I think it's time for a Thanksgiving thread.

[LeftyMom]

Swap recipes and tips. Post details on public events. Bitch about carcass-centric family celebrations.

I think this is probably the hardest time of year for new veg*ns, so it's a good idea to talk about coping strategies for omni-hosted events, especially, or just to commiserate about mealtime disasters of years past.

To get you started on recipes:

http://www.recipezaar.com/recipes.php?categ=vegan%2Cthanksgiving

http://vegweb.com/index.php?board=304.0

And from your fellow DUers:

stuffed pumpkin: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=231&topic_id=14901

wild rice and lentil loaf with wine and mushroom gravy: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=105&topic_id=5821911&mesg_id=5825819

Need to find a vegan intoxicating beverage?: http://www.barnivore.com/

And if you're stressed, here's a funny: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=231&topic_id=17095

[flvegan]

1. I'm going to bitch (again) about Unturkey being out of business.

Tofurkey is okay and all, but Unturkey was the phenom.

This year, I'm doing the Tofurkey/gravy/rice thing with my mom. Probably have a couple other veggies. I'm falling further out of favor with any kind of T-giving celebration each year. I hate a holiday that is based largely around a meal feasting on the cooked decomposing carcass of a tortured animal.

[LeftyMom]

2. And imperialism! It's the best holiday evar!

Have you ever made that lentil loaf recipe I posted?

It doesn't sound all that great, but it's the best damned thing ever. I'd make you some, if you'd get your silly ass out here. Anyhow, make yourself that, it's a million times better than tofurkey. Or make the chicken style seitan shepherds' pie recipe I post.

[flvegan]

3. Linky? It's too late to go looking for it.

[LeftyMom]

4. The link is in my OP, love.

BTW, check your PM in a minute, I need to show you something funny.

[a la izquierda]

5. I'm jealous of all you veggies/vegans in

the US for thanksgiving...being a vegetarian in Mexico is rather difficult, but moreso this time of year, because the typical vegetarian main dishes are not available at all. A friend of mine is attempting to bring a Q'uorn loaf down from California for me. But I'm not certain how that will work. And pumpkins are nearly impossible to find (go figure).
Thanks for the rice and lentil loaf...that should keep me nice and full!!!

[Ignis]

6. I've always wanted to take a Mexican holiday.

But I've never been able to find a good place to hole up for a week that could reliably serve me vegan food. Do you have any suggestions?

Gracias.

[a la izquierda]

7. Hmm...I think I know a place.

Check out this website. http://www.bosquevillage.com/en/
I think there were a few vegans there when I went. The place is run by two Americans, it's like a hippie commune (my description, not theirs of course). It's in the middle of nowhere and takes a while to get there. This place is not for the faint of heart (i.e. compost toilets only, no showers available for guest use, no hot water, etc., etc., etc.; spiders, scorpions and other bugs). It was not my deal, mostly because of the people I was with, the pouring rain, 45 degree temps and the above-mentioned bugs in my cabin that managed to scurry across the light from my headlamp. I'd have done just fine in a tent.

I do not recommend going in the rainy season, but toward the end, when it's warmer
...
Other than that, I don't know any place that serves vegan food, besides Zanahoria in Guadalajara (where I am now). And I'm not even 100% sure that's vegan (though it's vegetarian). And there are little places here and there, but you sort of have to "discover" them. It is much, much easier to be a vegetarian, though not all that easy even at that.

I think you might starve if you head down here for too long ;)

[Ignis]

13. But, I *like* to shower.

:)

Thanks for the recommendation, but I think I'm too pampered in my old age to rough it like that. ;) I did hear about a veggie place on the west coast that might be vegan-friendly, so I'll post that info if I find it.

Thanks! :hi:

[WhollyHeretic]

8. I see DU's annual Thanksgiving tradition is as strong as ever.

It just wouldn't be Thanksgiving on DU without people taunting and bashing vegan/vegetarians.

[LeftyMom]

9. The nice thing is, they all quit by noonish thursday due to dead turkey coma.

Then we get the boards to ourselves to wreak havoc behave perfectly. :evilgrin:

[WhollyHeretic]

10. A coma or burning their houses down deep frying. I should have just made the threads disappear.

I ended up commenting and now I am on someones ignore list.

[Ignis]

11. Hey now, don't hate on deep frying!

I'm going to deep-fry some Jamaican jerk tofu this weekend, and you get NONE of it!

}(

[LeftyMom]

14. Breaded and deep fried seitan is good too. Oh, and beer battered Teese sticks.

:9

[Ignis]

15. Stop! That's pornographic.

But...Teese sticks alone in batter, or mixed with something to thicken them before frying?

[LeftyMom]

16. You can't really mix them with anything, they're solid when cold.

If you freeze them first, it helps to keep the teese from oozing out of the breading during the frying because the batter cooks first.

[Ignis]

17. Aha!

I freeze tofu all the time for the same effect, but I never thought of doing it with Teese. Thanks! :hi:

[LeftyMom]

18. No problem. I stole the idea fair and square. nt

[WhollyHeretic]

19. That sounds good.

I was more talking about the idiots who drop a frozen turkey in a fryer.

[Ignis]

12. PRO-TIP: Put your Tofurkey in an oven bag!

I understand the hatred of Tofurkey. If cooked incorrectly, it has the texture of a tire and tastes almost as good as one.

But slap that Tofurkey in an oven bag with some orange juice and/or apricot jam, and it's always a winner.

Though I do still miss the (local) UnTurkey... :cry:

[CrispyQ]

20. Of all the holidays I hate Thanksgiving the most.

It's nothing but a gorge fest centered around the turkey. That so many people place the dead carcass on the table is even more revolting. The entire meal is full of comments about how tasty the dead bird is. And often times, "Oh, don't you wish you could eat this?" :grr:

My sister & her husband have been married for 19 years & he still feels the need to make some kind of derogatory comment about our dietary choices at every food event, even if it's just a comment that indicates how weird he thinks we are.

Since my mother died, holidays have been much less stressful. My sister knows we aren't interested in attending. She issues an invite, which I kindly decline & that's that.

I'm thinking about going easy this year with tofurky sandwiches, potatoes, dressing, gravy & some veggies. Oh, & pie. At least two! ;) Although I'm going to check out that wild rice & lentil loaf recipe. Sounds good!