Wabi Sabi

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Veggie Thanksgiving 2019

While our menu will probably change this year, I thought I would share some ideas from last year’s menu to get you inspired with your planning and shopping for this year :)

THANKSGIVING MENU 2019

 STARTERS

 Garnish Tray with a Mixture of Olives, Marinated Artichokes, Sweet Gherkins & Cornichons

 Deviled eggs

Beet salad with almond ricotta, mixed greens and toasted walnuts, paired with Herb Vinaigrette or Balsamic Crème

 Blue Hubbard Squash Soup

 MAIN COURSE

 Chebe Gluten-Free Rolls or Simple Mills Almond Flour Bread

Corn

Lentil Loaf (from Chicago Diner)

Stuffing (from Chicago Diner)

Brussels sprouts with Cranberries and Balsamic Glaze

Truffle Mashed Potatoes

Shiitake Cashew Cream Gravy

Portobello French Bean Casserole

Praline Sweet Potatoes

Ginger Orange Cranberry Sauce with Candied Ginger

 DESSERT

 Semi-Raw Apple Tart

Pumpkin Pie

Selection of Teas

Egg Nog

BASIC MUSTARD VINAIGRETTE RECIPE

 from Reluctant Gourmet

 Servings: 1/2 cup

 1 glove of garlic, smashed

2 tablespoons of balsamic vinegar

1 teaspoon Dijon mustard

5-6 tablespoons oil (olive or grapeseed)

pinch of dried parsley

pinch of dried thyme

salt and freshly ground pepper to taste

In a clean jar or small bowl, add the vinegar, garlic, mustard and mix well. Slowly add the olive oil while either whisking or stirring rapidly with your fork. Add the parsley and thyme, salt and pepper, taste and adjust seasonings. Enjoy!

  

BLUE HUBBARD SQUASH SOUP

 1 Blue Hubbard squash (or Kabocha or 2 acorn) – you need 3-4 cups of flesh

3 tbsp coconut oil

1 tbsp olive oil

3 – 6 cloves garlic

2 cups veggie broth

1 can coconut milk

1 tsp turmeric

dash of kapha churna

dash of dulse

dash of nutritional yeast

sea salt (1-2 tbsp) and black pepper to taste

 Hubbard squash was known as the squash of the aristocracy due to its sought-after nutty flavor and smooth, creamy texture.

 Preheat oven to 375 degrees (convection). Cut squash and remove seeds (these can be toasted while the squash bakes, coated in olive oil and salt, until crispy at the edges). Place on a large baking sheet and roast for 30-45 min until soft.

Sauté coconut oil, garlic and spices for a few minutes in a large saucepan until fragrant. Add broth and squash and simmer and salt to desired taste. Add coconut milk and stir. Remove from heat and add an olive oil float. Transfer by cup to a blender (only 1/3 full as it can splash due to the heat) and blend in batches, transferring to a clean bowl. When all is blended, return to saucepan to reheat. Enjoy!

 

BRUSSELS SPROUTS WITH CRANBERRIES AND BALSAMIC GLAZE

 Sauté Brussels Sprouts with red onion and olive oil. Add cranberries to warm and drizzle with balsamic creme

  

TRUFFLE MASHED POTATOES WITH CAULIFLOWER

 Serves 4

Mashed cauliflower tastes similar to mashed potatoes but with fewer carbs. Top with chopped herbs (fresh chives) and grated cheese (violife parm)

1 medium head cauliflower and 4-5 potatoes, trimmed and cut into small florets and chunks (about 6 to 7 cups) or you can sub 5 more potatoes for the cauliflower

a massive amount of garlic
1 to 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

½ tbsp. truffle oil
Sea salt and ground black pepper to taste

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add cauliflower, potatoes and garlic and cook until very tender, about 10 minutes. Reserve 1/4 cup of the cooking liquid and then drain well and transfer cauliflower to a food processor. Add oil and reserved water, 1 tablespoon at a time, and puree until smooth. (Or, mash cauliflower with a potato masher). Season with salt and pepper and serve.

  

SHIITAKE CASHEW CREAM GRAVY

 3 cups cashews, milled in blender (or almonds, soaked overnight)

2 cups Cremini and Shiitake mushrooms

2 cups veggie broth

2 tbsp cassava or chickpea flour

3 cloves roasted garlic

1 shallot or 2 cipollini onions

1 lemon, juiced

1/2 to 1 cup water (for smooth consistency)

½ tbsp  nutritional yeast

1 tbsp sea salt (to taste)

1 tbsp turkey poultry seasoning

a dash of pitta churna

fresh sage, dried

 

In a medium saucepan, sauté mushrooms with onions, shallot and garlic until softened. add flour and stir. Pour in broth and seasoning and bring to a simmer. Blend nuts, lemon and water to make the cashew sauce. Add water to desired consistency. Remove saucepan from heat and add cream sauce, stirring until warmed. This gravy can be rewarmed without worrying about separation. Sprinkle on some sage from the garden and enjoy with mashed potatoes.

 

PORTOBELLO FRENCH BEAN CASSEROLE

 Makes: 5 cups; serves: 4 to 6

 MUSHROOM SAUCE

 3 tablespoons olive oil

¼ cup diced onions

3 cups sliced white mushrooms or portobellos

2 tablespoons chickpea flour

1 1/2 cups vegetable broth

1/8 teaspoon pepper

1/8 teaspoon garlic powder

Pinch dried thyme

1/3 cup vegan creamer (unsweetened)

 In a 3-quart saucepan; heat the oil over medium-high heat. Cook onions with garlic powder until translucent. Add flour and stir. Add 1 cup broth ¼ cup at a time and stir until broth is thickened. Add the mushrooms; cook, stirring, until softened, about 3 minutes. Stir in remaining broth, pepper, and thyme. Cook, stirring constantly, until soup comes to a boil. Add the creamer and remove from heat, stirring until the cream is warmed.

 GREEN BEAN CASSEROLE

 16 oz Fresh or frozen green beans, French-cut

4 – 5 cups Mushroom Sauce

1 small can (8 oz) Water chestnuts, chopped

Fried onions 1/8 cup

Black pepper

 

Preheat oven to 350°

Layer green beans, water chestnuts, sauce, onions and pepper; then repeat, saving some onions for later

Bake 40 minutes. Add remaining onions and bake for 5 minutes to brown. Enjoy!

 

PINEAPPLE BEETS 

Slice beets and sauté with pineapple juice, deglazing pan with more juice from time to time. Simmer until soft. Enjoy!

 

PRALINE SWEET POTATOES

4 cups cooked, mashed sweet potatoes or yams

1/3 cup orange juice

1/4 cup brown sugar

3 tablespoons melted coconut butter or Miyoko’s vegan butter

1 teaspoon grated orange peel, or more to taste

1 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon ground ginger or 1 tablespoon fresh grated

1/4 teaspoon allspice

1/8 teaspoon pepper

 

PRALINE TOPPING:

1/3 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup chopped pecans

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

 

1. Sweet Potato Casserole: In a bowl, combine all casserole ingredients and mix well with an electric beater. 

2. Pour into a well-greased 2-quart shallow casserole. 

3. Praline Topping: In another bowl, thoroughly combine all topping ingredients. Evenly sprinkle topping over casserole.

4. Bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 30 minutes

 

Makes: 4 to 6 servings; Preparation Time: 10 minutes if using canned sweet potatoes; Cooking time: 30 minutes

 

 

APPLE TART

 PECAN-WALNUT CRUST

(from Thrive Market’s Paleo Thanksgiving)

 1 cup ground raw walnuts

1 cup ground raw pecans

1/2 tsp sea salt

2 T coconut oil

6 – 8 dates

1 tsp cinnamon

 

ALTERNATE RAW CRUST

(from http://www.sweetlyraw.com/2013/11/deep-dish-apple-pear-tart-and-big.html)

 1 1/3 cups cashews

1 1/3 cups shredded coconut

2 1/2 - 3 tablespoons maple syrup

2 pinches salt

2 tablespoons + 1 teaspoon melted coconut oil

 

Grind the cashews and coconut into flour in a food processor.

Add the remaining ingredients. Process to combine.

Press the mixture evenly into a deep 8" tart pan with removable bottom.

Make sure to chill it in the freezer to set properly while making the filling. You could even let it sit overnight in the fridge to set before putting the filling in for best results.

 

FILLING

 1/8       cup coconut flour

1/2       teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/2       teaspoon ground nutmeg

1/8       teaspoon salt

8          cups thinly sliced peeled tart apples (8 medium)

2          tablespoons coconut oil

dash of coconut sugar

 

Blend crust ingredients in the food processor until the dough sticks together when pressed. Transfer to a pie pan and press to flatten. Bake in a preheated 350 degree oven for 7 minutes.

 In a saucepan, combine apple filling ingredients and simmer until apples are soft and sauce has thickened. Layer into to pie crust and let set. Enjoy with some coconut whipped cream!

  

GINGER CRANBERRY SAUCE

 Makes about 2 1/2 cups, serves 6

×         ¼ cup grapeseed or coconut oil

×         1 cup orange juice

×         1/2 cup coconut sugar, coconut nectar or date syrup

×         1/8 cup fresh ginger, peeled and minced

×         1/4 tsp ground ginger

×         12 ounces fresh or frozen and thawed cranberries

×         1 cup crystallized (candied) ginger, finely chopped, divided

×         1 tablespoon orange zest

×         pinch of sea salt

×         dash of lemon and orange zest

Simmer ginger briefly in oil with salt. Pour juice and sugar into a medium saucepan and heat over medium heat, stirring often, until sugar has dissolved. Add cranberries and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes or until liquid thickens. Sauce will thicken while it cools.

Add a third of the crystallized ginger and simmer, stirring often, until cranberries have popped and sauce is thickened to desired consistency, about 10 minutes more…

Remove from heat, stir in orange zest and all but a few pieces of the remaining crystallized ginger. Set aside to let cool to room temperature. Garnish with reserved crystallized ginger and lemon zest.

 We serve this alongside our jellied canned cranberries, of course. Enjoy!

 

 *EGG NOG

 (from Wrigleyville Dental’s Newsletter)

 4 egg yolks

1/2 cup coconut sugar

2 cans full-fat coconut milk

1 tsp freshly grated nutmeg

1/4 tsp cinnamon

dash of almond milk (for thinning)

 

Beat yolks for a couple minutes, then gradually add coconut sugar. Let sugar dissolve and set aside. In a saucepan, simmer coconut milk on low heat, then add spices.

 Begin to mix eggs again on low hear and slowly add a spoonful of the coconut milk mixture. Repeat until about a cup has been transferred.

 Now add the egg and coconut milk mixture back into the saucepan. Simmer the mixture for a few minutes then turn off heat and allow to cool.

 Refrigerate to chill and thicken. When ready to serve, add almond milk to thin to taste and sprinkle the top with freshly grated cinnamon and nutmeg.

*new this year