Christmas Recipes and Ideas for Homemade Gifts from the Kitchen

These are recipes for the kinds of things I'd like to cook during the Christmas holidays. (If you're following The South Beach diet, notations after each recipe listing indicate Kalyn's opinion as to which phase of the diet each that recipe can be used for.

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Christmas Recipe Collections
Ten Favorite Phase One Soups to Help You Get Through December 2011

Five Delicious Sugar-Free and Flourless Cookies to Bake for Christmas

Cookbooks by Food Bloggers Will Make Great Christmas Gifts for Serious Cooks

Five Spice Blends to Give for a Homemade Christmas Gift  

Christmas Favorites:  Five Favorite Appetizers for Holiday Parties

Christmas Favorites:  Five Favorite Breakfasts for Christmas Morning

Christmas Favorites:  Five Favorite CrockPot Meals to Cook While You're Busy Having Holiday Fun



Low-Glycemic Christmas Appetizers (also see Appetizers)
Cranberry Salsa Cream Cheese Holiday Appetizer with Baked Whole Wheat Pita (or tortilla) Chips (Phase 2 or 3)

Stuffed Mushrooms with Feta and Kalamata Olives (phase 2 or 3)

Roasted Tomato and Basil Holiday Spread (spread is all phases, phase 2 or 3 with whole wheat crackers or pita bread)

Julia Child's Brandade á la Soissonaise (Puree of White Beans with Garlic and Herbs - all phases but phase 2 or 3 with whole wheat pita bread)

Cilantro-Lover's Guacamole with Red Onion, Lime, and Chiles (all phases)

White Bean and Artichoke Dip with Whole Wheat Tortilla Chips (phase 2 or 3 with chips, all phases with celery or veggie dippers)

Tuna Mousse or Spuma di Tonno (any phase with celery, phase 2 or 3 with crackers or whole-wheat pita)

Socca (Chickpea Flatbread Pancake from France - (I previously thought chickpea flour was approved for phase one, but I found out this should be for phase 2 or 3)

Low-Glycemic and Gluten-Free Chickpea Crisps Appetizer - with or without Za'atar (phase 2 or 3)


Low-Glycemic Breakfasts for Christmas Brunch
Swiss Chard and Goat Cheese Custard Bake (all phases, but I'd limit portion size for phase one) 

Tuscan Baked Eggs with Tomatoes, Red Onion, Garlic, Parmesan, and Herbs (all phases)

Mexican Baked Eggs with Black Beans, Tomatoes, Green Chiles, and Cilantro (all phases)

Breakfast Casserole with Spinach, Leeks, Cottage Cheese and Goat Cheese (all phases)

Breakfast Casserole with Mushrooms, Green Bell Peppers, and Feta (all phases)

Artichoke, Kale, and Ricotta Pie with Eggs and Parmesan (all phases, but this is a fairly rich dish so limit portion size, especially for phase one)

Bobbi's Egg and Green Chile Breakfast Casserole (all phases)

Karyn's Breakfast Casserole with Artichoke Hearts, Goat Cheese and Canadian Bacon (all phases)

Southwestern Egg Casserole (all phases)

Breakfast Casserole with Sweet Italian Sausage, Mushrooms, and Cheese (all phases)



Low-Sugar Christmas Cookies
Low-Sugar Coconut Almond Macaroon Cookies - Phase One and Gluten Free!  (all phases)

Low-Sugar and Whole Wheat Molasses-Almond Cookies (phase 2 or 3, probably a "once-in-a-while-treat" for phase 2 due to the sugar in the molasses)

Low-Sugar and Whole Wheat Ranger Cookies with Pecans, Coconut, and Chocolate (phase 2 or 3)

Whole Grain Low-Sugar (or sugar-free) Chocolate Cookies with Pecans (phase 2 or 3)

Flourless and Low-Sugar (or sugar-free_ chocolate Shortbread Cookes - Also Gluten Free (Phase 2 or 3, but probably a "once in a while treat" due to high fat content and a small amount of brown sugar.)

Flourless and (almost) Sugar-Free Cookies with Peanut Butter and Chocolate (phase 2 or 3, but probably a "once in a while treat" due to fat content and a small amount of brown sugar)

Two Recipes for Sugar-Free and Flourless Chocolate and Oatmeal Cluster Cookies (both versions, phase 2 or 3)

Sugar-Free and Gluten-Free Triple Almond Cookies (all phases, but probably a "once in a while treat" due to fat content)

Flourless Sugar-Free Pistachio Cookies (all phases, but probably a "once in a while treat" due to fat content)

Sugar-Free and Gluten-Free Cookies with Almond and Flaxseed Meal (all phases, but probably a "once in a while treat" due to the fat content)

Flourless, Sugar-Free Peanut Butter Cookies (phase 2 or 3)

Low Sugar or Sugar-Free Almond Flour "Snickerdoodle Cookies (also gluten free), previously called Low Carb Snickerdoodles (phase 2 or 3, very limited due to the butter)

Low Sugar Cookies with Meringue and Pecans (phase 2 or 3)


Low Sugar Christmas Desserts
Low Sugar Whole Wheat and Oatmeal Spice Cake with Fuyu Persimmons (phase 2 or 3)

Low-Sugar and Whole Wheat Brownies with Walnuts / Grandma Willey's Brownies (phase 2 or 3)



Low-Glycemic Red and Green Christmas Salads, Seasonal Salads or "Christmas-Worthy" Side Dishes
Strawberry Spinach Salad with Almonds and Dill (phase 2 or 3)

Red and Green Fruit Salad (phase 3)

Winter Fruit Salad with Persimmons, Pears, Grapes, and Agave-Pomegranate Vinaigrette (phase 2 or 3)

Kalyn's Favorite Baby Arugula Salad with Lemon, Balsamic Vinegar, and Pine Nuts (all phases)

Roasted Green Beans and Red Bell Pepper with Garlic and Ginger (all phases) 

Roasted Cauliflower with Red Bell Pepper, Green Olives, and Pine Nuts - Christmas Cauliflower (all phases) 

Roasted Red Curry Carrots with Ginger and Garlic - Christmas Carrots (phase 2 or 3)


Homemade Christmas Gifts from the Kitchen
Five Spice Blends to Give for a Homemade Christmas Gift

Rosemary Salt for a Christmas Gift

Kalyn's Herb Blend for a Christmas Gift

Roast Chicken Seasoning Rub for a Christmas Gift

Kalyn's Take on Montreal Steak Seasoning

Sage, Rosemary, and Garlic Dried Herb Rub

How to Make Garlic Confit


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