Thanksgiving dinner

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 10/8/08 1:10:18 PM, dprupp writes:

 

 

>

>

> The most important part of your Thanksgiving meal is family and

> friends! Enjoy!

>

> Deb in Idaho

>

>

>

 

Thanks for your post, Deb. It makes me feel there is hope for me. I am

starting out very easy but hope to get where you are regarding eating.

 

 

 

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[Guest guest]

For our Thanksgiving dinner I just make all the sides but no m**t

substitutes. Wild Rice, mashed potatoes with gravy, sweet potatoes

baked with butter, cole slaw, home made bread rolls, a green

vegetable and, of course, pumpkin pie. We did the Tofurky for a few

years but have skipped it for the past 6 or so. I find that the

longer I am a vegetarian the less I like the fake m**ts. We enjoy

beans, lentils, tofu, tempeh, etc. We also eat some dairy and some

egss but that is lessening also. After a while you begin to lose

your taste for them. The fake m**ts were great as a transitional

food. I also used b**f and ch***en bouillion at first. Of course

at first I wasn't even trying to become vegetarian, just eating

healthier. We atarted having meatless meals twice a week. Then 3

times and, after 6 months or so, just serving m**t on weekends.

That didn't last very long as my children and I just lost our taste

for dead animal flesh. My husband still ate meat but not at home.

I couldn't stand to cook it. He enjoyed my veggie dishes but would

order m**t when dining out.

 

I didn't start out to become a vegetarian but evolved into one. I

continue for many reasons: health, taste, and most of all for

ethical reasons.

 

Sorry, I didn't mean to get up on my soapbox. I'm nit critizing

anyone for eating quorn roast for Thanksgiving (or anytime). I'm

just saying that we don't have to have a m**t or fake m**t as a

centerpiece to our meals.

 

The most important part of your Thanksgiving meal is family and

friends! Enjoy!

 

Deb in Idaho

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 10/8/08 5:32:37 PM, rosetalleo writes:

 

 

> Other

> times I have made stuffed winter squashes of different sizes and types

> (stuffed with different things), and served as main courses. I also

> like nut loaves (or mixed nut, legume, grain loaves) served with

> something like cashew gravy, or a white wine and herbs sauce, maybe

> surrounded by steamed baby carrots and green beans from the garden.

> Thanksgiving is still far away, and I try to use my garden's produce

> first, so i know I'll have butternut squash (no pumpkins), pecans,

> green beans, maybe peas (depends on whether it will ever cool down

> around here) maybe some nice greens too (definitely amaranth). My

> peppers are getting a second wind, so stuffed poblano and/or sweet

> peppers might be on the menu too this year.

>

 

The a above sound delicious. I would love the recipies.

in Northern Illinois

 

 

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[Guest guest]

, " baskets4deb " <dprupp wrote:

>

> For our Thanksgiving dinner I just make all the sides but no m**t

> substitutes.

 

 

I do something similar, if I am going for a traditional theme.

Sometimes I toss tradition out the window and make a vegetarian paella

with butternut squash, or a vegan gumbo, or a stuffed pizza Chicago

style, or pumpkin ravioli...

 

When I feel 'traditional' I have done things like festive treatments

of fall vegetables that are artfully displayed on the table to honor

the season's bounty. For example, one year it was a pumpkin soup

baked into the pumpkin and presented as a table center piece. Other

times I have made stuffed winter squashes of different sizes and types

(stuffed with different things), and served as main courses. I also

like nut loaves (or mixed nut, legume, grain loaves) served with

something like cashew gravy, or a white wine and herbs sauce, maybe

surrounded by steamed baby carrots and green beans from the garden.

Thanksgiving is still far away, and I try to use my garden's produce

first, so i know I'll have butternut squash (no pumpkins), pecans,

green beans, maybe peas (depends on whether it will ever cool down

around here) maybe some nice greens too (definitely amaranth). My

peppers are getting a second wind, so stuffed poblano and/or sweet

peppers might be on the menu too this year.

 

Who knows though, we might go to the bay area, this changes the plan a

little, but I would still contribute a vegetable centered entree

rather than a turkey imitation one. The omnivores in my family

appreciate having another creative type of vegetable entree rather

than fake turkey trying to compete with a real turkey if that is

served (it might not, tradition is not a big thing with this family).

 

Nothing wrong with either tofurky or quorn, and I am really glad these

products exist, so no offense, but for me, not at thanksgiving.

[Guest guest]

Deb,

I have to say that your Vegetarian Lifestye is very much like mine. I

too find that after many years as a Vegetarian I have lost my taste

for the fake flesh products and find myself disliking the ones that

have the texture and taste of the real thing. Same goes for dairy. I

was raised by a cheesemaker and loved dairy but now also not liking

the taste or texture. I never question anyone's choice of what they

eat. I have many reasons for becoming a Vegetarian (almost Vegan) and

over the years (25+) have just evolved into a lifestyle that I have

chosen. I think of Thanksgiving as a sharing harvest occasion and

prepare stuffing,mashed potatoes,and gravy,cranberries,sweet

potatoes,bean salad, and trays of olives, pickles, celery, and all

types of raw veggies and dips.

Celebrate Thanksgiving in one's own way with family and friends. If

you are alone help serve at your local homeless shelter.

Donate to your local chuch or food bank for those in need.

Attach a note stating that it is a gift from your family.

Send a card to family members stating that you are celebrating the

holidays by donating food in their name to a family in need.

Happy Holidays

Deanna in Colorado

, " baskets4deb " <dprupp

wrote:

>

> For our Thanksgiving dinner I just make all the sides but no m**t

> substitutes.

I find that the

> longer I am a vegetarian the less I like the fake m**ts.

[Guest guest]

I just wanted to thank you for sharing because our story is very similar to

yours. When I did my studies to become a doctor I was told that the vegetarian

diet was the most unhealthy diet there was.  I was taught that if you had a

vegetarian patient, to really force the eating of meat or fish for their health.

(Mind you this was my NATUROPATH training).

 

My turning point came when my daughter developed pernicious puberty (she started

puberty at 6). I set out to find out why.  My research helped me to appreciate

that the meats that she was eating contributed to her situation.  I immediately

took her off of everything but organics and the symptoms lessened some. 

 

I figured that I would limit the meat that we ate so I started out with 3 days a

week of no meat (still worried that we were going to drop dead of anemia or grow

a second nose or something) but I found that I had more energy, and looked great

(my adult acne cleared up within weeks).  We ate less and less meat (I was still

waiting for the weakness, fatigue and other ailments that I was trained to look

for in vegetarians)  and progressed until I just lost the taste and desire for

meat altogether.  Oddly enough, no signs of anemia and I have more energy than

ever!

 

My take on Thanksgiving dinner is a little unique in that I give thanks

everyday, and we try to live like everyday is a holiday. But I wanted to thank

you for sharing your experience because it really helped me to appreciate just

how progressive ones tastes and desires can be. ( OK, truth is I was really glad

to see that it was not just me!)