It’s the time of year to celebrate with our loved ones and I’m teaming up with a few brands to help make it an unforgettable season.
The idea of hosting during the holidays can make people nervous. But, hosting can be a lot of fun if you plan ahead! That’s why I recommend preparing the menu ahead of time. I love kicking things off with an overflowing charcuterie board filled with all my favorite things. That means a variety of cheeses, meats, and lots of veggies, and I always make sure to include nuts for some healthy fats. Blue Diamond Almonds released its first-ever limited-time offer holiday flavored Almonds this year! They’re perfect for a seasonal charcuterie board or sharing as a gift or stocking stuffer. Your family will love the Blue Diamond Snickerdoodle Flavored Almonds. They have the delicious taste of a seasonal cinnamon sugar cookie… so good. And one of my favorites… Peppermint Cocoa Flavored Almonds with a delicious chocolatey flavor and hint of peppermint. Both of these festive flavors are available at grocery stores nationwide and on Amazon.com. You can also use Blue Diamond’s product locator tool to find a store near you.
Next, every holiday menu needs dessert. I’m always about the desserts but I like to put a healthy twist on them for what I call “desserts with benefits”. We all love blondies. Believe it or not, these are made with beans. When cooked and rinsed well, beans can add moisture and fudginess to baked goods like brownies and blondies while cutting back on the amount of fat and flour needed. Not only that, but beans add nutrients such as plant protein, B vitamins, and fiber. Another option is my banana-sweetened chocolate chip oatmeal cookies. They’re made with bananas, nut butter, oats, pure vanilla extract and dark chocolate chips… that it. These are so tasty that your family will love them. You can find these recipes in my NEW book Mostly Plant-Based.
Planning the food can be fun, but the cleanup can be taxing and take up a lot of time. Eliminate the time suckers… that’s washing dishes and loading the dishwasher. We all know it takes time away from what’s really important. This time of year is so busy and should be spent on special traditions, making new memories, and being with the ones you love. The Chinet® brand can help make cleanup easier so you can spend more time with your family. The Chinet Classic® products are made for exactly what’s on your menu, like a traditional honey-glazed turkey, or an old-fashioned ham with brown sugar and mustard glaze. If you want a more upscale affair, the Chinet Crystal® products add a fancy touch to meals, perfect for a beef tenderloin, seared duck, or lamb with garlic and rosemary. The crystal cups are great for that pre-dinner toast! The best part, The Chinet brand helps remove all the hassle of cleanup. When you’re done eating dinner or dessert, just toss the dishes and have all that extra time for family fun. For more recipes, hosting tips, and where to purchase, you can visit MyChinet.com.
Finally, I love when a home is filled with holiday aromas and you can achieve that with a stovetop potpourri. Simply place sliced oranges and apples with warm spices like cinnamon sticks, cardamom and cloves in a saucepan, fill with water and let it simmer on the lowest setting and let the scent of the season fill up your home.
