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Holidays and celebrations are a part of life where food is often the centerpiece.  Whether your typical routine meals are low carb, slow carb or no particular diet approach at all, joy and tradition are more important than deprivation during the holidays.

That said, if you want to stay true to low carb or slow carb during holidays or celebrations, it does not have to mean tasteless, boring dishes.  There are many options and many recipes that can stand in and stand up to joyful social eating.

New Years

Valentine’s Day

Easter

Kentucky Derby

Cinco de Mayo

Mother’s Day

Heirloom Tomato Festival

Thanksgiving

Christmas

Traditional Pork Pozole Rojo: Pork & Hominy Stew

This version of pozole rojo is from mi amiga who lives in the Bajío region of Mexico (west-central Mexico). It is a luscious slow-cooked stew made with pork, hominy, Mexican spices, and a blend of mild to moderate chile peppers in the rojo sauce. It is simple to make without a lot of hands-on time, …

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Apple Cheddar Cheese Galette: Make Ahead Crust

This buttery galette dough makes a free-form tart that is not only easy but is crisp and flaky and can be made ahead by several days without drying out. The filling is the popular New England combination of apples and cheddar cheese, along with aromatic Fall spices. Jump to:RECIPEIngredients & SubstitutionsIllustrated Step by StepMake Ahead …

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10 Drinks to Make with Homemade Vanilla Vodka Recipe

Move over, fake-tasting and sugary supermarket vanilla vodka! Find out how to make delicious vanilla vodka yourself at home using just two ingredients: vodka and real vanilla beans. Jump to:RECIPEIngredientsMethodIdeas for Drinks I love playing around with making my own liqueurs! Whether it’s something summery like blueberry-infused liqueur or a more wintery recipe like this …

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Easy Swedish Potato Bake for the Holidays (aka Jansson’s Temptation)

This simple potato side dish is a mainstay on the Swedish smorgasbord at Christmastime, where it is referred to as Jansson’s Temptation or Janssons frestelse. It is a rich and creamy comfort food made with potatoes, onions, cream and the secret ingredient of anchovies. Perfect for the holiday table, no matter which country you celebrate …

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Orange Chocoflan (Impossible Cake): Tips for Avoiding Failure

I wanted to make this remarkable cake for a fiesta party, but the first two attempts were total failures. The third time around was perfection and raves from the friends and family on the both the taste and the presentation. Learn from my mistakes below and get your layered, sweet Impossible Chocolate Flan to turn …

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Chicken Pipián Verde: Pumpkin Seed Green Mole

This classic Mexican pumpkin seed and tomatillo sauce, sometimes referred to as green mole or mole verde, is tangy, herbal and a little spicy. The pipián sauce is a rich blend of pumpkin seeds, spices, tomatillos, and roasted poblano peppers. Once the sauce ingredients are pureed in a blender, it is then briefly simmered with …

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Blueberry Bourbon BBQ Sauce with Pork Chops

This robust blueberry bourbon BBQ sauce makes so many average dishes special, from the lowly burger to the Atlantic salmon to the expensive rib eye steak. How about a dipping sauce for wings or a spread on a grilled cheese sandwich? We’ve included a DIY recipe for this special blueberry BBQ sauce accompanied by pork …

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Dutch Poffertjes With Blueberry Compôte

Hey! I’m Marijke, resident content writer at Farm to Jar. Today, we’re preparing a traditional dish from my home country of The Netherlands called poffertjes. Poffertjes is a typical Dutch fair food, similar to pancakes but smaller and fluffier. They are a huge crowd-pleaser and every Dutch person’s childhood favorite. We’ll serve them in this …

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Stuffed Mexican Meatballs: Albóndigas Rellenas en Salsa

A classic ”stuffing” for Mexican meatballs (albóndigas) is a hard-boiled egg. Once the meatballs are stuffed they are served in a rich and sometimes spicy red sauce (or salsa). You will sometimes see Mexican albóndigas made without the egg stuffing, and served as a soup (Caldo de Albondigas). This recipe however is for the stuffed …

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Traditional Chile Rellenos (soft not crisp) in Egg Batter

The first time you make chile rellenos can be a bit intimidating from all the roasting, peeling, stuffing and frying. The next ten times you make them, because they were so wonderful, it will come together much easier. The key is to grab a friend or family member and enjoy the process. Just don’t rush …

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Clamato Michelada | Mexican Beer Cocktail

A Michelada is a Mexican cocktail made with beer, lime juice, a bunch of different sauces and, in this case, a not-so-secret ingredient: Clamato juice. Learn how to make an easy and ultra-refreshing Clamato Michelada (aka clamato beer) to keep you going on those hot summer days! Jump to:RECIPEWhat Is A Michelada?Michelada Ingredients & SubstitutionsStep …

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When to Plant Tomatoes and Veggies using Nature’s Cues: Phenology

Old gardener stories are often based around a science called phenology. “Plant potatoes on Good Friday; prune trees on Presidents Day, and never plant anything during the full moon.” Homilies or science? Is there a reason phenology has existed for thousands of years, across the world, and more importantly, can we use it to help …

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Mexican Ponche Navideño: Christmas Punch With Tequila

Looking for a hot drink to serve for the holiday season? This year, let’s skip the mulled wine and go for a warming classic from Mexico instead. Mexican ponche navideño is a traditional fruit punch bursting with comforting flavors and a spiced aroma that will make your home smell heavenly. Serve it like a tea …

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