My menu plan is now sponsored by the great people over at Better Batter Flour.  The menus will also be published at Start Gluten Free, an online resource made to welcome people into the gluten free living community and help them not feel overwhelmed by new dietary restrictions.  I am honored to be a small part of this vibrant community!  Stop by and say “Hi!”

 

~ From my family to yours ~

May the Christmas season

fill your home with family and friends,

your heart with love,

and your life with laughter.

 

This week, Heather of Celiac Family is hosting the Gluten Free Menu Swap.  She picked Holiday Drinks as the theme this week.  For my family, a big slow cooker filled with dairy free Hot Chocolate has to top the list.  For Christmas Eve dinner my family usually has sparkling apple-lingonberry juice and sparkling pear juice.  Mmm…  And this year we are looking forward to making dairy free eggnog with our own home-grown eggs.  What special beverages do you serve over the holidays?

 

Oh, and speaking of beverages… here is my Christmas gift to you!  A Gluten Free Dairy Free Smoothie Packet.  The conference I created it for never did end up using it, but it seems perfect with the new year and new resolutions creeping up around the corner so I thought I would share it with you.  Enjoy!

 

Freezer cooking plan for the week:  Just like last week, I won’t be making any freezer meals this week.  I’ll be using the meals I have been making a bit at a time over the past few weeks for our dinners.  Having our dinners ready makes the evenings run more smoothly so I can concentrate on enjoying the season instead of what to make for dinner.

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The week’s breakfast options:  Veggie omelette, Gingerbread Pumpkin Waffles, and various fruits.

The week’s lunch options:  Nut or sunbutter sandwiches on Amish Friendship Bread, leftovers, various fruits and veggie sticks.  Because the kids are home this week, they want to make Easy Homemade Pizza Rolls and Spinach and Artichoke Pizza.

Monday:  Our big family meal is always on Christmas Eve.  Due to appliance issues we are having a different dinner than usual.  It should be fun!  This year we are having Pomegranate-Braised Ribs (I am using boneless ribs in this recipe- YUM), rice pudding (my grandma’s recipe), a big mixed green salad topped with poppy seed dressing, sautéed green beans with roasted garlic and toasted sliced almonds.  We’ll have various Christmas cookies for dessert.

Tuesday:  The big meal on Christmas Day is brunch after we open our gifts from Santa.  We are having Slow Cooker French Toast Casserole, Homemade Turkey Sausage, and fruit salad.

Wednesday:  Left over day with a big salad.  I am thinking this Cobb Salad done dairy free is just the thing – so tasty!

 

Thursday:  Pumpkin Enchiladas (from the freezer) and Shredded Balsamic Beet & Kale Salad

 

Friday:  Roasted Chicken Pot Pie (from the freezer) and a big romaine salad with extra chopped veggies with Thousand Island Dressing

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Need more menu planning inspiration?  Head over  for Menu Plan Monday at Organized Junkie.  For an awesome month long gluten free money saving menu, see Melissa’s December GF menu plan at Stockpiling Moms.