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Monday, November 18, 2013

Holiday Meals for all tastes.






Who among us will have Turkey at Thanksgiving? Most people will cook the turkey the way their mothers did, and prepare enough sides to satisfy everybody else's idea of a celebration meal.

I propose that holiday meals should be based on each person's favorite thing and diet specifications that can only be fussed about if time and energy and ingredients are all available.

Since half my family is vegetarian, my holiday meal will tend to have some grilled meats, and a hearty main course that will feel special without separating the family into meat vs no meat eaters.

We'll start with a creamy fettucine with peas,  a quick saute' of baby onions and baby artichokes in olive oil and butter, followed by cream. After the cooked pasta is added to the pan, in go the fresh peas, or frozen ones. Peas only need a quick heating. A handful of parmigiano will finish the dish.

You can use canned artichoke hearts, or frozen ones. If you want to omit the cream or butter, you can use stock instead.

For dessert, fresh berries and ice-cream. 

5 comments:

  1. Ooooooh, this sounds delicious! I have no vegans, so turkey it is. I may decide to brine mine this year, I've never done that. I have grilled and deep fried large turkeys in years past ... I may prepare two smaller turkeys this year to reduce cooking time (I read somewhere the turkey meat will be more moist if you bake two birds.) I have fallen in love with brussels sprouts - roasted in the oven with garlic, olive oil and a balsamic vinegar glaze. Yum. Pumpkin chiffon pies (a tradition), cornbread oyster stuffing, whipped sweet potatoes, whipped white potatoesl Lordy, can you say carbohydrates?

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  2. It's funny that I prepare 2 turkeys each year....a smoked one and a regular roasted stuffed one. I actually don't care for turkey that much and will eat the many sides instead! I have a cranberry relish that I make each year and I also do broccoli and cauliflower with cheese sauce. Add the dressing and I'm good to go! Your raspberries look devine and Jack would love the pasta pea dish...one of his favorite veggies! Glad I checked out your other blog today!

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  3. "Loving Real Food" has been included in the A Sunday Drive for this week. Be assured that I hope this helps to even more new visitors in your direction.

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  4. Mmmm, sounds yummy. My mom is vegetarian, so I only bring vegetarian dishes to her house for dinner, even though everyone else is a meat eater. My dad's cooking a pork roast on the bbq for Thanksgiving. They weren't intending to make turkey this year, but apparently a few people put up a stink, so they will be making a small turkey. The meats tend to be fairly incidental to all the sides.

    The Warrior Muse

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  5. That pasta sounds just wonderful - for any meal! :)

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