Holiday Cheer?

My first and biggest piece of holiday advice is this. Dispense with the turkey. All the prep, all the mess, and for what? Tofurky is delicious. Yes, even to meat eaters, and the prep is making two cuts and then baking it. Clean up? Pssh throw away wrapper. You want something big and impressive that takes forever? Veggieducken.

Green Bean Casserole:

I make this all year because it is easy and really good but it is a must have for the holidays.

Ingredients:

1/4 cup vegan margarine – Earth Balance

1/4 cup flour

1 1/2 cups vegetable broth

1 tbsp soy sauce

4 cloves garlic, minced

1 onion, chopped

2 tbsp canola oil

1/4 cup nutritional yeast (optional)

3 14 ounce cans green beans, any style, well-drained

3 ounces french-fried onions, croutons or seasoned bread crumbs

2 tsp Black pepper

1) In a sauce pan sauté onions and garlic in the margarine

2) Add soy sauce, vegetable broth, flour, and pepper. Whisk until a smooth gravy forms.

3) Press green beans into a casserole dish. Pour gravy over the top.

4) Surround edges with onions or croutons/sprinkle crumbs over the top into a workable crust

Never Curdle Eggnog:

The worst part about dairy eggnog is not the cholesterol. It is not the pitiful shelf life. It is that the minute you marry eggnog to its obvious and natural companion, rum, it curdles. I just cannot abide by that.

Ingredients:

1/2 galleon vanilla soy milk

32 oz full fat coconut milk

2 tbsp vanilla extract

1 pint rum

Cinnamon, Allspice, Nutmeg, and cloves to taste.

1) Pour ingredients into large pitcher, mix well.

2) Serve in cute cups.

Overnight French Toast:

I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to do much more Xmas morning than make coffee. This make-ahead crowd pleaser will give you a great hot breakfast in about the same amount of time it takes to brew a pot of coffee.

Ingredients:

3 cups vanilla non-dairy milk, or left over eggnog

6 tablespoons flour

1/2 cup vegan margarine

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/2 tbsp cinnamon

1/2 tbsp nutmeg

1 loaf bread, sliced, then cut in half long wise.

non-stick spray

powdered sugar, to taste

1) Spray down a casserole pan and press the bread into the pan crust side up.

2) Whisk all ingredients together and pour over bread. Remember to spread apart these slices and get the mixture on everything.

3) Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight

4) In the morning, pre-heat the oven to 350 and take out the casserole and set it on the oven while it warms.

5) Make coffee, and when the oven is warm pop it in for 30 mins, or until it’s browned on the top. Serve with powdered sugar.