The Ultimate Vegan Christmas Menu
The Ultimate Vegan Christmas Menu is a perfect list of recipes that are delicious and crowd-pleasing for any vegan Christmas. Recipes include a variety of vegan appetizers, soups, salads, main dishes, and cocktails. You can mix and match to make your own perfect vegan Christmas menu!
I LOVE Christmas time. I’m sure I’m not alone in that. 😉 A perfect Christmas, even in the shit-storm we can call 2020, should still include great food and drinks. I know many people will be having a lot of family/friend time over Zoom. We make the most of what we have, right? And, it’s celebratory in its own right since we can say a hearty, “goodbye!” and “FuCk YOu!” to 2020! Wooooo-hooooo!!!
I am supposed to be living in Shenzhen, China right now, teaching music at a dope international school, with my son receiving a free and amazing education there. I am now instead, teaching over Zoom, at night, awaiting the moment I can get my visa.
I miss my friends, I miss a full paycheck, I miss restaurants, activities with my kid like bowling, the zoo, the children’s museum, etc. I miss my kid’s Taekwondo and swimming lessons. This year I was going to start his piano lessons, too. I now also work at my kid’s private Chinese School since I can no longer afford the tuition without it.
This year has also brought intense emotional pain from my ex both pre & post-divorce, panic attacks ending in ER visits, and a litany of health issues stemming from mind-blowing levels of stress. I am more than happy to let go of this shitty fucking year! I KNOW I am not alone in this. 😉
Despite my diatribe of bullshit, I am still standing, and I still choose to celebrate the good in this world. Holidays (to me) are incredibly important to keep our happiness afloat, or at least remind us that we have happiness somewhere still within, if even for a day. Make this Christmas count! Let it be the precursor to the mouth of 2021. Enjoy the shit outta your Christmas company, even if only via Zoom, good food, good libations, the giving of gifts, and of course, good music. Cheers!
If you guys have any staple vegan Christmas recipes/food that you make, please post in the comment section to share some ideas. Enjoy The Ultimate Vegan Christmas Dinner Menu and have an amazing holiday!
An ultimate classic Christmas song from my all-time favorite Rudolph movie! (The movie is free on YouTube btw)…
Also, click HERE for a link to my article, Dear Santa Baby (A letter for adults)
*Click on the name of the recipe to bring you directly to the link!
The Ultimate Vegan Christmas Menu!
Appetizers –
Premier Tomato Bruschetta with Olives & Capers
Artichoke Balsamic & Basil Hummus
Fried Green Tomatoes with Special Sauce (vegan)!
Soups –
The BEST Vegan Pasta e Fagioli
The BEST Vegan Creamy Tortellini Soup! *This could be a main dish, too – SO filling!
Vegan Kale, Broccoli, & White Bean Soup
Lentil Soup with Sauteed Mushrooms (Vegan)
Salads –
Sauteed Veggie & Farro Spiralized Zucchini Salad
Main dishes –
Vegan Mushroom Lentil Wellington
Vegan Kale Pesto Lasagna with Veggie Tofu Ricotta
Creamy Rigatoni with Lentils & Fresh Oregano – Vegan!
Creamy Vegan Macaroni and Cheese!
Sun-dried Tomato and Basil Stuffed Portobello Mushroom
Cocktails –
Desserts Cocktails –
Spiked Vegan Peppermint Hot Chocolate!
Minty Cacao Espresso Cocktail (Vegan)
If this is all too overwhelming for you, Whole Foods is doing a pre-made vegan Christmas dinner and I am pretty sure you can pick and choose some of your menu items! Click HERE for the link.
Greyson & my “Happy Holidays” card 🙂
Vegan Sausage Stuffing
Vegan Sausage Stuffing is honestly the BEST EVER! My exe used to make this for me every year. He’d dry out the bread for days and do it old school. Always perfect! I know I promised this recipe a day or two ago; however, it has been absolutely fucking crazy to say the least. And, for the first time in two years, I can say “crazy” in the best of ways. It feels amazing. If you follow the blog, you’ll have some semblance of the woes in which I am referring to. Alas, ’tis Thanksgiving and it is a time to be thankful, grateful, and full of deliciousness.
Imma gonna keep this short and sweet since this post is in the 11th hour. I’m chillin’ with the kiddo, cooking for tomorrow, and writing this post. I’ve just been given a 30-minute performance from Grey where he “conducted,” performed magic, danced, and sang. So sweet!
Happy Thanksgiving, everyone! Click the name of the recipe/post below for more amazing vegan Thanksgiving recipes. Gooble ’til you wobble, friends!
A Bob Marley T-day tune for you…
Vegan Sausage Stuffing
Serves: 8-10
Ingredients –
8 cups unseasoned stuffing cubes (or dry bread out for a few days prior!)
1/2 C vegan butter
1 1/2 C onion – diced
1 CÂ celery – diced
1/2 C carrot – diced
4Â garlic cloves – finely chopped
1 pound vegan sausage – (I am a FIRM believer that Lightlife’s Gimme Lean Sausage is the BEST for this recipe – roll into small balls)
2 3/4 C veggie broth
1 Tbl fresh rosemary – chopped
1 Tbl fresh sage – chopped
1/4 CÂ fresh parsley – chopped
1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper
Directions –
Preheat the oven to 350 F and use olive oil or vegan butter to grease a baking pan
Place the stuffing cubes in a large mixing bowl
In a large pan, melt the butter. Add the onions, carrots, and celery and cook over medium heat – stirring occasionally, for about 8-10 minutes
Add the garlic and cook for 2 more minutes
Add the vegetables to the bowl of stuffing cubes
In the same pan, cook the sausage over medium heat for 5 minutes
Add the sausage to the mixing bowl
Add the veggie broth, herbs, and pepper to the mixture and mix until the bread is soft
Transfer the stuffing to the baking pan and bake for about an hour to an hour and 10 minutes OR cook in pan on medium-low heat until everything is combined (about 5-10 minutes)
Done!
CLICK ON RECIPE TO BRING YOU TO LINK!
The BEST Vegan Thanksgiving Menu Ever!
Vegan Autumn Salad
Vegan Creamy Garlic Mashed Potatoes & Gravy
Vegan Lentil Nut Loaf
Vegan Creamy Cheesy Mashed Cauliflower & Gravy
Vegan Autumn Salad
Vegan Autumn Salad is my go-to salad for Thanksgiving or any good autumnal meal. Easy, delicious, and done in 5 minutes! I make a variation of this salad every Thanksgiving. This year, I decided to add hemp seeds and pumpkin seeds instead of candied pecans. It was amazing! I always make my homemade honey mustard balsamic dressing, too. The key is good balsamic! I’ll be making it again for this upcoming Thanksgiving.
Typically, every Christmas, whoever’s home my family goes to orders matching pajamas for everyone in the family to wear on Christmas Day. This year, since we will not be together due to the virus (most of us live in different states), it will just be me, the kiddo, and my sister. We’ve decided to do the pj tradition early. Since I plan on eating and drinking too much, we were both sold on this idea. It’s the simple changes during COVID that sometimes makes things a tad bit happier. We’re going for onesies this year. Amen to that! Nothing to push on the growing tire around the waste when we chow down.
What are you guys doing this year for your vegan T-day celebration? Or, if you’re just here looking for recipes for a vegan attending your soirée, what are you guys doing, too? Anyone have any special ideas to make the day more exciting? Something to compensate for the lack of family/friends? Please, post and let me know!
Gobble, gobble, friends. Almost T-day! I am posting a vegan sausage stuffing recipe in two days so stay tuned! Enjoy the Vegan Autumn Salad!
As always, here is my annual favorite Thanksgiving video…
Vegan Autumn Salad
Serves approximately 5
Ingredients –
5 ounces spinach (you can replace with mesculin greens)
1 1/2 C sliced cumcumbers
3/4 C sliced carrots
1/4 C roughly sliced red onion
3/4 diced apple (I used Honey Crisp)
Optional – 1/4 C vegan Violife Feta Cheese
1/4 raw pumpkin seeds
2 Tbl hemp seeds
For the honey mustard balsamic dressing –
2 Tbl GOOD balsamic
2 tsp dijon mustard
2 tsp honey (3 if you like it sweeter)
1/4 C olive oil
Salt & pepper to taste
Mix well and done!
Directions –
Mix all of the salad ingredients together
Pour the dressing evenly over the salad and then toss well
Done!
*Feel free to add some walnuts to this salad, too
Wine pairing-
White – Vermentino, Grüner
Sparkling – Blanc de Blanc
Vegan Creamy Garlic Mashed Potatoes & Gravy
Vegan Creamy Garlic Mashed Potatoes & Gravy are crazy easy and delicious. Honestly, mashed potatoes win all the time. I like mine creamy and garlicky, too. I picked some fresh garlic chives from my patio garden for this recipe. So perfect!
I love Thanksgiving. I love the food, the company, the drinks, the music, and the “becoming one with my couch.” Being vegan doesn’t mean my Thanksgiving is any less carb and food heavy/delish than any other T-day. There are SOOO many meals you can make. Click HERE for a list of Vegan Thanksgiving Recipes.
OMG… COVID! Preventing family/friend soirées across the world. UGH! This year, it’ll just be me, my sis’, my nephew, and of course, G-dog. It’ll be amazing, no doubt. However, I am so pissed at the stupidity of people. This past year, human stupidity, in mass quantity, has become incredibly evident through both COVID and the election. I mean, what the fuck, people? Is putting on a mask too difficult? Is putting on a mask and following basic rules of socialization too freedom-restricting? Why can’t we all agree, despite our opposing beliefs, that this virus fucking sucks, and that if we all follow VERY easy and basic rules, we might have a chance of getting over this hellacious hump earlier than a down-tick next summer? Let’s all cross our fingers for this vaccine being readily available with access for everyone – like ASAP. Okay, that’s my diatribe for today. I felt the need to put it in this post since holidays are super-spreaders.
Anyway, Vegan Creamy Garlic Mashed Potatoes & Gravy are the bomb! I hope you enjoy! Live well, eat well, mask-up well, friends.
For your cooking delight… I LOVE this version…
Vegan Creamy Garlic Mashed Potatoes & Gravy
Ingredients –
For the mashed potatoes:
3 1/2 lbs of potatoes – I usually use russet; however, this time, I use red potatoes and loved it! Also, I keep the skin ON!
2 C vegan milk – I prefer oat milk for this recipe
1/4 C vegan butter
5-7 cloves of garlic – diced (depends on your level of garlic and size of cloves)
2-3 Tbs garlic chives – diced (save some for a garnish)
Salt & pepper to taste (salt for boiling potatoes, too)
For the gravy: (feel free to double this recipe – I usually do)
2 C vegetable stock
2 Tbl soy sauce or Bragg’s Liquid Aminos
2 tsp dijon mustard
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp onion powder
1/4 C flour
Optional – 1-2 Tbl ground flax
Directions –
For the mashed potatoes:
Cut the potatoes into quarters. Place in a large pot, add salt and cover with water
Bring to boil over medium-high heat and then reduce heat once boiling. Cook until potatoes are tender – about 15 minutes
Drain and place back in pot
Heat the milk, butter, garlic, and garlic chives in a pan over medium heat until simmering – remove from heat
Mash and add the mixture from pan, plus salt and pepper
Garnish with a piece of butter and chives
Done!
For the gravy:
Place all ingredients in a pan and bring to a boil
Whisk often over medium-high heat for a few minutes until the gravy thickens to your liking
Done!
Wine pairing –
White – Chardonnay
Red РBarbaresco, Chianti Classico, C̫tes du Rh̫ne.
Beer pairing –
Blonde ale
Vegan Lentil Nut Loaf
Vegan Lentil Nut Loaf is easy, healthy, and delicious! Perfect for dinner, Thanksgiving, or Christmas meals. I make some kind of loaf for every Thanksgiving I have at my home – which is every year. LOL. Sometimes I do a pure lentil loaf, sometimes I do a nut loaf, sometimes a straight-up vegan meatloaf, and occasionally a mushroom wellington (click HERE for that recipe). Needless to say, I just try to change up the deliciousness every year since I host a vegan Thanksgiving annually.
I already had one vegan Thanksgiving thus far! My friend and her daughter came over since we won’t be able to spend the actual day together. It was amazing! We drank too much wine, good beer, and listened to too much Christmas music (is there such a thing?). The kids topped it off with A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving. Round two of unnecessary eating came late night after some porch time with Jack Herer. LOL. That’s also when we thought it was a good idea to dive into the beers. Fuck it, right? We only live once and spending this time with friends is precious. Especially as we are preparing for our inevitable departure to our new home – Shenzhen, China. It couldn’t come soon enough!
This year, our T-day will be with my sister and her son. Simple but perfect. Again, getting that time in with our nearest and dearest! It is HARD with COVID. My Saturday night plans are now on Zoom. Ideal? No. However, still fun. It is really important to maintain connections and stay social during this pandemic. One of the few things that have truly helped.
I’ll have a few more vegan Thanksgiving recipes posted in the next ten days, and then my annual vegan Thanksgiving menu post with some T-day trivia for your holiday. Treat yourself to some early T-day grub because “fuck it,” it’s COVID and we might as well! On that note, cheers!
To get you in the holiday spirit…
Vegan Lentil Nut Loaf
Makes 8 slices
Ingredients –
2Â C brown lentils (I use Trader Joe’s steamed lentils)
1 1/2 C walnuts – chopped finely
1Â Tbl olive oil
3 Tbl vegetable broth
2Â C yellow onion
1/2Â Cup carrot – diced
1Â C celery – diced
4Â cloves garlic – minced
1 tsp thyme
1/2 tsp sage
3 tsp oregano
Salt & pepper to taste
1/2Â C tomato paste
1Â vegan egg equivalent – I use a flax “egg” – 1 Tbl ground flax with 3 Tbl water mixed well
1Â 1/4Â C breadcrumbs
For the glaze:
1/3 cup ketchup (I use a good ketchup – Portland Ketchup)
2 Tbl balsamic vinegar
1 Tbl real maple syrup
Directions –
Heat olive oil in a pan on medium heat
Add the onion, celery, carrot, and salt – mix and cook for about 7 minutes
Add garlic and cook for another 2 minutes
Add the broth, lentils, oregano, thyme, sage, and salt & pepper and cook for 5 minutes more stirring ocassionally
In a large bowl, add the lentil mix, breadcrumbs, vegan egg, and tomato paste – mix very well (use a masher or your hands)
Flatten the contents of the bowl into a loaf pan
Evenly spread glaze on the top of the loaf
Cover with tinfoil and bake at 350 F for 50-60 minutes
Done!
Wine pairings –
Red – Barbaresco, tempranillo
White – Chardonnay
Beer pairings-
German hefeweizen, English brown ale
Vegan Creamy Cheesy Mashed Cauliflower & Gravy
Vegan Creamy Cheesy Mashed Cauliflower with vegan gravy is a Thanksgiving go-to for me over the past three years. Honestly, sometimes I serve both mashed cauliflower and mashed potato. Why not? These pics are from about two months ago. I was craving them! I ate them with the Buffalo Chickpea Wraps from the last post I made. Total awesomeness together!
Speaking of Thanksgiving, I am hoping G and I will be living in Shenzhen, China by then! We are getting SOOO close to our move! I can’t wait. Grey asks every day when we are moving. It makes me so happy to know that he is as excited as I am. Truly hoping that we can do our two-week quarantine in Shanghai. Yes – two weeks, in a hotel room, not being able to leave it AT ALL, with a 5 (maybe 6 at that point!) year old. Please pray for me. LOL. 😉 I’ll take any suggestions anyone may have regarding fun activities to assist in evading extreme boredom, and to help maintain some “mommy sanity” until we are released from the confines of our hotel box! Then, it would be my dream, that Alana is the first smiling face I see! Hence, why I want to quarantine in Shanghai. CAN’T WAIT TO FUCKING SEE YOU, ALANA AND FAM!
Okay, back to Vegan Creamy Cheesy Mashed Cauliflower with bomb gravy. It’s easy, delish, is great by itself, as a side dish, and of course, to ramp up your vegan thanksgiving recipes.
I was just telling my sister, the amazing Danella, who flew here to represent me via Pro Hac Vice (the most insane thing ever that we managed to make happen with literally zero time) – you’re my fucking hero, D – that I’ve had this song stuck in my head for a week. She begged me not to sing it so I didn’t do the same to her. Not sure if I’ve heard it recently or if it is simply because China is on my mind, but here you go! For your listening/cooking delight! … And, to my freedom from an absolute year of hell. Hopefully, I will never be harassed, threatened, and stalked to the point of absolute insanity ever again – or that my friends, family, my son’s school, etc., will not be harrassed and threatened from him any longer. FREEDOM!
Vegan Creamy Cheesy Mashed Cauliflower & Gravy
Mashed Cauliflower
Ingredients–
1 large head of cauliflower
1 Tbs vegan butter (I use Miyokos or Earth Balance)
1/4 C vegan cream cheese (I use Tofutti)
*Optional- 1 Tbs vegan shredded parm OR 1 tsp vegan parm
1/4 cup vegan milk (I prefer soy for this recipe)
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
2 cloves garlic, minced
*Optional- fresh parsley – chopped loosely
Directions –
Boil water with salt and cut cauliflower into medium-sized florets. Once water boils, add cauliflower and cook on a medium boil for about 10 minutes or until semi-soft
Drain cauliflower and rinse with cold water – let cool for a few minutes
Heat butter and garlic on medium-low for about one minute
In your food processor or Vitamix, add cauliflower and all other ingredients
Puree ingredients until smooth, place in bowl, and add optional parsley on top
Done!
Vegan Gravy
Ingredients –
2 Tbs vegan butter
1/3 C flour (1/2 C flour if you want it thicker)
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/4 tsp dried rosemary
1/4 tsp dried thyme
1/2 tsp dried sage
1/4 tsp ground black pepper
2 Tbs tamari or soy sauce
4 C vegetable broth
2 Tbs dry white wine
Pepper – to taste
Directions –
Melt butter in a saucepan over medium-high heat
Add flour, garlic powder, pepper, thyme, sage, and rosemary and cook for 1 minute
Slowly whisk in the broth, until smooth and bring to a boil
Add wine and tamari/soy sauce
Next, simmer and cook, whisking, until smooth and thick, about 1 minute
Remove from heat
Serve immediately
Done!
Beer Pairing –
Pilsner
Wine Pairing –
White- Oaky Chardonnay
Red – Oaky Cabernet
The Best Vegan 4th of July Menu!
The Best Vegan 4th of July Menu! Is my list of awesome appetizer, dinner, dessert, and drink ideas for the 4th. I love celebrating the shit out of any holiday. Mostly, I just love to entertain. My 4th of July decorations are buried somewhere in my storage. I am going to attempt to find them and fish them out for tomorrow. We are hanging with our friends we’ve been isolating with. I’m going to set up the picnic table outside, serve multiple cocktails, my classic infused party waters (strawberry and mint – and fresh lemon and ginger), play bocce ball, cornhole, blast my 4th of July playlist, and eat and drink throughout the day. We’re ending the holiday with our new and totally awesome gigantic outdoor blowup movie screen. The movie is still TBD! I feel this is a recipe for the perfect 4th of July. 😉
I shot the pictures of the hotdogs and the dessert yesterday. I’ll make them into individual posts at some point. I told my kiddo that I couldn’t find anything with a flag, etc. I turn around and he made me that adorable flag that you see in the berry dessert pictures. Grey is amazing. He made my bed, mopped the house, and made me breakfast yesterday. He’s becoming my little man! The menu below is for a large party. If you are going to have a smaller soiree, pick and choose to make your own menu!
Tomorrow is America’s birthday. Now, shit has been CRAZY this past year – virus, politics, #metoo, BLM, natural disasters, etc. I remember leaving the country embarrassed to have been American many moons ago. I’m disgusted by much of what goes on; however, I have seen the other side – communism, extreme poverty on levels I’ve never seen before – and I believe in the bones of this country. I know it could be worse – like, much, much worse. I am happy to celebrate America for its goodness. I’m happy to celebrate for change and hoping to be a part of that change. I want to teach my child to be part of that movement, that beauty. So cheers to America -“the beautiful” that is. Grill, drink, play outdoor games, appreciate the great, and vow to be part of the changes our country needs. Annnnnddd… watch Hamilton on Disney Plus tonight! Rock in the holiday with Lin-Manuel Miranda and the American Revolution!
For your holiday pleasure, I present to you, “Alexander Hamilton:”
CLICK ON THE NAME OF THE RECIPE TO BRING YOU DIRECTLY TO THE LINK! PICTURES TO EACH RECIPE BELOW, TOO. 🙂
Appetizers-
Red Potato Salad With Hickory Bacon (Vegan)
Buffalo Cauliflower
Mexican Vegan Sushi Rolls!
Fried Spiraled Zoodles – Oh, My! (replace egg with flax egg)
Easy Cheesy Vegan Tofu Quesadillas
Fried Green Tomatoes with Special Sauce (vegan)!
5 Bomb Hummus Recipes!
The BEST Vegan Nacho Cheese Sauce Ever!
Amazing Classic Guacamole
Main Dishes- (some of these recipes are from the beginning years of the blog when it was vegetarian, not vegan. I’ve replaced the ingredients below)
Lentil Sloppy Joes To Die For! (replace real cheese with something like Follow Your Heart Jack Cheese Shreds – I use this one)
The Most Bitchin’ Broccoli & Eggplant Veggie Burger Ever! (replace real eggs for flax eggs, yogurt for soy yogurt, and real parm for vegan parm – I love Follow Your Heart)
The Perfect Purple Potato Veggie Burger (replace egg for flax egg and vegan cheese)
Vegan Kale Pesto Spring Primavera!
Vegetarian Chicken Street Tacos (replace Quorn for any vegan chicken strips and replace queso fresca with vegan mozzarella such as Miyokos – my fave)
Sauteed Veggie & Farro Spiralized Zucchini Salad
VEGAN HOT DOGS (SEE PICTURE BELOW) –
1- Hummus, sauteed mushrooms (olive oil, lemon, garlic, parsley, salt and pepper), garlic chives (optional), tahini drizzle over hotdog
2- Diced black olives , diced scallions, shredded vegan cheddar (I used Miyokos), diced avocado, sprinkle of cilantro, spicy red pepper sauce drizzle OR hot sauce drizzle
Drinks-
Gin Fresh Fruit Fizz Cocktail
Fresh Blackberry Royale
Dessert- (See picture below for how to make)
Strawberries & Blueberries with Homemade Coconut Whipped Cream
Coconut Whipped Cream – In a bowl, use a handheld electric whisk and blend :
- 1 can coconut milk (refrigerate beforehand for at least 12 hours for the best results – though, not necessary!)
- 3 Tbl powdered sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Thanksgiving Trivia & Ramblings
Thanksgiving Trivia & Ramblings is a repost from last year. I love games, trivia included, during holidays with friends or family. Below is some Trivia about this crazy day of eating, drinking, and everything-ing in excess.
I remember the second Thanksgiving I celebrated in Beijing. I had taken the Wednesday off from work so that I could prepare food and drinks for approximately 20-25 people. It was fucking nuts! I started at about 9AM on Wednesday morning and went straight through until about 11 PM – solo. And what’s even more nuts, is that I totally loved every second of it! I had the apartment to myself, I drank wine, listened to music, and got my daily dose of ‘therapy’ in – hardcore. Cooking = therapy. Hands down. I wasn’t even thinking about the fact that almost everyone who was attending my party had never celebrated Thanksgiving. There were about 3 Americans, a few Canadians (who celebrate their own Thanksgiving about one month prior to ours), and a bunch of Brits, Australians, and some other randoms. Mind you, at the time, I was vegetarian (since I was 8); now vegan. Therefore, everyone chowed down sans Turkey. I made my stepdad’s awesome ‘meatloaf,’ pumpkin mac n’ cheese, au gratin potatoes, mashed potatoes, mushroom gravy (oh how I miss the variety and cheapness of shrooms in China), stuffing (homemade), cranberry sauce (homemade), roasted maple veggies (brussel sprouts, carrots etc), and my mothers fall salad – mesclun greens, candied pecans, blue cheese, shredded carrot, sliced red grapes, and diced apples topped with a homemade honey dijon dressing. SO GOOD! For drinks, we had mulled wine, beer, and wine. I decorated the apartment with laminated pictures of funny Thanksgiving facts/images, and we had a Thanksgiving game (I remember making it but I don’t remember what it was). It was one of my best parties that I threw whilst in BJ. In these reflective moments, I actually do miss it! In fact, it was probably my best Thanksgiving ever. Sorry, fam! 😉 And, my foreign friends fucking loved the shit out of it! Happy T-day, everyone! For a vegan Thanksgiving menu, click the title below:Â
The BEST Vegan Thanksgiving Menu
-FGG
*Featured image by, Icebreaker Ideas (Click to bring you to link with more Thanksgiving Trivia questions)!
THANKSGIVING TRIVIA
1- What is the real reason people get so tired after eating on Thanksgiving?
2- Who thought the turkey should be America’s representative bird?
3- Which president wouldn’t declare Thanksgiving a holiday due to his strong belief between separation of church and state?
4- What was the name of the ship that the religious separatists set sail on from Plymouth?
5- Which US state consumes the most turkey on Thanksgiving?
6- Which turkey actually ‘gobbles:’ Male or female?
7- What is the name of the most famous Native American to have helped the Pilgrims?
8- What year was the first Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade?
9- What does the US president do every year for Thanksgiving?
10- Where were the pilgrims meant to land?
Click on ‘more’ for the answers!
The BEST Vegan Thanksgiving Menu
Happy almost T-day, everyone! This is mostly a repost from last year with a few additions. In this post, I am giving you my recipes AND my favorite premade vegan roasts. Honestly, I serve at least one every year. It’s 2019 so we have options, people! When I was 8 years old and vegetarian, it meant I could eat a lot of potatoes and some sides. As a vegan? I would’ve had nothing but some veggies. Then came Tofurky. It was okay at the time. Now, Tofurky has jazzed it up and we have Gardein and Field Roast to give Tofurky some serious competition.
This year my vegan thanksgiving will look a bit different. One, I’m divorced. Thank. Fucking. God. Well, not yet, but soon. It couldn’t come fast enough. I’m doing a Friendsgiving, okay, one of my sisters will be here too, at my new and awesome apartment. I thought I’d miss my house SO much. Turns out, I don’t. I guess home is wherever and whatever you make it. This year, I’m serving many of the recipes below and a roast. I’m also adding a staple salad from Thanksgivings of my childhood. My mother made this salad every year. I don’t have a pic of it, however, I use mesclun greens, red onion, sliced purple grapes and small bits of apple, candied pecans or walnuts, garbanzo beans, vegan blue cheese or vegan feta (optional), and a homemade honey mustard dressing. SO GOOD! My friends, their kids, the Macy’s parade, lots of jazz records, awesome cocktails, dresses that stretch to match my belly as it begins to bust, my couch, and a massive sleepover at my place will complete my holiday of fun. Hell yeah!
Below are recipes for soups, salad, appetizers, entrees, and amazing cocktails. Enjoy the grub and please leave a comment if you make these or even one of these recipes, and let us know what your thoughts are! -FGG
Click on a recipe to bring you directly to the link!
PS- The featured image is by, RUNNING ON REAL FOOD
PPS- I remember seeing this when it aired. I was having a sleepover and my friend and I were watching this from my mother’s bed. I LOVED Adam Sandler. Cheers to the past! 😉
Creamy Vegan Carrot Sweet Potato & Mushroom Soup
Pumpkin Coconut Curry Soup
Lentil Soup with Sauteed Mushrooms (Vegan)
Sauteed Veggie & Farro Spiralized Zucchini Salad
Artichoke Balsamic & Basil Hummus (If you use the parm, my favorite vegan parm is Go Veggie Vegan Parmesan)
The BEST Pumpkin Seeds Ever!
Premier Tomato Bruschetta with Olives & Capers
Vegan Mushroom Lentil Wellington
Vegan Pumpkin Mac n’ Cheese
Vegan Kale Pesto Lasagna with Veggie Tofu Ricotta
Crazy Delicious Veggie Couscous
Sun-dried Tomato and Basil Stuffed Portobello Mushroom
A Maple Bourbon Fruit Fling Named Rosemary
Blackberry Royale
Amazon Link To My Two Self-Published Books!
Image by, Player.One
Vegan Easter Menu (Recipes)
Vegan Easter Menu (Recipes) will cover your fabulous vegan Sunday fare. I am a total sucker for all things holiday. I decorate like crazy, celebrate like crazy, and eat like crazy. Everything is fucking crazy – and I love it.
I remember my mom making my Easter dresses when I was a kid. What a lost art! No one sews their kid’s clothes anymore, then again, most mothers now work FT, and many of us never got the “old trades” like sewing, knitting, quilting etc passed down to us. Kinda sad. It is my quest to get a sewing machine over the summer and start sewing again. I learned from my mother when I was little, and then again in my fashion class in HS. My grandma used to teach me to sew stuffed dolls and small quilts. I want to make G-dog cute lil’ Halloween costumes, dapper holiday attire, and some sweet fitted dresses for moi! … Shit!… that literally just reminded me of an Easter memory. The year was about 1990, and my mother held an egg hunt (she was a decorate-the-fuck-outta-every-holiday kinda gal, too) at our house for the neighbors. She made me dress up like a gigantic bunny and stand on my front lawn – like a window display. It was hot, I was mortified that the “love of my life” next-door-neighbor would see me and give me shit for life, and… damn! I wanted to hunt for some fucking eggs, too! It sucked being the oldest.
Anyway, back to Easter 2019. Chef up these Easter recipes, celebrate like crazy, don’t dress your kid up in an Easter bunny costume – especially in front of the neighbor boy, and remember your youth. Happy “Hippity Hop” Day! 😉 -FGG
PS- You know me, Led Zeppelin anything & everything! “Celebration Day” – hell yeah.
*CLICK ON RECIPE TITLE TO BRING YOU DIRECTLY TO THE LINK!
Vegan Easter Bunny Waffles!
Beet Hummus with Mint
Premier Tomato Bruschetta with Olives & Capers (use vegan parmesan! I love Violife)
Vegan Kale Pesto Spring Primavera!
Sun-dried Tomato and Basil Stuffed Portobello Mushroom
Gin Fresh Fruit Fizz Cocktail
The Sexiest Blackberry Syrup Ever! (perfect mimosa recipe idea in here)
ALSO…
10 Green Vegan Recipes for St. Patrick’s Day!
10 Green Vegan Recipes for St. Patrick’s Day! Okay, I’m Irish, like super Irish – well, for an American anyway. Ancestry.com will tell you this, too. Been to Sligo, met the fam… does this push me upwards in the Irish department? 😉 My uncles and their children on my mother’s side all have their Irish passports. Even though my mother never got hers, therefore, I don’t have mine, does this push me even further upwards in the Irish department? I say, “yes.” LOL. Fuck, if you’re a New Yorker, like from a borough or from LI, like myself, you’re Irish by proxy. Seriously. 😉 Even my super Italian best friend has a shamrock tattoo on her ankle. Catch my drift? So, now that I’ve said all of that, it gives me permission to say this (or so I believe – hehe): Irish food kind of, sort of, possibly… is fucking terrible. That being said, if you’re not down with corned beef & cabbage, or an Irish stew, for the most American-Irish day of the year, then below I have provided you with 10 awesome green vegan recipes for St. Patrick’s day that cross all cultures, but celebrate with the color green. How’s that for a run-on sentence?! 😉 Outside of Irish Soda Bread (vegan), recipe HERE, I usually go for the recipes that I’ve provided for you in this post. How do you celebrate? I’ll be at a parade, and then celebrating in style with Irish music, dance, and pipers at my fave restaurant for St. Pat’s Day shenanigans. Please feel free to add your recipes or ideas in the comment section below! Also, I have Heyoya, which means you can leave a voice message! -FGG
PS- This is the amazing Emerald Society Pipes & Drums band playing in the St. Pat’s Day parade in NYC:
*CLICK ON TITLE OF RECIPE TO BRING YOU DIRECTLY TO THE LINK:
GREEN GODDESS CHEESY QUESADILLAS
THE MOST BITCHIN’ BREAKFAST POTATOES EVER!
Vegan & Dairy Free Irish Soda Bread!
It is almost that green, magical, Irish kinda day where food, fun, drinks, and parades make me take out every piece of Celtic jewelry (Claddagh rings, Celtic knot necklaces etc), green clothing, and shamrock scarves/hair pieces that I own. Plus, I’m a teacher, so I can be as cheesy I want with warm lil’ leprechaun lovin’ comin’ my way. #whenkidsarecute … This awesome day that brings out the Irish in all of us? St. Patrick’s Day! Woo-hoo! This year, we’ll be seeing a parade and going to my fave restaurant to see Irish dancing, hear Irish music, and have a bagpiper walk around the restaurant whilst we chow down. Hell yeah! My kid eats this kinda shit up as much as I do. I’ve raised him well. 😉
I’ll keep this short. Vegan & Dairy Free Irish Soda Bread! Is a recipe from 2-years ago that I removed the egg from (click here for that recipe).
To end this post: St Pat’s Day rocks, Leprechaun tales are the tits, pots-of-gold are my dreams, green everything warms my soul, drunken parades & pipers channel my youth, and whiskey makes my Irish cheeks cheer with red. Sláinte!
-FGG
Irish Soda Bread (Dairy Free)
Yields 1
Prep Time –10 min///Cook Time –35 min///Total Time- 45 min
Ingredients
- 4 C flour (I used whole wheat but white is just fine)
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 1/4 Tbsp sugar
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 5 Tbsp Earth Balance or any vegan margarine/butter
- 1 3/4 C unsweetened almond milk
- 2 tsp apple cider vinegar
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 425
- Whisk together the flour salt, baking soda and sugar in mixing bowl
- Using your hands, mix the butter into the flour
- Add the almond milk and vinegar. Mix with spoon
- Knead with your hands into a dough
- Make into a ball and put in a round pan
- Score it with a knife lengthwise in both directions through the middle
- Bake for 35 minutes
Notes
- Add raisins or caraway seeds if you so desire!
Pair with:
- Creamy Irish Stout
By, Heather Rugile
Vegan Valentine’s Day (Recipes from breakfast to dinner, dessert & cocktail)
Vegan Valentine’s Day (Recipes from breakfast to dinner, dessert & cocktail) literally will take you from breakfast, appetizer, lunch, dinner, and dessert, to cocktails. Wine and dine your “lova” or fuck, do it just for you! Love thyself. 😉
I actually don’t think that I’ve ever done anything grand on V-day. Either that, or I just drank too much wine and forgot. ;0 I DO remember one year in college when I was single. A bunch of my friends & roommates were theatre majors and they were performing The Vagina Monologues for Valentine’s Day. I had never seen or heard of it before and it was awesome! Honestly, I don’t think I remember anymore. My dad and my step-dad used to send flowers to my college and my grandma Rugile would mail homemade cookies, but other than that… no real memories. Oh yeah, except for the time in HS when my parents thought it was a good idea to have a meeting with all of my teachers in my counselors office about why I was such a shithead who didn’t give a fuck about school. Everyone attacked me and I ended up crying in my favorite pink shirt (pretty sure that’s the only reason I remember this taking place on V-day) in the women’s staff bathroom whilst one of my teachers came into apologize. Aahhh… good ole HS days. JK. I more or less hated it. Oh yeah, one more memory, V-day cards in elementary school from all of your classmates. TJ Malone (RIP) sent me one saying I was “cool and pretty,” so I almost died into a sea of heavenly hearts. 😉 Okay, I lied, I totally remember oooonnne more, it was my first V-day in Beijing and I met Thomas in Sanlitun for dinner and drinks. I was shocked to arrive and see he had a card and a bottle of gin. I thought he was too immature to do that. LOL. Anyway, got drunk and left the btl in a taxi. Haha. That about sums up my Valentine’s Day memories! Enjoy the menu. Let me know your thoughts and please add to the menu with your fabulous ideas in the comments. -FGG
PS- The song below is the most ridiculously awesome and haunting song about unrequited love ever written. Well, in my humble opinion anyway. 😉 I read somewhere that they called it “ear porn.” LOL. And, Helena Christensen? Way to make it the sexiest song ever, too! Happy hump day, peeps. 😉
*CLICK ON THE TITLE OF THE RECIPE TO BRING YOU DIRECTLY TO THE LINK!
Breakfast: Vegan Chocolate Crepes w/ PB & Coconut Whipped Cream
Appetizer: Beet Hummus with Mint
Lunch: Green Goddess Cheesy Quesadilla (replace the real mozzarella with vegan mozz -I love both Miyoko’s & Follow Your Heart’s vegan mozzarellas)
Dinner: Creamy Rigatoni with Lentils & Fresh Oregano – Vegan!
Dessert: Vegan Valentine’s Day Cake!
Cocktails: The Sexiest Blackberry Syrup Ever!
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