A Holiday Menu Fit for Royality

No rest for a royal… even over Thanksgiving and Christmas. There are banquets to plan, parties to outdo, and gluttony galore. Now for those of you who don’t partake in animal products and wonder how you can still stuff yourself to bursting with a just as beautiful yet less animal-based meal, this is the page for you. I’m going to share with you what I do for the holiday alterations you can make and why I chose each of these items.

-Turkee Roulade on a bed of Arugula, Miso Broccai, Apricot Cranberry Sauce, Sundried Tomato, Arugula, and Vegan Feta Mashed Potatoes.

Holiday Menu Items

Entree
Vegan Turkee w/
Holiday Mashed Potatoes
Appetizer
Sourdough Bread w/ Butter and Jam

Sides
Miso Broccoli & Curry Cauliflower
Garlic Tossed Green Beans
Rosemary Cranberry Sauce

Drinks
Sorrel
Pomegranate Mocktail

Desserts
Free-Form Apple Tart
Cranberry-Cherry Pie
Apple Pie

A perfectly balanced holiday meal, like any meal, consists of protein, carbohydrates, and vegetables. With the addition of dessert, a well-paired drink, and garnishes, we have the makings of a spread that will satisfy any hungry crowd. Before we dive into the details, I know there will be some who argue that complete proteins require animal products. I'm happy to educate you on this. Not only are there several vegan foods that naturally provide complete proteins, but your body also has an amino acid pool that combines what you eat throughout the day into complete proteins. As long as you consume a mix of at least two of the following: vegetables, grains, and nuts & seeds, you will get the necessary nutrients. Now that you know this, let's continue with my version of a perfect holiday menu.

Let's start with our protein, the centerpiece of every table, always dressed up and shining. My mom used to make gluten, which I absolutely loved as a child. However, I decided to take it a step further. After extensive research, particularly from sources like Vegan Roast Turkey II | Washed Flour Seitan – Seitan Society, I created a skinned and shaped turkey with a Caribbean-style glaze.

Of course, this is quite labor-intensive, and not everyone wants to spend two days crafting the perfect turkey. This is where roulades, such as Vegan Stuffed Seitan Roast from Yumsome, and gluten patties come in. Gluten patties are made similarly to the turkey but in smaller, unshaped versions. Simply boil them and fry them up quickly before your guests arrive. Remember, you can stuff the roulades with anything you like, but if it has a lot of moisture, make sure to dry it out first.

Next, of course, is the starch. There's nothing better than creamy, flavorful mashed potatoes, but let's put down the salt and pepper and bring some real flavor to your favorite starch with one of my three favorite ways.

First, mash in some vegan feta (I like the Follow Your Heart crumbles), sundried tomatoes, and arugula, and mix it with a splash of milk. If you want to bring that festive red and green to your dinner, use dehydrated tomatoes and chopped cilantro instead. The tomatoes will rehydrate in the potatoes, creating a delightful, slightly tangy, slightly spicy dish that doesn't even need gravy because it has so much flavor.

Lastly, just add some chives, fresh dill, and lots of vegan buttermilk.

Of course, with all this, you need a nice bread. May I recommend stepping outside your comfort zone and trying a sourdough olive loaf, or perhaps a sweet cinnamon loaf to complement that delicious cranberry sauce? If you're not ready for such a big change, I challenge you to try a different grain in your bread, like a quinoa or spelt loaf. I promise you won't regret this bread slathered in butter and jam, honey, garlic, or apple butter.

Now, as for sides, we of course need the famous cranberry sauce, but that will get its own section. Here, I want to share some upgrades you could add to those boring vegetables. Why have plain old Brussels sprouts and green beans when you can have teriyaki-glazed and roasted Brussels sprouts, garlic-tossed green beans, chili oil edamame, curry-flavored cauliflower, breadfruit, crunchy chickpeas, miso stir-fried broccoli, or even parmesan-crusted potatoes (once again, I recommend the Follow Your Heart brand)

Now, on to cranberry sauce. Sure, you could eat the canned sadness known as jellied cranberry sauce, or you could make your own in as little as 15 minutes with fresh or frozen cranberries, sugar, lemon and/or orange zest, and your choice of add-ins. I like to add fresh rosemary and thyme to mine, cooking them down with the sauce and retrieving the stems later, as it complements the rest of the meal quite well.

Now, of course, my favorite part of any meal: the drinks. For Christmas, I love any dark or bright red drink. Traditionally, my family makes sorrel, a Caribbean tradition. It is made from hibiscus flowers/buds and is quite tart until sweetened with sugar. It is usually brewed with slices of oranges, nutmeg, anise, cinnamon, black pepper, and cloves for a delightfully warm and spicy drink that can be served hot or cold.

Another favorite drink that I have discovered more recently, which would also make a delightful pairing to your Christmas menu, is the Rosemary Pomegranate Mocktail by Pinch of Yum. It is sparkling, refreshing, and has aromatics that are to die for. These two drinks are my top recommendations for your holiday soiree.

Last but certainly not least is dessert, that delightfully sweet treat you save room for, telling yourself it's a reward for eating all your vegetables and enduring family discussions about the fiscal irresponsibility of a medieval wedding. In reality, no wedding is fiscally responsible, and yours will make you much happier than their 'perfect' wedding for you.

That being said, what do you serve? You can never go wrong with a good cranberry pecan tart, apple pie, cherry pie, or a cherry cranberry pie. My favorite to make is a free-form tart. They are much faster than pies, and you don't have to worry about perfection or crimping any edges. You can make it as pretty or as rustic as you want, and it will still look like you put a lot of effort into it before the ravenous wolves you call children get their hands on it.

In conclusion, I find this to be a wonderfully balanced menu that will impress even the most discerning of guests. Once you hand the list to your staff to hunt down recipes and recreate them, you can focus on ensuring your outfits are as stunning as your food this holiday season.

Curry Potatoes, Vegan Turkee, Spelt Bread Rolls, Rosemary and Orange Cranberry Sauce and Sorrel.