So this post is gonna be on some of the food I made. We enjoy eating! Who doesn't?! I don't take pictures of everything I cook but might start. That way I can continue with recipes like I did in the past. These of course are based around the way we eat now - plant based and sometimes vegan. So I'll start with what I made for our Thanksgiving meal.......
Hubby really likes cranberry jelly. The kind that is still the shape of the can when placed on a plate and not the kind with the berries. Anywho, he gets it once a year during the holidays. Now that we eat so much better he still asked for it seeings how it's only during the holidays. I agreed and went to buy him some. Now I don't know how many read the ingredients but if you are one that doesn't I'll let you know....cranberry jelly is made with high fructose corn syrup. Something we stay away from. But sometimes you can give in to special occasions, right?
Well, not with me around! I still bought him a can of his cranberry jelly but also bought fresh cranberries and surprised him with homemade cranberry jelly! When we sat down to eat I put both on the table. He was excited and started eating his canned shaped jelly. Then tried the one I made. He liked it so much he got up and threw the canned jelly in the trash! lol. I wasn't really expecting that. I thought he'd still eat it. And let me tell you. I'm not a fan at all of cranberry jelly nor is our son. But this stuff was so good I ate it and our son had some.
The picture wouldn't come out nice. I tried several times. But hey, I am using a cell phone camera for all my picture taking. So this is the best shot I could get. It made so much! But it was eaten up.
After telling our daughter the story she asked that I bring it for Christmas dinner!
Okay. On with the rest of our Thanksgiving meal. We also had homemade stuffing. My first time making it. It wasn't a big hit but was good enough that it was all eaten. I think the bread I used made the taste. Next time I will use a heartier whole wheat bread! Also, I think there was too much liquid and the boys didn't like the celery. So I will not post a recipe for that until I make it better. Mashed potatoes was on the list too, of course. Along with gravy. Then I steamed some Brussel sprouts. This meal was so filling and we really enjoyed everything! Hope everyone had a wonderful, filling, happy Thanksgiving!
Cranberry Jelly - 1 cup water, 1 cup sugar (I know, not good. But better than high fructose corn syrup) and a 12 oz. pkg. fresh cranberries. Place the water and sugar in a pot and cook until the sugar is dissolved. Add the cranberries and cook until the cranberries are popped and soft. Keep a lid on because the cranberries pop and it's not nice! I think cooking time took me 20 or so minutes. I really didn't pay attention. I was doing other things while stirring the cranberries. Once I noticed they were pretty much all popped and soft I called it done. Then you'll need a fine sieve. Place the sieve over a bowl and put some cooked berries in it. Using a spoon mash the berries thru the sieve until there is just skin left. Scrap the bottom of the sieve off in the bowl. Toss the skins away. Do this in batches until you are done with all the berries. Pour any liquid thru the sieve as well. Let cool, cover and refrigerate. I made this the day before so it had plenty of time to set and get cold. I know this seems like a lot of work also but it will be worth the effort.
Mashed Potatoes - I've always wondered how I would explain to someone how I make them. So I'll try my best. I don't count or measure my potatoes. I always make a shit ton therefore I use a large pot I have. I peel, chop and wash potatoes until it fills the pot leaving about 1-2 inch headspace. Then I add 5 cups veggie broth (the good kind without shit ingredients, I have found a veggie broth powder that has good stuff in it). Basically I fill water to slightly under or just at - not over - my potatoes. Let them boil until so very soft you could look at them and they fall apart! Then I add some salt. Stir. Turn off the heat and do other things. Cause this shit is molten lava and isn't getting cool anytime soon! Then eventually I use an electric mixer and while the potatoes are still in the pot - and yes with the liquid too - I mix it all up. My son so loves it when I make mashed potatoes. And that's it. If I want them to have a cheesy flavor I just add some nutritional yeast. Simple and yummy!
Gravy - I use the gravy from the book - The Healthiest Diet on the Planet by Dr. John McDougall. They have a web site you can find wonderful recipes on as well. I have altered the recipe so I'll give you the one I make.
Place 1/4 cup flour in a pot. I use whole wheat and/or unbleached white. McDougall uses brown rice flour. Slowly whisk in 2 cups veggie broth so you won't get lumps. Then add 3 Tbsp low sodium soy sauce and 2 Tbsp tahini. Now tahini isn't cheap so I've made this without it. It still comes out fine so if you don't have any don't worry. Make it without, you're fine. I also add 1 tsp onion powder. Then a little salt and pepper to taste. Heat until thickens. That's it on the gravy. Now I've noticed this gravy doesn't get super thick! So if you like your gravy that way you'll have to experiment with more flour. We're fine with just how it turns out so I haven't tried it with more flour for a thicker consistency. If you do try it let me know how it turns out!
I guess that's it. A wonderful, yummy, filling plant based Thanksgiving meal!
I'm now experimenting with a plant based pumpkin pie so stay tuned. Thank goodness y'all just have to "stay tuned"....my boys have to eat the pie experiments. It's been rough I'll tell ya. But it's getting close! I have finally made one they'll eat, yay! And It's only my third attempt. Fingers are crossed that number 4 is the one! Until next time......healthy, happy eating!!
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