Thanksgiving is perhaps the hardest meal of the year for those with dietary restrictions. I've struggled with this for years as someone with gluten and dairy allergies. Yet, with a little creativity, your traditional holiday meals can be just as delicious as you may remember!! Follow your favorite recipes, and use some of my favorite holiday 'swaps,' below.
Turkey Preparation:
A good organic free range turkey is the start of your delicious meal!
Instead of a traditional bread stuffing, fill the cavity with carrots, celery, apples, parsnips and parsley. You can include quartered onions and fresh garlic, if you don't have issues with allium-genus.
Keeping the bird moist is important - start with a compound 'butter' using Earth Balance alternative butter and dried herbs, which you can spread just under the turkey skin.
Make a basting liquid of Earth Balance with a good organic bone broth chicken stock (I like to add some dry white wine for flavor), and keep it warm on the stovetop until you have enough liquid in your roasting pan.
Mashed Potatoes:
Organic Yukon Gold potatoes give natural creaminess, reducing your need for liquids. When it's time to mash these up, use cold pressed extra virgin olive oil or Earth Balance alternative butter with unsweetened almond milk and mash using a hand mixer. Use coconut milk (if even needed) to avoid nut allergens.
Green Beans:
Steam your beans for a totally natural flavor. Saute beans in cold pressed olive oil with a little salt and pepper (another great addition is granulated garlic). Or, for a fun change, cut onion into slices and toss with fresh green beans in a bowl with olive oil, salt, pepper and granulated garlic, and roast for 15 minutes at 375 degrees
Pie:
Yes, it is possible!!! Follow this recipe, using Bob's Red Mill All Purpose Gluten Free Flour, and Earth Balance butter alternative. You'll get two crusts from this, so could make two open-face pies, or one pie with a lid or lattice top. Prepare any fruit filling, and bake according to the recipe below. Take note, there is a pre-bake requirement, before adding the filling.