Last Thanksgiving I made a great dinner… well I thought I made a great dinner. (Want to see over 101 Holiday recipes? Check out this post here!)
I had gluten-free stuffing, gluten-free gravy, steamed veggies, turkey and dairy free/gluten-free/refined sugar-free pumpkin pie. The stuffing was GROSS, but everything else was good. The pumpkin pie, if I do say so myself, was delicious! haha!
But after cooking and baking anti-inflammatoraly (did I just make up a word?) for over a year, I knew this year was going to be thebomb.com. I was really, really excited.
The only problem I saw standing in my way was the fact that I’m now on a Paleo diet (with the exception of wine, because, let’s face it… that’s not getting cut) and my sister eats grains and legumes, but CANNOT have tree nuts. So this was going to be tricky. I knew there was going to have to be some give and take. I mean, it’s the holiday season, we’re all human, and we can’t be perfect.
So I decided that I’d make an exception and consume grains for Thanksgiving. I mean, what is Thanksgiving without a little bit of stuffing? I know there are Paleo stuffing recipes out there, but most are sausage based and processed meats really aren’t a part of my diet. So I was going to have to make an exception one way or another.
While my sister, Natalie, and I planned our menu, I put her on stuffing duty. She was going to get our Aunt’s recipe and try to modify it using Udi’s bread. (She likes to eat Udi’s, not because it’s the best tasting (because we all know that’s NOT true), but she avoids soy like the plague and Udi’s is one of the few that doesn’t include soy in it. Even most sprouted breads have soy it in. Ayyyeee WHY COUNTRY WHY?!) We planned on eating our family’s turkey since it was cooked with EVOO and spices, but would make everything else. In the end, we ended up with a delllliiiccciiiooouuusssss meal. Mmmmm my tummy is growling thinking about it!
Anti Inflammatory Thanksgiving Menu-
– Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Cranberry Brown Butter by Oh Lordy
I only made one modification to this recipe. Instead of using butter, I used ghee. I LOVE LOVE LOVE using OMGhee because it’s definitely a brand I can TRUST. It’s 100% Organic and Non-GMO. When you’re eating an animal product source, you most definitely want to make sure it’s quality. Don’t take the chance!
Don’t know much about ghee? Find out the nutritional value it has here on the OMGhee site!
– Yam Apple Casserole
This recipe I didn’t find online, but rather through my friend Karen. It was one of the recipes we gave out during out ‘Tis The Season: Enjoying The Holidays Without Gaining A Pound class!
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– Maple Orange Mashed Sweet Potatoes
Who can have a Thanksgiving dinner with out some sweet mashies? MMM MMM MMMM!!!!! So good. I could eat them every. single. day!
This was another recipe we gave out as part of our class at Avani. My sister cannot have almond so I ended up using tapioca starch to thicken the gravy. I would have used arrowroot, but I had used the last of it with the yam and apple casserole. Also, I used ghee and I used bone broth I had made a few days earlier too. In short, this gravy was a very healing food for our digestive systems!
– Gluuteny
I did cheat a bit and went to a local gluten-free bakery for some desserts . . . and when I say some, I mean… a lot. I couldn’t decide so we got the pumpkin loaf, pumpkin cookies, pumpkin gobs, pumpkin pie and a mini apple strudel pie. Yes, yes they were ridiculously delicious.
But if you’re looking for some awesome dessert ideas, check out my Autoimmune/Anti-Inflammatory Snacks & Desserts Pinterest Board or this AWESOME fudge recipe!
I
did miss having green being casserole. I was going to make a vegan version, but decided not to because 1. we had a lot of other food and 2. my sister said she probably wouldn’t eat it so I didn’t want to make a whole casserole just for myself!
I literally found dozens of pumpkin recipes that I really wanted to make, but since we had gone to the bakery I didn’t need to make desserts. I guess they’ll have to be my Christmas desserts! Stay tuned 🙂
There were a ton of leftovers since it was really just Natalie and I eating the dinner. I had seen on Rachel Ray on concept of a stuffing waffle. She said that her and her husband, the day after Thanksgiving, get out their waffle iron, fill it with left over stuffing and make stuffing waffles. For some reason the idea sounded really good to me. So I did just that, through the stuffing on the waffle iron and then topped it with the sweet potatoes, pan friend turkey and topped it with the ghee, maple syrup, cranberry sauce from the brussel sprouts.
O.M.G.
Let’s just say this . . . I CANNOT WAIT UNTIL NEXT YEAR’S DAY AFTER THANKSGIVING! Ahhhh It seriously was the greatest thing I’ve ever had. The waffle iron make the stuffing crunchy and PERFECT. I seriously liked the stuffing 10 billion times more in the waffle iron than I did just regularly made. It knocked my socks off, it really was like a mouth full of heaven.
All in all, it was a really great anti inflammatory Thanksgiving, full of blessings and laughter.
I won’t lie I was really nervous this year because Thanksgiving is always held at my godmothers house. My grandfather spent the last few months of his life at their house. The last time I was over there was the night he passed away. I was worried my Mom would have a very emotional holiday, but it ended up being a great day. Everyone addressed the elephant in the room, but kept it up beat, positive and happy!
It’s amazing to look back and reflect on Thanksgivings gone by. When I was little, the holidays always meant making and selling crafts with my cousins. We would sell the end products to our other family members at our ‘Holiday Shop’. My boy cousins would be the bodyguards, the rest of us would sell the items and ring up the sales. All my Aunts and Uncles would take turns coming in and buying gifts. My mom told me that I told my class one year we do this to raise money for the family! hahaha
This year we spent time watching magic shows that my cousin’s children were putting on for us in the living room. It’s so heart warming to see everyone growing up and having their own families – but still maintain the closeness.
I truly have a wonderful family and I couldn’t be more blessed.
Check out Spoonie Holiday Tips and 101+ recipes here!
I hope you had a great Thanksgiving and I’m wishing you a pain free day!
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