchers Friendly. Naturally Gluten Free.

Another idea for your cookie Christmas plate – or for shipping cross-country to your favorite cookie monster. These crisp little chocolate shortbreads are slice 'n' bake, easy-easy to make and "low sugar" or what I call "almost sugar free". For anyone who avoids wheat? The cookies are also made with almond meal instead of flour, that makes them gluten-free. All this adds up to Low Carb and Weight Watchers friendly too! No need to worry, though, everyone enjoys these bite-size chocolate-almond cookies. PS Something special is new on A Veggie Venture this week, a beautiful video featuring expert lefse-maker LeAnne Kruger, sharing her recipe, tips and techniques for How to Make Lefse , the soft, tender Scandinavian bread that's traditional at Christmas. It just might add to your Christmas spirit! Just Seven Ingredients. Slice 'n' Bake. Sturdy for Shipping. A New Addition to The Homemade Pantry , a Kitchen Parade Specialty. Year-Round Kitchen St

Do you think of banana bread as "Christmas-y"? Me either! But then again, maybe it should be. Here's how to jazz up your favorite banana bread for the holidays with one simple change: fresh cranberries! Fresh & Seasonal, a Marriage of Tradition and New Ideas.

The Recipe: A five-star dessert, a creamy-creamy barely sweet pumpkin cheesecake. There's three layers, a crust made with ginger cookies and pecans; the cheesecake layer, full of warm pumpkin-pie spices and a splash of bourbon; and a creamy layer of firm, bourbon-spiked sour cream. Make it a day ahead, either in a full-size cheesecake for a crowd or a Thanksgiving buffet or in a mini cheesecake (pictured) for smaller gatherings. The Conversation: The best tip for extra-creamy cheesecake, for this recipe or another favorite? Time and Temperature! Planning Your Thanksgiving Menu? Recipe Ideas Here! ~ Six Thanksgiving Menus ~ ~ How to Make Flaky Tender Pie Crust ~ ~ more Thanksgiving recipes ~ from Kitchen Parade ~ Favorite Recipes for Thanksgiving's Favorite Vegetables ~ ~ Vegetarian Entrées for Thanksgiving ~ from A Veggie Venture, my food blog Isn’t cheesecake just so versatile?! A full-size cheesecake not only feeds a crowd but is a real crowd

Have you wondered why a pot of dried beans just won't cook? Or cooked beans that turn out tough, especially the skins? Or experienced a favorite bean recipe that every once in awhile, just doesn't turn out right? When beans don't cook, you probably wondered if you soaked the beans long enough or if you should just cook the beans longer. You maybe questioned the recipe or worried that your slow cooker was going bad. The real cause? Old dried beans. That's right. Old dried beans don't cook, they just won't cook. ~ Skip Straight to the Details ~ The Great Fall Pantry Purge: Toss Those Beans! In late autumn, many of us experience beans that just won't cook. It's all about timing because this is how it goes, right? The temperature drops, suddenly all we can think about is a big pot of hearty bean soup simmering on the stove. So we check our pantries and sure enough, lucky break, there's a bag or two of beans leftover from last winter!

The Recipe: Healthy finger food, a favorite for holiday gatherings. The trick is to roast the mushrooms first, before stuffing, a tip that works for all stuffed mushrooms. Here I've stuffed the mushrooms with a rich-tasting low-cal, low-carb and gluten-free mixture of cauliflower, the mushroom stems (no waste!) and a touch of smoked gouda cheese, just enough to bind it all together. For Weight Watchers, two mushrooms add up to just a single point! Not into mushrooms? I've got six more ideas for healthy finger foods! The Conversation: Defying the aisles of seasonal "foods" with healthy appetizers and healthy finger food. And so here we go, that wild ride to year's end. The weeks between now and then will fly past with few moments to breathe let alone stop and reflect. They'll be intense, they'll be fun but do you feel the mounting tension? (And is anyone else already looking forward to January?) It's also the season where rich food tempts us