Gluten Free for the Holidays and Turkey-less

 

Crisp and nippy weather, chestnuts roasting on an open fire, fireplace roaring, and the aroma of a roasting turkey filling the home. That was then; plant-based and gluten-free for me is now.

Growing up, my mother always set the table brilliantly for Thanksgiving with her best china, her treasured crystal, and beautiful orange linen napkins that complemented her pristine white freshly ironed tablecloth. Our extended table was set for 18. ( yes, she had that many dishes and crystal)

Our main centerpiece was traditionally a huge cornucopia basket filled with farm fresh local Jersey apples and red grapes accompanied by two small centerpieces of filled with seasonal flowers.

Thanksgiving Then
My mother's traditional Thanksgiving meal bragged a huge banquet of Thanksgiving family recipes which included appetizers, soup, turkey, stuffing, gravy, winter squashes, mashed potatoes, salad, Brussels sprouts, green bean and onion ring casserole, pumpkin and apple pies.

Passing on the tradition 
As my mother became a senior, it was too much for her to host and handle the cooking, set up, serving, and cleaning up that hosting involved. Consequently the tradition was passed on to me the vegetarian, her one and only child. (she had me at age 42)

I shared my mother's love of cooking, her passion for entertaining and her talent for bringing family and friends together.

The Problem 

The problem was in my mid  twenties, I decided to become a vegetarian. As a result I refused to kill a turkey and have some poor defenseless bird roasting in my kitchen oven for the better part of the morning and then lay on a platter dead on my holiday table.

I Hosted Thanksgiving Without a Turkey

For starters, a turkey-less Thanksgiving did not go over well with my father, the meat eater, who had been a butcher most of his adult life! My mother was willing, my husband was used to it, my other relatives were skeptical and everyone who came was genuinely disappointed. After all, they looked forward to their Thanksgiving Turkey tradition all year long. 

Despite making a fabulous meal- everyone expected and wanted turkey.

What did I make for an Un Traditional plant-based Thanksgiving?
Delicious appetizers, soup, vegetable sides using winter squashes, stuffing and vegan gravy, and green beans. Except for the turkey everything else was the same, and I made a vegan entree which people liked but didn't replace the turkey.

my gluten free and vegan Thanksgiving recipes.

If you, a family member, or a guest has special dietary needs, click on the link for some recipes that are gluten-free, dairy-free, plant-based and kosher parve. There may be some sides that you can make.

If you are looking for gluten free and vegan ideas ( even if just for the soup, appetizers or sides) have a look at the list of recipes that I published last year with a comprehensive list of 
my gluten free and vegan Thanksgiving recipes.

                   My Gluten Free and Vegan Thanksgiving recipes.