Thanksgiving Menu 2011
Well, I did it. I finally put my Thanksgiving menu together. But first I have a few thoughts...
As a young adult I had the privilege of traveling the world. I have seen starving children straight from the national geographic photo with my own eyes. I've seen the poorest and the richest corners of the earth and I've also seen death and new life. Watching people breathe their last with a sigh of thankfulness for the life they lived. Watching naked children with flies eating at their dirty skin laughing and playing with garbage as toys. In each extreme, I have observed the deep awareness that life is fragile. These people and places carry the weight of what it means to be thankful. People who are truly thankful for a meal. Truly thankful for a blanket, for a homecoming, and for the simplicity of rice and beans.
In our culture we have so much stuff it's hard to find a true place of thankfulness and gratitude with all of the distractions. We have to peel back the layers of stuff we have crowding our minds, hearts and homes. And, it's sometimes hard to find joy when we are comparing ourselves to the latest and the greatest at every turn. So as a fellow human being on the pursuit of bringing more joy, hope and thankfulness to my life I have to force myself to ponder life as a gift.
The gifts are endless. Start writing them down. You will come up with a book full if you just kept thinking of all the things we have and love. Food, relationships, running water, and convenience are just the big ones, but if you went through your day with the awareness that it was all a gift you may start to feel more joy and gratitude for each moment. I have also seen and learned that it is easier to find joy when you are not chained to the ambition to always have more. When everything is stripped away or something or someone is suddenly taken from you, then you know what is really important. In the simplicity you find more appreciation.
My challenge to you (to myself) this Thanksgiving is to find gratitude in the simplicity. Even if you have to give away half of your stuff and see how you can still live without it. You have to force yourself to not find your belonging and your identity in what you own. May we all live with the awareness that our lives are a gift and that we can now give that gift of life to others through love, joy and peace.
We are blessed to be a blessing.
Thanksgiving Menu
(gluten-free, dairy-free soy-free)
(mostly egg and nut-free as well)
Locally Raised Fresh Turkey and Gravy
Creamy Whipped Mashed Potatoes (vegan)
8-10 pounds of Yukon Potatoes pealed and roughly chopped
boiled in a large pot of water until extra soft
drained in strainer and then put back in large pot
with a hand-held mixer blend hot potatoes
with vegetable broth and Earth Balance soy-free
sprinkle sea salt and black pepper to you taste
using an "egg-white" whisk in the mixer will make it extra creamy
you can add finely chopped herbs or other spice to your taste...
you can add finely chopped herbs or other spice to your taste...
Mom's Sweet Potato Casserole
This is literally my mom's recipe that she makes
gluten and dairy free for me
I asked her to bring it to dinner
and I will post the recipe and pictures soon!
Other blogger-friends recipes that would be amazing additions to any Thanksgiving feast:
Black Quinoa Pumpkin Salad by Whole Life Nutrition
Butternut Squash and Pomegranate Salad by Jenn Cuisine
Cranberry Sauce by Elana's Pantry
Roasted Brussel Sprouts and Grapes by Jeanette's Healthy Living
Squash Pie by Iris at The Daily Dietribe
Blueberry Pie by The Spunky Coconut
Some more Thanksgiving-worthy recipes of my own:
Some little extras for table set-up inspiration:
Some Notes:
Well, friends, that is my menu and my recipes and even some more inspiration. We are buying our turkey through a local farm that humanely raises their animals. With no hormones, antibiotics and ect. The brine I used last year and LOVED it. It is a perfect combination of flavors and makes the turkey extra juicy. In my humble opinion, you MUST brine the turkey for it to be juicy and extra delicious. I roast my turkey stuffed with onions, celery, carrots and sitting in a broth bath with lots of fresh herbs. I also rub the skin with olive oil and sprinkle with lots of sea salt and black pepper. I think I will start the roasting around 7am, after bring for 24 hours and hopefully it will cook up by 2pm so that it will have time to cool and cut for a 4pm dinner. I will follow Whole Life Nutrition's GF gravy recipe, but basically all you need is some stock and arrowroot, tapioca or corn starch for the thickening. I plan to use some of the fat drippings from the turkey as well.
The mashed potatoes is not a "recipe" of mine yet. It is just how I have made mashed potatoes in the past and they always come up creamy and melt in your mouth delicious- which makes people think they must have cream and dairy in them. But they don't! The stuffing recipe is my own, and yes I keep making it every year because we just LOVE it. It is so simple and budget friendly because you do not need to buy some extra expensive GF loaf of bread. It is also without meat so vegetarian (or vegan) friendly.
The green beans will add some greens to the meal, but you could add any favorite vegetable like brussel sprouts or even a beautiful fall-fill spinach or greens salad. And the cranberry relish is pretty basic and simple as well.
The desserts, especially the pumpkin pie, is a must for Thanksgiving if you ask me. The Pumpkin Coconut Cream pie is my latest addition, and I love it because it is so simple and creamy. The Apple Pie Bars will be a new favorite as well. And the cranberry punch will be a version of Whole Life's Nutrition.... I am thinking about using apples and apple cider instead of the orange juice though.
Well, I am sure I will think of other things/recipes to add to this once it is posted, but I will try and just add this to the ongoing conversation of how to make a GF Thanksgiving Dinner. Also, I will post the recipe my mom uses to make a "traditional" sweet potato casserole.
Most importantly, I hope you are able to create a GF feast that will not distract you from what's most important. It is so easy to be so stressed out and worked up about food when you are a gluten-free friend or one with special diet needs. But if you can contribute to the family meal or create a simple menu of your own then you can clear up some of the stress. That way you can enjoy what you really want to enjoy, like Grandpa's stories and the new niece or nephew.
My hope for you is that you find thankfulness in the simplicity, joy in your relationships, and lots of love and gratitude for all of the gifts in your life. And, here's to another gluten-free Thanksgiving...cheers!
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