Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community - It's November! How do you not turkey?

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It's November! How do you not turkey?

So, building off of kurty[B]'s thread, I want to know if there are any vegetarians/vegans on the board, or people who don't eat turkey for whatever reason, and what they do instead of eating turkey at Thanksgiving dinner.

I'll explain a bit: My boyfriend is a vegetarian, so he feels a bit left out at Thanksgiving. Last year we got him a Tofurky, but that thing was disgusting! He didn't even like it, and he likes tofu otherwise. The best part was the apple stuffing, sadly. Fortunately, we had made enough veggie side dishes for him to eat, and eat well. But I'd like for him to have a main course that he likes this year.

I'm open to recipes or suggestions I'd have to make myself, or things I could buy premade. Any and all ideas are welcome, as are recipes for veggie side dishes.

I really hope you guys have some ideas, because I, as a carnivore, am lost.

I'll eat enough Turkey for the both of us (and I'll Fed Ex you some left overs...), but for the vegans out there:

Quote:

Thanksgiving "Meat" Loaf

Ingredients (use vegan versions):

substitute for 2 eggs (mix 1 tablespoon arrowroot powder, 1 tablespoon corn starch, and 4 tablespoons water)
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1 box medium firm silken tofu (350 g)
3/4 cup chopped walnuts
1 packet vegan dried onion soup mix (1.5 oz)
1 teaspoon oil
1 1/2 cups chopped onion
2/4 cup chopped celery
2 cups chopped mushrooms (use portobello mushrooms for a heartier taste)
1 1/2 teaspoon each of oregano and basil
1/2 teaspoon sage
1 1/2 cups bread crumbs

Directions:

Mix egg substitute, soy sauce, tofu & onion soup mix together in blender. Add walnuts & blend until smooth.

Saute vegetables until onions are transparent (add other diced veggies if you wish - ie peppers, carrotsetc). Add herbs/spices while vegetables are frying.

Mix blender ingredients, cooked vegetables and bread crumbs together in a large bowl.

Press into a greased loaf pan.

Bake at 350 degress F. for 1 hour and 15 minutes. Let cool slightly. Turn loaf out and slice.

This has become a standard dish at my paren'ts house when all sorts of eating habits must be catered to. Even the most obstinate meat eaters love it. It is also excellent the next day cold on a sandwich with a bit of mustard.

Variations: To make it stick together better, try lowering the bread crumbs to 3/4 cup and adding one of the following: 1 extra box of tofu, 1 cup of instant mashed potato flakes, 1 - 1 1/2 cup of cooked brown rice or 1 cup burger-style crumbles.

Quote:

Vegetarian Stuffing

Ingredients (use vegan versions):

6 cups diced bread
2 tablespoons margarine
1 medium onion, diced
3 stalks celery, sliced
2 large carrots, peeled and thinly sliced
1/4 teaspoon rosemary
1/4 teaspoon thyme
1/4 teaspoon sage
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
3 tablespoons raisins
1/4 cup each walnuts and pecans
1/2 teaspoon salt, or to taste
1 1/2 cups vegetable stock
1/2 to 3/4 of a red delicious apple, optional

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place diced vegan bread in a 9 x 13 baking pan and place in oven for about 15 minutes, until the vegan bread is well toasted. Meanwhile, warm the margarine in a saucepan and saute onion, celery and carrots over medium heat until onion is translucent.

Remove vegan bread from oven and add onion mixture, herbs, parsley, raisins, optional apple, nuts and salt. Mix well. Carefully drizzle the stuffing with vegetable stock and toss gently.

Bake, uncovered, for 20-30 minutes.

Season with black pepper if desired.

Serves: 6-8

http://vegweb.com/thanksgiving/

I wish I could help but I am an Atkins wannabe carnivore as well. Confirmed turkey-a-holic.
Why not cook him some old fashioned dressing. It's better than the turkey. Corn bead, celery, onions, I'm getting hungry as I type.
Throw in a green bean caserole, sweet potatoes with marshmellos and I could skip the turkey myself.

I am vegan and do not eat turkey.

Instead, I just eat the veggies and fruit around Thanksgiving. I think it's silly to make a bunch of faux meat in order to "fit in." Thanksgiving isn't about the food; it's about the family.

I make a nice dinner.... of whatever. Why does it have to be turkey? because you were marketed to for decades after decade?

In fact, I even try to go out of the country during Thanksgiving because well, there's no Thanksgiving.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cynthetiq

I didn't say it had to be turkey or turkey-like. That is what we tried last year. I asked for possible alternative main courses, turkey-like or otherwise.

And as for marketing of turkey...I just happen to like turkey dinners, no matter what the time of year :D

Our usual menu consists of: turkey, gravy, green bean casserole, mashed potatoes, vegetarian stuffing, homemade cranberry relish, roasted citrus sweet potatoes, and rolls. So an additional main course of any kind would be nice to try.

Baked tofu is good. I also enjoy "Shiritaki noodles" with veggies and soy sauce. For a more chicken flavour, try using seasoning salt.

My stepbrother is vegan, and he always makes himself a rice pilaf, baked potato, or something similar to go along with the rest of the meal. It's not a meat substitute, but he's always quite happy with it. Have you asked your boyfriend what he's done in years past (other than the tofurkey?)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Medusa

His family doesn't make many accomodations for his vegetarianism. It's only in the last year that his mother has finally stopped putting chicken broth into things and thinking that was vegetarian. So last year with the Tofurky was the first year he had a turkey substitute or alternative.