A Green & Crunchy Thanksgiving Meal
November 28, 2009 by Sheri
Filed under Family Fun, Feeding Vegan Kids, In A Vegan House, What Do We Feed All These Vegan Kids?, featured post
Hi all! Hope you’re having a lovely holiday weekend.
We had a scrumptious Thanksgiving feast, full of family, food, and fun. And dessert. You know, all the important stuff.
We do things a little differently on Thanksgiving. We stray from tradition and skip the usual Thanksgiving fare. We take a family-vote about what to have for dinner, and the majority wins. This year’s Thanksgiving Vegan Meal Choices were: gluten-free spaghetti with beanballs, coconut-curry veggie stew, veggie-kabobs, homemade stuffed grape leaves, and our version of vegan sushi.
Lots of yummy dishes to choose from, but here’s the one that rocked the most votes:
Veggie-kabobs! SUCH a fun meal.
We made a promise to the kids that we’d make all the other dishes (the ones that didn’t get picked during the family vote) over the next few days. Usually my hubby is the Dinner Chef around here, and it’s a good thing he loves that job, because cooking (or UNcooking) from scratch for a crowd this size is a lot of work! He usually makes dinner and I clean up, with all my cute little helpers pitching in to clean up Daddy’s mess.
The kids LOVED this meal. Food served on skewers is a fun way to eat.
In addition to being thankful for my 5 beautiful kids, handsome hunky hubby, good health, and a happy, love-filled home, I was also very thankful that no one poked their eyes out with their pointy skewers.
My hubby kept the kabob-making simple: he threaded the veggie chunks onto the bamboo skewers (we soaked the skewers in water beforehand to avoid splintering), and then basted them with a mixture of olive oil, garlic pepper, and a few other seasonings. After a few minutes under the broiler, they were ready to serve. We served the veggie-kabobs on a bed of organic brown rice or organic quinoa, topping the grain with a little drizzle of hemp or flax oil. Hubby made a delicious Spicy Ginger Sauce for us to drizzle over the veggie-kabobs. Ooh-la-la, they were good!
We also had a raw vegan caeser salad (VERY garlicky!) to go with dinner. Topped with raw pumpkin seeds, this was a yummy bowl of rabbit food. Hubby made a gigantic salad in a bowl big enough for our toddler to sit in, and between us all, we ate every garlic-infused leaf and licked that big bowl clean:
Hubby made two trays, jam-packed full of kabobby-goodness. My son and I had a skewer-swordfight over the last kabob.
Now THAT’S compliments to the chef, when people swordfight over the last piece!
I’m just glad no one poked an eye out, because we hadn’t had dessert yet.
For dessert, we had this berry-filled beauty, a raw vegan UNcheesecake that rocked our vegan socks off:
Actually, we had more than one dessert, but this one stole the show. Every bite was decadent. Sorry, I can’t provide a recipe just yet — I loosely followed a cookbook recipe but made a lot of changes that I didn’t write down. I’ll need to make it again (oh darn, more UNcheesecake to eat, whatever will we do) and I’ll make notes and share. Pinky-swear!
A close-up of organic raw vegan blueberry-lemon UNcheesecake.
Fruity, firm, and fabulous, just like ME!! Ahem.
This raw UNcheesecake is so health-filled and jam-packed with nutrition and antioxidants, that I encouraged the children have second helpings.
They love when I say that.
Hope you’ve all had a wonderful Thanksgiving; enjoy your weekend!
Sheri
My 2 love anything on a kabob stick as well– YUM! Your meal looks heavenly. Where oh where do you get your section plates?! I love that idea.
Hi Natasha!
I buy them locally, at a wee little store that has no website.
There are some different ones on Sun Dog Outfitters though, check there (online).
Happy shopping
Thank you! I just discovered your site about a month or two ago and already you are such an inspiration and great resource for me. Thanks for taking the time to answer my question! I’ll check out Sun Dog.
What a wonderful meal! That pie looks amazing. Happy Thanksgiving
mmm tasty…..that color rocks on the pie…….and i love kebobs. I know whats for dinner tonight!
Sheri,
did you use Irish moss to get that firm consistency in your uncheesecake???
No irish moss. The recipe called for it, but it called for the wet/moist type and all I have is dried — I didn’t want a fishy-tasting pie so I left it out with great results!
This one had a smidge of soy lecithin (less than 2 tablespoons for the whole pie) and a little coconut oil (1/3 cup for whole pie). Am going to try it without the soy lecithin next time, just for kicks
Happy Thanksgiving!! Great feast, looove that cheesecake! Can’t wait for you to share the recipe!
I just re-read some of your older posts and saw you found your plates locally–drats! I found some 6 compartments trays made by Manek but they only sell to retailers so I will keep looking. I love all of your ideas and your kids are adorable!!
Great post, and ever greater meal idea. I think it’s so awesome that your kids get excited over a bowl of brown rice and vegetables, and sword fight over the last of the veggies! I’m loving that pie too, such a gorgeous colour.
That all looks awesome!!!
Huh, methinks I’d love to know what went into the salad to make it Caesary , but still vegan.
And I too eagerly await the pie recipe!
raw vegan UNcheesecake–the slice of it, it’s so perfect. so lovely. so purple. and the crust, so beautiful and wholesome. NICE WORK.
And also the tender but truly excited smile of your little boy as he is digging into his vegan food is lovely. melts me
xoxo
Fruity, firm, and fabulous! I love it! Happy Thanksgiving and thanks for sharing your wonderful food and family with us.
Looks like a yummy diner!! Especially that salad! I am a salad pushover!
Your meal looks amazing – that un-cheese cake looks so vibrant and perfect. I never thought of doing kabobs for a holiday. Perhaps come this christmas I will give it a go
Im glad to hear you had a great thanksgiving! Mine went good too!
A Purple Pie! You have ALL the fun. Kabobs, glass straws…what, no section plates? Festive bowls though!
I love that your wee one is always half nekid in most photos! Just makes me grin, every time.
Okay, I shall patiently await the recipe for the Purple Pie.
Thanksgiving Blessings to the Green & Crunchy Clan!
ooh, crust advice please–it looks lovely and delicious, and just the thing to support my various gluten free goodies!
love that you just eat what you like. we do that a lot of the time too. we brought popcorn to the vegan thanksgiving potluck and there was lasagne there too.
such vibrant, healthy food! you have a beautiful family
Yum, that looks like an awesome dinner. I really have to try to make beanballs sometime. Do you have a recommended recips? I know I’ve got some in various cookbooks.
agreed totally looking forward to the caesar and the pie info!!
WOW! This looks like a great Thanksgiving feast. We did things a little unconventionally around here too, we had sushi! But veggie kabobs would have been even better. And man oh man that dessert…the color! Gorgeous!
Yummy! Looks like you guys had so much fun
) You BETTER have the raw pie recipe up… or I’ll hunt you down…. hahhahaha!!
What a fantastic feast!!! yummy!!! i am really trying to get my kids eating more fruit and veggies but have to sometimes be tricky about it! any tips would be great! we are not vegan but would love to offer so much fruit and veggies!
Oh Wow! Your Thanksgiving meal looks so amazing! I love the smiling face while eating his food, so adorable. The purple cake sounds so yummy, I bet there’s no leftover for the next day!
Wow, all your food rocks, especially that gorgeous pie! Wish I had Thanksgiving at your house!
Now I am craving veggie kabobs, BIG TIME!!! Yum! All your food looks so good (as usual) and your wee one sure looks like she was enjoying that UNcheesecake!
I’m going to hold you to that pinky swear and will wait patiently with everyone else for that scrumpscuous recipe
I would love to see the un-cheesecake recipe and also your one for stuffed grape leaves! I love those things. My hubby was drooling about your cheesecake and I’d love to make him one. You have a beautiful family!
What an awesome Thanksgiving. Great food and even better family company is so nice to see! I wish I had been at the feast!
Can you at least tell us what book (and recipe name) that you got the dessert recipe from?
Looks delish! What did you use in the Caesar salad? I looovvvve Caesar, and I am always looking for new and improved recipes for it. Thanks for sharing your holiday with us.
I will ask hubby what his secret caeser dressing is! I have a few heads of romaine that are destined for caeser salad this week, so I’ll take notes (and pictures!) when he makes it.
You do have a “Raw Vegan Greek Salad” post – is this salad close to that?? Oh, I know how busy you are momma
Take your time on that post – meanwhile, I will continue to play around with my own UNcheesecake recipes with a whole lemon now 
Hi Beverly!
No, the caeser salad is nothing like the greek salad…it truly tastes just like a typical creamy, garlicky caeser…only it is vegan
Hubby has a recipe in his head (so you can see why this would be a problem when I would like to blog it) so I’ll force him to whip up another caeser salad soon and I’ll write it all down!
Hope you’re feeling good these days,
Sheri
the pie looks more than delicious. i am a vegan making the raw transition: nervous about the holidays. do you have an eggnog recipe? i am looking forward to more holiday food posts!
Nope, no eggnog recipe. Eggnog always made me shudder
Bet there’s something online though — it’s such a popular holiday beverage that I bet some clever vegan has created a vegan version!
This is a delicious looking high raw thanksgiving meal. I should treat myself to something like this one day
Look forward to your blueberry lemon raw cheesecake recipe!
thanks for sharing your feast with us! Looking forward to the uncheesecake and caesar salad recipe:)
I’ve been reading your blog, just found it today and I love it! I am only 16 but this is EXACTLY how I hope to raise my children. I live in a house with processed meat loving family members and I’m a vegan, aspiring to be a high-raw vegan. I love the way this food makes me feel, your family must be crazy healthy and happy. I love the no-tv thing, it’s too late for me though *loves American Idol*
Thanks!!
I think the lemon is what helps makes the cake color pop? I find that when I use lemon w/ berries (smoothies, sorbet, etc) it’s MUCH brighter than when I don’t…
Gorgeous gorgeous dessert. Well done you!
You may be right! I did grate an entire lemon peel into the pie, plus juiced the lemon into it too. Blueberries are already an eye-popping color in raw desserts, but the fresh organic lemon may have enhanced that. I love the color
Your meal looks fabulous!
The salad and that uncheesecake look oh so good. Can’t wait to see the recipes!
We struggle with dairy issues in my home and I am really enjoying reading about your vegan delights.
is there any on-line shop you by your organic products from?
Yes, several! What in particular are you looking for?
Sheri
-bulk nuts and dry fruits (goji,cashew,dates)
-seeds(flax,chia,)
-sprounting seeds
what juicer do you use?
i want to by but i can’t decide :super angel -verry expensive(is it ever on sale?)
-green power
thank you.
from ROUMANIA
Dear UNcheesecake-Lovers,
Very cool that so many of you want the UNcheesecake recipe! I have two versions — one is with a base of nuts and the other is a nut-free version. Both taste incredible! And neither one of the recipes is written down since I just sort of made them up as I went along, for the most part.
I do plan to get these written out for you, however, I have been far too busy this week to do any recipe testing and tweaking, which means that you’ll all just have to wait a bit longer. I’m a busy homeschooling mama and I don’t know when I’ll get to it, but I will! Promise it’s worth the wait
Thanks for all the great comments!
xo Sheri
Just thought I’d add one more voice saying that the uncheesecake looks absolutely fantastic, eagerly anticipating the recipe! I found this site through veggieboards and it’s a really fun and inspiring read, keep up the excellent work!
It all looks super yum! Can’t wait for you to share the pie recipe!!!
That pie looks AMAZING!!!!! LIKE WOW! Such vibrant goodness for you and your family. You must be such a proud mama to be feeding your family the healthiest food on the planet. You rock!
Love,
Kristen
i just fell in love with you and your family.
it might be the color of the pie…
Raw Purple Pie has that effect on people!
Thanks
All of it looks so delicious… That raw dessert looks especially brilliant. Well done Sheri!!!
Man, that UNcheesecake looks beautiful! Such great colors! Love it!
Hi Sheri! This cheesecake looks soooo gooood! I was wondering if you will be sharing the recipe soon! I would love to make it for New Years Eve!
I am dying to know the recipe for the UN-cheesecake. You have inspired me to cook and un-cook more healthy food for my child. She would love this, especially the color!
I am dyiiiing to know the recipe!! I’ve successfully done a date & cashew/macadamia nut crust… but the filling i can never accomplish
Please FILL (ha) us in when you get a moment. I LOVE LOVE LOVE your site! So inspirational