For the December version of This Month’s Healthy Bite, I asked, “What are your favorite Christmas cookie recipes?” We got some absolutely fantastic answers,  so be sure to check them all out:

From Lisa, Allergy Free Vintage Cookery:

My very favorite Christmas cookie is Coconut Date Balls. My mother used to make these for us at Christmastime from a recipe passed down from her aunt. They’re so simple to put together, and they taste so decadent and rich! As a bonus, they’re also gluten free, casein free, and egg free.

From Chiara, The Wandering Cook:

My favorite Christmas cookies are Brunsli, little chocolate dough balls similar to truffles. They are baked for the whole month of December in Switzerland, where I now live, and they are the perfect chocolatey treat!

From Carrie, Carrie’s Experimental Kitchen:

My favorite are Italian Sesame Cookies

From Raymund, Ang Sarap:

I would like to see a White Chocolate, Macadamia and Cranberry Chewy Cookie. I had tried this when I was in Malaysia and it tastes so divine.

From Alisa, Alisa Cooks and Go Dairy Free:

Well, I don’t really have one favorite, since cookies are my favorite dessert (too hard to choose!), but these are some cookies that I’m loving now – http://www.godairyfree.org/Recipes/Dairy-Free-Desserts/Cinn-ful-Sweet-Potato-Cookies.html

From Jennifer, Savory Simple:

These are my favorite cookies and I’m planning to make them for Christmas this year: http://savorysimple.net/2011/10/16/pistachio-cardamom-cookies/

From Lisa, Lisa’s Kitchen:

My favorite Christmas Cookie are these Rum Balls. I made these rum balls a few years back for a Christmas treat and have made them every Christmas since. They are somewhat like truffles, only stronger in taste because of the rum. Yum! I suggest you use a nice dark Jamaican rum for this recipe.

From Jackie, Jackie’s Kitchen:

For me, cookies are synonymous with the holidays and vice versa. My mother would bake tins upon tins of various types of cookies, which we’d enjoy with each gathering. One of my favorite varieties among the mix was a German spice cookie that was rich in flavor, more sophisticated than the everyday chocolate chip or oatmeal cookie, and it was certainly less sweet. Particularly inviting was the white powdered-sugar coating on each cookie, which complemented the wintery Northeast weather. These cookies were so special that they were not presented on the same plate as the other cookies, but their own “snowman” plate, which was is an adorable white ceramic plate with a snowman on the edge. My father would liken the cookies to the snowman’s little snowballs.

It’s been several years since I’ve been “allowed” to enjoy these cookies given my gluten-free dietary requirement. But this year, I’ve undertaken the task of making a gluten-free version with incredible success so these can now stay my favorite holiday cookies: http://visualcookbook.blogspot.com/2011/11/pfeffernusse-german-spice-cookies.html.

Happy Holidays!

From Kalyn, Kalyn’s Kitchen:

Five Delicious Sugar-Free and Flourless Cookies to Bake for Christmas:

Flourless Sugar-Free Pistachio Cookies

Sugar-Free and Gluten-Free Triple Almond Cookies

Sugar-Free and Flourless Chocolate and Oatmeal Cluster Cookies

Flourless, Sugar-Free Peanut Butter Cookies

Sugar-Free and Gluten-Free Cookies with Almond and Flaxseed Meal

From Lindsay, The Lean Green Bean:

I love Toffee Graham Cracker Squares, Blackberry Oatmeal Bars & Chocolate Peppermint Bark Cookies.

From Roni, GreenLiteBites:

I love trying to make holiday cookies just a little bit healthier and I’ve successfully done it 3 times (after many, many failures. I can assure you!) Most recently I mastered a Less Sugar-Sugar Cookie that my son and I had a blast decorating. Click here for the recipe. My second favorite are these fun Molasses Cookie Balls which have that awesome rolled in sugar look. Click here for the recipe. Finally a fun Chocolate Walnut cookies that are heaven right out of the over. Heaven. Click here for the recipe.

From Erin, Girl Gone Veggie:

Snowballs:

Peanut Butter Kiss Cookies:

From Sonia, The Healthy Foodie:

I recently came up with this Cranberry Orange Oatmeal Cookie recipe. This will, undoubtedly, become a new Christmas classic in this household. They are super moist, surprisingly sweet despite containing no added sugar whatsoever, and come out of the oven nice and golden brown as well as slightly crispy on the exterior. Gorgeous!

From Chloe, LightOnMyFeet:

My favorite Christmas cookies are snowballs! You can find the recipe on my blog here: http://feelinlightonmyfeet.wordpress.com/2011/12/16/snowballs/

I love them because they’re everything you’d want in a Christmas cookie! Sugary, buttery, and nutty. They’re so festive and always bring back some great Christmas memories!

From Jamie, Thrifty Veggie Mama:

One of my favorite Christmas cookies is peanut butter sandwiched between two Ritz crackers and dipped in chocolate. They are super easy to make, only use three ingredients, don’t require baking, and are delicious!

Thanks to everyone for all the fun responses!

Answer the next This Month’s Healthy Bite question: What are your favorite weeknight dinner recipes? Email us your answer or just simply comment on this blog post, and we’ll publish your answers and link to your blog at the end of the month. Got some blogger friends who would like us to link to them too? Ask them to answer This Month’s Healthy Bite too!

Editor’s Note: This blog hop ends today, so be sure to enter and vote before it’s too late!

Welcome to our latest FaveDiets Blog Hop, and as always welcome back to all those that participated in last month’s! Be sure to visit last month’s hop which featured your Favorite Vegetable Recipes. If you have a great recipe we would love to share it in this month’s blog hop!

We are so excited about this month’s blog hop theme, Favorite Holiday Recipes

This month we’d love to hear what your favorite holiday recipe is. December is the month of the year for holidays, and we want to see what you have been making to prep for all of this month’s wonderful events. Whether it’s Christmas cookies, New Year’s cocktails, Hanukkah latkes or anything else, share here your holiday recipes!

How It Works

1. Write a blog post on your own blog showcasing any Favorite Holiday Recipes or link to one that is already posted on your blog. You can talk about the cooking process, write up a tutorial, or merely show off the finished product, it’s up to you!
2. Add your link to this post by clicking on “Click Here to Enter” at the bottom of the screen and following the instructions. Make sure you link to your specific blog post, not your homepage, and give it a caption.
3. Remember to copy the FaveDiets Blog Hop button below and paste it into your blog post, linked to this FaveDiets Blog Hop post, so that everyone who reads your blog can see that you’ve been featured on FaveDiets!
4. One link per person please, due to our new Giveaway feature, which is explained below.

GIVEAWAY!
Yet again we have a special treat for all our Blog Hop participants. We are opening the hop up to voting!

Every blogger is allowed one link to their favorite holiday recipe and readers of the blog can now play along by voting for their favorite one. So be sure to tell your friends, family, followers, and fans to vote for you. Voting and submissions end December 16th at midnight CST.

The recipe with the most votes will win a Wilton Pre-Baked Gingerbread Tree Kit!

Please be sure to cast your vote and help us pick a winner!

**Don’t have a recipe for this Blog Hop but want to be notified via email about future events? Sign up for our blogger list and we will let you know when the next Blog Hop is up so you can join the fun!

*Note: Only folks in the U.S. and Canada are eligible to win this prize.

Apples.

Cinnamon.

Cobbler.

Apple Cinnamon Cobbler. Goodness gracious, I had no idea light food could be so sweet and full of cinnamon-y rapture! This delightful dessert recipe from EverydayHealth.com was inspired by the produce from Michelle Obama’s White House garden, and it reflects her quest for great-tasting, wholesome foods. Apple cobbler recipes like this one remind me of spiced winter ciders and the crunch of snow and dead leaves beneath my feet. This is one of many healthy dessert recipes that do incorporate your favorite flavors without abandoning the trimness of your figure. Did I mention the cinnamon? I do love that cinnamon. And apples. In a healthy cobbler. Oh my.

What is your favorite apple dessert recipe? I’m a big fan of anything that tastes like apple pie (like this cobbler)!

If you’re as fond of cobbler recipes as I am, try these others from FaveDiets.com:

• Blueberry and Peach Cobbler
• Copycat Cracker Barrel Cherry Chocolate Cobbler

Now you have a chance to win a signed copy of Simply… Gluten Free Desserts by Carol Kicinski!

One winner will win a copy of Simply…Gluten Free Desserts: 150 Delicious Recipes for Cupcakes, Cookies, Cakes, Pies, Breakfast Sweets, and More Old and New Favorites signed by the author, Carol Kicinski.

Click here to enter this giveaway today!

Wanna learn the secrets of how to easily bake gluten free? You can give someone a fish and feed him for a day or you can teach him to fish and feed him for a lifetime! The purpose for this book was the later. This cookbook gives you 150 dessert and breakfast recipes plus teaches you in simple steps how to bake gluten free so you can easily convert all your’s and your grandma’s favorite recipes and have your baked goods turn out perfect and yummy every time!

Plus, be sure to check out the FaveDiets book review of Simply…Gluten Free Desserts.

The Simply… Gluten Free Desserts Cookbook Giveaway Summary

• Prize: One copy of Simply…Gluten Free Desserts: 150 Delicious Recipes for Cupcakes, Cookies, Cakes, Pies, Breakfast Sweets, and More Old and New Favorites signed by the author, Carol Kicinski.
• Timeline: Begins on November 16, 2011 at 12:00:01 a.m. Eastern Time, and ends on November 27, 2011 at 11:59:59 p.m. Eastern Time
• Contest open to residents of the U.S. and Canada only. Winners must claim prize within 14 days of being announced.

Good luck!

By Maris Callahan for DietsInReview.com

Food plays an important role in holidays and celebrations – especially on Thanksgiving. While Thanksgiving can be one of the most joyful holidays of the year, everyone knows it can be difficult on a diet if you’re following one like Weight Watchers or Nutrisystem. With rich, fattening foods on the menu, how can you prevent the pounds from creeping on as you kick off the holiday season?

Eat your greens first. To cut calories from your Thanksgiving dinner, start with a fresh green salad with light or no dressing. Make it seasonal by adding roasted butternut squash, chopped apples or dried cranberries for an extra burst of flavor. When you fill your plate, focus on a small portion of turkey or lean protein and extra vegetables – like Swiss chard, Brussels sprouts and green beans. Once you’ve fulfilled your “five a day” requirement, go back for small portions of the starchy side dishes.

Try eating a little of everything. Don’t deprive yourself of your favorite cornbread stuffing or your favorite aunt’s famous sweet potato casserole, but stick to a small portion and enjoy just a few bites. Most dietitians and nutrition experts recommend this approach because you won’t feel deprived but at the end of the meal, you won’t feel the need for a nap.

Only eat the “special occasion” foods. Mashed potatoes with extra butter might be delicious, but you can have them any day. Instead, save your calories for the dishes you only have on Thanksgiving, whether it’s pumpkin pie or cranberry sauce. You’ll probably find that this more satisfying.

Appetizers: (serve 2)

Potato Leek Soup

Easy Pumpkin & Cranberry Bread

Apple Cinnamon Fruit Dip

Hearts of Romaine with Raspberry Dressing

Main Dish: (serve 2 including one vegetarian option)

Faster Thanksgiving Turkey

Roasted Thanksgiving Turkey Breast

Roasted Potato Terrine

Side Dishes: (serve 3)

10 Minute Cranberry Sauce

Water Chestnut Stuffing

Gluten-Free Stuffing

Chili Spiced Orange Roasted Sweet Potatoes

Mashed Turnips and Potatoes

Green Bean Salad

Sweet Pumpkin Polenta

Desserts: (serve two)

Healthy Pumpkin Cookies

Cranberry Apple Pudding

No-Bake Pumpkin Pie

Maple Baked Pecan Pie

For the October version of This Month’s Healthy Bite, I asked, “What are your favorite pumpkin recipes?” We got some absolutely fantastic answers, from pumpkin pie and muffins to chili and a whole lot more. Check them all out:

From Karen, What’s in John’s Lunch Bag:

Snack Time Pumpkin Bites

Ingredients (in order of use):

• 110gm (1 stick) butter
• 110gm sugar
• 2 eggs
• 110gm self-raising flour
• 1 3.4 oz box Pumpkin Spice Jell-O Instant Pudding Mix
• 1 egg
• 1/2 cup milk

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 375.
2. Beat the butter and sugar together with a spoon until creamy.
3. Add 2 eggs, one at a time, stirring to combine after each one.
4. Sift flour directly into bowl and fold into mixture.
5. Add in pudding mix, milk and egg. Stir well.
6. Scoop into silicone mini-muffin pans.
7. Bake 15-20 minutes, until a toothpick inserted toward the center comes out clean

Makes 36 cute little pumpkin bites

From Victoria, Pursuit of Hippieness:

I can’t get enough pumpkin this time of year! In fact, I recently rounded up some of my favorite pumpkin recipes, including my Pumpkin Spice Hippiecakes…

and my Pumpkin Veggie Chili!

Both recipes are vegan and gluten free!

From Jackie, Jackie’s Kitchen:

I’ve always loved anything with pumpkin. It creates moist, lightly-sweet baked goods, and is the perfect match for some of my favorite spices: cinnamon, cloves, ginger. It is nearly impossible to choose my favorite pumpkin recipe, so instead I will point to my latest pumpkin-based baked good, pumpkin gingerbread cake (with almond flour) (http://visualcookbook.blogspot.com/2011/09/pumpkin-gingerbread-cake-with-almond.html). It is incredibly moist, full of pumpkin flavor, and just bursts with the essence of fall and the many holidays and traditions that come with it.

From Jennifer, The Svelte Gourmet:

Pumpkin Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting — HEALTHY ones!

From Kalyn, Kalyn’s Kitchen:

Here are a couple of my favorite pumpkin recipes:

CrockPot Pumpkin Chili with Ground Beef, Black Beans, and Kidney Beans

Low-Sugar and Whole Wheat Pumpkin Muffins with Pecans

From Alisa, Alisa Cooks:

This is my most popular pumpkin recipe and certainly one of our favorites – http://www.alisacooks.com/2009/11/05/dairy-free-soy-free-pumpkin-pie/

Thanks to everyone for all the fun responses!

Answer the next This Month’s Healthy Bite question: What are your favorite Thanksgiving side dishes? Email us your answer or just simply comment on this blog post, and we’ll publish your answers and link to your blog at the end of the month. Got some blogger friends who would like us to link to them too? Ask them to answer This Month’s Healthy Bite too!

By Maris Callahan at DietsInReview.com

If you’re wistfully tuned in to The Biggest Loser this season, it’s easy to follow along with your favorite contestants from your own home to help reach your weight loss goals.

The Biggest Loser Diet, which was co-created and is monitored by registered dietitian Cheryl Forberg, is a modified low-carbohydrate diet. On the plan, 45% of the calories you eat will come from carbohydrates (mostly fruit, vegetables and whole grains), 30% of calories from protein, and 25% of calories from healthy fats or oils (seeds, nuts, avocado, olive oil).

“Eat protein with every meal and snack because it keeps your blood sugar levels steady and will keep you fuller longer,” said Courtney Crozier, fan favorite contestant from The Biggest Loser, Season 11 and current Biggest Loser Correspondent at DietsInReview. “We loved eating egg white omelets on the ranch. We’d load it with veggies because the fiber and protein kept us full and ready to burn more calories as the day went on.”

The diet also eliminates “white stuff” such as flour and refined sugar, while following a “4-3-2-1” rule, where you eat 4 cups minimum of fruits and vegetables, 3 servings of healthy proteins, 2 servings of whole grains and 1 serving of healthy fat.  There is room for one optional treat per day.

“Making quick and easy meals is so crucial to weight loss,” said Crozier. “It is so easy to go through a fast food restaurant drive through because it’s quick and simple and so many people think it’s quicker than cooking at home. Try simple, healthy salads and sandwiches. Once you have a few favorite recipes, you will see that great tasting, healthy food can be quick, too.

Participants are encouraged to track calories consumed and keep a diet and exercise journal to help monitor progress. As with any diet, it is important to talk to your doctor or health care provider before you begin.

Monday:

Breakfast: Courtney Crozier’s Egg White Veggie Omelet (recipe below); tomato slices; 1 orange.

Egg White Veggie Omelet

• 4-5 egg whites
• 1 cup of spinach
• 1/4 cup chopped onion
• 1/4 cup chopped zucchini
• 1/4 cup green/red/yellow bell pepper
• 1/8 cup chopped jalapenos (optional)
• 1 clove of garlic or minced garlic
• 1 wedge of Laughing Cow cheese, chopped (any flavor)
• 2 tablespoons of picante sauce (optional)
• Mrs. Dash Onion & Herb seasoning

1. Spray a medium nonstick skillet with olive oil spray. Set over medium heat. Add the onion, zucchini, bell peppers, jalapenos, and garlic. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 4 to 5 minutes until the onion is almost tender. Add the spinach and cook for 1 to 2 minutes or until wilted. Remove the vegetables to a plate. Cover and set aside to keep warm.
2. In a bowl, whisk the egg whites, Mrs. Dash, Laughing Cow cheese and hot sauce until the egg whites bubble lightly. Coat the pan with olive oil spray. Set over medium heat. Pour the egg white mixture into the pan. Cook, lifting the edges with a spatula as they start to set and tipping the pan for uncooked egg whites to run underneath, for 2 to 3 minutes, or until almost set. Flip the omelet. Spoon the vegetables over the egg-white mixture. Cover and cook for 1 to 2 minutes or until the cheese is melted. Fold the omelet in half. Plate it and serve with more hot sauce on top if desired.

Lunch: Andrea’s Turkey Wrap; 1 apple; ½ cup low-fat Greek yogurt.

Dinner: Pork & Vegetable Stir Fry with Peanut & Orange Sauce; ½ cup brown rice; ½ cup steamed green vegetables.

Snacks: 100-Calorie pack of Wholly Guacamole with Baby Carrots; Pumpkin Walnut Snack Muffin; Apple with 1 Tablespoon Peanut Butter.

Tuesday:

Breakfast: Banana and Oat Muffin; 1 glass skim milk; 1 cup grapes.

Lunch:  Courtney Crozier’s Turkey & Avocado Sandwich: 2 slices 35-calorie high fiber bread, 1 slice low-fat cheese, 3 ounces of low-sodium turkey breast and ¼ of an avocado; 1 apple.

Dinner: Dave’s Teriyaki Tofu; Papaya Salad with Peanut and Grilled Shrimp.

Snacks: Greek Yogurt Parfait; banana with 1 Tablespoon almond butter; Apricot-Oatmeal Granola Bar.

Wednesday:

Breakfast: Turkey Sausage & Egg Breakfast Wrap; 1 cup fresh melon slices.

Lunch: Mango Grilled Chicken Salad; apple; 2-ounce whole-wheat roll.

Dinner: Grilled Tuna with Tapenade and Succotash; Roasted Cauliflower.

Snacks: Light String Cheese; Banana Berry Muffin; 24 almonds.

Thursday:

Breakfast: ¾ cup fat-free Greek Yogurt with 2 tablespoons Nut & Raisin Granola and one cup blueberries or strawberries.

Lunch: Barbecue Pork Sandwich; Curried Baby Carrots.

Dinner: Shrimp Stir-Fry; Asian Chopped Salad; 1 orange.

Snacks: Protein Energy Bar; 2 tablespoons Kalamata Olive Hummus with 15 baby carrots; ½ cup Biggest Loser Mint Chocolate Chip Frozen Yogurt.

Friday:

Breakfast: Not So McMuffin; 2 slices turkey bacon, 1 cup sliced melon.

Lunch: Biggest Loser White House Salad, BBQ Chicken Mini Pizzas,

Dinner: Angel Hair with Rockin’ Red Clam Sauce, 2 cups mixed green salad with 2 tablespoons fat-free salad dressing, 5-ounce glass red wine.

Snacks: Jillian Michaels Cranberry Diet Drink; celery with 2 tablespoons peanut or almond butter; Nectarine & Raspberry Sundae.

Saturday:

Breakfast: 4 scrambled egg whites, with 1 cup baby spinach and ½ cup red bell peppers; Biggest Loser Breakfast Sausage; ½ cup pineapple.

Lunch: Southwestern Turkey Salad Wraps; 1 ½ cup grapes; 1 light string cheese.

Dinner: Beef Burgers and Sweet Potato Fries; 1/2 cup naturally sugar-free applesauce; Creamy But Not Creamed Spinach.

Snacks: Tiramisu Custard,

Sunday:

Breakfast: Pete’s Low Calorie Breakfast omelet, 1 cup fruit salad, 2 slices turkey bacon.

Lunch: Turkey & Black Bean Chili with ¼ cup low-fat shredded cheddar cheese, apple slices.

Dinner: Lemon Yogurt Chicken (use fat-free yogurt); Chopped Broccoli with Pine Nuts.

Snacks: ¾ cup fat-free Greek yogurt with 2 packets Truvia, 1 tablespoon almond butter and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract; ¼ cup Adam Hurtado’s Guacamole with baby carrots.

This is one of the best easy cookie recipes that I have tried in a long time. What makes this cookie so great is that it combines the best parts of oatmeal cookie recipes, healthy peanut butter cookie recipes and chocolate cookies into one super dessert. Trust me when I say that this is one of those easy chocolate cookies that you have to try.

I don’t know why, but I have been baking up a surprising amount of desserts lately. However, I started off on this recipe not out of a desire for sweets, but rather out of necessity. I had 11 old bananas in my freezer that were taking up precious real estate and needed to be used. I was going to use all of them for banana bread, until I stumbled upon this chocolate cookies recipe on the blog Peas and Thank You.

Mostly, I decided to make this recipe because A) I had most of the ingredients on hand and B) it wasn’t banana bread. And thus, these came to be:

For a super simple dessert delight that you will gobble up in seconds, try out this Creamy Strawberry Crisp recipe as soon as possible. Made mostly with easy-to-find ingredients that you probably have in in your pantry right now, this strawberry crisp recipe might become your new go-to quick dessert.

A number of weeks back, the good folks at Attune Foods had reached out to me about developing a recipe using their cereals. Since I always love a good cooking challenge, I happily accepted. Soon after, two boxes of cereal arrived and the brainstorming work began.

With sweeter cereal, the only type of recipes that immediately came to were desserts. Normally, I don’t have much of a sweet tooth, let alone that seemingly innate baking ability that some have. Despite all of that, I remained undeterred and forged ahead with this delectable strawberry crisp recipe.

For a fun and unique twist on a traditional rice pudding recipe, give this recipe for Barley Pudding a try. It has all of the great taste of a classic rice pudding, except this is probably far lighter and better for you than your grandmother’s recipe.

I have always been a huge fan of rice pudding, but have never gotten around to making it for whatever reason. Last month, I saw that Jackie of Jackie’s Kitchen had posted a vegan rice pudding recipe that especially piqued my interest because of how easy it was. Using her great recipe as a guide, I went to work on my own version.

However, I had some issue making her recipes exactly. For starters, I did not have any rice or coconut milk on hand. Since rice is a rather key ingredient to rice pudding, I decided to use the recipe as a guide to make my own yummy healthy dessert. Hence, this Barley Pudding recipe was born!