Low-Carb Christmas Menus

[Gretalyn]

I'd love to hear what others are planning for Christmas. Here are my ideas so far, but this is subject to change. This isn't super low-carb, but it's low enough for a holiday.

Roasted Pork Tenderloin with Garlic Pepper Crust

Green Beans Almondine

Stuffed Acorn Squash (I'm not sure yet what I'll be stuffing them with! Need ideas.)

A simple green salad

Mixed Berries with creme fraiche (and probably some unsweetened shredded coconut and chopped roasted walnuts to sprinkle on top)




I'll probably make some sugar-free egg nog for Christmas Eve too. But the above is the Christmas Day menu.

What are you planning?

[cookwithme65]

Not sure about Christmas as yet as it its kind of a potluck style this year with the host making prime rib. But with regards to the squash you could just roast them with butter and sf brown sugar. Or saute some pork or chicken sausage with some mushrooms and riced cauliflower and use that as your stuffing. I'll be back when I fiqure what i'm making.

[Gretalyn]

That sounds pretty good! I found a recipe online for acorn squash stuffed with brown sugar, diced pears, and crumbled gorgonzola cheese. Sounds yummy! But too sweet. I thought maybe I'd try that, but skip the brown sugar and throw some bacon into the mix. Everything's better with bacon!

[Micksgonepb]

I am preparing the Christmas Eve dinner for hubbys family. I will be making all my and their carb favorites for them. However I am going to add extra green veggies, deviled eggs and maybe a sugar free jello salad to the mix for myself. I will also be serving ham and turkey.

Christmas day my mom is making her famous homemade pizza. I guess I shall bring sides like stuffed mushrooms and peppers and just eat pizza tops.

[pcaltman]

Beef roast or Prime rib
Gravy
Sauteed green beans with bacon
Blue cheese spinach salad w/toasted walnuts and dried cranberry in a vinaigrette
Sugar free cranberry or red jello mold
Au gratin potatos and Au gratin cauliflower
Cranberry bread (not for me)

[Gretalyn]

Sounds fabulous!

[pcaltman]

Some more

Christmas Eve:
Ham
Potato casserole
Mock mashed potatoes
Ceaser salad
Diced carrots
Hawaiian bread

Christmas brunch:
Ham & cheese quiche
Cinnimon rolls
Bacon & sausage
Breakfast potatoes
Fruit
Juice and coffee

Christmas:
Beef roast or Prime rib
Gravy
Sauteed green beans with bacon
Blue cheese spinach salad w/toasted walnuts and dried cranberry in a vinaigrette
Sugar free cranberry or red jello mold
Au gratin potatos and Au gratin cauliflower
Cranberry bread (not for me)

[pcaltman]

Ok I read somebody suggested Strawberries dipped in sugar free chocolate. What a great dessert. That's now on the menu

13 strawberries = 5 carbs

[Charski]

Christmas Eve we do with my Mom - this year, Camarones a la Diabla (spicy shrimp with red/yellow/green bell peppers and onions), homemade refried beans, quinoa, and a few Trader Joe's Flax Chips. For dessert, some SF/LC chocolate truffles.

Christmas Day, at Dad and stepMom's - Dad is cooking a big prime rib roast, DSister is bringing scalloped potatoes (none for me, thanks!) and I'm bringing sweet potato/butternut squash gratin and SF cranberry jalapeno sauce, and some more truffles if there are any left! I also make my Dad a mincemeat pie, it's his favorite.

[Speck333]

Christmas Dinner Menu:

Prime Rib
Mushroom Gravy
petite green beans with butter and shredded parmesan
baby carrots in mustard glaze*
macaroni and cheese*
mashed potatoes**
eggnog cheesecake (sugar free, pecan crust)*

*not exactly low carb, but I try to avoid sugar and use Dreamfields macaroni
**there's no excuse for this

[pcaltman]

Charski - We love mincemeat pies. I make them into little tarts for finger foods that we can snack on during the day.

Specki - sounds yummy. Just think of the mashed potatoes as food for others. Every dinner is have bread and some rice or potatoes, but it's for the kids not me. That cheesecake looks yummy. I love the idea of a pecan crust. How do you make yours?

[Speck333]

The pecan crust is super easy. You can use just about any nut probably. You just pulverize nuts in a food processor until the consistency of like sand. It depends on the size of your pan, but 2 cups of whole nuts/pieces is about right. Then add an egg white, some sweetener (type and amount your choice/dependent on the pie recipe), about a tlbs melted butter (or coconut oil), mix well. Press into pan and CHILL until well set, at least 15 minutes, before filling.
If using a springform pan, wrap foil around the bottom and seam. Butter seems to leak out of mine.

here is the recipe I base my cheesecake on http://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/Eggnog-Cheesecake
I use my homemade eggnog, which is:
Sugar Free Egg Nog
Ingredients
3 cups Hood 2% milk*
1 cup cream (or more if you like thicker eggnog)
4 whole eggs (or "eggbeaters" type product)
1/3 cup splenda (or more if you like it sweeter)
1 tsp vanilla
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1/4 tsp rum extract (optional or more to taste or real rum for *real* eggnog! lol!)
A couple drops yellow food coloring (optional - for if you need the color to be the same as the store bought stuff to be convinced it's eggnog...lol)

Preparation

Put it all in the blender, or in a pitcher and use a stick blender like I do, and blend until slightly frothy. Enjoy!!

[pcaltman]

Thanks Speck I will try that