Turkey [free] Day

more dining

 
 

I have mixed feelings about Thanksgiving. On the one hand I love the sweet potatoes and pumpkin pie, but on the other I don't do turkey. I haven't eaten meat in about 6 years, and every time I make the trip home for the holiday I get the question, "but what do you eat?" No, it's not just a diet of nuts and berries for vegetarians these days. Between the ready-to-eat soy protein products like deli style "bologna" and the influx of healthier, veggie based California cuisine I am never want for food.

This year I did a faux turkey test run. What could I make that might resemble the traditional bird and stuffing fare? The are several options, actually.

I decided to test the new Quorn varieties. Quorn, an amalgam of processed fungi microprotiens, is the latest faux meat product. The "Chicken" patties I tried a few weeks ago came really close to tasting like the actual thing. Well, the actual processed thing--think Burger King breaded chicken patty. So I figured the roast style roll would come close to tasting like turkey, and I was right. The "roast" comes frozen looking like a big Jimmie Dean sausage roll, but after cooking in the oven for an hour out came browned and fragrant. It didn't smell exactly like turkey, but it did smell pretty good. Though it's really all about taste, right? It tastes similar to deli style turkey breast--a little on the dry side, but that's where the vegetarian brown gravy, made by Hain, comes in.

I also made the rest of the meal a little lighter than the usual fare. Instead of candied sweet potatoes I cooked up oven roasted sweet potato fries. Grandma's rice dressing got a slight makeover as well. I used brown rice instead of white and cut back a little on the cheese. And for dessert apple pie was replaced with baked apples.

Menu
Quorn turkey style roast with Hain vegetarian gravy
Sweet potato french fries
Rice dressing
Baked apples

Recipes:
Rice Dressing
2 1/2 c cooked brown rice
1/2 c chopped celery
1/3 c grated pecorino romano or parmasean cheese
2 eggs, beaten
1/4 c chopped parsley
salt and pepper to taste

Combine all ingredients and bake in small baking dish or loaf pan for about 30 minutes at 350.

Baked Apples
4 granny smith apples, cored
1/4 c brown sugar
1 tblsp lemon juice
1/4 c chopped walnuts
1/2 c apple juice or water
1 tspn cinnamon
pinch of ground cloves

Combine all stuffing ingredients in small bowl and fill apples with mixture. Place in small baking dish and add 1/2 cup juice or water to bottom of ban. Bake for 30 minutes or until tender.

But what about Tofurkey, you may ask. I've never actually tried it, but have heard it's pretty good. Maybe next year.