Here are my top three favorite pumpkin recipes that you turn the oven on for and enjoy the season. They are easy, delicious, low carb, gluten free, and sugar free.

Pumpkin Pecan Muffins with Maple Glaze

These Pumpkin muffins are selling out at all the outlets that sell our product. We are currently do three farmer’s markets and a coffee shop in Franklin, TN (Nashville area). These are good without nuts too. RECIPE HERE.

Pumpkin Bundt Cake

This is so easy and so delicious. Everyone loves bundt cakes and it’s a great party or potluck. RECIPE HERE.

Keto Pumpkin Cheesecake Bars

These are a crowd pleaser. A combination of pumpkin and cream cheese makes for a great party idea. RECIPE HERE.

Make Your Own Pumpkin Spice (WAY BETTER)

I tried all the store bought pumpkin spice and found making my own was cheaper (I have to make a lot) but way more flavorful than any brand. RECIPE HERE

More Keto Fall Recipe Ideas

• Apple Crumb Cake
• Pumpkin Appetizer
• Apple Muffin
• Kale Apple Salad
• Pumpkin Soup
• Cream Cheese Stuffed Pumpkin Bundt

The post Three Must Bake Keto Pumpkin Recipes appeared first on Spinach Tiger.

This low carb apple crumb cake is keto friendly, grain free, gluten free and absolutely delicious. In fact, it’s so good, it was served at my husband’s men’s group and as they finished it, one of the guys wanted the recipe.

Buttery apples are baked inside the cake and blanketed with a cinnamon crunchy topping. This is a low carb breakfast or dessert treat.

Sweetener (Golden)

There is an extra special flavor using a golden monk fruit/erythritol blend that is similar to a light brown sugar. Don’t worry if you are using a different sweetener; it will still be good.

Ingredients

• Almond Flour
• Coconut Flour
• Eggs
• Xanthan Gum
• Baking Powder
• Swerve Granulated
• Avocado Oil
• Baking Powder
• Sour Cream
• Choc Zero White Chocolate Chips

You can also make these into 12 muffins. This recipe makes one 8 inch pan and 4 muffins.

Process

• Peel Apples. Chop. Sauté in 4 ounces butter (1 stick or 1/2 cup) with cinnamon and sweetener. NOTE: You do not cook the apples until done. Melt the butter with the sweetener and cinnamon, some lemon juice and then add apples in to toss. They will cook inside the cake.
• Beat eggs in mixer, until whipped well.
• Add half of the dry ingredients, followed by all of the apple mixture
• Add remaining mixture. Add vanilla.
• Fill pan 2/3 full. Use remaining batter to make muffins. (I make one 8 inch cake pan and four muffins).
• Top with a crumb mixture made with butter, almond flour, sweetener and cinnamon.
• Bake until inside middle registers at 207 degrees F. ( approx.20 minutes for muffins, 30 minutes for cake).

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Macros

8 net carbs, 30 gram fat per serving. (12 servings per recipe).

Low Carb Recipes Using Apples and Pears

• Low Carb Apple Muffin Recipe with a Butter Glaze
• Low Carb Apple Upside Down Cake
• Low Carb Italian Pear Cake
• Grain Free Apple Almond Tart
• Keto Spiced Pear Cheesecake Tart (can use apples or pears)

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Low Carb Apple Crumb Cake

Crunchy Cinnamon Topping atop Apple Cake (Low Carb, Gluten Free)

Course Keto Muffins

Cuisine American

Keyword apple muffins, coffeecake muffin, keto muffins, lowcarb cake

Prep Time 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time 20 minutes minutes

Servings 12 Servings

Ingredients

Muffin Batter

• 2 1/4 cups blanched almond flour 240 grams
• 2 tablespoons coconut flour
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon xanthan gum
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• Apples with Melted Butter/Sweetener Mixture See below
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 6 eggs

Ingredients for Apple Mixture

• 1/2 cup butter
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 1 cup Swerve granulated
• 2 apples
• 1 tablespoon cinnamon

Coffeecake Cinnamon Topping

• 1 cup almond flour
• 1/2 cup Swerve Granulated Sweetener
• 1 tablespoon cinnamon
• 4 tablespoons melted butter

Glaze

• 1 cup Swerve Confectioner's Sweetener
• 4 tablespoons water can use heavy cream
• Maple Extract option
• 1 cup Swerve Sweetener Confectioner's See notes

Instructions

Batter

• Preheat oven to 350 convection bake or bake.
• Peel apples and slice thinly.
• Prepare pan. Add parchment to bottom and spray including sides of pan.
• Put first five dry ingredients in a bowl. Set aside,
• Add eggs to mixing bowl you are using for cake. Beat until frothy, about five minutes.
• In a frying pan, melt butter with cinnamon, sweetener, vanilla. Add apples and toss in buttery mixture. Turn off stove. The apples will continue to cook inside the cake.
• Add half of the dry ingredients mixture to eggs while mixer is on medium.
• Add the entire apple mixture with all the melted butter.
• Add remaining dry mixture. Pour into prepared pan and muffin liners.
• Top with crumble (below).
  
• Bake in an 8 or 9 inch cake pan 25-30 minutes. You will have batter left over to make 3 to 4 muffins. Bake muffins 20 minutes. Cake and muffins are done when the inside is at 207 degrees F.

Cinnamon Crumble Topping

• Add almond flour, Swerve, cinnamon together in separate bowl.
• Add butter and mix with hands to make crumble.

Glaze

• Mix Confectioner's Sweetener with water (or heavy cream) adding a tablespoon at a time until you have a glaze thin enough to drizzle.
• Flavor with maple extract. Add just 2 or 3 drops to glaze for a maple flavor.
• Drizzle Glaze after cake has cooled OR You could just sprinkle with confectioner's sweetener.
  

How to Freeze

• Muffins freeze well. Wrap each individually in plastic wrap. Take out to defrost about an hour in advance.

Notes

I  used the Golden sweetener, which is a combination of erythritol and monk fruit. You can use granulated Swerve.

Nutrition

Carbohydrates: 6g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 28g | Fiber: 4g

The post Low Carb Apple Crumb Cake with Maple Glaze appeared first on Spinach Tiger.

There is always someone to help, someone who needs help and much to be grateful for if you are reading this.

I wish I could share this soup, because it has a soothing effect. It’s creamy, and flavorful in a way that creates a good soup memory. Perhaps you know someone who needs a bowl. Make it, put it in a big jar and deliver it to a friend. It woucl mean a lot.

True Food Kitchen Butternut Squash Soup (copycat)

 I’ve made butternut squash soup here before made with roasted apples, and that’s quite delicious, but this this version, inspired by True Food Kitchen has become my new favorite. The chef, at the time, gave me the recipe for the soup. I lost it, so I went back and ordered the soup again, taking in every bite, and memorizing the flavor.

Here’s the thing with the True Food Kitchen Butternut Squash Soup. It’s more about the texture that makes this soup so special and I remembered that the recipe used coconut milk. This is what gives the soup its special creaminess that makes this one of my all time favorite soups that comes out of my vitamix on a frequent basis. 

What do you need to make this butternut squash soup?

You need a beautiful, roasted butternut squash, a  can of coconut milk, freshly ground ginger,  turmeric and some heat. I use   piment d’espelette.   You could use a dash of cayenne pepper, but I find that can be harsh if not used properly, so go gently. 

 If I still find the soup a little too thick I’ll add a small amount of water or broth if available. Salt and pepper are a must, and if you like to garnish soup, as I do,  add some fried sage and toasted almonds. You could also add in some arils from a pomegranate! Arils are great in a spicy soup, balancing out the heat and adding a fun texture.

What Coconut Milk do I use for True Food Butternut Squash Soup?

I use the organic coconut milk from Trader Joe’s. It works beautifully. Coconut cream will be too rich. I have a friend who adds a banana to his butternut squash soup instead of coconut milk. He says it comes out very creamy and you don’t taste the banana. If anyone does that, please let me know how that goes.

How do you make a roasted butternut squash?

This is the best part. Roast it whole. It will shrivel and shrink up. Let it cool a bit, cut it lengthwise, take out any seeds, and scoop that beautiful flesh into a super blender, like a Vitamix. 

More Butternut Squash Recipes from Spinach Tiger

More Healthy Soups from Spinach Tiger

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True Food Kitchen Butternut Squash Recipe

Butternut Squash Soup made with Coconut Milk

Course Soup

Cuisine American

Keyword butternut squash, soup, true food kitchen

Prep Time 45 minutes minutes

Cook Time 15 minutes minutes

Total Time 1 hour hour

Servings 4

Author Angela Roberts

Ingredients

• 1 large butternut squash
• 1 can coconut milk
• 1 tablespoon ground turmeric
• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
• 1/2 teaspoon piment d'espelette or cayenne
• 1 teaspoon fresh grated ginger or to taste
• 1/2 cup water or broth if needed
• 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 1 teaspoon sea salt

Garnish

• 2 tablespoons butter
• 12 sage leaves
• 1/4 cup sliced almonds toasted

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 375 F.
• Roast butternut squash, whole until softened (about 30-40 minutes), depending on size.
• Once the butternut squash skin blisters and is softened, remove and cool until you can slice in half.
• Scoop the seeds out and discard. Scoop out flesh into a bowl.
• Season squash salt, pepper. Add turmeric one teaspoon at a time (for personal taste), piment d'espelette or dash of cayenne (or heat of your choice).
• Place squash, fresh ginger, half of coconut milk, blend until thoroughly completely pureed. Add more coconut milk until incorporated and you get the creamy texture you desire. I use the whole can, but you may not want to.
• Move the soup into a pot to heat on low. You may choose to add in a little broth if you need to thin soup down.

Make Sage Leaves, Browned Butter

• In small frying pan, brown two tablespoons of butter. Add sage leaves should be browned not burned.
• Roast almonds for 3 to 4 minutes in 400 degree F. oven.
• Season again with salt and pepper as needed.
• Add garnish upon serving.

Notes

  I use Piment d’espelette often in soups like these. You can use cayenne, but do so gently.

The post Copycat True Food Kitchen Butternut Squash Soup appeared first on Spinach Tiger.

Whether you need one dish or an entire feast, here are some of the easiest recipes that fit your situation. I did throw in a few traditional dishes, but most are low-carb.

Start the day with keto strawberry biscuits. You can just look and see how good these are.

Summer Cocktails

• White Sangria
• Strawberry Sangria
• Peach Sangria
• Frozé
• Blueberry Old Fashioned

Bites and Nibles

• Spicy Pimento Deviled Eggs
• Cowboy Caviar

Salads

• Summer Caprese with Fresh Corn and Pesto
• Honey Blackberry Goat Cheese Salad or Blackberry Fresh Corn Salad
• Grilled Peach Salad with Blue Cheese

Grilling

• Grilled Turkey Burgers (with a surprise ingredient)
• Skirt Steak with Chimichurri
• Grilled Pork Rib Chops with Savory Blueberry Sauce

Summer Corn

• Corn on the Cob on the Grill Seven Ways
• Southern Fried Corn (legit)

Sweet

• Sheet Pan Slab Pie Peach/Blueberry
• Keto Blueberry Cheesecake Bars
• Blueberry Thyme Galette
• Keto Classic Cheesecake with Fruit Wreath
• Keto Patriotic Flag Cake
• Gluten Free Peach Tart (sugar free

Happy July 4th. Enjoy the long weekend with friends and family, and thank God for this great country that allows a thousand ideas, a thousand opinions and has brought the world a thousand inventions and discoveries. May we always find our way when we get lost, and appreciate the abundance we enjoy in this great nation.

The post What to Cook for July 4 – Fruit Sangria, Slab Pie, Summer Corn and More appeared first on Spinach Tiger.

When I’m thinking about creating a salad, I like to follow the seasons and highlight what is fresh like this fresh corn and summer blackberry salad.

As luck would have it, I had access to the freshest picked corn from my friend’s produce stand. Burns Produce, located on Patton Road in Arrington right down from Arrington Vineyards is selling Luke Bryan’s corn. How fun is that.

As I was making this salad to take to a dinner, I knew this fresh corn had to be a part of it. I immediately thought that blackberries would be a great accompaniment along with a tangy cheese and a crisp vinaigrette.

I hit it right, as this salad disappeared fast with a fight over that last bite.

Salad is a funny thing. Sometimes people don’t think they like salad because the balance is off. I have never seen anyone not love my salads because of my keen understanding of salt, fat and acid.

The Acids

• Acids on a salad include vinegars and citrus such as lemon and lime juice.
• When adding mustard or honey, mix it first with the acid. Then add oil
• Feel free to mix your vinegars. I do this all the timeYou can also add lemon to a vinaigrette.
• Skip the cheap “so-called” balsamic. A $3.99 bottle of balsamic is not authentic and you’re better off using an inexpensive but good red wine vinegar.

The Fat

• The main fat in a salad is the oil in the vinaigrette.
• I also mix my oils. Sometimes I use half extra virgin olive oil and half avocado oil.

The Salt

While you don’t want to overdo salt in a salad, it’s very important. Sometimes the salt is in the cheese, such as ricotta salada, a briny feta or a Pecorino, so adjust accordingly. It could also be in the nuts or an addition of bacon.

Here are my tips for Making a Great Salad 

• Make sure lettuce is completely dry before you add a dressing or vinaigrette. Use a salad spinner if needed.
• Pre-mix your oil and vinegar. Using either dijon mustard or honey will help keep emulsify these two ingredients. I usually use mustard.
• Add salt and pepper to the vinaigrette and dip a piece of lettuce in. It should have a bit of a bite.
• Don’t serve salad with dressing on the side.  It must be tossed to taste balanced.
• Go easy with vinaigrette when using gentle lettuces like butter lettuces.
• Leaf lettuces do not need a lot of vinaigrette, while lettuces with a lot of of water content like romaine seem to need a lot more and also do well with creamy dressings.
• Assemble salad in advance, but put vinaigrette on right before serving. (Kale is the exception).
• Season again with salt and pepper.

Fresh Corn in a Salad

I did an instagram poll, asking people if they would eat fresh corn in a salad. To my surprise, 25% said no, yet anytime I’ve served it, everyone eats it. If the corn is super fresh, you can just cut it off the cob and put it into the salad. If that concerns you, you can cut the corn into a bowl and microwave it for a few minutes.

Best Cheese Additions

The cheese you choose depends on the salad you’re making.

When I want a briny profile, I add olives and feta cheese like this Greek salad with salmon. For some reason, these are best with a romaine lettuce that has heft.

Slivers of Pecorino work well in arugula with a light olive oil and lemon for the acid. Pecorino and romano are also necessary in kale salads like this.

I used ricotta salata (a sheep’s cheese) in this blackberry corn salad to add tang and salt against the sweet of the corn and berries. Feta or goat cheese would have worked well too.

Crumbled blue cheese in a vinaigrette is fantastic especially with steak dinner.

Crumbled blue cheese also loves certain fruits in a salad, like pears, apples and peaches.

Herbs, Veggies, Nuts

Fresh herbs can be nice addition. I used a small amount of rosemary in this winter salad. Make sure the herbs fit the salad. Basil, parsley, thyme, oregano, mint can add that little bit of extra. For example, fresh oregano in a greek salad is divine. Fresh basil in a tomato salad is amazing.

Tomatoes – Only add tomatoes if they are superb and properly ripened,  cut into bite sized pieces. A well-balanced salad should only need to be eaten with a fork, not a knife and fork. Don’t put tomatoes in until the last minute and never cold.

Cucumbers – Cut off the skins and make them bite sized.

Mushrooms – I am not a fan of raw mushrooms in a salad, but if you are, add them right before serving.

Nuts – I love adding nuts to a salad for added texture, but make sure the nuts makes sense. There are no nuts in this corn blackberry salad because they would clash with the textures. However, in my peach salad, toasted almonds make perfect sense.

More Notes on What Not to do to Make an Easy Vinaigrette

I have a few strong opinions on vinaigrettes.

Keep your vinaigrette simple. It’s a balance of fat, acid, and salt as stated above.

Don’t add in spices such as garlic powder, garlic salt, onion salt. While you think that might sound good, these can be off-putting.  The secret to a good vinaigrette is less is best; balance is key.

Don’t add garlic (unless it’s for a kale salad) and only do that gingerly. Garlic is a turnoff in a vinaigrette.

Don’t add onions to a vinaigrette or to a salad. Raw onions take over and contaminate your ingredients. You may not agree with me on this, but if you want your guests to love your salad, trust me. I admit I have an aversion to raw onion, but one of your guests is bound to feel the same. Leave the onion out. Leave celery out for the same reason. There are people who have just as strong of an aversion to celery as well.

Nuts such as toasted sliced almonds, pecans, walnuts and pistachios can certainly make many salads better.

Most Popular corn recipe

Southern fried corn

More Summer Salads from Spinach Tiger

• Honey Baked Goat Cheese Salad with Lemony Vinaigrette 
• Grilled Peach Salad with Blue Cheese Salad with Toasted Almond, Peach Vinaigrette
• Spinach Salad with Grilled Peaches
• Corn, Avocado Salad with Black Eyed Peas

• Grilled Corn and Tomato Salad
• Swiss Chard Nectarine and Toasted Pecans

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Blackberry Corn Salad with Simple Vinaigrette

Fresh corn off the cob with blackberries, ricotta salata for a summer salad.

Course Salad and Salad Dressing

Cuisine American

Keyword blackberries, corn, ricotta salad, salad

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Servings 6 servings

Ingredients

• 2 bags butter leaf lettuce
• 2 ears fresh corn
• 1 pint blackberries
• 3 ounces ricotta salata cheese can use feta
• 1/2 teaspoon salt taste and season
• 1/2 teaspoon pepper taste and season

Vinaigrette

• 2 teaspoon dijon mustard can replace with honey
• 6 tablespoons vinegar champagne or red wine
• 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
• dash teaspoon sea salt
• dash teaspoon black pepper

Instructions

Vinaigrette

• You may have extra dressing. Keep in jar outside of fridge for future salads. Only apply what you need.
• Mix mustard with vinegar in jar. Add oil and shake until well incorporated.
• Season with dash of salt and pepper.

Salad

• Cut corn off cob. You can add to salad or microwave in bowl for 3 minutes.
• Allow corn to cool.
• Add lettuce, corn, blackberries and crumbled ricotta salata to large salad bowl.
• Toss with just enough vinaigrette to wet all leaves. Taste and add more vinegar as needed.
• Season with salt and pepper.

The post Summer Blackberry Corn Salad with Easy Vinaigrette Recipe appeared first on Spinach Tiger.

The usuals, of course are ribs, pulled pork, and brisket. All good. All tasty. But a good sugar free barbecue sauce can make burgers sing, transform meatballs, and elevate meatloaf, replacing tomato ketchup or sauce with barbecue sauce.

Ingredients

• Tomato Puree (can use more ketchup)
• Apple Cider Vinegar
• Ketchup (or sugar free)
• Yellow Mustard
• Sugar Free Maple Syrup (can use a different sweetener)
• Garlic Powder (or a few cloves garlic)
• Onion Powder (can fine dice a medium onion instead)
• Worcestershire Sauce (make sure to see notes on this if you avoid gluten or fish)
• Salt
• Pepper
• Cayenne

I like sugar free barbecue sauce that has a little tang and isn’t too sweet or overpowering, and this recipe fits that. It works because it brings just enough acid to a dish for perfect balance.

More Recipes from Spinach Tiger

• Big Mac Sauce
• Comeback Sauce (for Crack Slaw)
• Peach Salsa
• Pulled Pork

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Sugar Free Barbecue Sauce

Sugar Free barbecue sauce for pork, ribs, burgers, meatballs, meatloaf and more.

Course condiment

Cuisine American

Keyword barbecue sauce, sugar free

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
• 2 tablespoons yellow mustard
• 1 cup tomato puree
• 4 tablespoons sugar free ketchup see notes
• 2 tablespoons worcestershire sauce
• 2 tablespoons maple syrup (sugar free)
• 1 teaspoon onion powder
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 teaspoon liquid smoke

Instructions

• Add all ingredients together. Taste for seasoning. You can add heat if you desire with a pinch of cayenne pepper as an option, but only a pinch.

Notes

If you don’t have sugar free ketchup, add in another 1/4 cup tomato puree. 

The post Sugar Free Barbecue Sauce appeared first on Spinach Tiger.

I could never figure out how my mom made her sweet potatoes until I had her come over and make them in front of me. I remember that day so clearly, because she lit up with excitement getting to share this. Now that she’s gone, I realize how special that day was. She was the queen of comfort food and had no problems dowsing the sweet potatoes with maple syrup, orange and apple juice and brown sugar.

I’m thrilled to say I was able to make a very similar dish, only sugar free/

Stove Top Sweet Potatoes

• Sweet Potatoes
• Sugar Free Maple Syrup (I use Choc Zero)
• Orange or Orange Zest
• Lemon
• Cinnamon
• Cinnamon Sticks
• Black Strap Molasses

It’s not a complicated recipe but a very delicious one. She surprised me by telling me we don’t need to turn on the oven. These are stove top sweet potatoes. How did I not know that? The good news here is that you can make these at the last thirty minutes while the turkey is taking up the oven.

How to Cut Sweet Potatoes

The first thing you have to do is peel the potatoes and cut them into discs. I cut them completely differently here, but you can do it either way. I tend to think her suggestion of discs is a better idea, because you can cut them more evenly.

If you are making these for a big dinner like thanksgiving, you can peel and cut them ahead, stick them in a plastic bag and refrigerate.

I did not use erythritol for this recipe because Choc Zero Maple Syrup is a better choice. I also used a small amount of black strap molasses to take the place of the brown sugar. Orange, lemon, and cinnamon sticks add brightness and flavor.

If you’re not familiar with Choc Zero, they make all kinds of amazing sugar free products, which is why I chose to be an affiliate earning a small commission. Their chocolate chips and maple syrup are my two favorite products and I use them in my keto bakery because they are sugar free and low carb.

If you don’t want to use a whole orange (because of the sugar), you can use just the orange zest.

If you have sweet potatoes left over, make some grain free sweet potato biscuits.

Can You Freeze Cooked Sweet Potatoes?

Yes, you can place the cooled sweet potatoes in a bag and freeze for up to 3 months.

Recipes You Might Love

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Sugar Free Orange Maple Sweet Potatoes

Sugar Free Stove Top Sweet Potatoes made with with butter, orange and cinnamon.

Course Side Dish

Cuisine American

Prep Time 20 minutes minutes

Cook Time 1 hour hour

Total Time 1 hour hour 20 minutes minutes

Servings 8

Author Angela Roberts

Ingredients

• 1 sticks butter
• 1/4 cup sugar free maple syrup I use Choc Zero
• 1 teaspoon black strap molasses
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground nutmeg
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 4 large sweet potatoes peeled
• 1 large naval orange cut into 4 pieces
• 1/2 lemon
• 2 cinnamon sticks
• 1/2 cup water more If needed
• 1 teaspoon salt
• black pepper

Instructions

• Cut peeled sweet potatoes across into 1/2 discs.
• Add In sugar free maple syrup
• In a dutch oven (large enough to fit all sweet potatoes), melt the butter with black strap molasses. Add cinnamon.
• Add in sweet potatoes.
• Squeeze oranges over potatoes. Put orange skins in pot.
• Season with salt and pepper.
• Add in cinnamon sticks, nutmeg, and water. You will need to judge how necessary adding liquid is.
• Cover and cook on low heat for about an hour, stirring every ten minutes or so.

The post Sugar Free Orange Maple Sweet Potatoes appeared first on Spinach Tiger.

This Christmas apple cranberry slab pie reminded me of the flavor profiles on the show.  The cranberries add a necessary tang to all the sweet and combine beautifully with the apples.

I’m not new to slab pies, as I made a summer version with blueberries and peaches here.

The key to this Christmas pie is flavors and cooking down the apples with butter, cinnamon, orange zest, vanilla, cardamom, and nutmeg. You can choose to mix it up anyway you like, but keep the cinnamon!

Pushing the flavors of old time Christmas, the cranberries do their job.  I used two kinds of apples. The granny smith which cooked down, yielding a lot of juice. To those I added 3 gala apples which don’t cook down in the same way.

This is the first time I’ve mixed my apples, and I rather like it. Gala apples are usually my apple of choice because they keep some of their crispness. You can mix up your apples (see notes in recipe).

The filling for the apple cranberry slab pie is absolutely delicious.

It tastes like an old fashioned pie you might eat in Europe, so rich in flavors.

I trimmed the dough around the sheet pan, but you could do something more decorative if you choose. I felt I had enough dough and the corner pieces would have too much.

Blind bake Apple Cranberry Slab Pie for 15 minutes. 

Since my apple filling was pre-cooked, I blind-baked the bottom crust for 15 minutes to ensure it remain crisp when cut. It worked perfectly, and there was no soggy bottom.

Use any cookie cutters you like. I like these Christmas cookie cutters.

This is the perfect crowd pleaser. Pre-cut into squares in the pan before serving. This pie also freezes well.

I’ll be adding this to my Apple Desserts with Decorative Crusts

Summer Slab Pie Here

More Apple Recipes from Spinach Tiger

• Pennsylvania Dutch Apple Pan Dowdy (Gluten Free)
• Bourbon Caramelized Apple Hand Pie
• Low Carb Apple Upside Down Cake
• Caramelized Apple Tart with Stove Top Brown Sugar Apple Filling
• Keto Apple Muffins

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Apple Cranberry Slab Pie

Winter Apple pie with cranberries baked in a sheet pan.

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Prep Time 1 hour hour

Cook Time 35 minutes minutes

Total Time 1 hour hour 35 minutes minutes

Servings 15

Author Angela Roberts

Ingredients

Apple Cranberry Pie Filling

• 8 apples
• 2 teaspoons cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 teaspoon cardamom
• 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
• 1/2 cup fresh cranberries can sub with raspberries
• 1/3 cup brown sugar may need a few tablespoons more
• 1/2 orange for juice and zest
• 4 tablespoons Unsalted Butter
• 3/4 cup sugar (See Notes)
• 1/2 orange
• 2 tablespoons sifted corn starch
• Pie Dough
• 3 3/4 cups all purpose flour 448 grams plus more for dusting
• 12 ounces Unsalted Butter 24 tablespoons or 3 sticks
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 1 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup iced cold water 2 more tablespoons, (if needed

Instructions

• Make Pie Dough below first and refrigerate for one hour while making apple filling.

MAKE APPLE FILLING

• Peel and core apples. Y≈
• Slice apples about 1/4 inch thick.
• Zest orange and juice orange.
• Put 4 tablespoons butter in frying pan with 2 tablespoons brown sugar.
• Toss apples with sugar, juice of half orange, orange zest. Add 1 tablespoon corn starch.
• Cook apples and cranberries on top of stove on low in large frying pan, until somewhat softened. The granny smith apples will cook down more than the gala apples. There will a lot of liquid, after about 15 minutes.
• Drain liquid and use in another recipe.
• MAKE PIE DOUGH
• Cut butter into small pieces. Freeze for 10 minutes.
• Mix flour, sugar, salt in food processor or kitchen aid mixer. You can whisk and do this with your hands.
• Cut butter into flour mixture. I prefer my kitchen aid mixer but a food processor works well too
• You can, however use a pastry cutter and mix butter into flour, making sure to keep the pieces pea sized.
• Add in ice cold water. Mix just enough to be able to squeeze dough together.
• If the dough stays together when you press, it’s processed enough.
• Put in plastic bag, separating it into 1/3 and 2/3. Bring it together in bag. Refrigerate for one hour. You can do this a day in advance of recipe.
• Bring out twenty minutes before rolling.
• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Arrange rack in oven on bottom third.
• Once you are ready to assemble, first roll out 1/3 dough to make stars. You can make 15 large stars or 18 smaller stars. You can use more dough from the other section if need be. The recipe will make the stars and the remaining dough is just enough for the sheet pan.
• Make the cut outs and place in refrigerator, while rolling out the dough for the bottom.
• Roll into rectangle and place in sheet pan.
• Fork holes all over the bottom. Place in freezer for a few minutes.
• Arrange apples cranberry mixture.
• Before placing stars over fruit, using your finger, rub milk over each star, and sprinkle raw sugar
• Bake for 35 minutes. Check halfway through and turn pan around.
• Check at 30 minutes and loosely cover with foil if it’s already golden brown.
• Allow to cool before cutting.
• Keep at room temperature, covered with foil.
• Can be frozen for 60 days. Take out and allow to defrost at room temperature. Can be reheated in oven.

Notes

Apples: I mixed my apples, but you can use all gala which stay a little crisper and require less sugar. If you use all granny smith apples, you will need all the sugar. Taste filling as you go, since it’s cooked stovetop. 

The post Christmas Apple Cranberry Slab Pie appeared first on Spinach Tiger.

I feel confident calling this the best ever chicken salad because I brought it to a party, and everyone who tried it commented on it.  It was perfect combination of textures. Pomegranates, pecans, celery, apples, white meat chicken. I used the Best Body Mayonnaise  (Amazon) as it is 100% avocado oil.

You can make this a keto friendly recipe by eliminating the apple, but do keep the pomegranate.

Use a Good Rotisserie Chicken for Chicken Salad

It all started when a friend dropped off two rotisserie chickens from Whole Foods to keep us covered for dinners, after my mother passed away. I cut off all of the white meat, discarding any skin or bones, and froze the dark meat for another time.

You can roast your own chicken, using my easy one hour oven roasted chicken recipe. 

I was shocked at how much chicken I ended up having and would say one chicken is probably all you need for several servings.  The day before my mother died, I stopped at Whole Foods with the intention of making soup and had organic celery on hand. I had made her this roasted pumpkin which was her last dinner with us and still had pomegranate arils left. I also had a few very crisp gala apples, and fresh parsley (for the soup I never made). I always have pecans on hands, and chose to roast them for just about 3 minutes.

What is the Key to the Great Chicken Salad?

As easy as chicken salad is to make, there are important components to making it the best.

• The chicken has to be pulled, not cubed. Use a food Processor.
• The mayonnaise has to be healthy. I use Better Body Foods because it doesn’t have canola oil.
• There has to be some crunch, either from celery or apples or both. (I know some people hate celery).
• There needs to be a little bit of sweet, which is where my pomegranate comes in. It’s a better choice than using dried cranberries if you’re looking for a lower sugar option.
• It needs nuts, and I prefer roasted, chopped pecans.
• Don’t forget the salt and pepper, and a smattering of parsley.
• Add a little honey if your mayonnaise doesn’t have flavor.
• Add fresh herbs. I added rosemary for a holiday feel.

My Favorite Food Processors (My Amazon Picks)

Braun 12 Cup Food Processor that does everything. I use this for shredding carrots, squeezing lemons, chopping nuts and processing my chicken. This is the processor for life.

Kitchen Aid 5 Cup Food Processor – great for the small jobs. You can use this for the chicken salad, but you might have to do it in batches.

I know this can be used to make the best chicken salad sandwich, but I like to serve it in a pretty bowl, topped with chopped pecans, pomegranates, and a smattering of parsley and rosemary. It’s so perfect for Christmas parties and Christmas brunches.

You can use this same recipe to make the best ever turkey salad.

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Pomegranate Spells Holiday Time

The pomegranate arils perfected this chicken salad, adding a touch of tart and sweet with some texture. I wouldn’t leave these out. I get so excited when pomegranates hit the grocery in winter as I throw them into almost every salad and some hot dishes like last week’s roasted pumpkin. Just a tablespoon or two makes a difference.

How to Crack Open a Pomegranate

Score the six ridges of the pomegranate and break at the ridges over a bowl of water. The frustrating part can be the pulp mixing with the pomegranate arils. Break over a bowl of cold water. The arils will sink to the bottom and you can use a slotted spoon to remove the pulp from the top. Then drain the arils.

Nutrition Value for Best Chicken Salad

If you want this to be a keto friendly (zero net carb) recipe,  take out the apple. It was as if everything was pre-planned to make the best ever chicken salad. This low carb and a paleo recipe, full of healthy fat, protein and fruits and around 4 net carbs per serving.  If you remove the apple, it’s zero net carbs and keto friendly.

More Party Foods from Spinach Tiger

• Pimento Cheese Egg Salad
• Loaded Deviled Eggs
• Party Caprese Salad
• Keto Texas Sheet Cake
• Pimento Cheese Deviled Eggs
• Italian Sausage Balls
• Sourdough Camembert Wreath
• Feta Olives Salad
• Ricotta, Peas, Pesto Appetizer
• Cowboy Caviar
• How to Make a Cheeseboard

Print

Holiday Chicken Salad

Pulled chicken, with pomegranates, rosemary, and pecans make a very festive chicken salad made with Rotisserie chicken.

Course Appetizer, Salad

Cuisine American

Keyword chicken salad

Prep Time 15 minutes minutes

Servings 6 Servings

Ingredients

• 1 pound white meat chicken Pulled from rotisserie chicken or poached
• 1/2 cup diced celery
• 1 cup mayonnaise Better Body Foods
• 2 tablespoons pomegranate arils
• 1/2 cup pecans chopped
• 1 small gala apple with skin diced
• 1 tablespoon parsley chopped
• 1/2 teaspoon sea salt or to taste
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper to taste or to taste
• 1 teaspoon fresh rosemary, finely chopped or more to taste
• 1 tablespoon honey optinal

Instructions

• Pull chicken off bone. Don't use any skin. I find using a food processor makes the texture I like for chicken salad.
• Add diced celery, diced apple to chicken.
• Add mayonnaise according to need. I used quite a bit. Add optional honey if desired. It does add an extra something.
• Toasting pecans is optional. No more than 3 minutes. Chop somewhere between fine and course, keeping in mind how that will be for eating. Add in, but save some for topping.
• Season with salt and pepper.
• Add in rosemary and parsley, but also save a little for the top.

Prepare Pomegranate

• Score the six ridges of a pomegranate.
• Break open over a bowl of cold water. The pomegranate arils will sink to bottom.
• Add two tablespoons of arils, and save a little for the top.

Poached Chicken Breasts Option

• Add about 2 inches cold water over the chicken breasts and bring to boil. Once the water is boiling, skim off the scum off the top, and turn down the heat. Take out of the water as soon as the chicken reaches 165 degrees F. in the middle. Cool completely before making the chicken salad.

The post Best Ever Holiday Chicken Salad with Rosemary and Pomegranates appeared first on Spinach Tiger.

Start the dinner with this Camembert Sourdough Wreath

Many people either make the turkey dinner all over again or they make lasagna. It was actually googling spinach lasagna 16 years ago that inspired me to start a food blog.

We usually make something with beef and then add in the fancy side dishes. Here are some ideas for you.

Tenderloin Roast of Beef – I think this is what we will be doing again this year, although I am going to make some kind of fancy sauce.

Prime Rib of Beef – This is still one of my all time favorite dinners with sour cream horseradish sauce. I have friends who use my recipe every year and brag about it.

Leg of Lamb – This should not be restricted to easter. Leg of lamb is scrumptuous and more affordable than many cuts of premium beef.

Beef Bourguignon – This very fancy beef stew, made with a whole bottle of wine, is good enough for Christmas Day. My oven broke a few years ago and this became Christmas dinner.

Stuffed Shells – I think this is one of the pasta dishes that should be made sometime during the holidays if not for Christmas day. You can get the whole family in the kitchen with piping bags filling the large shells. Fun and delicious.

Mock Porchetta with Root Vegetables – This pork roast (considered street food in Italy when sliced onto rolls) is one of my favorite ways to eat pork. I found this recipe in the Zuni Cafe cookbook (a San Francisco restaurant I can attest to). It’s stuffed with fennel and lemon and has all the Italian feels. Surround it with your favorite root vegetables.

Short Ribs in Wine – Yes, this is a great Christmas dinner idea that can be made in advance. It took me a while to create a great short ribs recipe. This is it.

Pork Loin (how to brine and roast) – Perfect with my no lump mashed potatoes. Another affordable entree that pleases a crowd.

If you are going to have a small Christmas dinner gathering, you might want to make this very easy Rack of Lamb.

Veal Osso Buco – I know you probably don’t make this very often, if at all, but it’s just delicious and something to try.

Pot Roast of Beef served with Parmesan Whipped Potatoes – This is a Marcella Hazan recipe, the queen of Italian cooking. She passed some years ago and her book, Essentials of Classic Italian Cooking continues to sell. The first 50 pages discuss the fundamentals of Italian cooking and is worth the price alone. This book has no pictures, but many accolades over the last 50 years!

Fancy Sides

• Holiday Wedge Salad (homemade blue cheese dressing)
• Kale Winter Salad
• Festive Harvest Salad with rosemary vinaigrette
• Raw Cauliflower Salad with Pistachios
• Scalloped Potatoes
• Twice Baked Cauliflower

Some Desserts to Consider

• Almond Tart
• Keto Spiced Pear Cheesecake Bar
• Classic Fancy Keto Cheesecake
• Christmas Apple Pie (not low carb)
• Low Carb Italian Pear Cake
• Keto Raspberry Cheesecake
• Rich Flourless Chocolate Cake (not low carb)

The post Main Entrees for Christmas Dinner appeared first on Spinach Tiger.