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A Vegan Thanksgiving

Some Animal Free Recipes for 'Turkey Day'

Nov 27, 2008 Lisa Cucciniello

Holidays don't have to be difficult for any vegetarian. The following are some vegan recipes that are simple to make and delicious for all to eat.

Thanksgiving need not worry any vegetarian. While turkey is out of the question, the side dishes, which most admit are better anyway, are a fantastic way to flaunt your culinary skills. Everyone will enjoy your garlic roasted potatoes, pumpkin cheesecake and apple tart. The following recipes are easy to make and a wonderful addition to any table.

Ingredient substitutions:

Tofutti makes an excellent soy-based ‘cream cheese’ that works well for the pumpkin cheesecake recipe. Ener-G makes a great egg replacer, which is also gluten free. For those who are gluten tolerant, Red Mill Egg replacer is another option.

Garlic Roasted Potatoes

5 lb bag of red skin potatoes
1-2 cloves of fresh garlic
extra virgin olive oil
salt and pepper to taste
fresh dill (optional)

Directions

Wash and dry potatoes, leaving skin on
Cut potatoes in half than half again, making about ¾ in chunks (uniformity is key)
Peel and slice garlic
Place potatoes and garlic in roasting pan and drizzle with extra virgin olive oil
Add salt and red pepper seeds to taste
Add fresh chopped dill (optional)
Mix all ingredients together to coat potatoes well but don’t have them lying in oil.
Bake at 450 degrees for 35-40 minutes, turning potatoes in pan about ½ way through cooking time.

Pumpkin ‘cheesecake’

16 oz Tofutti Cream cheese
1 cup sugar
Egg replacer – (enough equaling 2 eggs)
15 oz canned pumpkin or fresh pumpkin puree (recommended)
Cinnamon, nutmeg to taste
For Pie crust - 1 cup flour, 3/4 cup chopped pistachios, 1/2 to 3/4 cup maple syrup

Directions:

For Crust:

Blend flour, pistachios and maple syrup well (batter should form a firm but sticky dough) and line a cooking sprayed spring form pan

For Filling:

Blend all ingredients together well
Pour into spring form pan
Bake at 350 degrees for 40-50 minutes
Be aware that this is a softer recipe than any other cheesecake you may be familiar with. Remove from oven and let cool completely. Chill for several hours before serving and the cake will set firm.

Apple Tart

For crust, use same recipe as above and line a spring form pan.
10 apples, any type will do
Cinnamon and nutmeg to taste
¼ cup maple syrup
½ cup sugar in the raw

Directions

Peel, core and slice apples thinly.
Toss with ½ cup sugar, 1 tbs. cinnamon and 1tbs nutmeg.
Drizzle syrup over apples
Coat apples well, and place in a spring form pan.
Bake at 400 degrees for 40-50 minutes, checking doneness of the apples.
Let cool completely and chill before serving.

The copyright of the article A Vegan Thanksgiving in Vegetarian Cuisine is owned by Lisa Cucciniello. Permission to republish A Vegan Thanksgiving in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.