Thanksgiving 2015

I think it's just going to be the three of us this Thanksgiving, but as I do tend to feed on the leftovers for days, I'm making a whole mess of things I like.  Also UnTurkey, because it sounds insane and I can't resist trying every weird vegan meat recipe I find.  I want to be able to make almost everything (if not everything) in advance so that I don't have to waste the day in the kitchen, so I'm keeping that in mind too. 

Pumpernickel or Sourdough Bread Round with Homemade Ranch Dip and Crudites
If I manage to achieve a decent sourdough rye bread by Thanksgiving, I'll make that.  If not, I'll buy a bread round from the bakery section of the grocery store.  I find this makes a good light lunch for me and something for Sim (or guests, when we had guests) to nosh on until dinner is ready.

UnTurkey
I ventured to the big Asian supermarket for bean curd sheets yesterday, so I'm pretty much set to start cooking this now.  I want to get it done early and stash it in the freezer because I really hate cooking on holidays.

Whipped Sweet Potatoes
Because the best mashed potatoes tend to have lots of butter and cheese, I'm making whipped sweet potatoes.  The best whipped sweet potatoes I've found so far are just baked sweet potatoes that have been skinned and beaten with my mixer.  I'm trying something just slightly different this year and boiling the potatoes, then whipping them with a little homemade unsweetened soy yogurt.  I want to make some fresh yogurt with cashews anyway in the hopes of making a vegan cheesecake, and the cashew soy yogurt comes out a nice thickness and with a pleasant sweetness.  Sort of like Greek yogurt, which is what people on the internet suggest whipping into sweet potatoes.

Green Bean Casserole
This is one of my all-time favorite dishes, so I don't want to forgo making it just to keep the meal vegan or healthy.

Cranberry Waldorf Salad 

Candied Pears
I already have a can of pear halves taking up space in my pantry.  I just need to buy a jar of maraschino cherries to make this.

Pumpkin Cheesecake
I'm going to use the recipe from one of the few cookbooks I own, Artisan Vegan Cheese by Miyoko Schinner.  I'll feel less guilty eating an entire cheesecake if it's not quite as unhealthy as traditional dairy cheesecake.