I don't typically make a whole lot of Christmas themed snacks and share plates but I do have a few staples that I seem to bring out year after year as they are quick, easy and simple which is what I'm all about at the moment.

Actually, it's what I'm all about every year at the end of the year....because there is just so much else on that I can't do anything too fiddly or complicated or even that requires brain power....so my rinse and repeat recipes it is!

I thought I'd share some of my ideas and recipes that I tweak at this time of year to make things a little more festive in case you need quick, easy and simple too!

 

Reindeer Cupcakes

First up is my Easiest Intolerant Friendly Cupcake Recipe (free from gluten, dairy, nuts and eggs so pretty safe to take to most gatherings!) which I decorate with the following to make them look like reindeers...

So once you've iced your cupcake, add pretzels broken in half for the antlers. You can get a GF version from the supermarket and I used the Eskal brand.

Then a raspberry lolly for the nose (or a fresh raspberry!) and choc chips for the eyes! If it needs to be dairy free for anyone, make sure to use dark choc chips with no dairy.

Bad Boy Layered Salad With Haloumi, Chicken (or Turkey!) and Roasted Veg

This recipe is literally my fave salad of all time (probably because I love haloumi so much!) and the colours of this salad look quite Christmassy and festive too so it's a great one to make this time of year especially if you have any left over turkey after your Christmas eve/day meal as then you can just replace the chicken with turkey!

So have a go of this easy peasy salad HERE

Watermelon, Haloumi and Basil

Speaking of haloumi (told you I was a fan!) this is a great crowd pleaser and so easy to assemble at home or even when you get to someone's house...and come on, you can't get much easier!

Cut up some watermelon into squares, fry some haloumi in a fry pan (as a haloumi lover, I feel it my duty to mention that my fave brand is Olympus!) and then tear or cut into squares and pop on top of your watermelon squares and then simply top with a fresh basil leaf!

Serve on a lovely platter or wooden board and did someone say Summer on a plate?

Santa Hat Fruit Skewers

I told you these recipes were easy....this is literally popping fruit on a stick but adding a marshmallow under a strawberry to get the Santa hat effect! So make sure you cut the green top of the strawberry off so it has a flat surface for the marshmallow to go underneath which acts like the fur trim of the hat if that makes sense?

Please ignore the fact that my photo has the marshmallow on the pointy end of the strawberry in a few of these skewers as I get my kids to help and they don't always turn out consistently! 😆 

Grapes and watermelon are what we use either side of the 'santa hat' as they travel well and don't brown etc.

Chocolate Blueberry Brownies

My gluten free choc blueberry brownies are always a treat and if you cut them up into squares and pile them with fresh raspberries (and maybe some more blueberries too?) then voila, you have a gorgeous christmassy looking treat to take to your next gathering...don't forget lashings of whipped cream to go on the side because it is Christmas time and well, you deserve it!

Quinoa Tabbouleh

And another great festive salad to add to the table is my Quinoa Tabbouleh!

Simply because it's fresh, light and the dominant colours are red and green! Add extra tomatoes or even some chopped up red capsicum and plenty of fresh green parsley and basil and you'll have red and green delight in a bowl!

No Bake Health Fudge

This is not only super easy but you don't have to cook it so yay for making something without the oven going on!

I think the nuts on top make this look very festive on a plate and you can even use dried cranberries as one of the decorations (and the dried sour cherries I use are delish!) so have a go of this No Bake Healthy Fudge!

Crispy Chocolate Bark

So this is another incredibly easy homemade sweet because you are literally just pouring melted chocolate over nuts and setting in the fridge! To make it a bit more festive looking, throw in some dried cranberries or dried sour cherries or even goji berries to give it a nice little red pop amongst the nut. And yes, why not add some finely chopped marshmallows and make an easy flat version of rocky road? Find this recipe HERE 

So there you have it folks, a collection of literally the easiest recipes that you might possibly be bothered making during this busy, crazy, over scheduled and warm time of year!

Yours in Health,

Alisha x

I don't typically make a whole lot of Christmas themed snacks and share plates but I do have a few staples that I seem to bring out year after year as they are quick, easy and simple which is what I'm all about at the moment.

Actually, it's what I'm all about every year at the end of the year....because there is just so much else on that I can't do anything too fiddly or complicated or even that requires brain power....so my rinse and repeat recipes it is!

I thought I'd share some of my ideas and recipes that I tweak at this time of year to make things a little more festive in case you need quick, easy and simple too!

 

Reindeer Cupcakes

First up is my Easiest Intolerant Friendly Cupcake Recipe (free from gluten, dairy, nuts and eggs so pretty safe to take to most gatherings!) which I decorate with the following to make them look like reindeers...

So once you've iced your cupcake, add pretzels broken in half for the antlers. You can get a GF version from the supermarket and I used the Eskal brand.

Then a raspberry lolly for the nose (or a fresh raspberry!) and choc chips for the eyes! If it needs to be dairy free for anyone, make sure to use dark choc chips with no dairy.

Bad Boy Layered Salad With Haloumi, Chicken (or Turkey!) and Roasted Veg

This recipe is literally my fave salad of all time (probably because I love haloumi so much!) and the colours of this salad look quite Christmassy and festive too so it's a great one to make this time of year especially if you have any left over turkey after your Christmas eve/day meal as then you can just replace the chicken with turkey!

So have a go of this easy peasy salad HERE

Watermelon, Haloumi and Basil

Speaking of haloumi (told you I was a fan!) this is a great crowd pleaser and so easy to assemble at home or even when you get to someone's house...and come on, you can't get much easier!

Cut up some watermelon into squares, fry some haloumi in a fry pan (as a haloumi lover, I feel it my duty to mention that my fave brand is Olympus!) and then tear or cut into squares and pop on top of your watermelon squares and then simply top with a fresh basil leaf!

Serve on a lovely platter or wooden board and did someone say Summer on a plate?

Santa Hat Fruit Skewers

I told you these recipes were easy....this is literally popping fruit on a stick but adding a marshmallow under a strawberry to get the Santa hat effect! So make sure you cut the green top of the strawberry off so it has a flat surface for the marshmallow to go underneath which acts like the fur trim of the hat if that makes sense?

Please ignore the fact that my photo has the marshmallow on the pointy end of the strawberry in a few of these skewers as I get my kids to help and they don't always turn out consistently! 😆 

Grapes and watermelon are what we use either side of the 'santa hat' as they travel well and don't brown etc.

Chocolate Blueberry Brownies

My gluten free choc blueberry brownies are always a treat and if you cut them up into squares and pile them with fresh raspberries (and maybe some more blueberries too?) then voila, you have a gorgeous christmassy looking treat to take to your next gathering...don't forget lashings of whipped cream to go on the side because it is Christmas time and well, you deserve it!

Quinoa Tabbouleh

And another great festive salad to add to the table is my Quinoa Tabbouleh!

Simply because it's fresh, light and the dominant colours are red and green! Add extra tomatoes or even some chopped up red capsicum and plenty of fresh green parsley and basil and you'll have red and green delight in a bowl!

No Bake Health Fudge

This is not only super easy but you don't have to cook it so yay for making something without the oven going on!

I think the nuts on top make this look very festive on a plate and you can even use dried cranberries as one of the decorations (and the dried sour cherries I use are delish!) so have a go of this No Bake Healthy Fudge!

Crispy Chocolate Bark

So this is another incredibly easy homemade sweet because you are literally just pouring melted chocolate over nuts and setting in the fridge! To make it a bit more festive looking, throw in some dried cranberries or dried sour cherries or even goji berries to give it a nice little red pop amongst the nut. And yes, why not add some finely chopped marshmallows and make an easy flat version of rocky road? Find this recipe HERE 

So there you have it folks, a collection of literally the easiest recipes that you might possibly be bothered making during this busy, crazy, over scheduled and warm time of year!

Yours in Health,

Alisha x