Healthy Christmas Recipes!

From Holly, Kerry, Lauren, Bec, Joseph, Amelia, Kellie and Marika

Drinks

Cranberry and Lime Punch                                                  Serves 6                                      

¼ lime juice

3 cups plain sparkling mineral water

Lime slices

Crushed Ice

1.     Combine juices with mineral water in a large jug.  Add crushed ice and lime slices prior to serving.

Watermelon and Mint Frappe`                                          Serves 6                                                                      

4 cups crushed ice

¼ cup fresh mint leaves

2 tbs fresh lime juice

1.     Blend 3 cups watermelon, 2 cups ice, half mint leaves and 1 tablespoon lime juice until smooth; repeat process with remaining ingredients.

2.     Pour frappe` into 6 cocktail glasses and serve immediately.

Sides and Salads 

Mango and Avocado Salad                                              Serves 4-6                                                                 

2 avocados, diced

6 cups mixed salad leaves

½ red onion, thinly sliced

1 chilli, thinly sliced

1 cup macadamia nuts, crushed

Dressing:

¼cup lime juice

¼ cup extra virgin olive oil

Pinch of salt

1.     To make the dressing whisk all ingredients in a small bowl and let stand while preparing the salad.

2.     Place macadamia nuts in fry pan over medium heat and toss until lightly toasted.

3.     Place salad leaves, mango, avocado, red onion, macadamia nuts and chilli in a serving bowl. Toss with dressing.

Potato and Bean Salad                                                          Serves 4-6                                                                 

800g kipfler potatoes

100g lean bacon diced

1/3 cup whole egg mayonnaise

Juice of 1 large lemon

1 small bunch of dill

1.     Bring a saucepan of water to the boil. Add beans and cook for 2-3 minutes until tender. Remove beans from water and run under cold water. Set beans aside.

2.     Return water to the boil. Add potatoes and cook for 10-12 minutes until tender. Drain and set aside to cool slightly. Cut in half.

3.     Fry diced bacon over high heat until crisp.

4.     On a serving platter arrange potatoes, beans and bacon. Sprinkle dill over salad.

5.     Whisk together lemon juice and mayonnaise and drizzle over salad.

Meats and Mains

Quinoa Stuffing (ideal for roast chicken or turkey)         

1 cup quinoa, rinsed

2 cups chicken stock

1/3 cup olive oil

½ cup dried cranberries

½ cup macadamias, chopped

8 thyme sprigs, leaves removed

2 carrots, finely diced

2 celery stalks, finely diced

4 middle eye bacon rashers, diced

1 brown onion, finely diced

1.     Place quinoa and stock in a saucepan over medium-high heat, cover and bring to the boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes until quinoa is cooked.

2.     Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a fry pan over medium head. Sauté onion, bacon, carrot and celery until tender. Add thyme leaves and toss. Remove from heat.

3.     Mix together quinoa, cranberries, macadamias, and onion mixture. Taste and season with salt and pepper.

BBQ Prawns                                                                                     Serves 4-6                                                                 

1 long red chilli, finely diced

2 cloves of garlic, crushed

Juice of 1 lime

1 tbsp olive oil

1.     Place the garlic, chilli, oil and juice in a bowl and whisk until combined. Add the prawns and toss to coat. Cover and refrigerate for 15 minutes.

2.     Heat barbecue or grill to high. Thread prawns onto metal or bamboo skewers.

3.     Grill skewers for 2 minutes each side or until cooked through.

Desserts

 Christmas Fruit Salad                                                                                                Serves 4-6

2 punnets of strawberries, quartered

1 punnet raspberries

300g cherries, pitted

¼ cup mint leaves, chopped

Juice of ½ a lime

1.     Combine fruits in a large serving bowl. Toss with lime juice and mint leaves.

2.     Serve with low fat yoghurt or ice cream

Christmas Fruit Skewers                                                           Serves 4-6

2 punnets stawberries

2 large bananas, peeled and cut into 2cm pieces

3 Kiwifruit, cut into thick slices

Large handful of grapes

Melted chocolate or yoghurt to serve

1.     Thread fruit onto bamboo skewers.

2.     Drizzle with melted chocolate or dip into low fat yoghurt

Healthy Baked Cheesecake                                                               Serves 8                                                                      

250g low fat cream cheese

¼ cup cornflour

300g low-fat sour cream

1 cup sugar

2 eggs lightly beaten

Finely grated rind of 2 large lemons

2 punnets strawberries

1 cup water

2 tbsp caster sugar