A Paleo Thanksgiving

This year was our first Paleo Thanksgiving.  Not everything was strict "Paleo", but being super stricted makes everything too stressful.

Our Menu:

Appetizers

Devilled Eggs

Bacon Wrapped Dates (from Paleo Comfort Foods)

Pork Rinds with Avocado Dip (avocados, onions and tomatoes)

Dinner

Turkey (cooked the Safeway grocery store method)

Gravy (turkey drippings, arrowroot powder, chicken stock)

Beef, Apple and Walnut Stuffing ( from Whole 9)

Whole9 Cranberry Sauce (from Whole 9)

Mashed Sweet Potatoes/Yams

Green Beans

Green Salad

Biscuits (from The Gluten Free Almond Flour Cookbook)

Dessert

Apple Pie (from Fast Paleo)

Pumpkin Pie (from Wellness Mama)

Yes, most everything was someone else's recipe, but these wonderful people work hard figuring out the amounts and how to make it right, making my life so much easier.

I did research lots of sites, and these ones all made the cut.  I prepped by making the pies and cranberry sauce on Wednesday.  There was minimal critique from the Carb Crunchers, mainly the cranberry sauce was a bit tart (I liked it, but everyone else is used to lots of sugar and canned funky cranberry gel-yuck!), and the pie crust on the Apple Pie was like sand, but the filling was excellent.

The hits were the Turkey (I've been using the same recipe for YEARS), the Beef, Apple and Walnut Stuffing, and the gravy (which everyone misses, 'cause I don't make standard mashed potatoes). 

At Christmas, I will make just baked apples, no crust.  Our meat is going to be either ham and/or Tri Tip.  Also, I will be serving mashed potatoes (a house favorite) and Caesar Salad. 

My whole intent is to keep grains and sugars to a minimum.  Although my thoughts have changed about food being the center piece of a family gathering (namely it's not the food, it's the friends and loved ones around you), the Carb Crunchers still focus on the "breaking bread" aspect.  Sometimes you've got to bend, but you don't have to break.

All in all, the holiday meal was a success. 

I hope everyone's holiday was wonderful (for my American friends).  With Christmas only a month away, there is going to be more cooking and feasting! 

Until next time!