HOLIDAYS... A TIME TO GIVE THANKS AND EDUCATE OTHERS

With the holidays fast approaching, can you believe Thanksgiving is just 4 days away? It seems like last week was only Halloween! We can take this time to brush up on our knowledge of healthy and humane ways of eating while also getting the oppertunity to educate our friends and family on how it is important to know where your food comes from. Here are some of the traditional items and what you can do to make it more healthy!

You Say Egg Nog, I say Eggnog

Eggnog (sometimes confused as 'egg nog') is a sweetened dairy-based beverage made with milk, cream, sugar, beaten eggs (which gives it a frothy texture), and flavored with ground cinnamon and nutmeg; alcoholic versions also exist with the addition of various liquors, such as rum, brandy, whiskey, and sake.

Eggnog is a popular drink in North America, Central America and South America and is usually associated with winter celebrations such as Christmas and New Year. Commercially, non-alcoholic eggnog is available around Christmas time and during the winter

 

HERE IS THE ONE I USE EVERY YEAR!!

 

Vegan eggnog for a vegan Holidays! A rich and flavorful dairy-free and egg-free recipe for vegan egg nog (or eggnog) suitable for the kids. Egg nog is a traditional Christmas holiday drink, and you won't miss the eggs with this delicious homemade vegan nog recipe. Spice up your homemade dairy-free nog with rum, brandy or whisky, if you'd like. Enjoy!

Ingredients:

• 4 cups soy milk
• 1 tbsp instant vanilla pudding powder (make sure it's vegan)
• 1 cup nondairy whipping cream or heavy cream
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp nutmeg
• 1/4 tsp cinnamon

Preparation:

Whisk together half of the soy milk and instant pudding until thickened. Add the remaining soy milk and the cream and mix well. Add the remaining ingredients, except cinnamon. Allow to chill overnight before serving, and sprinkle with cinnamon just before serving.

Enjoy your homemade vegan eggnog!

 

A factory farmed Turkey

 

that has been force fed to grow large fast and is pumped full of hormones and antibiotics that you will be putting into your body if you eat it... OR

 

A wonderfully prepared homemade or bought Tofurky

 

That takes less time to prepare and is safe for everyone to eat!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



HERE ARE SOME MORE IDEAS FROM THE LUNCHBOX GANG TO HAVE AT YOUR HOLIDAY FEAST :)

 

My favorite part about Thanksgiving is creating the perfect vegan menu to treat my guests to. So I've compiled a few menu ideas to inpsire you. Whether you choose a few of the recipes, or recreate the entire menu, I hope my vegan recipes will make your Thanksgiving Feast a little brighter. And really give your guests some dishes to swoon over. Get my menu ideas...

Be sure to check out my Vegan Thanksgiving Series - it has everything: dinner 101 tips, guest tips, kid guest tips, recipes and what to do with all those leftovers!

I've made two menu options: Cozy Casual or Elegant. And you can always mix and match to create your own festive vegan feast!

Both menus showcase my 100% vegan recipes. My menus are below, a few photos of my feast faves...
Pumpkin Pie from scratch...

Fresh Pomegranate Juice...

Pumpkin Spice Cashew Cheese...

Cranberry Sauce 2 ways...

Bold Citrus Butternut Squash Dip...

Sugar Snap Pea Maple Nut Salad wit pink grapefruit...

Harvest Veggie Rustic Tofu Pot Pie...

Cranberry Soy Sticky Tofu Steaks...

Harvest Red Quinoa over Spicy Fennel Bean Puree..



Vegan Pumpkin Pie..

My Menus Ideas:
1) Cozy Casual Thanksgiving Menu

drinks: Pumpkin Spice Latte
Fresh Pomegranate Juice
soup:Rustic Three Squash Soup
appetizers:Bold Butternut Squash Dip with citrus
Vegan Spinach Dip (with or without vegan cheese)
Raw Almond Spreads - 3 ways
Fried Golden Fuyus
Melted Vegan Cheese Fall Apple Panini (cut into mini triangles)
Corn Cake or Mushroom Bean Balls
entrees:Rustic Greenmarket Tofu Pot Pie with Sweet Potato Biscuit Crust
Vegan Acorn Squash Alfredo Pasta
Lemon Grilled Portobella Mushroom Salads
sides:Sage Roasted Butternut Squash
Sweet Potato Tofu Hash
Easy Tahini Curried Carrot SaladFresh Cranberry Sauce (smooth or chunky)
Spelt Sweet Potato Biscuits
Tempeh Bacon Shiitake Jalapeno Stuffing
Roasted "Cheezy" Broccoli
desserts:5 Ingredient Pumpkin Pie
Walnutcracker Cookies
Chocolate Chip Walnut Cookies with cinnamon-applesauce egg replacer
Carrot Cake Bars
Chestnut Chocolate Cake with Pumpkin Cinnamon Frosting


2) Elegant Thanksgiving Menudrinks:Ginger Pear Juice Shooters (palate-cleansing)
Fresh Pomegranate Juice (or champagne-bevie)
Spicy Carrot Mimosa
soup:Creamy Herbed Saffron Cauliflower Soup
Savory Roasted Red Pepper Soup
appetizers:Herb-Crusted Cashew Cheese dry baked
Radishes and vegan butter crackers
Pumpkin Spice Cashew Cheese
Panko Crusted Green Bean Fries
entrees:Harvest Sage Red Quinoa and seasonal veggies over Spicy White Bean Fennel Puree
Cranberry Soy Sauce Tofu Steak
5 Step Pumpkin Platter (with golden quinoa)
sides:Sugar Snap Pea Maple Nut Grapefruit Salad
Sage Roasted Butternut Squash
Wilted Spinach Salad w/ Balsamic Shiitake Mushrooms
Fall Forward Seasonal Salad
Fresh Cranberry Sauce (smooth or chunky)
Watermelon Radish Salad
Butternut Tangerine Pecan Stuffing
Apple Sage Vegan Sausage Chestnut Stuffing
Sea Salt and Cracked Pepper Spelt Biscuits
desserts:Kathy's Vegan Pumpkin Pie from scratch
Chocolate Covered Cherry Pie-fait
Cheesecake Pumpkin Pie
Dark Chocolate Mousse Pie