Being a raw vegan at Thanksgiving brings about questions that I get asked by curious turkey eaters who can’t imagine having a Thanksgiving meal without having a dead turkey on their table. One question I get asked is. . . “What are you going to have for a Thanksgiving meal?” Before I get a chance to reply it is followed by “Are you going to have Tofurkey?”. . . Imagining in their minds that tofurkey is tofu shaped to look like a roasted turkey.

In my earlier days as a raw vegan I would usually take the time to point out to those who posed this question that they don’t know what raw vegan means.

First I would explain to them that tofu is not raw and is a highly processed product which has had the life cooked out of it, also, unless organic, it’s made with soybeans which now is one of the major crops that are Genetically Modified and a health hazard in itself.

The second thing I would mention to them is that vegans do not enjoy eating things that look like animals for many reasons but mostly because of the needless brutal slaughter associated with that industry. Not to mention that I don’t want my gut to be a graveyard for dead animals. It brings no joy to a vegan to eat a non-animal food that looks like one regardless of what the vegetable source they are made of.

Back in my earlier days, if I were feeling spunky I would start educating the curious minded about the health benefits of eating raw vegan food. Usually after they listen to me for a short while I would see them look at their watches as if they had somewhere to go in a hurry. Kinda funny actually to see them squirm and wish they never asked me what I was having for Thanksgiving.

Now 37 years later when I’m asked that same question or one like it I just say “no tofurkey” and everyone is happy.

To elaborate a little on what I do have for Thanksgiving that might be of interest to some I will share a few simple recipes for you to try. All of these can be made in a matter of minutes.

 

Sometimes before a meal while family or friends are sitting around chatting, I will break out a favorite dip, and it goes like this:

In a Vitamix or other high speed blender add. . . 

2 cups cashews

1 cup sunflower seeds

¾ cup raw apple cider vinegar

½ of a sweet onion (more or less to your liking)

2 garlic cloves (more or less to your liking)

2 tsp Celtic sea salt

2 cups of water

Blend on high in Vitamin, Blendtec or other high speed blender until creamy and serve with your favorite vegetables or Raw Food Central Flax crackers.

3 different Variations added separately that change the flavor delightfully are:

1. Add a red pepper
2. Add Dill
3. Add ¼ cup raisins

 

Another popular but easy appetizer would be corn soup or chowder; all you need is a blender and a few simple ingredients.

This time of year there is no good fresh corn, so the next best thing is frozen. Make sure it’s organic because most of the corn these days is Genetically Modified. When you buy organic it is fairly safe that it is not GMO.

1 pound of frozen thawed organic corn (you can speed up the thawing process in room temp water, in a bowl keep adding new water and dumping the cold water until thawed)

Add 3 cups of water (more or less depending on how thick or thin you want your soup.

1 ½ tsp of Celtic sea salt or to taste.

Options; Add onion and/or garlic to your liking

Blend on high until creamy and serve.

If you want a chunky chowder type of soup save some whole corn kernels and pulse them in afterwards, don’t blend fully.

As a delicious garnish I like to sprinkle on top Raw Food Central Snack Mix which is a nice medley of kale with light and airy freeze dried corn and peas which gives the soup a nice extra look and taste.

This is a delicious quick and easy soup.

 

For a favorite entrée or appetizer, depending on how much you eat, there is a popular food that I like to make and has many variations, and that is Guacamole.

The way I make it goes like this:

Take two ripe avocados and put in a food processor.

Add the juice of one lemon.

Add a small handful of cilantro

Add 1 cup of chopped tomatoes

2 tsp Celtic sea salt or to taste

Add ½ diced red pepper

Add 3 of the greens of scallions

Directions:

Pulse all in food processor until evenly chunky smooth.

Now there are several ways you can enjoy this and they are:

• Place in the center of a romaine leaf and enjoy as a taco
• Use as a dip with you favorite vegetables
• Cut cucumbers into circles and spread on top and use as finger food.

I like to sprinkle some of Raw Food Central Kale SuperFood Seasoning on these 3 variations for that special added flavor.

 

 HAPPY THANKSGIVING

If any of you reading this blog would like to try our new Kale SuperFood Seasoning send me a email at curt@rawfoodcentral.com and I will send you out a free bottle to try. Once you try it let me know what you think 🙂