by, Shari
Time to start planning your holiday menus! We have Thanksgiving and the December holidays fast approaching!
If you want to make a real difference in the life of a turkey, the simplest decision is to not put one on your dinner plate. Try something new, like eating a plant-based dinner. By doing this we can transform our food system, improve our health, safeguard our planet, and improve the lives of billions of innocent farmed animals.
Be the change this holiday season. ❤ Be the one to invite your family and friends for a compassionate holiday celebration.
Let's start planning:
I'd like to share a few new recipes I've tried this year to help you create your menu, plus some holiday classics.
Did you know that more often than not, people choose a side dish as their top Thanksgiving food. Which is why I concentrate on making tasty side dishes, and not recreating the traditional centerpiece.
Now of course if you want to recreate the centerpiece there is always this amazing Vegan Lentil Quinoa Loaf or a tasty vegan lasagna works well too!
👉
Let's start with some appetizers:
Vegan Appetizer Platter with Hummus - you will impress your guests and family members with this eye-catching hummus and cheese platter. It does not require a lot of work yet it's simply beautiful to look at. Crunchy veggies to different types of hummuses, fruity dips and a yummy cheese wheel from Miyoko's Creamery. Good luck not nibbling on this until your company arrives 😉
Stuffed Mushrooms with Ricotta and Spinach are festive, delicious and gluten-free!
Smoky Little Devils are tiny stuffed potatoes that look beautiful and are very tasty!
I'd add a fun festive drink to get the party started, such as a Vegan Baileys Irish Cream! This is a great gift as well.
One of my ALL TIME GO TO appetizers is Vegan Crab Cakes. These can be made appetizer size or as a main dish. Everyone I have made these for has the same reaction, these are absolutely delicious! You can find Hearts of Palm in the grocery section where you find artichoke hearts in the can. And you can find Old Bay in the spice section. You will absolutely fall in love with this recipe and will find other ways just to use Old Bay because it's so tasty.
Let's talk about the side dishes for the main meal portion of your dinner:
I always make mashed potatoes.... who doesn't like mash potatoes?? And they are so easy to make. You can even make them ahead of time and just reheat. If you do this, just add a little more non-diary milk to make the consistency creamy again. One of my favorite recipes is The Best Vegan Mashed Potatoes. I use Oat milk, lots of garlic, vegan cream cheese and diced red onion. This recipe is fun to play with and make to your liking.
Cranberry & Pear Chutney - Here's a new chutney to try this holiday season. It can also take the traditional side-dish of cranberry sauce to a new place of status on the table!
Cornbread and Roasted Pecan Stuffing! This delish vegan cornbread stuffing is a holiday favorite. The nutty crunch of roasted pecans makes this dish absolutely yummy!
Vegan Pumpkin Dinner Rolls - You'll only need 6 key ingredients to make this simple recipe. Enjoy the rolls warm and keep any leftovers for up to 3 days.
Now let's talk gravy. Gravy is so easy to make that I recommend doing that rather than buying store bought. My go to recipe is Easy Vegan Gravy - Nora Cooks.
This recipe calls for Nutritional yeast. This can be found in the spice section usually right below on the bottom shelf. If you've never heard of or used Nutritional Yeast, be prepared for it to become your best friend. You will be looking for any way to use it. Try it in pasta recipes and on popcorn. This is what it looks like.
Now for a main-stay Vegan Green Bean Casserole (karissasvegankitchen.com) A classic, favorite holiday side dish turned vegan. This vegan green bean casserole is easy and so delicious. Green bean casserole is one of my favorite holiday side dishes, second only to stuffing. The crunchy green beans and the creamy sauce and the yummy onion topping...oh my!
Let's finish off your wonderful dinner with dessert. There are so many vegan desserts that can be made even if you're not much of a baker. Here are a couple of my favorites.
Gluten Free Pear Crisp with Blackberries and Ginger! This is super simple but yet tasty with a zing from the ginger. Be sure to use plant-based butter.
And a must have at any Thanksgiving dinner is Pumpkin Pie Brownie Cupcakes! And some vegan ice cream on the side - yum!
The nice thing about cooking a vegan thanksgiving dinner is that the majority of these recipes can be made ahead of time and reheated just before serving. This way you can enjoy your company and not stress about cooking in front of everyone or trying to time all the different dishes.
Serving a Compassionate Thanksgiving Dinner will be one of the best things you do for your company, the environment and for the animals. It is truly one of the best ways you can "give thanks".
Be the Change this holiday season. ❤
Happy Holidays to you and your family!
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