Trim Healthy Mama's Surviving the Holidays

This past weekend my friend Susan and I hosted a get together for ladies that are on the Trim Healthy Mama plan and for those that may be interested in learning more about this wonderful book and healthy way of eating.

Ladies were told to bring some of their family's holiday favorite foods that they converted over to being plan approved.  It was a great night of taste testing and discovering new recipes in a fun way.  Here is a list of all the recipes that were brought that night and if you click on the titles of each, it will take you directly to the recipe.

Cheese Stuffed Pumpkin Link - a fun and festive dish to bring to your celebrations this Thanksgiving.

Trim Healthy Stuffing for the Holidays - You won't ever want to eat carb laden stuffing again.

Mocha Punch Link - super delicious, treat for the holiday season.

Homemade Eggnog Link  Eggnog without the carbs.  A great way to enjoy this treat without adding inches to your waistline.

Spinach Artichoke Dip A flavorful appetizer for your upcoming party.

Cranberry Coconut Scones Link A tradition at our house is scones and tea for breakfast on Christmas morning.  Try this gluten free, wheat free, sugar free scone.


Chipotle Meatballs Link  My friend made some delicious meatballs.  I forgot to take a picture.  Guess I was to excited to eat them.  Click on the link however, and there is a picture someone else took.

Crock Pot Candied Nuts Link Totally addictive!

Trim Healthy Stuffing for the Holidays (S) (E) or (FP)

It is my goal this Thanksgiving to cook an entire Trim Healthy Mama Thanksgiving.  This requires me to do a bit of experimenting to redo some of our family favorites and make them Trim Healthy Mama acceptable.

I made this stuffing recipe for the ladies at our "Surviving the Holidays" THM event.  I got lots of good reviews and people had all kinds of ideas for how to own this recipe.  The smells wafting through the house as I made this were totally smells that you should smell on Thanksgiving.  I highly recommend the use of fresh herbs.  I think it makes this dish extra special.

What I love most about this recipe is that you can make it to be Satisfying, Energizing or Fuel Pull and I will give you instructions for each.  You can also add or take away as you see fit.

We will be making a 9x13 pan and so that is the instructions I will share, but you could easily cut the recipe in half.

Trim Healthy Stuffing (S) style
by:  Hannah Babiak

2 lbs. ground pork or ground turkey (whichever you prefer)
2 onions chopped
10 stalks celery, chopped
2 cups cubed, peeled, butternut squash
4 eggs
6 garlic cloves
1 bag fresh cranberries
1 Tablespoon Truvia
2 Tablespoons fresh sage
2 Tablespoons fresh thyme
4 Tablespoons fresh rosemary
2 tsp. salt
1 1/2 cups butter
1/2 cup turkey drippings or chicken broth

Cube butternut squash and combine with cranberries in a baking dish.  Bake at 400 degrees for 20 minutes.  Let it cool.  Brown pork or turkey while adding herbs, Truvia and salt.  Sauté onions, celery and garlic in butter until soft.  Combine meat, onion/celery and squash/cranberry mixture in a 9x13 baking pan sprayed with non stick spray.  Whisk eggs together, add drippins or broth to mixture.  Pour over meat mixture and mix together.  Bake at 350 degrees for about 45 minutes or until starts to get brown on top.  Serve and enjoy!

To make this dish an (E) recipe:
Use low fat ground turkey
Substitute two small sweet potatoes in place of the butternut squash
Use egg whites equivalent to 4 eggs
Sauté vegetables in water or fat free broth instead of butter
Use only broth, not turkey drippings
Can add brown rice if desired

To make this dish a (FP) recipe:
Follow (E) directions except omit brown rice and do not put in sweet potatoes or butternut squash.