Braised red cabbage- serves 8 as a side dish.

10g carbs per serving.

1/2 large head of red cabbage, shredded
1 medium red onion, chopped
1 large apple, peeled & cored then chopped
250ml (8 oz) unsweetened cranberry juice*
2 tsp granulated splenda
1 cinnamon stick
50 ml (2 oz) port or red wine
Zest of 1 orange, peeled into strips (These are used for flavouring only)
Salt & pepper

Basically, you place all the above ingredients in a slow cooker/crockpot and cook on low for about 3 hours. You can also do this in a pot stovetop for about 1 hour on low.

* If you have some, you can use some low carb cranbery sauce mixed in water instead. This will reduce the carbs.

** If you have low carb apple sauce- use this in place of the apple- this will further reduce the carb count.

Creamed brussels sprouts with bacon

Serves 6- 4g carbs per person.

750g brussels sprouts, shredded finely
1 tbsp butter
6 tbsp double cream (Heavy cream)
2 cloves garlic, crushed
6 rashers streaky bacon (or 1 pack of lardons) use smoked or unsmoked- depending on your preference.
Salt & ground black pepper

1. Heat the butter in a pan and sautee the bacon and sautee until it goes crispy.

2. Add the sprouts and garlic and sautee for a further 2 mins.

3. Add the cream, seasoning and stir through. Bubble away for a few minutes until cream has reduced a little.

Serve!

Festive Party Food!

Doing low carb party food/canapes is actually easier than you think- here's a few ideas for party nibbles:

I have included links to some recipes although many of these are self explanatory.

Be sure to have plenty of cocktail sticks!

- Feta cheese cube & olive on a stick

- Chicken skewers with satay peanut dip : http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/851647/chicken-skewers-with-satay-dip
- Chorizo & Prawn (Shrimp) on a stick

- Smoked Mackrel Pate: Flake about 4 fillets of smoked mackrel in a bowl, add 3/4 tub of cream cheese, juice of 1 lemon, some frsh chopped chives/dill and mix together. Add plenty of black pepper and a pinch of paprika.

- Cucumber rounds, topped with cream cheese & smoked salmon- drizzled with lemon juice.

- Halloumi (Cyrpiot squeaky cheese) skewers with parsley & lemon salsa: http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/4282/halloumi-skewers-with-parsley-and-lemon-salsa

- Japanese seared beef rolls: http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/8804/beef-tataki-rolls

- Tuna and avocado tartare served on cucumber: http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/5015/cucumber-slices-with-tuna-and-avocado-tartare

- Grilled chicken & sundried tomato on a stick

- Seared sesame crusted tuna : http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/5005/seared-sesamecrusted-tuna

- Good old sausages (chipolatas) wrapped in bacon.

- Devilled eggs

- Greek lamb meatballs with tzatziki dip

Meatballs= 1 pack minced/ground lamb, 1/2 chopped onion, 2 cloved crushed garlic, 1 tsp cinnamon, 2 tsp oregano, 2 tsp dill, 1 tbsp ground almonds, 1 beaten egg. Combine- then chill for 1 hour before forming into balls and baking for 30 mins.

Tzatziki- 1 pot greek yoghurt mixed with 2 crushed garlic cloves, 1/2 a cucumber shaved into ribbons, juice of 1/2 a lemon and chopped mint & dill.

- Sour cream & chive dip with crudites.

- italian/German meat platter (various cured & cooked meats)

- Scallops with chorizo/bacon on a stick.

- Cheese fondue with veggie dippers.

- Winter red cabbage coleslaw: red cabbage, red onion, , wholegrain mustard, mayo, a dash of vinegar.