yes, folks, this is your basic thanksgiving post.

well, maybe not so basic, because i live in a house divided.

there’s a vegan in my family, a vegetarian who hates cheese (isn’t that also a vegan),  a little girl who hates cheese, another little girl who likes to eat meat right off a bone like no one else does in the family (weird), at least four people who hate mushrooms (the HORROR), a man who cannot possibly eat or drink enough (my sweet, insatiable hub), a woman who struggles with sugar (ahem…me), and the matriarch of the family, who probably wonders who on earth raised these weirdos!

is this your family table?

all i can say is ~ i absolutely LOVE this challenge.  first of all, I’M the vegan (well, plant-based ~ i cheat), so obviously that’s the hardest restriction to address, and i’m crazy about accommodating people, period.  and secondly, i love my family, and i cannot wait to shower them with healthy, rich, colorful, fresh, mostly organic food on thursday.

so here’s the menu:

THAI PUMPKIN/COCONUT SOUP (we always start with a pumpkiny bisque)

ITALIAN-BRINED CORNISH GAME HENS (the only non-vegan item on the menu)

VEGAN MUSHROOM GRAVY

ORANGE-CRANBERRY SAUCE (a new recipe from the blender girl!)

OLIVE OIL MASHED POTATOES WITH ROASTED GARLIC AND TRUFFLE SALT (who needs dairy with that cast of characters?)

BALSAMIC GREEN BEANS

CLASSIC STUFFING STUDDED WITH ROASTED SWEET POTATOES

BRUSSELS SPROUT/KALE CAESAR WITH SWEET VEGAN CAESAR DRESSING

LEE’S FOCACCIA (my beloved friend, lee, gave me his focaccia recipe!)

PUMPKIN PIE (made with coconut milk and grain-free almond tart crust)

TRIFECTA PIE (my mom found this ~ a pie made in a large sheet pan, with three varieties of fillings lined up like little soldiers!  we’re going for pear w/fig jam, berry, and apple w/cheddar)

is that too much for 7 people?  i think not!

i’ll post the dishes that turn out to be worthy of your time!!