thanksgiving part 1
Ok, I know the clock is ticking on this one, but I'm gonna try to give you great Thanksgiving info before the big day. There is way more to come on this subject, but for now, I want to share some great pick-up options for those of you living in LA (and at the bottom, there's a little tidbit about NY) and some great veggie alternatives to a "regular" Thanksgiving. It is completely possible to have the most delicious veggie Thanksgiving in the world.
For pick-up in LA check out:
Real Food Daily - both locations, Santa Monica and West Hollywood, do a great Thanksgiving meal that you pick-up and take wherever you need to be.
Seed - in Venice has a Thanksgiving Bento Box"¦. haven't tried that one, but I'm sure it's delicious.
Here are my favorite veg-style alternatives to the Thanksgiving norm for you to use and make in your own kitchen (recipes are from The Kind Diet unless otherwise noted):
Gravy
I'm not a huge fan of the Tofurky turkey, but I do love their gravy! It's great and so are the Tofurky sausages and Tofurky jerky"¦but that's beside the point. I just wanted to show you that quick Thanksgiving pick-ups are possible in LA. And maybe these menus will inspire you and give you some great ideas on what to make this year if you have time.
"Meats"/Proteins/Anti-Turkeys
Pecan-Crusted Seitan (pictured)
Seitan Picatta with White Wine and Capers
Ginger-Baked Tofu
Thanksgiving Tofu
Sweet Potato-Lentil Stew - fun side dish
Hijiki-Tofu Croquettes - fun side dish
Fruity French Lentils - fun side dish
Field Roast Sausages"¦ and they have a Celebration Loaf (not from The Kind Diet)
Gardein brand turkey slices or any of their scallopini-style "meats" (not from The Kind Diet)
Vegetable Dishes
Sicilian Collards with Pine Nuts and Raisins (pictured)
Baby Bok Choy Drizzled with Ume Vinaigrette (pictured)
Cuban-Style Roasted Sweet Potatoes - I like to use the white sweet potatoes, the yams, but you might want to use the orange/garnet yams for the holidays.
Scarlet Roasted Vegetables
Maple-Roasted Lotus Root, Sunchokes and Leeks
Artichoke Dip - fun dip
Bready Things
Whole Wheat Biscuits
Pumpkin Bread
Arame Turnovers - yummy appetizer
Desserts
Crispy Peanut Butter Treats with Chocolate Chips
Oatmeal, Walnut, and Dried Plum Cookies
Peach Crumble - but use apples or pears instead to make it more seasonal
Candied Ginger Pears
Plum Soup - use winter fruit variation
Beverages
Warm Spicy Wine
Hot Chocolate
And for things like butter, milk, marshmallows, and whipped cream, use alternatives. Use Earth Balance butter, non-dairy milk, non-dairy whipped creams, non-dairy cheese, like the one from Field Roast (put it into a fresh arugula salad with beets.... yum!). And for marshmallows to use on your sweet potatoes, you can get Suzanne's brand Ricemellow fluff from M Cafe (some specialty stores carry them as well). Or you can order it from http://www.suzannes-specialties.com.
Just remember that anything you want for Thanksgiving is possible and can be delicious. Name something you can't find and we will tell you what to do to replace it. I'm certain though that with these meat options, anything your imagination craves for Thanksgiving can be done!!!
On a side note:
For those in NY, I have to tell you that I had one of the best Thanksgiving dinners of my life at Candle 79. It was truly insane. My husband was on tour with his old band S.T.U.N. and I met him in NY when he was playing there on tour. We went to Candle. It was all amazing, but the pumpkin cheesecake was the best thing ever. I'm sure you can do Thanksgiving pick-ups from them.
32 comments
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i started on the collards last night and didn't have balsamic, raisins, or pine nuts! i substituted toasted sunflower seeds and umeboshi plum vinegar. WOW!!! i loved it and am SOOOOO excited. i have been a vegetarian for over 6 years but am moving on to veganism this year. thank you alicia!
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I would like to try the plum soup, but plums are not in season right now. This original post lists the plum soup under desserts and says "use winter fruit variation."
I double-checked my copy of the book, and there is no mention of a winter fruit variation.
Can anyone recommend a different fruit that you've used and had success with, or let me know what the "official" winter variation is? Thanks! -
i've cooked 75% of the recipies in the book, haven't found one yet that wasn't tasty and fufilling! my non vegan family has even asked me to make more vegan meals...this includes my 65 yr old father in law! Wow, if you only knew what a big deal that is:0) Thanks Alicia for your very KIND DIET and everything you've taught me. You've changed my thinking and eating for LIFE! I've been on the diet for 8 weeks, I'll never go back to eating animals, etc. GOOD STUFF! -
Sorry I took so long....This is the recipe my friend sent me I would mdify the sugar consderably though...
Japanese Rice Cakes (Mochi)
Isn't the internet wonderful? With the microwave oven, this is a very simple way to make this dessert that traditionally took over two hours to make the 'old fashioned way'.
This recipe was first downloaded from the internet, then like usual, modified to fit my own tastes and methods.
Basic ingredients:
- 1 box of rice flour (Mochiko Flour - Blue Star brand)
- 2 cups of sugar
- 3 cups of very hot water
- Cooking spray to coat pan
Equipment needed:
- Mixing bowl sufficiently large to hold all the ingredients
- Microwavable angel food cake pan (new technology silicon rubber is available at K-Mart)
Optional additions:
- Green tea powder (optional)
- Prepared red or black bean paste (optional but tasty special center inside the mochi)
Combine the rice flour, sugar and water in mixing bowl, stir until smooth with no lumps. Spray microwavable pan, pour mixture into pan. Microwave for 5 minutes on high, then 6 minutes on medium high heat. When done, there should be no uncooked areas on top. Carefully turn over the pan onto a heat resistant plate. Cool, cut then form into slightly flattened cakes about the size of a tea cup. At this time, you can also put some red bean paste in a small depression in the middle of the rice cake, then enclosing the bean paste inside the rice cake. Dust with rice flour to prevent sticking.
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well i was going to comment about the vegan giveaway we're havng but looks like catherine beat me to it. i love your pilgrim costume by the way!! (unless i'm just imagining things...) thanksgiving is unfortunately such a sad day for animals everywhere, especially turkeys, but starting with this year i'm making it a point of getting out the word about kind living so hopefully SOMEONE will understand that the best gift you can give is life - to yourself and to animals and to your friends and family. ahhhh the holiday spirit. :) -
Sorry false alarm. I ended up finding all the recipies after looking a little more carefully. I did have one question about the corn bread (for the Thanksgiving tofu stuffing) - is it supposed to be made with baking soda or baking powder because one is mentioned in the ingredients and the other is described in the directions so I was unsure. Thanks so much! So far everything I have tried from the book has been amazing I am not worried about having a very delicious thanksgiving.
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Sorry false alarm. I ended up finding all the recipies after looking a little more carefully. I did have one question about the corn bread (for the Thanksgiving tofu stuffing) - is it supposed to be made with baking soda or baking powder because one is mentioned in the ingredients and the other is described in the directions so I was unsure. Thanks so much! So far everything I have tried from the book has been amazing I am not worried about having a very delicious thanksgiving.
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I second the comment by ash. I have The Kind Diet book, but it only has some of the recipies - can we have the rest posted. I actually convinced my non veggie family to give a vegan thanksgiving a try - but I really want to make sure it will be super tasty (plus I am very new to the vegan thing and really rely on recipies...)
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Is there anyway that we could get the recipes for all of these foods??? My husband has been a vegetarian for a year now, and I've been doing it on and off for the last three years, but I think I am finally going to stick with it. Just need some good recipes to kick start things :) -
First of all thank you Alicia, for sharing yourself with us. It feels like family on this awesome site. Enough of the emotional stuff. Down to the celebration. Well, this is what I have done in the past. My husband eats turkey, and invites friends to the house that have the same mind set, and some vegetarians I know. He cooks the Turkey, and I cook a bunch of other stuff like lasagna, and stuffed vegimeat with dressing and gravy. I also make up other side dishes. He also makes a killer vegan dressing for me. Right now things are a bit of a disaster for me. The house is chaotic, and I just haven't had the time to get it in order. So, we are probably going out this year to a buffet, and then we can eat what we want. Unless my daughter, or a friend asks us over. We have kind of a comprimise in my house, he is for he most part going mostly vegan this year, with a few lapses of meat on special days. Thanksgiving, St. Patricks and his Birthday. Wishing you the absolute best in New York. California will miss you.
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I found the best meatless jerky. It is called Primal Strips and I found it at my local co-op, but you can get it online at http://www.primalspiritfoods.com/. My favorite is the Shiitake Mushroom/Hot & Spicy flavor.
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thank you alicia, this si great!! my friends and i are having a vegan food feast/give away thing in the park with leaflets and info for people, thanksgiving themed of course ( give the earth something to be thankful for..) and these recipes will be perfect!! thanks always for your support and warmth ! -
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diane.....I found Mochi at my WF in the fridge section oddly enough by the yogurt and milk. But if you can't find it premade a freind told me that you can make your own. Pick up mochiko at the asian market, and I am sure there is a recipe on line somewhere. PM me and I can try to get the recipe from my friend.
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In Chicago we're getting The Chicago Diner for carry out for Thanksgiving We're getting a plate with 5 sides for $20 per person www.veggiediner.com
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I'll have to say that I am a huge Tofurky fan. I always follow one of the recipes on the box or the website and it turns out great!
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I've had the Thanksgiving meal from Real Food Daily and it's to die for. You'll totally have that after Thanksgiving fullness and sleepyness even without the real Tryptophan.
And yes Julie, Whole Foods has Seitan - its in "chicken" form... AKA cut up into chicken bite looking pieces. Yummy! -
Yes WF has it. Look near the mock meats/tofu. Here's the brand they'll have for sure (if not more): http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_H6cHERnvJ9M/SWpyekKWjHI/AAAAAAAAAIk/OnDx_PlXBlE/s320/Nov5+001.JPG
And Field Roast is basicaly seitan (and AMAZING AMAZING! worth the pennies) -
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Hi, thank you for telling about the rustic pasta, I was wondering that too, it looks so good. I went to the farmers market and got some collard greens, still have yet to try them. I'm so glad you are giving us Thanksgiving ideas, it is a hard one because everyone wants the traditional things we grew up with. -
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