Seasonal Indulgences 

Winter is the season of indulgence, a time when hearty meals and sweet treats bring a bit of warmth and joy to your chilly days. However, enjoying these seasonal favorites doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice your health goals or start all over come New Year’s Day. By choosing nutritious ingredients and practicing moderation for all of these meals, you can savor these delicious and comforting dishes guilt-free.

FLOURLESS CHOCOLATE LAVA CAKES

Ingredients:

• ½ cup of unsalted butter
• 6 oz dark chocolate, chopped
• 2 large eggs
• 2 large egg yolks
• ¼ cup granulated sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• Pinch of salt

Instructions:

1. Preheat the oven to 425°F
2. Grease 4 baking dishes with butter and lightly dust with cocoa powder
3. Melt butter and chocolate together in a heatproof bowl over a pot of simmering water or in the microwave, then stir until smooth
4. In a different bowl, whisk together eggs, the egg yolks, sugar, and salt
5. Gradually fold the melted chocolate/butter mixture into the egg mixture
6. Stir the vanilla into this new mixture
7. Divide the batter evenly among the baking dishes and place in oven
8. Bake for 10-12 minutes until the edges are set but the center is still soft
9. Let cool for 1 minute then pour onto serving dishes
10. Serve immediately, and top with ice cream, whipped cream, berries, or powdered sugar!

TURKEY AND VEGGIE SHEPHERD’S PIE

Ingredients:

• For the filling
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 lb of ground turkey
  • 1 small onion, diced
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 2 medium carrots, diced
  • 1 cup frozen peas
  • 1 cup frozen corn
  • 2 tbsp tomato paste
  • 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 tsp dried thyme
  • 1 tsp smoked paprika
  • ½ tsp salt
  • ½ tsp black pepper
  • ½ cup chicken/vegetable broth
• For the mashed potatoes
  • 2 lbs potatoes, peeled/cubed
  • ½ cup milk
  • 2 tbsp unsalted butter
  • ½ cup shredded cheese (optional)
  • Salt and pepper to taste (or any additional seasonings)

Instructions:

1. Prepare the mashed potatoes
   1. Boil potatoes in salted water for about 15-20 minutes 
   2. Drain them and mash with milk, butter, cheese (optional), and seasonings
   3. Set aside
2. Cook the filling for the Shepherd’s Pie
   1. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat
   2. Add onion, garlic, and carrots and saute until softened
   3. Stir in tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, thyme, paprika, salt, and pepper
   4. Cook for about 2 minutes
   5. Add in peas, corn, and broth. Simmer for 5 minutes until mixture slowly thickens
3. Assemble the Shepherd’s Pie
   1. Preheat the oven to 400°F
   2. Spread the turkey and veggie mixture into an even layer on the baking dish
   3. Spoon the mashed potatoes on top evenly
   4. Use a fork to create texture
4. Bake the Shepherd’s Pie
   1. Bake the pie for 20-25 minutes, or until the topping is golden brown and the filling becomes bubbly
   2. Let it cool for 5 minutes before serving

SLICED APPLE CRISP

Ingredients:

• 2 large apples (sliced) – Honeycrisp or Fuji
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• ½ tsp ground nutmeg
• 1 tbsp granulated or coconut sugar (optional)
• Ice cream or maple syrup (optional – for topping)

Instructions:

1. Preheat your oven to 255°F and line two baking sheets with parchment paper
2. Slice your apples after coring them. Slice them as thin and uniform as possible
3. Arrange them as a single layer on a baking sheet and sprinkle evenly with cinnamon, nutmeg, and optionally, the sugar
4. Bake the apple slices in the oven for 1.5-2 hours and flip them halfway through
5. Remove when the apples are dry but crisp
6. Allow them cool completely as they will crisp up further
7. Serve them immediately or store in an airtight container 
8. Serve with any syrup or ice cream to make it extra decadent!