Two Crowd Pleasing, Healthier Options for Holiday Parties!

We all know that this season can be a veritable minefield of sugary/boozy drinks, cheese platters and cookie plates.  It can be really tough to choose between those tempting "treats" if your only other option is a sad platter of baby carrots with some drippy ranch dressing.  If you are hosting a party OR invited to a party, prepare one of these two delicious (and better-for-you options) so that you will have something hearty and satisfying that won't kill the progress you have been making!  

Chicken sausage stuffed mushrooms:

24 cremini or white button mushrooms, cleaned and de-stemmed
1lb loose (not links) chicken sausage (preferably sage/black pepper seasoned)
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/4c parsley, minced
1/3c goat cheese

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Mix sausage, garlic and parsley together in bowl.  Scoop approx 1tbsp sausage into each mushroom cavity and round out to make a smooth dome. Repeat for all mushrooms and place on slightly greased (sprayed with coconut oil) baking sheet.  Bake for 15-20 minutes and then top with 1/2 tsp goat cheese.  Serve warm or room temp.

Sriracha Deviled Eggs:

12 eggs, hard boiled and peeled
6 tbsp mayonnaise
2 tsp Dijon mustard
4 tsp Sriracha 
2 tsp fresh lime juice
2 tsp cilantro, minced
Salt and pepper to taste

Cut eggs in half and scoop out yolks. Reserve whites and add yolks and the rest of the ingredients to a bowl to mix well.  Pipe (using a pastry bag or cut the tip off a Ziploc bag and put mixture into bag) mixture back into egg white cups.  Garnish with a cilantro leaf.  Serve cold.

Photo: gourmanda.com