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| My boys on Christmas, plus girlfriend Hailey |
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| Christmas snow! |
It's been a crazy year. So crazy, we've had nobody over. We've had no holiday gatherings at our house in something like 3 years? We've always politely suggested that we "meet at *your* house." Because our house was what we euphemistically like to call "in flux." I was working like a maniac and Ben was doing about seventy-five projects at once, and, well...you know how it goes (or maybe you don't, but if that's the case, then let's meet at *your* house).
However, my poor mom, who hates to cook, and whom we abandoned on Thanksgiving to visit Ben's parents, really needs a break. Therefore, I finally agreed we would have Christmas Day dinner at our house.
So, never mind my sprained ankle, stress level, and work load I am ignoring this week for the sake of my own sanity. It's Christmas, which means it's a time for family, love, sparkly gifts, and especially cooking. Here is the menu I'm planning:
Tofurken from here (because doesn't that just look so cool?)
Garlic mashed potatoes (no recipe, winging it)
Roasted blue-and-sweet potatoes with onions and mushrooms (no recipe, winging it)
Isa's punk rock chickpea gravy (from VWAV)
Dinner rolls with Earth Balance (purchased)
Peas (just plain and roly-poly, the way the kids like them)
Big Christmas Salad (with red peppers, hearts of palm, artichoke hearts, all that good stuff--free form)
Jamaican rice and peas (by which they mean beans--a recipe we got from a girl named Nana in Jamaica--she says it's the best)
Cranberry sauce (homemade because really, it's so easy, I don't get the canned thing--no recipe, winging it)
Gooseberry pie (with the berries from my dad's gooseberry bush, waiting patiently in the freezer--no recipe, winging it)
Red velvet cake with pink frosting (special-ordered from Fair Grounds coffeehouse, my fave vegan bakery)
Do you think that will be enough food? (Full disclosure: We also got a local organic ham so my dad doesn't swoon from a perceived lack of sustenance, and I'm working on him to take his first baby step from supermarket meat to locally-produced-on-small-family-farm meat, but the ham doesn't get to come to the table. I know.).
I will report back with photos once cooking has commenced. For now, I'm off to finish my shopping and then do some yoga so I can calm down enough to have a steady hand in the kitchen tomorrow and the next day. Peace on earth and happy merry to all!
UPDATE: Pictures! Also, I was lucky enough to win one of the handmade cookbooks from Vegan Eats and Treats, so added the Panforte from that to my Christmas menu.
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| Grace, the cockatiel, is helping me choose a recipe. |
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| Panforte ready to bake |
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| Finished Panforte from Vegan Eats & Treats homemade cookbook, "Inter-Galactic Vegan Delights" |
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| Rolling out the dough for Tofurken |
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| Adding the sausages |
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| Adding the cashew cheese layer |
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| Rolling it up |
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| Getting ready to steam it |
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| Steaming... |
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| Finished Tofurken--yum! |
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| Preparing the gooseberry pie |
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| Ready to bake |
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| Cranberry sauce |
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| Blue white sweet potatoes, ready to roast |
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