WHAT DO YOU SERVE A VEGAN FOR THANKSGIVING?

As we approach Thanksgiving, the topic of what do vegans eat for Thanksgiving (and really any celebratory feast) comes up. It can be a difficult time of year, especially if your family and friends are omnivores and want to include you in their Thanksgiving dinner.

We are fully vegan and never consume food that involves animals but fortunately we live in an age when there are many choices that are equally tasty and actually require less effort than that put into creating a turkey dinner complete with the fixings.

Luckily for us, Gardein makes two delicious vegan options that are sure to please both herbivores and omnivores and they mimic a turkey feast so no one feels left out. Their “Holiday Roast” will easily feed six to eight people; it has a delicious stuffing inside it and even comes with gravy. They have a smaller version, “Stuffed Turk’y” that will feed two quite well. Add to these some mashed or roasted potatoes, a sweet potato casserole, some vegetables and a fresh cranberry sauce and no one will miss their turkey. If you are a gravy monger like I am, you can make your own from the recipe provided last week.

Fresh cranberry sauce is one of the easiest things to make and tastes so much better than the canned version. Take a bag (2 – 3 cups) of fresh or frozen cranberries and add them to about ½ cup of water in a saucepan. Bring the water to boil and lower the temperature immediately (so you don’t burn your berries), put the lid on and gently cook until a froth forms and the berries appear to be opening up. Remove it from the heat and stir in maple syrup or brown sugar to your taste preference. I like it a little tart so I use less sweetener than some folks might. Refrigerate for a couple of hours and serve with your dinner.

Vegan pumpkin pies are as easy to make as a non-vegan one and are often commercially available. Add a dollop of So Delicious Cocowhip Coconut Whipped Topping to your pie and you have a complete holiday dinner that everyone can enjoy.

*Please note that these Gardein products are not gluten free.

Susan Hollingshead

Susan is our resident vegan. She’s been a vegetarian for 20 years, and a vegan for 3. She has researched both lifestyles extensively and is constantly exploring new recipes, add her own twist. She is a long time SPUD customer, and now our very own resident vegan blogger!