I have been doing a 'Countdown to Christmas' over on my website with daily blogs about all things Christmasy.....

A few days ago I did a post about Christmas food and how just because we are raw foodies it doesn't mean that we have to miss out on traditions and treats.

Here are some of the things that I will be enjoying over the next few weeks that remind me Christmases gone past but that fit into my raw food lifestyle now.

• Mince pies; I have already started on these and have just made an extra large batch that are in the dehydrator as we speak that I can pop in the freezer to last me/us over the next few weeks.
• Satsumas; I remember that these were always in the house over Christmas when I was a child and even though you can get them most of the year around now I still tend to only eat them in December. Doesn’t seem right at any other time so as you can imagine I am really enjoying them at the moment.
• Persimmons – these are in season at the moment and are adding a lovely touch and flavour to my daily salads.
• Chocolate covered ginger biscuits. I always remember the big tins of ‘fancy biscuits’ that used to appear in the house at Christmas time (in a family of 6 they didn’t last very long!!) A few years ago I made up this recipe for raw ginger biscuits topped with chocolate and now they are a firm favourite.
• Walnut, onion and cranberry stuffing – Christmas dinner wouldn’t be complete without stuffing and this little recipe is one that I put together last year and will definitely be making a re-appearance this year. Yummmmmmm…….
• Christmas pudding – What would Christmas be without a Christmas pudding and just because I am now raw doesn’t mean I miss out on this particular ‘tradition’. Now I make little individual ‘puddings’ full of nuts, dried fruits and yumminess which I serve with either brazil nut ‘single cream’ or ice cream. Delicious…..
• Brussel sprouts – love, love, love them and am so happy that one supermarket here in Spain sells them. I simply shred them, add a touch of olive oil, some salt and a few capers and they are just delicious.
• Chocolate – as a self confessed ‘chocoholic’ I couldn’t not include this one on my list. I am currently having such a fun time experimenting with chocolate making and am whipping up all sorts of concoctions that will be sure to satisfy my chocolate head this Christmas…..

So, that's my list which I'm sure will get bigger and bigger as I think of more and more to add!! What special foods and treats will you be including this year??

Helen xx

www.barefootandraw.co.uk