New Holiday Favorites

Mike and I have 2 new favorite holiday dishes. I found these recipes and made them last year during the holidays and they've already made a reprise this year at Thanksgiving. I got them from the freebie magazine Delicious Living that I get at some of the health food stores where I shop. They are both so yummy!

Roasted Sweet Potatoes with Pomegranate Seeds
Serves 10

Tart, jewel-like pomegranate seeds balance the natural sweetness of the roasted potatoes.

1/2 cup agave nectar
3 tablespoons safflower oil
1/2 teaspoon salt
4 pounds red-skinned sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into 2-inch chunks
1/2 cup fresh pomegranate seeds
Chopped fresh parsley, for garnish

1. Preheat oven to 375°. In a small bowl, combine agave, oil, and salt. Arrange sweet potatoes in a 3-quart oven-to-table baking dish; pour agave mixture over potatoes. Cover with foil and bake for about 40 minutes or until potatoes are tender. Uncover and stir to coat. Bake uncovered for another 30 minutes. Remove from oven. Sprinkle pomegranate seeds evenly over top. Sprinkle with parsley and serve.

PER SERVING: 248 cal, 15% fat cal, 4g fat, 0g sat fat, 0mg chol, 3g protein, 51g carb, 6g fiber, 216mg sodium

Coconut-Pecan Haystacks

Makes about 20 / These tasty clusters bound with dark chocolate are guaranteed to spread joy during the holidays.

8 ounces bittersweet or semisweet chocolate, finely chopped

1 cup finely shredded unsweetened coconut, divided

3/4 cup finely chopped toasted pecan pieces (about 5 ounces), divided

1/2 cup dried cranberries

1. Line a baking sheet with waxed paper. Melt chocolate in a large bowl over a pan of hot water. Stir occasionally just until melted and smooth. Remove from heat. Stir in 3/4 cup coconut, 1/2 cup pecans, and cranberries. Spoon tablespoon-sized mounds onto waxed paper. Mix remaining coconut and pecans in a small bowl and sprinkle over tops. Chill until firm, about 1 hour. Refrigerate in an airtight container for up to two weeks.

PER SERVING (1): 108 cal, 67% fat cal, 9g fat, 4g sat fat, 0mg chol, 1g protein, 9g carb, 2g fiber, 1mg sodium

*Personally I leave out the dried cranberries b/c I like my chocolate unadulterated by the fruit taste :)

These recipes are both so yummy and easy, too! Let me know if you make them and how you like them!