Natasha Newton - Lets Celebrate: A Low-Carb Cookbook for Year-Round Entertaining

To Chris. Im so thankful weve been given more time to celebrate life together. I love you! First published in 2023 by Victory Belt Publishing Inc. Copyright 2023 Natasha Newton All rights reserved No part of this publication may be reproduced or distributed in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without prior written permission from the publisher. ISBN-13: 978-1-628604-75-7 The author is not a licensed practitioner, physician, or medical professional and offers no medical diagnoses, treatments, suggestions, or counseling. The information presented herein has not been evaluated by the U.S.

Food and Drug Administration, and it is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Full medical clearance from a licensed physician should be obtained before beginning or modifying any diet, exercise, or lifestyle program, and physicians should be informed of all nutritional changes. The author/owner claims no responsibility to any person or entity for any liability, loss, or damage caused or alleged to be caused directly or indirectly as a result of the use, application, or interpretation of the information presented herein. Cover and back cover photos by Justin-Aaron Velasco and Kat Lannom Food styling for cover and back cover photos by Marcella Capasso Recipe photos by Natasha Newton Author and tablescape photography by Erika Bentley, Evolve Creative Tablescape design and styling by Rachael Wofford, MW Events Makeup by Taylor Newton Interior design and illustrations by Justin-Aaron Velasco and Kat Lannom Printed in Canada TC 0123 CONTENTS

Welcome back, yall! Im so excited to bring you my third cookbook, Lets Celebrate: A Low-Carb Cookbook for Year-Round Entertaining. It was such a joy to write my first two books, and I was honored to see so many of my recipes become your family favorites. Your support means the world to me and continues to inspire me to create simple and comforting low-carb recipes with Southern flair.

So much has transpired in our world since Southern Keto was published in 2018. My second book, Southern Keto: Beyond the Basics, was released in the early days of the Covid-19 pandemic. During that time, I was feeling closed off from family and friends as our gatherings were put on hold. I missed their company and the carefree way of life we were used to. With restrictions starting to be lifted, the idea for this book was born. Weve come a long way, and it has me in a celebratory mood! Beginning to plan this book got me thinking about what it truly means to gather.

I used to think only large-scale get-togethers qualified as celebrations, but for two-plus years, many of us celebrated holidays, birthdays, anniversaries, and other special occasions with very few people in attendance. Still, we celebrated! Even more importantly, we learned to celebrate lifes smallest moments. I believe in living each day as though it were your last. Having recently faced many obstacles of my own, Ive come to appreciate the little things more than ever. My husband endured a life-threatening injury while I was writing this book. It was a terrifying time for our family, though thankfully he has recovered.

In a lot of ways, it was an eye-opening experienceanother reason why I feel thankful and intend to celebrate life each and every day! Lets Celebrate is a book about sharing good food and good times with the people we love. Food is at the heart of most celebrations, and for someone who follows a low-carb lifestyle, this can be a challenge. After living this way myself for many years, a celebrations book seemed like a natural progression. Weve celebrated many occasions and holidays with all low-carb recipes. You can easily use either of my two other books to create wonderful menus for any occasion, but here my goal is to offer you even more recipes with a focus on celebratory fun. This book is meant for every type of gathering, large or small, formal or casual.

Most of the recipes serve six to eight people but can be scaled up to feed more. The chapters are organized in the way that I like to put meals together, by choosing from categories ranging from beverages to desserts. Ive even included a chapter for brunch. This makes it simple to design a menu for your guests. This is for those of you who, like me, enjoy planning your own menus. Lets Celebrate includes over 115 carb-conscious recipes for every occasion. Lets Celebrate includes over 115 carb-conscious recipes for every occasion.

Youll find appetizers, soups, salads, main dishes, sides, desserts, and beverages, as well as practical notes and recommendations for doubling as needed. I encourage you not to be intimidated by cooking low-carb recipes for people who dont normally eat this way. Ive done it for years and always get rave reviews! Everyone, no matter how they eat, appreciates good food and good company.

Hospitality Hospitality is defined as the generous reception and entertainment of guests, visitors, or strangers. In my first book, I speak a bit about my Southern heritage and Southern hospitality. We Southerners love to open our homes and serve up a good old-fashioned meal, and I grew up with an appreciation for our many gatherings of family and friends.

My Grandma Ida would plan for weeks to feed our large family for a special occasion such as Christmas. I would watch her in the kitchen and admire how easy she made it seemnow I know it was not! She cooked amazing food, and I hoped I could be just like her someday. When I got married, even though my husband and I lived in a tiny apartment, I couldnt wait to host our friends. We took pride in our small game-day get-togethers. Over the years, I threw many birthday parties, showers, and other gatheringsonly back then, most of the recipes I made came from Southern Living magazines or church cookbooks that I proudly own to this day. Were famous for our hospitality here in the South, but Ive been lucky enough to experience the hospitality of people far and wide.

Before the pandemic, I was invited to a book signing at the Luv ice cream shop in Saint Paul, Minnesota. I will never forget how Susanna, Ilya, and their team welcomed us with open arms. My friends and I were blown away by their kindness. It was a wonderful experience, and a reminder of the importance of connection. Hospitality isnt about perfection. Celebrations dont have to be complicated or expensive.