Festive Salad with Roasted Nutty Cranberries

With all the holiday feasts ahead, greens will be needed the most!  Dress up your salad with some holiday toppings- it’s literally the easiest way to take a salad to the next level.

For some reason, I am addicted to cranberries this season. I started experimenting in the fall and now I can’t stop! Now real cranberries are tart so they may not please everyone’s palate. You can easily swap fresh with dried cranberries but make sure they are sweetened with natural sugars (like apple juice) and are sulfite free as those are hard on the liver.

Cranberries are known to prevent certain types of cancer, improve immune function, and decrease blood pressure. Their amazing red colour comes from the phytonutrient anthocyanin, which contains the antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties.

Add a handful or two of your favourite nuts & hemp hearts for a healthy dose of fat and omega 3s- the good fat. Toss with a tablespoon of maple syrup. If you’re trying to cut back on sugars, swap the maple syrup with a tablespoon of applesauce. The natural pectin –fruit sugar- from the apples will help bind everything together. You may just have to bake for a little longer or at a higher temperature depending on your oven.

Helping to keep your engine nourished,

~L

FESTIVE SALAD WITH ROASTED NUTTY CRANBERRIES