Remember I told you that my daughter has a Vegan boyfriend? Well, can you guess where I’m cooking this Thanksgiving and what? A Vegan Thanksgiving…. but don’t run away. I’m talking about more than just veggies here…. cause my Pumpkin Pie is the bomb! (And so are my goat cheese stuffed mini peppers).
Yep. Like a Virgin. Tofurkey for the first time. They say it comes with its’ own gravy and stuffing, but I’m probably going to make my own as well. And listen to what else: Of course Sweet Potato Pie, Smashed Potatoes with Roasted Garlic and Chives, Green Beans with Almonds and caramelized shallots and mushrooms, (by using non dairy Coconut Creamer instead of that lousy cream of mushroom soup, and Earth Balance Vegan Butter),
grilled brussel sprouts, jellied cranberry…. (it’s the only really bad for you thing on the menu – read your cans), a lovely salad filed with toasted pine nuts, apples and veggies galore, vegan rolls and of course Organic Vegan Pumpkin Pie, which I’m going to try….. but geez…. I love the eggs turning it into a custardy dessert. Waaaahhh! Waaaaah! Is that me Wine-ing?? Oh yes. There will be wine.
I was thinking about spaghetti squash or maybe a zucchini cut in half, seasoned with nutmeg and cinnamon place on 350 first and then under the broiler….. we’ll see.
AND NOW FOR THE NON VEGANS: A new switch on my old favorite – Pumpkin Pie! These days, most of the store bought pies have hydrogenated oil in them, or a ton of chemicals that your body can’t process.
Is that pepper smiling at me or what?
Hey, did I mention that on the last conference I attended I had a British Roommate who cut this in half and we sat and laughed as we realized it was Halloween and we missed carving a pumpkin?
And that afterwards, she went and email blasted her ‘Step into your Vision’ database to say that I was her miracle that had manifested? A roommate that provides gourmet food throughout a workshop at a lousy hotel? And did she know that I had manifested her as well? (I have a ‘thing’ for brits)! lol
Well, if you look at that toothy and toothless smile you’ll know that’s exactly how I feel about Pumpkin Pie!
And this time around instead of just the canned organic pumpkin from Sprouts, I scored some of their Pumpkin Pie Mix, which has just a small splash of cane sugar in it, still not making it sweet but adding another slight dimension of flavor.
I made this recipe in a blog you’ll find by typing Pumpkin Pie in the search browser on the site here. A picture is worth a thousand words?
One more picture of a non vegan addition to your table…….
These are goat cheese stuffed miniature peppers. Use the sun dried tomato or herb garlic goat cheese, caramelize shallots or onions and panko bread crumbs that you cook up on the stove and add to the cheese. Each one gets stuffed indivually and you can make two or three beautiful plates that you dot down the table to make it festival!
So…. it’s a very Vegan Thanksgiving for me. But not to worry! I am doing a Christmas/Thanksgiving Party for kids 16-21 many of who are living in shelters – and it’s a COOKING CLASS. Guess what we’re Cooking? Turkey. Real, whole, full of meat Turkey! lol So I will get my turkey yet!
And I will report back to let you know if we pushed away from the table sick…. tired…. or energetic, with our farts powering the way! lol
Happy Eating,
Chef Marian
mm@chefmarian.com