Vegetarian Holiday Dinner - Menu 1

Prep Time/Stats

1 hour total.

Process

Here is a quick and easy holiday dinner that can be prepared start to finish in about 45 minutes. The goal is to make something quick and simple that is healthy but does not lack taste. No meat is involved, but the main portion of the meal will trick anyone into thinking that turkey is being served.

The Menu

• Vegetarian Turkey covered in Vegetarian Gravy (thats right)
• Sweet Potato Mash
• Peas, Tomato, Mint vegetable dish

** these are the three main dishes of the meal, of course you can add a bread side as well as desert of your choice

For ease of reading and preparing, I have broken the instructions down into 3 separate dishes

1. Turk'y Roast

Ingredients

• Quorn Turk'y Roast - Link
• Simply Organic Vegetarian Brown Gravy - Link

** A special note about this. This ingredient has eggs in it so it is not fully vegan. Most vegetarians will find it acceptable though. I myself haven't tasted turkey in about 10 years but I have made this for people who do eat turkey and they have explained that the taste is the same for the most part.

If you are looking to go vegan, I would recommend this Tofurky Feast this by Turtle Island Foods, Inc. The main reason I chose the Quorn product was for the simple fact that my grocery store did not have the Tofurky product in stock yet. Once they get it, I will add a recipe for that dinner as well as a taste comparison and health comparison.

Process

This is simple enough. You will find the directions for the Turk'y Roast on the box. I suggest using a break pan if you have one for cooking.
Gravy instructions are also on the package. Follow those and keep in mind that you may want to make a few packages depending on how much gravy you would like to top with.

2. Sweet Potato Mash

Ingredients

• 4 - 5 Sweet Potatoes (depending on how many you cooking for)
• Cinnamon
• Organic Raw Blue Agave (a natural sweetener)
• Pepper

Process

• Start by peeling and cutting potatoes into quarters
• Add water to pan. I usually do not measure out the water but rather just fill it enough to top the potatoes
• Add potatoes and bring water to a boil. Cook anywhere from 20 - 40 minutes in order to soften
• Once softened, drain water. Do not worry if there is some excess water left in the pan, it will aid in mixing
• Add the pepper, cinnamon, and agave and begin mashing. The amounts really depend on how sweet you want these to be. I usually do it by feel and taste as I am mixing (using different spoons of course).

Since most people are not familiar with Agave Sweetener (including me until a few months ago), here is the wikipedia page explaining the plant and its uses - Agave Nectar

3. Vegetable Side

Admitting this is a closely copied dish from an episode of Emeril Green on the Planet Green Channel. I highly recommend watching this show.

Ingredients

• Frozen Sweet Peas
• Grape Tomatoes
• Fresh Mint
• Light Buttery Spead
• Pepper

Process

• Melt small amount of butter in frying pan and add frozen peas cooking for about 2 to 4 minutes
• Once the peas have cooked for a few minutes by themselves, add washed grape tomatoes
• Sprinkle with pepper and let cook about 5 minutes over medium heat
• Move to dish when done and top with fresh mint

So there you have it. A quick, healthy, vegetarian dish that even a meat eater would enjoy (whether they know it or not). You want o remember that during the holidays there is a lot of prep time that goes into making many dishes for different gatherings. What may take hours to prepare only takes a few minutes to eat. But even though it takes a short time to intake, the weight and consequences of the holiday season may linger for a while. With that in mind, keep healthy choices in the forefront of your mind. Just because it is healthy does not mean boring and tasteless.

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