Vegan Holiday Recipes 

tina natalini Nov 28, 2019 3 min read

Enjoy these delicious and simple no sugar added vegan recipes perfect for holidays and family gatherings.

Much gratitude to all of these talented creators of these recipes.

EASY VEGAN STUFFING: www.karissasvegankitchen.com/easy-vegan-stuffing/

INGREDIENTS:

8 cups bread crumbs

2 tbsp vegan butter or oil

1 yellow onion chopped

3 celery stalks chopped

4 cloves of garlic chopped

1 tsp dried sage

1/2 tsp dried thyme

salt & pepper to taste

2-3 cups vegetable stock

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Place the cubes bread onto baking sheets and toast in a 350 degree oven for 15-20 stirring/flipping halfway.

2. In the meantime, sauté the celery and onion in the vegan butter until the onion is translucent. Add in the garlic, sage and thyme and sauté for an additional 2 minutes.

3. In a large dish, mix together the toasted bread and the sauté mixture.

4. Add the vegetable stock until the bread is just saturated - not too wet and not dry.

5. Add salt and pepper to taste.

6. Bake at 375 degrees for 30-40 minutes or until the top is golden and crunchy. Serve warm!

VEGAN GRAVY

https://shaneandsimple.com/easy-vegan-brown-gravy/

INGREDIENT:

1/4 cup + 1 tbsp. whole wheat flour (*I used Bob’s Red Mill Tapioca flour which is gluten-free)

1/4 cup nutritional yeast

1 1/2 tsp. onion powder

1 tsp. garlic powder

1/4 tsp. rosemary

1/8 tsp. thyme

2 cups low sodium vegetable broth

2 tbsp. low sodium tamari or soy sauce (*I used amino acids which is a better alternative at 90mg/tsp)

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Pre-heat medium sized sauce pan on medium high heat.

2. Add all dry ingredients to sauce pan and whisk for about 30 seconds.

3. Whisk in veggie broth and soy sauce until all ingredients are well combined.

4. Lower heat to medium and bring to a boil.

5. Reduce heat once more to low, let simmer and whisk to thicken.

6. Remove gravy once it reaches desired consistency.

TOFURKEY DELI SLICES

Place slices in gravy on low temperature until ready to plate.

VEGAN MASHED POTATOES

To make vegan use coconut milk and Balance Vegan Butter https://www.earthbalancenatural.com/baking-sticks/vegan-buttery-sticks

GLAZED PURPLE SWEET POTATOES

This is my freestyle recipe after tasting a purple sweet potato for the first time. It reminded me of my childhood Thanksgivings with the candied sugary sweet potatoes. The purple sweet potatoes have a natural mild molasses-like flavor and I knew I had a perfect match for creating the glaze.

First, boil the purple sweet potato(s) along with regular sweet potatoes leaving them slightly firm on the inside. They will later be baked in the oven and will reach their desired texture when complete.

GLAZE: SUGAR-FREE SIMPLE SYRUP

1. Cut one half of the of the potato and blend it with 1/4 cup of water

2. Then bring 1 cup of water & 1 cup of monkfruit to a boil. (Monkfruit can be found on amazon, Whole Foods, and sometimes at Marshalls and TJ Max)

3. Add the blended potato to the sugar-free simple syrup

4. Add Tapioca flour 1 tsp at a time to desired thickness. (I use Bob’s Red Mill Tapioca Flour)

5. Cut the remaining potatoes into chunks and spread in baking dish.

6. Pour glaze over potatoes

7. Cook at 400 degree for 20-30 minutes

8. Stir halfway through baking.

NO SUGAR ADDED CRANBERRY SAUCE

1. Bring 1 cup of water and 1 cup of monkfruit to a boil.

2. Add 1 & 1/4 bag of whole cranberries

3. Cover and reduce heat

4. Cranberries will start to pop and the sauce will thicken.

5. Remove from heat and let stand until cooled

(These instructions are on most bags of cranberries)

Happy Thanksgiving!

Weekend Design & Wellness Project

Photo by: Jon Tyson @jontyson

Choose a moment this weekend to share a personal story with someone about a kind gesture another person bestowed upon you.

This can be brought up in a casual conversation starting like, “Did I ever tell you the time when ______ did _______ for me and it how grateful I’m whenever I think of that time?” Chances are the person you share your story with will be reminded of one of their’s to share.

The purpose of this exercise is to recall a moment of unexpected abundance that you experienced to keep your mind in an open state of receiving. This mindset attracts even more greatness into you already beautiful life. If you’re struggling with receiving, repeat “I am worthy, I am worthy, I am worthy,” throughout the weekend. Eventually you’ll believe it so stick with it especially because it’s challenging. Happy abundant, grateful, weekend of receiving!

More Please,

Photo by: Donald Giannatti @wizwow

ABUNDANCE, that is! More greatness, more kindness, more generosity and more love. Gratitude is where more of anything is generated. Look around and find greatness to get into a mental state of awe. There are so many priceless moments happening every second of the day; a baby giggling, puppies doing anything, someone holding a door for you, finding money on the ground (we’ve all lost and found money, it’s in constant flow). Abundance is everywhere and is meant to be shared, keep it going.

The best time to do something of service for someone else is when we are at our lowest. Think about that for a second. If you’re struggling right now use whatever life force you can gather to say something kind or encouraging to someone who you know is also struggling. They will light up and you will feel lifted with a small sense of purpose. When we are down we lose focus of who we are and why we exist. There are billions of other humans rotating through these emotions and experiences so do or say what you can to ease someones else’s pain. You will reap the emotional reward through a dopamine surge to help you move on to what’s next.

Weekend Design & Wellness Project

Photo by: Stepan Unar @semisunar

Make some time to go for a crisp fall walk or hike in nature! Take deep breaths of fresh air, hold it…then exhale completely. Go alone to practice pivoting negative thoughts when they try to hijack your peaceful moment or drag a friend, partner or pet along for the adventure.

When you get home, make your favorite drink and write down some of the thoughts you had or conversations with others. Sometimes great ideas or solutions to annoying issues are resolved when we step away.

Enjoy the fall, it will be freezing soon…unless you’re in San Diego where it’s always perfect. Whatever.

Grateful for My...

Photo by: Gabrielle Henderson @gabriellefaithhenderson

Has a stranger ever asked you why you were so happy? Well, that happened to me this week. I smiled at a gentleman and he asked what I was so happy about, and I blurted out, “I’m alive!” I truly am grateful each and everyday for my beautiful life from my family, friends, home, bed, water, food to my hair, health, fingernails and any minor ache and pain because it’s all part of my human experience. Time goes by so fast so that I take as many mental snapshots of moments. In the morning, no matter what grizzly beast is starring back at me, I grit my teeth and say, “I love you…no matter what.” Self love is a windy road with plenty of potholes, so I have chosen to throw up my hands and say “weee,” going over them to bring a bit of lighthearted silliness to a seemingly rough day.

What are you grateful for in your life? Think about all of the conveniences that allow you to enjoy your life, the people who teach you lessons, those who make you laugh and the health and psychical abilities you have in this moment. You may be surprised at how abundant your life truly has been.