Thanksgiving Menu 2014

Are you guys ready for Thanksgiving yet?!  This year we are going to my parents house for Thanksgiving across the state in eastern Washington.  Thankfully, as I have mentioned many times before, my parents are also nutritarian, so healthful and delicious foods will not be hard to come by this holiday!  We will have a few dishes on our menu not nutritarian-friendly for my husband, brother, and sister-in-law.

Here is our lineup:

For the night before Thanksgiving as everyone is getting into town, we are having a simple dinner of Vegan Red Beans and Rice with a simple side salad.  Find my recipe for red beans and rice here.


Thanksgiving Day

Breakfast: Moms Whole Grain Waffles/Pancakes

Appetizers:

Grandmas Garlic Dip - A recipe deep in our family tradition, but not nutritarian
Layered Taco Dip - My mom recipe she has used for years, although she has modified it to nearly eliminate the bad stuff (cheese and sour cream)
Amys Hummus - This has become a family favorite in recent years.  Find my recipe here.

Veggies, fruit, crackers, pita bread

Sides: 

Pomegranate and apple salad - inspired by this recipe, but we will be making our own oil-free dressing
Mashed potatoes - the traditional kind with butter and milk for the non-nutritarians at the feast
Mushroom Herb Gravy - healthier version of gravy, recipe here
Baked Oriental Sweet Potatoes - This is my new favorite type of sweet potato.  It has a pink/purple skin with white insides.
Wild Rice and Cranberry Stuffing, with Roasted Brussels Sprouts - recipe here and here
Traditional Stuffing - for the non-nutritarians
Macaroni and Cheese - for my husband mainly, recipe here
Whole Wheat Rolls - my moms recipe

Mains:

Vegan Cabbage Rolls - recipe here
Small turkey with traditional stuffing

Desserts:

Marrionberry Pie - store bought
Pumpkin Pie - traditional homemade crust, with this vegan pumpkin filling 

Is our Thanksgiving line-up perfectly nutritarian?  Of course not!  But it is miles and miles more healthful than most of the Thanksgivings we grew up with.

Did I mention that I get to see these two butterballs next week?  I just cant wait to see my nephews!

Whats on your menu for Thanksgiving?

Health and Happiness,

Amy

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Oktoberfest Weekend 2014

This weekend, Kevin and I made our annual trip to Leavenworth, WA for one of the Oktoberfest weekends.  We met our group of 11 people there, cramming into two hotel rooms, and had just a blast.  I thought I would share some of the fun pictures my good friend Matt took over the weekend.

My friend Matt shmoosing with some older gentleman.  He is an old man at heart, we always tell him.

Matt and Kevin near the end of the first evening.  They had a little TOO good of time that first night... ;)

Most of our group at the end of the first evening.... except for the gal on the left.  We dont know her.  Kevin has had a bit too good of time.  Stephanie (top) and I (sitting) are enjoying our matching outfits and the fact we took it a bit easier so we could enjoy the second day.  

Our group on the second day relaxing in our nice hotel patio area.  At this point, all of the people on the "struggle bus" from the night before have gotten up and are ready for another fun night.

Our friends Ian and Dannielle, who are getting married next summer.  Dannielle officially asked me to be a bridesmaid over the weekend.  So excited to see these two join the married-club soon!

Our friends Kyle and Moody enjoying a beer while the women get ready for the evening.

From left: Stephanie, me, Dannielle, Ashley, and April below.  Ruining the moment: Mitch and Ian.

The lovely ladies of Oktoberfest 2014.  I wasnt planning on dressing up until Dannielle told me she had ordered an extra dirndl that wouldnt quite fit her girls.  Score!

Bring on the evening!

I believe this was our faces when prompted with "How would you feel if there were no more beer?"

Us hanging around town when the guys picked up some liquor and cokes to drink outside of the festival.  Beers in Oktoberfest cost $7 for a pint, rather than the $5 last year.  :(

Kevin and I getting cozy on the grass.

Selfie of Matt and I while waiting for the others to use the port-o-potties on the way to the festival.  Ok, I seriously dont have a double chin.  This is just one of those looking-downward angles!

Fun face-cutout sign in the festival.

Kevin bought another silly hat to wear all night.  On the bright side, it had orange LED lights in it, so it was super easy to spot him from a distance!

Matt met some interesting characters within the festival.

We randomly saw I guy with some .... jugs of beer?

Thanks to everyone who came this year.  Cant wait for next Oktober!

Health and Happiness,

Amy

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