Thanksgiving DEEE-lights

Hello,

I apologize for my neglect in writing lately, this week has been, as per usual an utter mash up of craziness. I have plenty to tell you about and some new stuff for you to check out. Let me begin by telling you all about my lazy Thanksgiving weekend. I felt like I was getting a little ill on Friday evening so I didn't end up going out at all on the weekend, which is just as well, because that is what long weekends are for: rest and relaxation.

On Saturday,  I was invited to my great friend Amanda's place where her and her amazing room mate Adam were cookin' up a Vegan Thanksgiving Feast. Now I am a vegetarian so the idea of being able to go to a Thanksgiving meal where I can choose something of any of the plates of delicious food excites me a great deal. For those of you who are omnivores and don't know, usually us vegetarians pick from the side dishes since we don't eat traditional turkey.  I was so pumped to attend this event.

Even better, was the fact that I had been put on duty to make garlic mashed potatoes and to cook all the veggies which Amanda seasoned and Adam so kindly dropped off.  Now, I am well aware that Amanda is the queen of all things vegan, and that she is the official tester for all the delicious vegan recipes that exist on Earth, ok I'm exaggerating. But I had no idea that she would be preparing this incredible of a meal. I couldn't believe my eyes when I arrived their place. Not only had the place been transformed from a just moved in, boxes piled high in every room in utter disorganization space, to a neat and tidy living space that had a kitchen pegboard and a drink station for the guests. I was very impressed, and this was before I even  had seen the food.

As soon as I walked up into their kitchen I could smell the rich scent of roasted veggies, bubbling vegetable stock, and a faint waft of apple crisp in the air. Atop the stove sat four pots each on their own element, cooking various things, and each having bubbled over once leaving a rainbow smatter of sauces and flavours on the stove top. Off on the far counter sat a soup in a hot pot boiling away. As I tried not to get in Amanda's way as she floated around the kitchen grabbing pots, measuring cups and wooden spoons for every corner, she opened the oven, and inside was a sight to see. Both racks of the oven were jam packed with casserole dishes full of interesting and delightful smelling vegan goods. A stuffed tofurky, a seitan roulade with roasted vegetables around it, a rice paella stuffed squash, grilled portbellos with a rice topping, a green bean casserole, and a dish of homemade bread stuffing.  Along with these, I had provided a big heap of garlic mashed potatoes, and cooked the loemon roasted potatoes, roasted carrots and seasoned roasted squash chunks.  I cannot explain how amazing it truly was.

As people began to arrive, more food made it's way into the living room, including fancy roasted almonds,  traditional pickled beets and sweet pickles and fresh-from- the- market rolls. Fresh apple cider and a growler of beer sat at the drink station next to two lines of shiny glasses.

At about 7pm, dinner was served and it became immediately clear that the goal was to eat as much as you possibly could because there was no way Amanda would be able to fit it all in her fridge after. The food tasted exquisite and after second helpings, for those who could manage them were gobbled up, we all sat in utter exhaustion from the amount of food we had consumed.

This was not the end however, as a pumpkin pie with a crushed walnut crust, pumpkin shortbread squares and a hot apple crisp with vanilla ice awaited us. We all discussed how there is definitely a second stomach reserved for dessert and that it would just be silly for us not to try any. Needles to say, we made a small dent in the desserts, as they were so hard to resist.

The entire evening was absolutely great. I know I have mentioned only the food but it was out of this world. Spending time with old friends and plenty of new friends, chatting and enjoying each others company makes me realize that perhaps I am thankful for Thanksgiving. I think most of us can agree that the original colonialist origins of Thanksgiving are often lost and the weekend becomes about family and friends being together, and this is exactly what the weekend was for me.

On top of it all, Amanda took photos to post to her blog, which I recommend you all to check out, as she writes about her wacky vegan ways. Also, this month is Vegan Food Month, also known as Vegan MOFO. People are posting "food porn" (lots of vegan food pictures) all day everyday, talking about recipes and sharing with each other. I'm sure I will be given the opportunity to taste many more of Amanda's creation this month as she is doing plenty of cooking and baking. Yum yum!

BLOG: http://notjustgreens.blogspot.com/

There are loads of pictures from the big Thanksgiving feast on Amanda's blog so be sure to check them out. Warning: snacks at hand while looking through pictures is a good idea as they will make your mouth water. :)

I won't bore you with any details of the weather or ordinary life details, because if you live here, you know it's been crap, and if you don't live here you have probably heard about it and thought to yourself "Gee I sure am glad that I don't live in Halifax at this moment, because their weather is crap!" hahaha.

I will leave you with that and I plan share more exciting stories as the week goes. Guess what!? Tomorrow is Wednesday already, how exciting is that?

Toodaloo

Spec