Behold, A Vegetable Holiday Feast: a small holiday gift for you and fun project for me. It’s an e-cookbook-type thing that you can download, for free, onto your smart phone or tablet and use it in the kitchen, or print out and file away with the rest of your recipe clippings. Click here to download it.
I’ve wanted to prepare a full holiday meal, with no concessions or compromises, all my way, for as long as I’ve enjoyed cooking. But doing so isn’t necessarily in keeping with the spirit of any holiday. These big gatherings are about the collaborative effort, the company, and the various traditions, new and old, at play.
So instead I hosted a mock Thanksgiving and for that I did it all my way. My friends who came over to eat with me were happy to do so—we loosely call this a “friendsgiving” and do it almost every year; no matter who’s cooking or what we’re eating it’s fun—and I had the pleasure of spending a few weeks testing and fine-tuning my dream menu.
Take a look at the result, some of which I’ll single out here on the blog in the next couple weeks. It’s fully vegetarian, with vegan and gluten-free adaptations offered where the substitutions work. It’s full of vegetable-centric dishes, and hopefully you’ll find it to be a good source of helpful ideas and tips as you prepare your own feasts. Here’s the full menu:
Bourbon Pecans
Tangy Roasted Parsnip Dip
Squash and Chard Patties with Feta-Yogurt Topping
Brussels Sprouts and Roasted Chestnut Galette
Quinoa and Celery Root Gratin
Kale and Caramelized Onion Focaccia
Simple Salad with Clementine Vinaigrette
Hand-Mashed Yukon Golds
Apple and Cranberry Relish
Shallot Gravy
Pumpkin Sherbet with Gingersnap-Pecan Crumble
I’m thinking about hand-binding a few copies to have for sale at some upcoming markets and events—let me know if you’d be interested in that.
I’ve been neglecting this blog for a while, but I hope this will give you enough to chew on for the next few months. Enjoy, and most of all, have a terrific holiday.
