No-Kill Thanksgiving: ThePrep
No-work side dishes???
No-Kill Holiday Feasts have been a RainyDay “thing” going on seven years now. We aren’t saying that our “thing” has turned into a “thing” that a lot (A LOT) of people are doing also, but that is the reality for 2021 and if we started it, well, we’re just happy that other people think the way we do. Yay for all of us!
When we first started, we had to be creative in what we served as the main protein. The meals, while delicious, were A LOT of work and took all day (which some of us didn’t mind, but the ones waiting (and waiting) (and waiting) to eat kind of wondered why we just didn’t go with a box of Oreos and a coupla Diet Cokes and be done with it). We have figured out how to streamline the workflow and increase the No-Kill deliciousness of the feasts, so this year should be awesome.
Fast-forward to the present, there are now plenty of high-quality vegetarian and vegan main course options. However, making the side dishes can still be a time-consuming affair, especially that gatherings are now again possible (and some people still think they should make the fried onion topping for the green beans from scratch).
So, our challenge to the RainyDayKitchen folks for 2021 was, “Find some veeg/vegan no-work options for the No-Kill Holiday Feast.”
A cornucopia of vegetarian deliciousness.
Mosaic Foods
The RainyDayInterns were tasked with finding and sorting through the possibilities. They reviewed all the vendors we liked in the past to see if any of them had offerings which would be of interest.
RainyDayReaders may remember Mosaic Foods. This small Brooklyn startup was one of our favorites because their prepared meals tasted great, were good for us, were easy to prepare, and didn’t break the bank. When the interns learned Mosaic Foods now offered “family size” portions, the company immediately went to the top of the list, and ended up being our first choice for the “sides” this year.
After a bit more debate, the team agreed on the following selections:
Broccoli Cheddar Mac
“…creamy white cheddar sauce made with russet potatoes and garlic is tossed with cavatappi and roasted broccoli.”
It may be paired with the houses string bean casserole, but this Broccoli Cheddar Mac is definitely on the list.
NOT from a box.
Sweet Potato Chili Bake
“…Sweet potato, onions, and poblano peppers are slow-simmered with pinto and black beans. Topped with crispy masa infused with cheddar and scallions.”
This one sounds delicious and we like the non-traditional flavor profile for Thanksgiving. We are undecided as of press time. If not Thanksgiving, then perhaps for Christmas!
The Pilgrims basically cobbled together whatever they had–why shouldn’t we?
Veggie Pot Pie
“…chock-full of gold potatoes, carrots, fennel, and peas in an oh-so-soothing sagey broth of brown lentils. A buttery, golden crust is the finishing touch.”
Instead of mashed potatoes, we thought the Veggie Pot Pie would be an excellent alternative. A bit fewer carbs, a bit more veggies, and who can say no to a “buttery golden crust?”
What I want to know is where I can get blank cards of all the vegetables on the covers?
Lasagna Primavera
“…lasagna layered to the brim with roasted zucchini, yellow squash and roasted red peppers. A homemade tomato sauce and lemony ricotta and parmesan herb filling topped with mozz and parsley.”
The Lasagna Primavera was a possible alternative to the pot pie, but we think it will be better for the Christmas Feast. At least, that is the current thinking. We still have a few days to change our minds 🙂
If they serve this on the day in Boston’s North End, why can’t we?
The Very Good Butchers
In the past, the main roast came from named brands like Field Roast and Tofurky.
Early in the year, though, we had an excellent experience with The Very Good Butchers. When the interns learned they had something called the Stuffed Beast which feeds 5-7 adults, we decided to give it a Thanksgiving try.
We certainly will be stuffed beasts after eating this–it’s enormous (but in a good way).
Along with the Stuffed Beast, we also got other tasty bits from VGB for appetizers, to use in stuffings, and just because. Seriously, who can just order one thing from the VGB?
We decided that we didn’t have to wait until Thanksgiving to partake of the all goodness you see here, because we just can’t be mean to ourselves like that.
Look for a full write-up on all of the items in our No-Kill Thanksgiving Feast after we have recovered from our food-coma, Black Friday shopping, Small Business Saturday splurges, and Cyber Monday deals.
Have a great Thanksgiving!!!
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