vegeater.com

My Favorite Holiday

November 26, 2008 – 10:00 am

I love Thanksgiving.  It is my favorite holiday.  It has all the familial warmth, good food, and holiday cheer, without the hype.  I would even say it’s the least-commercialized holiday (excepting the food industry — they make a lot of bank on T-day).  I am in my home-state of Louisiana for the week, enjoying my family, the warmer weather, and vacation.  As much as I love it, holidays with family do open up a can of worms for me.  There are always judgement calls to be made, and sometimes it’s tiring. Last year we had thanksgiving at our home, with a friend for company, and we made a delicious vegan meal.  This year we’re in mixed company, and I’m not in charge of the meal, so there will be dead animals on the table unfortunately.  However, I’m chipping in a few vegan delights.

One is a repeat of last year’s Vegetable Medley from the Nov 2007 issue of Vegetarian Times (you can see a photo at the above link).  Another is a new one from Vegetarian Times that I’m trying out: the Vegetable Strudel with cheese.  I’m veganizing this by using vegan cheese substitues.  And the last is, naturally, a small Celebration Roast (in case I screw the strudel up).  My mother-in-law graciously makes vegan cornbread dressing (that’s “stuffing” for all you who did not grow up south of the Mason-Dixon), and gravy for us.  All that’s to say, we are looking forward to the meal tomorrow, even though we can’t prevent the flesh on the table.

Sister-in-law and I are going to make vegan gingerbread people this afternoon, to get us in the holiday feel.  And this morning I made vegan pancakes for all, with Uncle Gordon’s homemade cane syrup.  So, I’m doing pretty good, and being an ok vegan.  I will confess, yesterday I had a cafe breve, cause I was jonesing for Spain-esque coffee.  bad vegan.  But I’m trying to keep a bigger perspective: it’s the people that are important — and it was really fun to sit and have a very yummy coffee with Hubs and another of my best friends.  And, in this season, I think the 80/20 rule is ok for me.