Let the Holidays Begin!

I have been doing pretty well on my (not so new anymore) vegan and lowest fat diet. It's not so new anymore when it's been a year next month since I started it. One day at a time ...

I am not missing meat at all, which is a common question I get. The minute you stop thinking of "meat alternatives", you're pretty much set. If you're going to continue wanting vegan bacon, you'll never want anything but the real thing. I just learned to color within my new lines. Or better bet, I tell folks that being vegan is not depriving at all. It's like coloring with a limited set of crayons: you can still color, just as much as everyone else. But my crayons box only has 10 sticks  instead of 24, which is what everyone else's box has. You just learn that that's your reality and your "box" and those are the tools you have access to and the tools to keep you afloat and successful. You will survive and then some. You will get creative about recipes and what foods to make for what occasion. And you will be fine. And full, for sure, I am here to assure you of that.

But I was a bit melancholy over possibly missing one Holiday staple that I was sure I will not be able to "adjust" to meet my diet. There is nothing that spells Christmas clearer for me than a good glass of (low fat, lite) eggnog spiked with some rum. So, I was thinking that for sure that will have to be eliminated from my tradition starting this year. Well, think again.

I found this recipe (below) online and my rock star husband, who is my new personal chef when it comes to mixed drinks and bread making and baking goods in general, made it for me. Oh my word, it is so delicious! I skipped the coconut milk because of the fat content there, and I used rice milk which only has 2 total grams of total fat and 0 cholesterol and 0 saturated fat. I did use the cashews, but you can see it's only a third of a cup and one batch makes about 3 small tumbler glasses (servings), on ice. I will try without the cashews next time, as I think the flavors and the dates alone will be enough for consistency and aroma.




                                              

 
Let the holidays begin, folks! I am all set!

Check back soon, as I am about to document my first 'mixed' (vegan + not, for my husband) Thanksgiving prep. Anything could happen, really. I might have forgotten how to bake a turkey. We shall see. One day, and holiday at a time ...

And no, we absolutely do not buy "tofurky" in this house. That just seems wrong! 

 

The finished product. Cheers, all!