If you like cooking, you may have started looking for the best pie recipes for your holiday guests and family.

Here is an opportunity for you to create your own delicious Sweet Potato or Squash Holiday Pie for your Thanksgiving dinner.

Or… you can bake three different Holiday pies to impress and surprise your family and friends

Start having fun by choosing from the following holiday recipe ingredients:

Good Luck and Have Fun!

Step I. Pick one:

• 1 and a half can pumpkin puree
• 3 cups cooked mashed sweet potatoes
• 3 cups cooked mashed buttercup squash
• 3 cups cooked mashed butternut squash

Step II. Pick one:

• ¾ cup brown sugar
• ½ cup honey
• ½ cup maple syrup
• ¾ cup Agave Nectar

Step III. Pick three or more:

• 1/5 tsp ground cinnamon
• ¼ tsp ground ginger
• ¼ tsp nutmeg
• ¼ tsp ground cloves
• ¼ tsp allspice
• 1 tbsp lemon zest
• 1 tbsp orange zest

Step IV. Pick one:

• 1 cup soy milk
• 1 cup evaporated milk
• 1 cup almond milk
• 1 cup rice milk

Step V. Pick one:

• 3 eggs slightly beaten + 2 tbsp flour
• ¼ cup cornstarch
• ½ cup firm tofu
• 2 tbsp semolina

Step VI. pinch of salt

Step VII. I – 2 tbsp Molasses

Next: Make the Crust

Ingredients:

• 3 cups whole wheat pastry flour
• 1 teaspoon salt
• ¾ cup margarine
• 5- 6 tbsp cold water

Mix together flour, margarine and salt. Add water, one spoon at a time until pastry holds together. Shape the pastry into a ball and put into the refrigerator for 45 min.

Final Step

Mix all ingredients together and pour into the crust. Bake at 400 F for 10 minutes. Reduce the heat to 350 F and bake for 45 – 50 minutes.

Bon Appetit!

Breathe, smile and be happy.

© Irina Wardas,HHC

Women’s Holistic Health, Nutrition, Coach, Counselor and Relationship Expert

Holiday season is the time when we eat lots of unhealthy foods, catch colds and complain about gaining weight.  But it is all about choices we make, isn’t it?.

We can make our dishes with healthier substitutes for cooking and baking recipes to help us avoid weight gain, colds and seasonal depression.

That is why I would like to share with you this tasty and healthy cookie recipe to enjoy with your, children, family and friends.

A Really Healthy Whole Wheat Gingerbread Cookie Recipe

• 4 -5 cups whole wheat pastry flour or whole grain flour
• 2 Tbsp. unsweetened cocoa or carob powder
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1 C. margarine, non-hydrogenated or unsalted butter
• ½ C, brown rice syrup or wheat malt 
• ½ C. barley malt
• 4-5 tsp. powdered ginger 
• 1 tsp. ground cloves 
• ¼ tsp. sea salt 
• 1 tsp. nutmeg ground
• 1 tsp. vanilla 
• Vanilla rice milk
• orange zest of one orange

Mix margarine with rice syrup, barley malt, and vanilla until smooth and creamy. Slowly add flour, baking powder, cocoa powder or carob, spices, ginger, salt and zest. Mix well until a dough has formed. If the mixture seems dry, slowly add the rice milk to achieve the moisture you need. Divide the dough in half and refrigerate at least for 2-3 hours. Roll out every piece of dough and cut into shapes using various cookie cutters. Place cookies about an inch apart on the cookie sheet and bake for 5-7 minutes until golden brown at 375 degrees.

For decorations use raisins, pumpkin or sesame seeds, minced walnuts or pecans, toasted coconut.

Bon Appetit and Happy Holidays!

Click to listen to Gluten Free Cooking and Baking Tips from Leslie Cerier, “The Organic Gourmet”.

Breathe, smile and be happy,

Irina Wardas, HHC

Women’s Holistic Health, Nutrition Coach and Counselor