'Tis the Season for Creativity

Creativity is not only about finding that perfect gift for a loved one, it's about simplifying meal time during the Christmas rush and still being mindful of consuming nutrients.   Dust off the 'ol crock pot and fill it with steel cut oats and water before you go to bed.  Add some raisins, cinnamon and vanilla bean to the low cook setting and delight the family with nourishing and quick comfort food in the morning.  Add something special to the dinner party menu, with little effort, by slicing up some sweet onions and putting them in the crock pot to caramelize overnight.  In fact, I cook them on low for sixteen to twenty hours.  They get mahogany brown and are delicious with just about anything.  Finally, with all the treats over the next couple of weeks, think about using apple butter in your baked goods instead of some of the real stuff.  It is said that you can reduce the fat in a recipe by one-third without really compromising the taste.