Wheatsville Thanksgiving Hours

We're open normal hours 7:30-11pm on Wed. 11/24
Closed on Thanksgiving
Open 10AM-10PM on Fri. 11/26
Then back to normal hours from there.
Thanks for your patronage!
Have an excellent Thanksgiving!

Easy and fun Thanksgiving! Plus recipes and what to do with leftovers!

Hello Thanksgiving Fans and friends!

Well, this is IT. Thanksgiving is our favorite time of year around here and we look forward to helping you have the best and easiest Thanksgiving possible! We are definitely the most mellow place to shop on the day before Thanksgiving and to make it even easier, we'll park your car for you! That's right, our lot can fill up on busy days, so to relieve the stress of waiting for a spot, we've hired a valet service to park your car FOR FREE, no tipping required or expected. If you have a big list, PLEASE consider using the valet. As we bag your groceries, we can have the valet get your car, so there will be virtually no wait for you!

For your convenience!

Like last year, we've arranged a display by the front entrance to help make your shopping trip to Wheatsville even more pleasant and efficient. In it you will find local, organic green beans, fresh cranberries and celery ready to go! You can also pick up one of four amazing pies and don't forget the whipped cream (dairy, soy and rice available!) Save a trip to the back of the store and get your Farmhouse eggs and Tillamook butter here, as well as the best dairy offerings from Organic Valley-butter, half & half, heavy whipping cream and sour cream.

"That tofurky and garlic mash really helped me turn around my otherwise shitake Monday."-Wheatsville customer tweet, Thanksgiving 2009

We are delighted to be a part of your Thanksgiving this year!

This note is CHOCK FULL of Thanksgiving action.

Scroll down for Thanksgiving made easy with:

Deli sides and pies and Thanksgiving Hot Bar!

Organic Turkeys and Niman Hams

Cheese course? Of course!

Seasonal produce

Wine for pairing and a great beer for Thanksgiving, too!

Grocery aisles full of holiday faves

Bulk Goodness

Veg Thanksgiving?

Co+op Deals and Owner Deals make it affordable

Recipes! (Persimmon Pudding, leftover tips and more!)

Thanksgiving's here at your Wheatsville Deli!

If there's one thing the Wheatsville Deli loves most, it's our tasty Thanksgiving dishes! All year we wait patiently for our next opportunity to delight both staff and customers with our wonderful holiday foods! And that time is NOW! All of our Thanksgiving classics are available for your dining pleasure, including Vegan Cornbread Stuffing, Creamy Coconut Mashed Sweet Potatoes, Roasted Fall Root Vegetables, Green Beans with Mushrooms, Leek-Roasted Carrots with Tempeh, Niman Ranch Pork Sausage Bread Stuffing, Garlic Mashed Potatoes, Vegan Mushroom Gravy and Cranberry Orange Relish! Take some home for your holiday feast from our grab'n'go self-serve case, or have our Deli Counter staff portion you out just the right amount from our full-serve case!

Starting on Tuesday we'll also have ready-to-go Complete Holiday Sides bags in our self-serve case, with enough goodies to go alongside your turkey or Tofurky to feed 4 to 6 people, including heaping helpings of Garlic Mashed Potatoes, Green Beans, Cornbread Stuffing, Cranberry Relish, Mushroom Gravy, Roasted Roots and Coconut Mashed Sweet Potatoes!

Also available at the Deli are all of our holiday favorites like Garlic Chive Cheddar Cheese Balls, Vegan Rosemary Biscuits, LaBrea Wheat Dinner Rolls, Walnut Pecan Pate, Vegan Coconut Cream Pies, Vegan Pumpkin Pies, Classic Pecan Pies and Classic Pumpkin Pies, both whole and in slices! Come in and stock up now on all of our homemade delights to make the most of your holiday celebrations!

Also, all this week we are running an All-Day Thanksgiving Feast Hot Bar from 11am-7pm, featuring sliced Roast Turkey with Gravy and sliced vegan Tofurky with Gravy, alongside an assortment of our holiday fare, so you can get a head start on your noshing, or just grab some great, hot holiday food to go!

And don't let the holi-daze make you forget all of our other fantastic Deli items that are perfect for celebrating, like our Cashew-Tamari Dressing – great as a raw veggie dip, a multitude of tasty salsas and hummus for your hors d'oeuvres table, a trip to our Tiny Brinies Bar for olives and other treats, and an assortment of veggie dishes from our cases to round out your table! Also, put together an easy salad for your holiday table by loading up on your favorites from our Salad Bar and make your holiday prep so much easier!

So spend time with your family and friends, and leave the cooking to us! Your friendly, neighborhood co-op has got you covered this Thanksgiving at the Wheatsville Deli!

News from the World of Meat

TURKEYS are here!!!!! We have Grateful Harvest Organic Turkeys for $3.49/lb.  We also have Grateful Harvest Natural Turkeys for $2.99/lb. Grateful Harvest turkeys are deep chilled for a premium bird.

If you have pre-ordered your turkey just go straight to the Hospitality Desk to pick it up! These folks will get you all taken care of for your turkey or ham pre-order.  Shopping at Wheatsville for the holidays is the right choice! Our store is the right size to get you in and out FAST and we are committed to helping you as quickly as possible!

We will have turkey breasts, thighs, tenders, wings, and drumsticks for those folks that are looking for a smaller serving of turkey.

We also stock supplies for gravies and soups for the Holidays.  Turkey necks & giblets will be on sale as well as chicken livers.

Interested in learning a little more about Grateful Harvest? http://www.gratefulharvest.com/about_us.aspx

Niman Ranch Hams are now in stock! We have quarter hams and half hams for $8.99/lb.  These hams are delicious and a great way to go if you are looking for something other than turkey to be the center piece for your Holiday meal.  Below is a link to their featured farmers the Willis Free Range Hog Farm.  http://www.nimanranch.com/featuredfarmers.aspx

We will be cutting larger pieces of Alaskan Sockeye, $17.99/lb., and Coho Salmon, $15.99/lb. – just the right size for the center piece of your holiday meal.

Most important meal of the day tip #1! Don't forget to shop for Thursday and Friday morning's breakfast! Last year I was so focused on my holiday items that I completely forgot about breakfast.  So learn from my mistakes and buy breakfast items during your holiday shop.  Seriously, have you tried local Richardson's Farm pan & link sausages? These are my favorite sausages in the entire world!  http://www.richardsonfarms.com

We also have some a great breakfast selection from Niman Ranch.  Apple Cinnamon Breakfast sausage, By adding real apples, maple syrup and a hint of cinnamon to their flavorful pork, they have taken this breakfast classic to another level.

Niman Ranch Uncured Applewood Smoked Bacon….. this breakfast classic has been smoked over real applewood chips to create a perfectly balanced bacon that's not too salty and not too smoky.

Last year we sold a ton of Smoked lox! This is a great way to treat your family with a simple (because you might be tired of cooking, right?) breakfast.  Paired with salty capers, fresh local bagels and pears!

Cheese Island

We have a few deals going on at Cheese Island. Organic Valley Cream Cheese and Neufchatel 8 oz. bar are on sale for $2.79 ea. regularly $3.29 ea. Nancy's Conventional Cottage Cheese16 oz.  is on sale for $2.79 ea. regularly $3.29 ea. Parmigiano Reggiano is on sale for $18.99/lb, regularly $21.29/lb. Organic Valley Four Cheese Italian Shreds 10 oz. are on salefor $4.29 ea.

We are now stocking Vermont Butter and Cream's Crème Fraiche. It is $4.99 for an 8 oz tub.

We have brought in a few new cheeses for the holiday. We have two Montechevre goat cheese logs. One is chevre and honey and the other is a chevre with figs. Both are $3.29 each. And I also brought in a Wenslydale with cranberry $15.29/lb. These cheeses would go great on an appetizer cheese plate!!

Scroll to the end for some "loving leftovers" tips!

Produce Gives Thanks!

Thanks so much to all the member owners and Wheatsville Staff that make this such a great place.  Thanksgiving is such a great time of the year, and sharing food is one of the best ways to show people that you love and appreciate them.

We've got some great local items in the produce department now: bunched red and Chioggia beets, as well as bunched turnips from Urban Roots in Austin, sweet potatoes from Oak Ridge farm in Grand Saline, organic green beans from Martinez Farm in Pleasonton, white and yellow onions from Naegelin Family Farm in Lytle, as well as fantastic bunched dill from Springfield Farm in Moulton and a new offering of rosemary from our aquaponics experts, HannaLeigh Farm in Austin.

In addition to the local stuff, we've got all your Thanksgiving essentials in spades: organic apple cider, celery, cranberries, plenty of potatoes and sweet potatoes.  Come by and get the best customer service in town, and have the least stressful Thanksgiving shopping experience you've ever had!

Get to know Persimmons!

One of the best things I have ever eaten is persimmon pudding.  The details are all foggy to me; I think it was at a guy named Dave's house (or was it John?), I don't remember why I was there or who I was with, but I do remember the fantastic persimmon pudding we ate that night.

You commonly see two types of persimmons in grocery stores.  Fuyu Persimmons look a bit like a tomato: they're round and squat. You eat those when they are firm like an almost-ripe pear.  While they do sweeten as they ripen, you don't want them to get too soft.  Hachiya Persimmons are more football-shaped, and you eat those when they are jelly-soft.  Like so soft that you think they are going bad.  For this reason, Hachiyas are often discarded because their owner has let them get a little too ripe.

Scroll to the end for a Persimmon Pudding recipe!

Wines for Thanksgiving!

This year we are featuring three great wines from the fantastic French Le Grand Noir Winery. Le Grand Noir Pinot Noir stands out from the crowd for its unique taste of spiced cherries and pure aromas of currant, and savory spices. Le Grand Noir GSM offers intense aromas of licorice, cocoa, and spice. On the palate, it is rich and complex with soft tannins. And for a white we have Le Grand Noir Chardonnay, This wine has a note of exotic fruit and citrus with hints of toasted vanilla. Also, don't forget when you buy six or more wines you get 10% off !

Perfect Beer for the Holiday! Victory HopDevil Ale is on sale for just $7.99 regularly $9.49! Menacingly delicious, with the powerful, aromatic punch of whole flower American hops backed up by rich, German malts. HopDevil Ale offers a roller coaster ride of flavor, coasting to a smooth finish that satisfies fully.

 

The Grocery Aisles are packed with Thanksgiving Goodness! We have all the staples you need to make your Thanksgiving Dinner special.

Pacific Natural Foods Organic Broths in 32 oz boxes are on Deal this month for $2.29, (reg $3.39) This delicious boxed broth can be used for making a quick pan gravy, moistening stuffing or a dry turkey or making flavorful soups or chilis.  (For a super quick meal, bring some broth to a simmer, add some frozen or boxed raviolis and cook until tender/done.  Add some chopped green onions to the top and enjoy the simplest dinner you've made all week!).  We have every kind of broth for your needs (and they're all organic!): Beef, Free Range Chicken (Regular and Low Sodium), Mushroom and Vegetable (Regular and Low Sodium).

We're stuffed with Stuffing!  Arrowhead Mill's Organic Savory Herb Stuffing $2.49/package is a great, traditional Thanksgiving side.  You can add some broth and vegetable oil, according to package directions, for a simple, easy stuffing.  Or, you can dress it up (!) any way you want with sausage (meat-free or meaty), dried fruits, nuts, fresh herbs or sautéed veggies.  This is a year round favorite of mine and I love to see it all over the store!  We also have  Oroweat's Cornbread or Herb Seasoned Stuffing mix for just $3.49.

Green Bean Casserole is another Turkey Day favorite that is so easy to make.  All you need is Cream of Mushroom soup (we have three brands to choose from, Campbell's $1.69, Health Valley $1.99 and Amy's Kitchen $3.39), a can of Green Beans (Westbrea Naturals is on deal for $1.99) and some French's Fried Onions (2.8 oz is $2.69, 10 oz is $3.99).  Mix the soup with a can of milk, add the beans and season to taste.  Pour in a baking dish and bake at 350 for 25 minutes.  Add the onions and return to the oven for five more minutes until the onions are golden brown.  So simple.  So yummy.

Almost every aisle in the Grocery Department has last minute snacks or appetizers.  In Aisle one, we have a huge selection of jarred olives, dolmas and pickles (for something a little fancier, please visit the Tiny Brinies corner of the Food Bar where you'll find a very nice selection of olives and pickled veggies for a mere $7.99/lb).  Also on aisle one, you'll find salsa of every heat level and flavor combo-there is something for everyone!  And please check out Nacho Mom's Vegan Queso, 16 oz for $3.99.  This locally made dip is a major hit with all tasters.  It is Fat Free too!

Aisle two is Cracker Headquarters.  Back to Nature is a company that makes healthier versions of the conventional favorites.  Stoneground Wheat, Crispy Wheats, Crispy Cheddars and Harvest Wheats are just $2.99 per box and are good paired with any cheese, nut butter or dip.  Nut-Thins are on sale for $1.99, (reg $2.89). There's nuthin' that isn't good on these gluten free Nut-Thins (Almond, Hint of Sea Salt Almond, Pecan, Hazelnut, BBQ, Cheddar and Country Ranch are the flavors we have.)

If you're looking for chips, head to Aisle Four.  We've got everything from plain potato to blue corn tortillas to rice chips with seaweed.  Terra Chip's Sweets and Beets are on sale for $2.49,(reg  $3.49). Not only are these sweet potato and beet chips delicious, but their deep orange and burgundy colors would make a pretty, classy addition to your holiday table.

 

Loving Leftovers Tip #1! And don't forget to prepare for all those leftovers!  Stock up on bread, cheese and condiments for delicious sandwiches.  (Baconnaise, a vegetarian bacon flavored mayonnaise, is in aisle one.  It is awesome!)

I'd also like to draw your attention to Paqui's Pumpkin Tortillas (in the refrigerated department).  These are seasonal, and only available for a short time.  They are awesome filled with sweet or savory foods and you will regret it if you don't give them a try while they're here. $4.99 for ten tortillas.

Leftover Turkey and veggies served up with some Near East Cous Cous would be a delicious, trouble free dinner.  We have Herbed Chicken, Roasted Garlic and Olive Oil and Parmesan on sale for $1.49 (reg $2.19)

 

Happy Thanksgiving from Riley and the Bulk gang

Hi everybody, I just want to wish you all a very happy holiday, and remind you to stop by the bulk department for all your T-day needs!  We've got you covered on flours, nuts, fruits, oils, and much more.  We've brought in a couple new items for the season, such as conventional cranberries to fit your holiday budget, and slivered almonds perfect for several Thanksgiving dishes. We've also got pre-bagged walnuts, pecans, and cranberries for a little added holiday shopping convenience, these are currently located at the front of the store near the cashiers.

I'd also like to remind you that we've got some delicious coffees from Equal Exchange on sale right now. The French Roast is on sale for just $7.49/lb reg. $10.49 and the Decaf French Roast is on sale for $9.99/lb reg. $10.99.  Both go great with Pie!

 

Refrigerated and frozen tips

"Most important meal of the day" tip #2! Too busy to make breakfast on thanksgiving morning? Try using Batter Blaster as a fast, easy, and organic way to start your morning, Batter Blaster is local a local product and can be found in the dairy case for $4.99.

Veg Thanksgiving? You bet! For your vegan/vegetarian Thanksgiving pick up your Tofurky Roast/Feast in the frozen department. Don't forget to thaw your Tofurky 24 hours before cooking it.

One other alternative option for Thanksgiving would be using our local Tempeh from the Hearty Vegan, and she has provided a delicious recipe. Scroll to the end for all recipes!

For some more suggestions for a vegan Thanksgiving check this blog post out: http://s.coop/5jx

Thanksgiving shopping made easy with Wheatsville's Co+op Deals! – Brooks Wood, Wheatsville Co+op Deals Assistant

For the Love of Baking - Our shelves are filled with all the good quality ingredients you need to make Thanksgiving delicious! Wholesome Sweeteners Organic Sugar now $2.99 reg. $4.89, Organic Valley Organic Butter now $3.99 reg. $5.99, Farmer's Market Organic Pumpkin now $1.79 reg. $2.69, If You Care Parchment Paper now $3.99 reg. $4.99, Organic Valley Organic Whipping Cream now $2.99 reg. $3.29, Bob's Red Mill Organic Flour now $3.99 reg. $5.69, Frontier Natural Bulk Organic Ground Cinnamon now $4.79/lb reg. $7.29, Spectrum Naturals Organic Canola Oil now $6.49 reg. $10.49, Tropical Source Dairy-Free Chocolate Chips now $2.99 reg. $4.69, Wholly Wholesome Organic Pie Shellsnow $2.99 reg. $3.99, Frontier Herb Organic Vanilla Extract now $6.49 reg. $9.49 and Santini Evaporated Milk is now $0.99 reg. $1.59.

Flavoring your sides & main course has never been easier! Pacific Natural Foods Organic Chicken and/or Organic Vegetable Broth now $2.29 reg. $3.39, Lundberg Family Farms Gourmet Rice Blend now $2.29 reg. $2.99, Tofurky Vegetarian Roast now $8.99 reg.$12.99, Grown Right Organic Cranberry Sauce now $1.99 reg. $2.39, Cascadian Farm Organic Vegetablesnow $1.79 reg. $2.89, Edward & Sons Organic Mashed Potatoes now $1.99 reg. $2.79 and Near East Couscous Side Dish Mix now $1.49 reg. $2.19.

Co+op Owner Deals are stocked with savings for the holidays! Our Grocery Department is loaded with tremendous fall savings! Arrowhead Mills Sweetened Shredded Wheat is now $3.49 reg. $4.29, Lakewood Organic Pomegranate Juice with Acai or with Goji is now $3.99 reg. $6.49 and Shady Maple Farms Organic Grade B Maple Syrup is now $10.49 reg. $16.79.

Our Bulk Department is stocked with savings! Equal Exchange Organic French Roast Decaf now $9.99 reg. $10.99, Lundberg Farms Organic Wild Rice Blend now $3.49 reg. $4.69, Sunspire Grain Sweetened Carob Chips now $4.49/lb reg. $6.29/lb and Sunspire Organic Dark Chocolate Chips now $5.99 reg. $8.99.

Our Refrigerated Department has several Owner favorites on Deal: Nancy's Whole Milk Yogurt now $5.99 reg. $6.79, Organic Valley Organic Low Fat or Regular Sour Cream now $2.49reg. $2.99, Organic Valley Organic Half & Half now $2.99 reg. $3.49 and Kozy Shack Chocolate Pudding, Rice Pudding and Tapioca Pudding now $2.99 reg. $3.59.

Remember, our Co+op Deals and Owner Deals are easy to reference. Check them out on our web site @ http://www.wheatsville.coop and click on the Deals links.

Recipes Galore!

Here's an easy persimmon pudding recipe.  It uses Fuyu Persimmons, we have those in stock at the co-op right now!

Ingredients

2 cups persimmon pulp (peel, blend or mash to get the pulp)

2 eggs

1 cup sugar

4 cups all-purpose flour

2 teaspoons baking soda

6 cups milk

1 tablespoon butter

Method

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).

In a large bowl, stir together the persimmon pulp and eggs using a whisk. Stir in sugar. Combine the flour and baking soda; stir into the persimmon alternating with milk until smooth. Pour into a large greased crock or casserole dish. Drop dabs of butter on top.

Bake for 2 hours in the preheated oven, stirring every 15 minutes. Pudding will be dark brown when finished. Serve hot or cold.

This dish will definitely benefit from a hard sauce: cream together ½ cup butter, ½ cup sugar, a dash of almond or vanilla extract, and a tablespoon (or more if you are adventurous) of rum, brandy, whiskey, or sherry.

 

Wondering what to do with the leftover turkey? Here are some recipes.

Turkey Broccoli Quiche

Ingredients:

1 9-inch pie shell, unbaked

3/4 cup chopped fresh broccoli

2 tablespoons finely chopped onion

1 tablespoon butter

3/4 cup chopped cooked turkey

1/2 cup shredded Gruyere or Swiss cheese

3 eggs

1 1/4 cups half-and-half

1 teaspoon curry powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

Preparation:

In a large skillet over medium-low heat, cook broccoli and onion, stirring frequently, until tender. Drain.

Sprinkle broccoli and onion, turkey, and cheese into prepared pie shell.

In a medium bowl, beat eggs slightly; beat in half-and-half, curry powder, and salt. Pour egg mixture over turkey and broccoli mixture. Bake at 425° for 15 minutes. Reduce heat to 325° continue baking for about 20 to 25 minutes, or until a knife inserted in center comes out clean.

Turkey Pasta Casserole With Asparagus and Cheddar Cheese

Ingredients:

8 ounces mini penne pasta or similar shape

6 tablespoons butter

6 tablespoons flour

1/2 red bell pepper, chopped

1 clove garlic, minced

1 bunch green onions, thinly sliced

1 1/2 cups chicken broth

2 cups milk

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon poultry seasoning blend, or to taste

cooked asparagus, cut in 1-inch pieces, about 2 cups

3 cups diced cooked turkey

8 ounces shredded Sharp Cheddar cheese

1 cup soft bread crumbs

1 tablespoon melted butter

Preparation:

Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish. Heat oven to 350°.

Cook pasta in boiling water following package directions.

In a large saucepan over medium-low heat, melt butter; add bell pepper and sauté until tender. Add garlic and green onion; sauté for 1 minute longer. Stir in flour until well blended. Stir in chicken broth, cooking until thickened. Stir in milk; continue cooking, stirring frequently, until thickened and hot. Add seasonings, asparagus, and turkey; heat through. Stir in cheese and cook until melted. Stir in the cooked drained pasta and pour into the prepared baking dish. Toss bread crumbs with 1 tablespoon melted butter and sprinkle over top. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until hot and bubbly.
Serves 6 to 8.

Turkey Tetrazzini

Ingredients:

8 ounces thin spaghetti, broken into 3-inch lengths, cooked, rinsed, and drained

1 1/2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese, divided

1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, divided

2 to 3 cups diced cooked turkey

2 tablespoons diced pimientos, if desired

1 tablespoon butter

4 ounces sliced mushrooms

1/4 chopped cup onion

1 can cream of mushroom soup

1/2 cup chicken broth

1/4 cup dry sherry

salt and pepper, to taste

Preparation:

Combine spaghetti with 1 cup Cheddar cheese and half of the Parmesan cheese. Add turkey and pimientos. In a skillet, melt butter and sauté mushrooms and onions just until tender; add to the turkey mixture along with remaining ingredients. Gently stir to combine ingredients; place in a greased casserole and sprinkle with remaining cheeses. Cover with lid or foil and bake at 350° for about 45 minutes, or until hot and bubbly. 
Serves 6 to 8.

Tempeh Roast with Tahini Mushroom Gravy

This is a great dish to serve at Thanksgiving.  The flavor is reminiscent of stuffing, with the heartiness of a main course.

 

Ingredients:

Roast:

2/3 cup water

2 tablespoons tamari

1 8-ounce package tempeh

1 large onion, chopped

2 tablespoons vegetable oil

1 cup corn kernels

1 cup fresh breadcrumbs*

½ teaspoon thyme

salt and pepper to taste

gravy:

1 tablespoon vegetable oil

2 cups mushrooms, sliced thin

2 tablespoons tahini

1 tablespoon tamari

¼ cup water

Directions:

Roast:

Defrost tempeh if frozen.  In a sauté pan bring 2/3 cup water and 2 tablespoons tamari to a boil.  Place the tempeh in the pan, lower heat, cover pan and simmer for 10 minutes.  Turn the tempeh over and simmer for another 10 minutes.  If the liquid evaporates, add a little more water to the pan.

Sauté the onion in vegetable oil in a saucepan until softened.  Remove from heat.  Mash the tempeh into the pan, then add corn kernels, bread crumbs, thyme salt and pepper.  Mix well.  Turn into an oiled oven dish and bake at 350º  ½ hour.

 

Gravy:

Sauté the mushrooms in oil in a small pan until tender.  Stir in tahini, tamari and water.  Bring to a boil, stirring, then lower heat and simmer for a couple of minutes.

Serve the roast with the gravy on top or next to it in a small bowl.

Serves 4.

* for breadcrumbs, you can use toast a few pieces of bread and finely chop.

I hope that you have a most wonderful holiday filled with friends, family and delicious food! THANK YOU sincerely for your support of our co-op. We wouldn't be anything without you!

Dan Gillotte

Wheatsville GM and e-mail guy and head tofurky

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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A vegan Thanksgiving? It's not just possible, it's awesome!

I love Thanksgiving. I always have. But since becoming vegan, I may like it even more. And it's actually pretty easy to have a vegan Thanksgiving. Here are my suggestions for you if you're considering a vegan Thanksgiving for yourself or someone that you're hosting. (As a vegan, I always appreciate it when my dietary preference has been considered for a food holiday and it doesn't have to stress the host out either!)

Pick an entrée- LOTS of choices here.

You can go with a turkey alternative like the super popular Tofurky, the Field Roast Celebration Roast, or new Gardein Turky. Each of these have their own cooking instructions, but they are all easy to prepare and take minimal time and prep, unlike their poultry counterparts. When visiting relatives, I get mine ready and just sneak it into the oven at the appropriate time. Tofurky has two choices, a roast which is a single stuffed entrée or the feast which includes the roast plus gravy and cake. If you go with the Tofurky roast, you can buy Tofurky gravy ala carte, use the deli's awesome vegan mushroom gravy or any other gravy of your choice. If traveling to an unfamiliar kitchen, Road's End makes a packaged dry gravy that is pretty tasty in a pinch.

You can also go with a home-made stuffed squash. I have simply made my favorite stir-fry and filled a baked delicata with it. It was simple and delicious. But here are some other recipes to consider- http://www.ehow.com/how_2111118_vegan-stuffed-squash.html

A fancy looking, but relatively easy Delicata Squash Stuffed with Cherry Apple Almond Couscous:

http://www.globalgourmet.com/food/cookbook/2009/vegan-entertaining/delicata-squash.html#axzz15a8mq3Tw

Get your sides on- the deli has a whole bunch of delicious vegan sides that will make omnivores into believers, so that's a great option. When I visit family, I often just ask them to leave some of their boiled potatoes for me so I can mash them up vegan-style. You can also ask them to do the same with green beans or carrots or any other vegetable. It's no problem for them, so don't be afraid to ask! (Your host WANTS you to have a yummy meal, too!)

Pie time! Thanksgiving is not the time to go without pie! You can find some of our most delicious pie here at Wheatsville. Our Coconut Crème and our Vegan pumpkin are both delights. You can also make a pie with vegan pie shells. Our frozen shells are vegan and so are the Arrowhead Mills Graham Cracker pie shells. Making your owk pie crust from scratch is also not as heard as one might think- http://www.vegfamily.com/vegan-recipes/desserts/vegan-pie-crust.htm

Enjoy!

Thanksgiving Countdown Tips 2,3

T-3: Pick up the turkey and perishables

If you're brining, check your recipe for when to start the brine.

T-2: Make ahead dishes that keep well: casseroles, cranberry sauce

Cover and refrigerate immediately to avoid food borne illness problems. Keep a close eye on the refrigerator temperature this week.