5 Favorite Vegan Thanksgiving / Holiday Recipes | Katie Reines, MS, RD.

Ahhh Thanksgiving. My favorite holiday. Take the stress away and leave nothing but joy to saturate your friends and family. Which is really what Thanks. Giving. is all about, isn’t it?  Sometimes, these family occasions can be looked at as a burden.  I invite you to challenge that.  Let’s put in an effort out of love. It is worth it.  And maybe even take it to the next level- provide your family a truly compassionate dish option 😛

1. Apple Pie

This is the gourmet recipe from the incredible healing cafe, Organic Garden Cafe in Beverly, MA where I’ve been working at seasonally since high school. Jacob Massey is an amazing raw vegan pastry chef. This pie: UNREAL. You have to believe me, seriously you must try it <3. I’m obsessed. Maybe its the already delicious food it’s made out of. Or maybe it’s all the joy he puts into his work. I’d say both. Anyone who has it tastes and feels the incredible-ness.

Makes 6 Pies:

Crust:

• 10 cups walnuts
• 7 1/2 cups pitted moist dates or coconut date rolls
• 2 1/4 tsp cinnamon
• 2 Tbsp coconut palm sugar
• 2 1/4 Tbsp coconut oil

1. Line spring form pans with parchment paper
2. Pulse and blend in food processor until well combined and a little chunky, not too smooth
3. Distribute crust evenly into pans and press to smooth

Filling:

• 10 quarts chopped into 1/2 inch cubes apples
• 4 cups soaked dried apricots
• 2 cups soaked raisins
• 3/4 cup psyllium
• 1/2 cup fresh ginger (not peeled but washed)
• 1/4 cup cinnamon
• 2 tsp salt

1. Blend soaked fruit, psyllium, ginger, cinnamon, and salt in food processor until smooth
2. Combine with chopped apple and mix well. The juices from the apple will release and the dried fruit mixture will distribute nicely
3. Distribute filling evenly on crusts and press to smooth

Crumble:

• 8 cups walnuts
• 1/4 tsp clove
• 1/4 tsp nutmeg
• 2 tsp vanilla
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 6 Tbsp coconut palm sugar

1. Pulse in food processor until well combined and forms a nice crumble texture, not too smooth like butter
2. Distribute crumble over pie fillings evenly and smooth gently
3. Freeze pies overnight and thaw in the refrigerator. Freezing and thawing gives the apples a delicious cooked texture and releases all the wonderful juices.
4. Try your best to share with someone 😉 Happy Thanksgiving!

2. Holiday Kale Salad

Inspired by the Quinoa Medley (#4 below). Use whatever herbs you like and have so much fun! This dish has wowed so many people and honestly, you can’t go wrong. A sweet tangy dressing, epic freshness and beautiful colors with the pompom. Mmm mmm!

• 1-2 bunches of kale
• 2 pomegranates
• 1 bunch green onion (half chopped half blended)
• 1 large bunch dill (half chopped half blended)
• 1 bunch mint (half chopped half blended)
• 2 Tbs tahini (I used 2 Tbs hemp seeds)
• 2 cups currents or raisins (I didn’t use raisins at the demo)
• ½ cup pure lime juice
• ½ cup orange juice
• 4 dates
• 2 cups walnuts

1. Wash, de-stem, and schiffinade kale
2. Chop using either a food processor S blade, or a knife and cutting board, half of the bunches of scallion, dill, and mint
3. Deseed pomegranates (with a large spoon, banging on the outside of 1/2 of the fruit so the seeds just fall into your palm)
4. chop walnuts
5. Blend juice, dates, and the other half of the bunches of green onion, dill, and mint
6. Massage dressing into kale thoroughly with gloved or very very clean hands
7. Using tongs, mix in nuts and pomegranate seeds
8. Serve chilled

3. FullyRaw Pumpkin Pie

I made this pie many times in Indiana where little local persimmons are all over the place.  There were two local persimmon trees at Purdue where I would frequently sit under, wait for the wind to blow, and eat all of the fruit that fell to the ground! The samples I made in the video below could not have gotten better reviews.  It is amazing how people think healthy food won’t taste redonk. And when it does, the light in their eyes! Priceless.

FullyRaw Kristina’s Pumpkin Pie:

Crust

• ~1 lb dates
• 1.5-2 cups pecans
• 1-2 tsp Cinnamon
• 1 tsp vanilla

Pie Filling

• 2-3 cups pie pumpkin
• ~2 lbs dates
• Ginger, thimble sized piece
• ~168grams persimmon pulp
• 1-2 tsp pumpkin pie spice

Crust

1. Using food processor S blade, put pecans in first, then dates and cinnamon, and pulse and blend until desired crust texture
2. Take out the blade
3. Press all around pie crust

Pie Filling

1. Put pumpkin chunks and then dates, persimmon, cinnamon, ginger, and spice in vitamix, or food processor S blade
2. Blend until completely smooth
3. Rubber spatula into pie crust
4. Freeze to set (about 2 hours)

4. Quinoa Medley

I’m actually obsessed with Chef AJ and The Plant Based Dietitian, Julieanna Hever.  I got to meet Chef AJ at Chicage Vegan Mania when I went with the club that I helped to create, “Be Veg at Purdue”. She made this quinoa medley at her demo and everyone was like. HOMINA. No oil? No salt?? So much flavor?!! Howw does she do it. A must make dish for every occasion.  Both Chef AJ and Julieanna Hever have the best recipes.  Definitely check them out!

Time: 25 minutes. You will need: large pot, knife, cutting board, large bowl, large spoon, measuring cups. Serves: ~20. (½ cup servings)

Ingredients:

• 16 oz dry quinoa (about 2 ½ cups)
• 2 cups raisins
• 1 cup raw pumpkin seeds (pepitas)
• 1 pomegranate
• 1 bunch scallion
• ½ bunch cilantro
• ½ bunch parsley
• ½ – ¾ cup lime juice (about 8 limes)

Steps:

1. Rinse quinoa and then bring to a boil in 5 cups of water. Cover and reduce heat to low and simmer until quinoa is tender, about 15 minutes. (cook to manufacture’s instructions on box)
2. Allow quinoa to cool. Chop herbs using a food processor S blade, or by hand. Juice limes.
3. Combine ingredients in large bowl. Serve chilled. Keeps well for about a week in the fridge.

5. Butternut Squash Brussel Sprout Stuffing

My roommate in Texas made this twice for a project and guess who ate it all.  GUILTY (well, you know, ate most of it). It is so amazing! Food52 is a great resource for reliably bomb vegan recipes.

I hope this helps you to bring something healthy and delicious to your table. Let me know if you have any questions 🙂 Happy Thanksgiving!

 

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HEMP MILK RECIPE | Dietitian Approved

Ahh hemp seeds!  One of the most nutrient dense little foods out there.  With anti-inflammatory omegas, packed with protein and iron.  Look out world hemp milk is going to make a lean mean hulk outta you! 1 cup of this milk recipe has got about:

• Calories: ~130
• Protein: ~8 grams
• Fat: ~9 grams (essential omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids!)
• Iron: 15% DV* (*daily value based on a 2000 calorie diet)
• Fiber: 8% DV*

Ingredients:

• 3 cups cold water
• 1/2 cup hemp seeds
• 1 pitted moist date
• 1/2 tsp vanilla

Steps:

1. Blend for 1-2 minutes on high until smooth and creamy
2. Keep in the fridge for about a week
3. Hug someone randomly, because you can
4. ❤ smile.

The Soup Everyone is Craving- Even in the Summer

Hope you had a lovely fourth!  Unfortunately, after the stress of the RD (registered dietitian) exam (yes! I passed! 😀), I have not given myself a break and managed to get a pretty nasty cold.  My 4th consisted of a couch, good books, and the most hydrating foods I could get my hands on.  I drank lots of boxed coconut water, ate an entire watermelon, and had a few oranges, cherries, and fresh picked raspberries here and there; that is all that sounded good to me.

This is what I made myself for breakfast today:

Thai coconut curry veg amazingness.

Was going to make a green smoothie bowl of some sort, but was craving something hot and savory.  Holy **** it hit the spot. It would be a disservice not to blog about it.

Thai Coconut Curry Soup

Serves ~6 people. 2 ladles per serving.

Ingredients:

Keep in mind I did not measure anything. I am amazed at myself- this is truly a special moment. Perseverance and practice make progress. ! Feel it out, use what you’ve got in the fridge, and at first tread lightly with the spices and continue to add until you’ve got the mastermind punch of spice that you desire. 🙂 Throw some fun in too. Makes it taste better.

• 2/3 box of low sodium vegetable broth
• half of a 1lb bag of baby carrots
• 2 cloves of garlic (used the tiny holes on the cheese grater to finely mince)
• 1 large marble sized chunk of fresh ginger, peeled (used the tiny holes on the cheese grater to finely mince)
• 1 can of coconut milk
• ~1/2 tsp cayenne (you can always add more if needed)
• ~2/3 tsp turmeric
• ~2/3 tsp chili powder
• 1/2 large yellow onion, diced
• 1 large stalk of celery, roughly chopped
• 1 boiled potato, peeled and cubed (I always have boiled potatoes in the fridge, yum!)
• 1/4 head cauliflower, rough chop
• 1/4 can of Eden’s black soy beans (mom meant to get black beans, w.e)
• 4 handfuls of baby kale, roughly chopped (I am so lazy I just ripped it up with my hands)
• fresh mint and lime to top / garnish

The products I used

Steps: this is how I made it, I am sure there are better ways…

1. Pour the veg broth in a med/large pot and bring to a boil with the carrots. (If you decide to substitute winter squash or sweet potato for carrot, I still recommend putting these in first to boil, as well as maybe your cubed potato if it is not pre-boiled already). This allows the carrots to cook and get soft and sweet, as well as add some flavor to the broth.
2. While waiting for the boil, with the smallest setting on a cheese grater (or just mince), grate the garlic and ginger into the pot. Add in onions, coconut milk, and spices. Allow to boil for about 5 minutes, and turn down heat to simmer.
3. Add in the celery, boiled potato, cauliflower, and black beans. Let simmer about 2-5 minutes.
4. I actually put the chopped kale in my serving dish and ladled the soup on top of the kale. I don’t want my kale to lose its beautiful green color or nutrients. Definitely add that in last, after you turn off the heat.
5. Enjoy with fresh mint and a generous squeeze of lime! Yum!

Make it your own!

I did not plan on making soup today, I simply used the random veggies I had in the fridge and things I happen to find in the cupboard.  Play with different vegetables that you might have like bell peppers, zucchini, basil, idk, mm brown rice? Go crazy with it! Nom nom! xoxo much love and good health to you and to me!!