Drop the Dead Bird And The Fake Meat, Too!

Acorn Squash on the Vine


Where Every Turkey Wants to Be This Week!
(Above: Wild Turkey having a great Thanksgiving Holiday)

I hope its not too late. I hope you didn't already shop for Thanksgiving. I hope you are last minute people who will be in the crowded groceries today and tomorrow...or you will skip this holiday altogether or you will spend it serving people yummy vegetarian food at one of the more mindful/compassionate "feed the homeless" programs.

Considering one of those fake meat "turkeys"? It will most likely not make most people happy. Some people love them and others hate them. Better to not try to duplicate something that is unnecessary. Here is a main dish for this or any holiday that is a total crowd-pleaser. Put some mashed potatoes next to it and make PLENTY of the gravy because it will disappear. Have so much gravy there that people can have their food swimming in it! A big green salad and some fresh cranberry sauce (just cook fresh cranberries in orange juice..until it is all cooked down) and you have a delightful, delicious meal that did not support animal cruelty and makes everyone happy.





Stuffed Acorn Squash
3 acorn squash or 8 delicata squash, sliced in half, seeds removed
2 T margarine, melted
2 T olive oil
1 small onion, finely chopped
2 stalks celery, finely chopped
2 medium apples, peeled and chopped
1/4 cup maple syrup
1/2 cup raisins
1/2 tsp each dried parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme
Salt and pepper to taste
1 package vegan cornbread stuffing
Chickenless gravy (see below)

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Brush the inside of the squash with the melted margarine. Heat the olive oil and saute the onion, celery and apple for 8 minutes. Then add syrup, raisins, herbs, salt and pepper. Mix well. Mix in stuffing and spoon into each squash half, cover with foil, bake about 40 minutes or until squash is tender. Serve with gravy.

Chickenless Gravy
2 cups boiling water
2 T vegetable oil
3 T nutritional yeast
1 veggie bouillon cube
1/2 cup diced mushrooms (any kind...I use Shitake..but regular button are yummy)
1/2 cup chopped onion
Onion salt to taste
Unbleached flour

In a large saucepan, simmer all the ingredients, except the flour, for 5 minutes. Slowly add the flour (tablespoon at a time, whisking with each addition) until desired thickness is reached.

Enjoy and then go outside together and have a peaceful grateful great-full day!