Thanksliving Roundup

It's that time of year when we prepare to gather together with family and friends for an all-day feast to give thanks for all that we cherish.  While that tradition typically revolves around the carving of a roasted turkey as the centerpiece, for us vegans, it's a more compassionate celebration.  We choose instead to indulge in glorious dishes created from Mother Nature's harvest... sweet baked butternut squash, oven roasted Brussels sprouts, mashed sweet potatoes, piles of potatoes swimming in gravy, and crispy salad greens.  It's a time to get creative in the kitchen with recipes that elevate the ordinary into something extraordinary to suit the occasion.

This is what my Thanksgiving plate typically looks like.

There's usually some kind of faux meat/roast (in this case, Cornmeal Crusted Tofu) surrounded by piles of colorful veggies.  One year I even tried a tofu turkey that looked like a three-dimensional child's drawing of a turkey.  It's easy to go overboard with the menu because there are SO MANY delicious options this time of year.  I try my best to keep it simple.  But that certainly doesn't mean I'm at all deprived.

It's particularly tempting to overdo it on desserts.  A couple of years ago I made Gluten-free Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bars with pumpkin puree swirled into the batter.  I think I may have to revisit this creation again this year.... so good!

For your culinary pleasure and to help you stay focused, I've compiled this list of links devoted to Vegan Thanksgiving Menus. Check them out for inspiration!  Drool over the photos!  These are definitely worth trying at home!

Happy holiday!

A Very Vegucated Thanksgiving - From the producers of the life-changing vegan documentary, "Vegucated," these menus feature Southern favorites as well as light and tasty treats for the holiday.

Forks Over Knives Plant-based Thanksgiving - Another life-changing documentary, the producers have shared some of their favorite holiday recipes.

Oh She Glows Vegan Thanksgiving Recipes - This blog is filled with tons of gorgeous vegan food photos, and the Thanksgiving menu delivers even more ooos and ahhhs.  I'm gonna have to try that Pumpkin Pie Brownie!

Healthy Vegan Thanksgiving - From Dreena Burton's Plant-Powered Kitchen come these fabulous Thanksgiving recipes for breakfast, lunch, dinner and dessert.

The Greatest Gluten-free Vegan Thanksgiving Menu - From Manifest Vegan blogger Allyson Kramer comes this super healthy and delicious menu in VegNews.

Vegan Thanksgiving from HuffPo - The Huffington Post put together this lovely slideshow accompanied by recipes for the holiday.  Get ready to drool!

Vegetarian Thanksgiving from the NYT - Can you believe the New York Times is getting on the veg holiday bandwagon?  Yes, it's true!  Here are some pretty amazing recipe they've compiled into a searchable database.

Gourmet Vegetarian Thanksgiving - Even Gourmet magazine is on it this season!  Take a look at some of these sophisticated creations like Bruschetta with Chickpea Puree and Chopped Arugula, Baked Figs in Lemon Syrup, and Roasted Chestnuts.

Vegan Holiday Kitchen - Here are some beautiful recipes form the cookbook with the same name.  Lots of great ideas for stuffings, sides, soups and salads.

Buzzfeed's Vegan Thanksgiving - Here are 41 more from Buzzfeed!

Vegetarian Thanksgiving Menu Planner - This is a great little tool from Eating Well magazine for those planning a holiday get together.

Vegetarian Thanksgiving Meal Plan - A nice guide for the feast and leftovers from the non-profit Mercy for Animals.

ChooseVeg Thanksgiving Menu - Ideas for meal planning and creating the perfect feast.

And most important to remember is the reason behind the celebration.

"No prayer I ever said over their dismembered bodies exonerated me from the part I played.  No excuse I ever made washed the blood from my hands.  I only felt free when I stopped participating.  I felt like a weight had been lifted, and I recognized the inherent connection between animal rights and all other social justice issues." ~ Colleen Patrick-Goudreau