Comments on: Least favorite day of the year

By: Lisa B. in Portland

Lisa B. in Portland — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 01:11:52 +0000

Or try liquid smoke flavoring. Isn’t that what it is about missing bacon? Mostly the smoke flavor?

We had TG at my sister-in-law’s. My other SIL and 2 of her kids are gluten-intolerant and I’m lactose-intolerant (but the pills help) and my DH and I don’t eat pork or shellfish (we’re not Jewish but he doesn’t cuz the Bible says not to and I don’t cuz pork makes me ill and it and shellfish are actually pretty nasty if you look them up). It actually worked out ok and we don’t put bacon in the green beans, we make the casserole with the crispy onions on top. My grandma always used to put bacon in and I agree that it’s gross. And while we’re on the subject, tofu and soy products make me ill, too, so they’re out if I ever became vegetarian.

I hope everyone had a good time.

By: Wacky Hermit

Wacky Hermit — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 17:21:25 +0000

Robyn: try Bacon Salt. There’s no bacon in it, but one taste and you’ll swear there is. It’s even kosher! (For vegetarians, some of the varieties contain milk; read the ingredient list.)

By: Heather

Heather — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 23:55:35 +0000

Loved this post! My family used to say things to me like ‘What do you EAT?’. I know it was perplexing to them (my grandfather had a cattle farm-enough said). Luckily, my Mom’s Thanksgiving dinner always has plenty of meatless dishes.

By: Dennis

Dennis — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 17:59:43 +0000

Had brown rice & summer sausage that day. Nobody to share with, just myself.

By: Tula

Tula — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 02:44:38 +0000

But carnage is so tasty!

By: Ioanna

Ioanna — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 10:08:58 +0000

Ha ha ha. “Chicken is not really meat.” I didn’t know families said that outside of Cyprus. My grandmother used to routinely put bacon pieces in rice pilaf/bulgar wheat for me after I told her I stopped eating meat. She didn’t understand my protesting. Here the most dreaded holiday for vegetarians is Easter. No contest. Greek Easter involves so much meat it makes Thanksgiving seem completely harmless by comparison. Think practically the whole of a sheep rotating over coals. Think just a side of salad and some roasted potatoes.

I’m surprised nobody suggested green bean or broccoli casserole. Those are awesome Thanksgiving staples if you’re not vegan. My sister makes vegetarian shepherds pie (she’s in England) and it’s really really good. Also, I agree with Dawn. Sweet potatoes and pumpkin pie! And cranberry sauce! What more do you need!

Thanks for the quinoa recipe Kathleen. I tried making it curried but yours sounds sooo much better. Garlic, yey! Oh and I also don’t care for tofu. Which I guess is insulting to some people’s preconceptions on what a vegetarian should eat. I’ve gotten glares saying that.

By: Emmy Jay

Emmy Jay — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 16:15:36 +0000

I’m a vegetarian too — but the people we usually spend The Day with are big on both wine and pies, so at least I have something to look forward to. (Quinoa is probably my favorite grain, but I don’t make it often enough. Thanks for reminding me. )

By: Julia Crow

Julia Crow — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 12:22:18 +0000

Thanks Kathleen. We use lots of garlic around here too. I don’t know how people cook without it!

By: Sue T.

Sue T. — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 04:33:57 +0000

Thanks for the quinoa recipe! I will definitely be passing that on to my daughter. She turned me on to a wonderful packaged grain mix at Trader Joe’s called Harvest Grains Blend – Israeli style couscous, orzo, baby garbanzos and red quinoa. There’s no Trader Joe’s down where she lives (lower Shenandoah Valley of Virginia), so whenever she comes up to visit, we make a Trader Joe’s run where she stocks up on as many bags of this mix as she can decently get away with.

By: Kathleen

Kathleen — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 20:02:51 +0000

Milena: hilarious about the twigs and berries. That is the sort of thing I’d do. Oh wait! I just thought of something. I’ve never hosted a meal with my MIL in attendance. I’ll have to figure out a way to work in that joke.

Dave: thanks for sharing the news. My younger sister also had breast cancer but is faring well.

Marguerite: my friend Sally says we should fast on T-day. I refused to celebrate it for years (I obviously have a history of being a wet blanket on thanksgiving) in a misguided attempt at solidarity with Native Americans -who around here, are as likely to celebrate as any. I’ve never been fond of tofu. I like seitan very much but the gluten overdose gives me gas (tmi, sorry).

Julia: garlic is like salt, you add to taste. In my house, two cloves is scarce worth the effort. Even my son won’t eat a baked potato without fresh garlic. I suppose two is a start. I dare not use any less than four or five. My husband would leave me.

Pat: Vegetarian pot pie sounds grand. I’ll have to try that. The best way to get out of work is to eat at someone else’s house. The side benefit being the absence of the collateral damage of leftovers.

Robyn: I used to miss bacon but the smell is now a definite turn off. The odor is too cloying and greasy. I miss carnitas sometimes.