Y’all, I have been so crazy launching Legit Bread Company that my poor first child, Predominantly Paleo has gotten seriously neglected. I know, I’m a terrible mom, so I’m trying to give it a little love now. Hopefully blogs don’t hold grudges. Since I’m still knee deep in making sure bread loaves and mixes are being delivered to all of you before Thanksgiving, I’m calling on a few friends to help me out! Jaclyn from The Family That Heals Together is my first guest post and I was thrilled at the chance to feature her Paleo Party Mix from her new book Nourishing Holidays! If you’ve been putting together your holiday menus and are getting stumped in the snack department, Jaclyn has you covered. I can’t wait to make a big batch of this! Take it away Jaclyn….

As the holidays approach, you’re left with this one, big question: to cheat or not to cheat? Do you indulge in a little junkie food here and there or do you deprive myself and feel sad and left out? I’ve been there. And honestly? I usually cheat. But then I end up getting all bloaty and achy and head throbby. And it’s always not worth it. Always. Last year, our family had just completed a super intensive healing diet called GAPS right before the holidays, and we were doing great. Better than ever, really, so I was determined not to cheat. Instead, I came up with all of my own grain-free, GAPS-friendly recipes and we got to indulge without getting sick! It was great. This year, I wanted to share all of those recipes with the amazing community of folks who also want to stick with healthy, healing, and, most importantly, grain-free foods through the holidays, so I wrote a cookbook and called it Nourishing Holiday. Nourishing Holiday features over 50 grain-free, gut-healing recipes that fit the GAPS diet, as well as primal and paleo diets. It’s got a little something for everyone, and if you’re determined to enjoy the holidays without the guilt (or bloat or head throb-yness), it might just save your life. Or your holiday pie. Or whatever. Not only does Nourishing Holiday feature lots of yummy desserts like pies, cakes, and cookies, but it has all the staples: we’ve got the turkey; we’ve got the ham; we’ve even got to-die-for turkey gravy and my mama’s sweet “corn” bread stuffing. Y’all, I think you’re going to love it. And, in case you’re stressed about going to holiday parties and being caught with your hand in the cookie jar, or worse stuffing some kind of weird chip or cracker in your gullet, I’ve got a section of snacks and starters so you can bring your own appetizers and keep the snack attack at bay. Jennifer asked me to share one of those appetizer recipes with you today, so below, you’ll find the recipe for my “Party Mix,” my totally grain-free take on conventional party fare. Say buh-bye to msg-laden, store-bought cereal mixes and take a walk on the healthy side. Grab the recipe for cheesy crackers and party mix below, then go grab a copy of my new digital holiday cookbook Nourishing Holiday here! Cheesy Crackers Reminiscent of the boxed variety, these cheese crackers are perfect for snacking or using for hors d’oeuvre.

• 1 ¾ cups blanched, finely ground almond flour
• 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese (Omit for dairy-free option and add 1 tbsp nutritional yeast and ¼ tsp garlic powder.)
• 1 egg
• ½ tsp salt

1. Preheat the oven to 325°.
2. Place all ingredients in a food processor or high-powered blender and process until a ball of dough forms.
3. Place dough on a large sheet of parchment paper and flatten it with your hands a bit.
4. Cover the dough with a second piece of parchment paper, then roll it out with a rolling pin until it is 1/8” thick.
5. Remove the top piece of parchment paper, then, using a pizza cutter, cut the dough into 2” X 2” squares.
6. Carefully transfer the parchment paper onto a baking sheet and place in the oven for 10 minutes.
7. Remove from the oven and allow to cool before gently breaking the crackers apart. Store in an airtight container.

Makes about 60 crackers Time: 20 minutes Party Mix Snack-y foods are perfect for noshing at holiday parties, but you don’t have to compromise. This whole food, grain-free version of a holiday party favorite will keep your palate entertained.

• 1 batch cheesy crackers, cut into 1” squares
• 2 cups mixed nuts and seeds
• ¼ cup butter (Replace with ghee for casein-free option.)
• 1 tbsp coconut aminos
• 1 tsp season salt
• ½ tsp smoked paprika
• ½ tsp garlic powder

1. Preheat oven to 275º.
2. In a large bowl, combine ingredients and stir.
3. Spread mixture in a single layer on a large baking sheet and bake for 30-45 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes, until nuts are lightly browned.

Makes about 4 cups Time: 45 minutes