My only absolute for sures right now are punkrock chickpea gravy and mashed potatoes.

I might get a tofurkey? I'd love to hear what people think about those or alternate creative centerpiece type ideas. This will be my first Thanksgiving as a veggie/almost vegan so I am a little anxious.

Likely side dishes:
Squash casserole
Green beans with lemon and toasted almonds
Roasted brussel sprouts

If I can perfect them vegan style before then, I will probably also have my grandmother's candied sweet potatoes.

I haven't started planning yet (in U.S.) 

I had tofurkey last year and thought it was terrible.   A lot of people seem to like it, though. It would probably be a good idea to try it in advance if you are considering it.  There is a homemade tofurkey recipe in Bryanna Clark Grogan's holiday cookbook as well as a sample Thanksgiving menu.  I haven't made anything from this book - if anyone else here has, I would be interested in their comments.  Also, if anyone is interested, I can post the menu from the book.


I would realy like to find a good veganized version of green bean casserole w/mushroom soup and canned fried onions.  Suggestions?

(Sorry 'bout double post, can't remember how to delete it.)

Last edited by vahappygirl (Thu 9/24/09 7:11 am)

ameyfm wrote:

damn, saabisu, you are seriously ahead of the curve here!

This is at least reasonable. I'm in Canada and Thanksgiving is in a couple of weeks, so I'm happy for the reminder!

Over at the Nigella forum, they've been talking Christmas since August, which I find a bit sickening, I hate Christmas - okay, to clarify, I don't hate the actual day, just all the greed and commercialism that seems to get bigger every year. Bleh.

It depends on where I'm going for Thanksgiving (I don't know yet). If I'm with immediate family, I'll just eat sides and make myself a pie. Going away means I'll bring an entree, dessert and stuffing.

we will have a tofurky
stuffing (i hate the stuffing in the tofurky)
vcon caramelized onion and squash casserole
my green bean casserole, easy, creamy, and very vegan
rolls
mashed potatoes
herb and mushroom gravy

apple and pumpkin pies with soy whip

vgnwitch wrote:

Over at the Nigella forum, they've been talking Christmas since August, which I find a bit sickening, I hate Christmas - okay, to clarify, I don't hate the actual day, just all the greed and commercialism that seems to get bigger every year. Bleh.

wow that is crazy.

I must say, reading this thread is getting me all excited about autumn. yay!

I haven't decided yet, but if we go to NC this year, I'll have to bring something that can be made ahead (or mostly made ahead), that won't get completely destroyed on the 7-hour drive and that I won't have to fight to get oven time to cook.  If we go there, they generally make sure that several veggie sides are OK for me (olive oil instead of butter, etc), but I'm on my own for an entree and desserts. 

I'll probably make chickpea cutlets or some manner of seitan or both, eat any vegan-friendly sides available (and possibly bring one or two of my own), and this may be the year of Smlove, which I've been both dying to try and scared to death to make for home consumption.

Oooh I love the garlicky kale chips idea. I'll have to steal that in order to celebrate American Thanksgiving since I'll be out of the country for Canadian thanksgiving.

I'm hoping we can skip Thanksgiving with my bf's relatives and just have a nice meal for two at home. Tofurky, stuffing, mashed potatoes, kale, cranberry sauce, gravy, and pie. Lots and lots of pie. And maybe biscuits if I'm up for making them.

actually, i'm really glad this thread is up!  because i have been thinking about BOTH thanksgiving and christmas for awhile now, because of where i'll be spending them!

i'll be spending thanksgiving at home, which is pretty easy, except that my brother is a big jerk about my veganism sometimes, so i have always just quietly eaten side dishes before for thanksgiving.  this year, i too would like to feast!  i will definitely be contributing one side (also thinking green bean casserole!), and a veg gravy for myself (probably the punk rock rock chickpea gravy), and my fiancee will be making a vegan pie, and my mom promised to, as much as possible, make her other sides vegan (i am always in charge of the potatoes anyway.)  i am torn between making something that will a replacement entree, like a nutloaf or vegan swedish meatballs, or something that can double as my entree and a side for others.  i am leaning towards the latter, but can't seem to find the proper dish!  i think a nutloaf or hippie loaf could fit the bill, except i know that it will probably scare people off. *sigh*

christmas will be my first christmas away from my family because i am spending it with my fiancee's family.  i am definitely going to go the double as my entree and side for everyone else route so as to a) show off my vegan cooking skillz and b) contribute to the meal as a whole, as opposed to just taking care of myself.  i am going to make butternut squash lasagna.  i wish i could think of another dish just like butternut squash lasagna to use as our thanksgiving meal!   (any thoughts???)

I'm hoping to attend our yearly NJ vegan families Thanksgiving potluck on Thanksgiving which is always fun and full of delicious vegan food. If we don't, then we'll probably just skip anything fancy on Thanksgiving and head to Montclair Vegans Thanksliving potluck that Saturday. It will be a few weeks before my due date and I doubt I'll be much in the mood for cooking or baking.

The usual suspects:

Mashed Potatoes and Gravy
Roasted Brussels Sprouts
Pumpkin Pie (this year, mini pumpkin pies- half from butternut puree, half from sugar pumpkin! FACE OFF, DUN DUN dunnnnnn...)

And for a main dish I am thinking either homemade seitan loaf thing or soy curls au vin. My boyfriend might be getting his wisdom teeth removed over Thanksgiving Break, so I might not make much that is overly ambitious. Wild Rice Stuffing sounds goooo-ooood...

eta: Heh, I think if he does get his wisdom teeth out I will just get a package of Smart Deli roasted turkey slices and heat that up for my main dish. I could probably grind half the package up in the food processor and mix it with his gravy...

Last edited by Jenthecolorist (Thu 9/24/09 1:57 pm)