What do you do for Thanksgiving?

[sbj405]

Tofurkey? Just the sides? Any special recipes? Any awkward situations you have to deal with family?

I go to my parents - typical Midwestern meat and potato folks. There are more than enough side dishes for me, so I'm happy stuffing myself on them. I don't think they really understand the veggie thing, but they just let it slide. I know some people who are not so fortunate and are taunted or demeaned by friends and family about their decision to be veggie.

[JackieO]

1. I love what Farm Sanctuary does for Thanksgiving...

They have a party and make lots of special treats for the turkeys and feed them!

For me, I just eat great food. Fortuanately, a lot of people in my family are at least vegetarian so I have it pretty easy in that regard. I would hate to be around people that gave me grief about it. If I happen to spend Thanksgiving somewhere where a lot of carnage is being served I just try to enjoy the company and don't make a big production about it.

[restorefreedom]

2. it's hard when family does not support

I went through that for a number of years - now people finally get it.

probably will do a family thing - will bring tofurkey and eat the sides (which I already checked are all veggie)

[kayell]

3. The last 2 thanksgivings I've made a gluten bird from recipes at vegsource

This year, I'll probably make a simpler version, since there will only be 3 of us. My daughter won't let me skip that for just sides, since she likes the leftovers for "turkee", cranberry relish and stuffing sandwiches.

I've been fortunate that I'm one of several vegetarians in the family, so there have always been plenty of options, and enough of us that it doesn't seem wierd. Ganging up on 6 (now 7 - converted my mom) people isn't real practical. The food oddity that has caused the most strife is an uncle who doesn't eat onions. LOL NONE of us are able to cook without onions.

We'll probably have a pretty standard fare, with the big debate between us two being cornbread or wheat bread stuffing, with or without celery, with or without nuts and fruit.

[CrispyQ]

4. Lentil loaf or Salisbury tempeh . . .

with mashed spuds, broccoli, candied yams & apple pie w/Soy Dream French Vanilla. Oh man! I'm making myself hungry!

Here's a *great* recipe for candied yam topping -- you'll never miss the marshmallows! I know it sounds like a weird combo, but it's really good! It's good on popcorn, too.

1/2 cup oil
1/2 cup maple syrup
1-2 tablespoons of nutritional yeast

Stir all ingredients together & let sit for a minute. It will turn into a thick sauce. Pour over bite sized chunks of yams/squash & bake at 350° for 45 mins or until yams are tender. This makes enough for about 3 medium sized yams. I usually increase it by about 1.5 times for 5 medium yams. (Thanks to my good friend Nancy for this recipe!)

===================
Years ago I invited my family for a veggie Thanksgiving. They all accepted. I made two pans of veggie lasagna & other good treats, including 3 pies. They called T-day morning & said it just wasn't Thanksgiving without the turkey so they weren't coming. I was pissed beyond belief. My husband & I had great eats for 2 weeks, but I thought it was so rude of them. The following year when my mother brought up Thanksgiving, I politely told her that I won't celebrate Thanksgiving where my friends the turkeys are the dubious guests of honor. She's never asked again & I'm fine with that. I'm not sure I could handle seeing a dead carcass on the table.

[JackieO]

5. Mmmmmm

Damn, you're making me hungry too!

[curse10]

6. I eat sides, and sometimes make a special veggie dish

One year I made a really excellent mushroom streudel (I had to keep the meat eaters from devouring it!!!)

Alex's mom always makes me special dishes (this year we celebrated early and I got pumpkin ravioli!)

[expatriot]

7. AdoptATurkey.org

http://www.adoptaturkey.org is a campaign by Farm Sanctuary. Very awesome. And yes, Tofurkey.

[Robeson]

8. This year, I'm checking out the Quorn roast!

With vegie gravy, it ought to be good!

[Hun Joro]

9. My mother makes a fabulous tofu turkey

I am fortunate in that my parents are vegan (my mom is a vegan cooking instructor) and my daughter and granddaughter are vegetarian. Aunts, uncles, and cousins, although not veg, come to our totally vegan Thanksgiving dinner and love it.

[kayell]

19. Can you post the recipe?

[H3Dakota]

10. Cooking the whole deal...

Tofu turkey & all! This will be my 14th vegetarian Thanksgiving - and I've made tofu turkey for every single one! Along with all the fixin's, of course - stuffing, mushroom gravy, potatoes, sweet potatoes, green beans, cranberries, pumpkin pie & apple pie. Yummy!!

Anyone else tried the Tofurky?? I love the slices for sandwiches, but honestly didn't care for the "whole" tofurky.

[magdalena]

12. I love tofurky!!!

But I could really do without tempeh drumsticks that come with it. I've been trying for a few years now, but just can't get them down. At least my husband loves them.

[LeftyMom]

11. Lentil loaf

I take it over to mom's and she sets aside some potatoes and yams for me to mash and glaze with my own soymilk and earth balance. Every year I ask her if it might be easier to just make everybody's with soymilk instead of having to cook separate sides and every year she looks at me like I threatened to stuff a box of stovetop up her ass and toss her in the oven.

Then my sister tries to feed my son ham while she thinks I'm not looking and my son hits her and yells. Eyerolling and jokes at my expense ensue. Then we all watch football, which makes everything better. It sucks, but a certain amount of dysfunction is at least as traditional as the decomposing fowl.

[Gothic Sponge]

13. I've never had Tofurkey

Maybe i'll try it. I always have to bring my own food.

[curse10]

14. I think Tofurkey is nasty

but that's just me. I tried it one year. Never again.

[Elad]

15. Now & Zen UnTurkey is better

beats the pants off Tofurky.

[Lefta Dissenter]

23. My son,

who is the vegetarian in our family, has requested Tofurkey for a few years now. Should I convince him to try UnTurkey, instead this year?

[SiouxJ]

20. Tofurky isn't great, but the gravy that comes with

is wonderful! They sell it separately now - in the frozen food section of you health food store if you're lucky.

[Beaverhausen]

27. I too think Tofurkey is pretty bad

especially the way my BF insists on making it.

He makes a marinade of apricot jam and teriyaki! Not the sort of taste that goes with the other traditional Thanksgiving fare!

[K8-EEE]

16. One Solution: Tamales!

Anybody who lives by Trader Joes, check out the Corn Maiden tamales. Since my family is only half of the veggie persuasion, I get half veggie tamales & half chicken (I do this for Christmas -- chicken tamales being a traditional Xmas dinner)

With this I have mesclun salad with goat cheese & walnuts; green "holiday" rice (made with pureed spinach and cilantro and veggie stock) and usually veggie refried beans, although this year I'm trying a garlicky black bean & lime juice "caviar" to serve with Cuban crackers.

My mom makes Turkey on thanksgiving and the vegatrians just sort of eat around it; I make veggie dressing in a casserole and vegan gravy which goes over huge. My daughter is always happy with the raw veggies and dip, green beans and almonds, veggie stuffing, and pumpkin pie of course!

[evolvenow]

17. Help the Sweet Birds! That would be a wonderful Thanksgiving:)

Could you please circulate this to your lists. This sounds very important and a little, would help so many dear feathered friends.
Thanks so much,
Lots of love,

Kunzang Palyul Chöling of Sedona, AZ

A Center for the Study and Practice of Tibetan Buddhism in the Nyingma Tradition
under the spiritual direction of Jetsunma Ahkön Lhamo.

THE GARUDA AVIARY

Please help us care for the birds.

November 15, 2004
Meet some of the birds of the Garuda Aviary.

  http://www.garudaaviary.org /
For more pictures and information, visit www.garudaaviary.org <http://www.garudaaviary.org >   

Dear Friend,

In times of crisis, we all turn to those we know we can count on for support through our difficulties. Right now, Garuda Sanctuary is in a time of crisis. Since the opening of the Garuda Sanctuary, we have had one major donor supporting the vast majority of our Aviary operations. He is no longer able to give at the same very generous level, though he will be continuing to support us, both as an active volunteer in the Aviary and through regular monthly donations.

However, the overall level of donations for the Aviary has decreased from $1200/month to approximately $400/month because of our reliance on this single major. While the number of our supporters has grown, the overall level of funding for the Aviary has decreased substantially, effective this month.

The funds needed to support the Aviary go entirely to the direct care of the birds: fresh fruits and vegetables, nuts, seeds, pellets, veterinary care, cage and facility maintenance, and bird toys and other supplies. At this time we do not have to pay rent or utilities, due to the generosity of another donor, and due to our all-volunteer staff. We do we not have any wages to pay. The impact of our shortfall means quite simply that we do not have enough money to feed the birds.

There are nearly 40 birds currently in residence at the Aviary.The majority of the birds are too neurotic to be cared for elsewhere, due to neglect in their previous living situations. Many have suffered from lack of attention and proper food by prior owners, as well as from a merry-go-round of going from one owner to another. They all need the stable, loving environment that the Garuda Aviary provides.

The staffing of the Aviary is strong with a volunteer force of 15 wonderful, loving people who assure that the birds get top-quality care and lots of love and attention. We ask for your help to assure we can continue to provide a stable, loving environment for our birds.

It is as a friend of Garuda Sanctuary that we are turning to you and asking for your kind and generous support on behalf of Beauty, Scarlet, Lovey, Hakan, and and all our other feathered friends at the Aviary. They need your help now!

Your donations now would be most appreciated and if you could see your way to making a monthly donation that would be wonderful. The undertakings of Garuda Sanctuary are a compassionate activity of Kunzang Palyul Choling, a 501(c)(3) organization and as such your donations are tax-deductible.

Please send your check to: Garuda Sanctuary
PO Box 4254
Sedona, AZ 86336

If you would prefer to make your donation by credit card, please call me at [phone]. Thank you for your support.

Sincerely,
Alyce Louise Bertsche
Co-Manager, Garuda Aviary  

Kunzang Palyul Choling of Sedona
A center for the study and practice of Tibetan Buddhism in the Nyingma tradition
3270 White Bear Rd, Sedona, AZ 86336
Mailing Address: PO Box 1142, Sedona AZ 86339

928-282-5195 www.kpc-sedona.org <http://www.kpc-sedona.org >  

To unsubscribe from KPC-Sedona emails, please 'Reply' and put 'Unsubscribe' in the subject.  

[evolvenow]

18. Bake a delicious vegan pumpkin pie!

It tastes great, so easy, and you might interest some non-veggies into a more veggie diet! Do a google search, there are tons of recipes.

[kayleybeth]

21. We can't get Tofurkey

Nobody sells it around here anymore. The one healthfood store that used to carry it quit a few years ago because they didn't sell enough of them. Sigh.

We just do side dishes now. Artichoke-and-faux-sausage-cornbread-stuffing, mashed potatoes, mushroom gravy, green bean casserole, sweet potatoes topped with brown sugar and Grand Marnier and chopped pecans, and homemade crescent rolls... yum!

[Hun Joro]

22. One year we had two big turkeys for Thanksgiving...

We named them Lena and Nena. Our local veg society (now defunct) bought them from a local farmer who was furious when he discovered our plans for them, and said he would never have sold them to us had he known. We shared our Thanksgiving dinner with them, and afterward took them to the Fund for Animals' Black Beauty Ranch, where they lived out their natural lives (which proved not to be terribly long, given their obesity and other problems poultry are bred with). That was the best Thanksging ever.

[K8-EEE]

24. Pumpkin Ravioli With Butter/Sage Sauce!

Appolgies for not having the recipe -- that is a Fall specialty of one of our neighborhood reastaurants (Ca De Sole' in No Hollywood, CA) and it is sooooo good! I'm actually looking for this recipe to bring to my parents' thanksgiving, they have turkey but many vegetarians as well (including my dad!)

[deek]

25. Veat

sauted with onions, garlic, sherry.

Even meateaters love it!

http://www.veat.com /

[Wallflower_Liberal]

26. Bringing a Quorn roast to my MIL's

So I will have something to eat. I'm bringing mushroom gravy and making my own stuffing. I make enough for others to try, but they hardly ever do. *sigh* I've made other side dishes in the past, but they all refuse to eat anything they consider "different". Mr. Wallflower will eat some of mine to make me feel better and my kids never eat much anyway (they are veggie but extremely picky). MIL is getting better and will usually make a vegetarian side dish for me as well. It shouldn't be too painful.

[smurfygirl]

28. The whole family is vegan or veggies

So every holiday is a full spread. Most years mom makes a gluten roast. It's always good. Tofurky is alright but doesn't compare to mom's roast. I also like to make sheperd's pie with temphe in it. This year I'm in charge of the tofu pumpkin pie, garlic mashed potatoes, praline pecan sweet potatoes, and pears. Gosh I'm hungry thinking about this.

Happy thanksgiving you all.

[Sparkly]

29. Baked acorn squash with tofu and pecans (Moosewood recipe)

This is really good, from "New Recipes from Moosewood" cookbook. The tofu gets marinated in sherry and soy sauce; pecans and breadcrumbs get toasted ahead; then it's basically onions, celery, and lots of mushrooms.

Of course, I'm bringing this to a gathering of meat-eaters. Somehow I always manage to bring the one thing that nobody else but me wants to eat.

[LeftPeopleFinishFirst]

30. Just the sides, typically. This year...

My mom is making me eggplant parmesan instead,


She is cooking the turkey now and I'm getting REALLY nauseous even being in the kitchen.I don't mind being around meat typically, but when it's concentrated in one area so long... ugh.

[Rhiannon12866]

31. Vegetarian Times always has great holiday recipes

I've subscribed to their magazine for years. I now also get their on-line newsletter. They had a "turkey" recipe, a couple of years ago, made with wheat gluten, that I've always wanted to try. The fact that this meal also included a recipe for gravy really appealed to me. I love gravy, LOL!

http://www.vegetariantimes.com /

I do know people who are demeaned for their choice not to eat meat. This is just so stupid. The worst one that I ever heard was when a friend's mother suggested that he might as well go outside and graze on the grass in the backyard!

[JackieO]

32. vegan blintzes for breakfast!!!

mmmmmmmmm yum

[Robeson]

33. Just had my Quorn Roast, and it was awesome!!