If you’ve been following along the past week, you’ll already know my Thanksgiving menu:
Mixed Greens with Avocado & Blueberries (posted Nov. 19th) — from Vegan Holiday Cooking, by Nava Atlas
Mock Chicken Loaf Florentine with Chickenless Gravy (posted Nov. 18th) — from The Compassionate Cook, by Ingrid Newkirk
Green Bean Casserole (posted Nov. 14th) — from Ten Talents, by Rosalie Hurd
Cranberry Relish (posted Nov. 15th) — from Unprocessed, by Chef AJ
Stuffed Squash (posted Nov. 16th) — from How to Eat Like a Vegetarian Even If You Never Want to Be One, by Patti Breitman and Carol J. Adams
Yams with Cranberries and Apples (posted Nov. 20th) — from The Peaceful Palate, by Jennifer Raymond
My Mom’s Beer Muffins (posted Nov. 21st) — Thanks, Mom — for this and everything
Pear and Apple Crisp (posted Nov. 17th) — from Sweet and Easy Vegan, by Robin Asbell (check out her interview on Main Street Vegan Radio, recorded October 24)
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And here’s my gratitude list:
1. My glorious family: William, Adair, Nick, Sian, Erik, Betty, plus extended family around the country, and canine kids Forbes, Oliver, and Tala
2. Being vegan: what a gift!
3. Feeling so amazing at, well, a certain age
4. Living in New York City: such a joy, such a thrill, such a blessing
5. Main Street Vegan Academy, the amazing grads of the June and November courses, and those to come
6. The success of Main Street Vegan, the support of the book by VegNews magazine, Ellen Degeneres on her website and blog, celebrity endorsers, and everyone who’s purchased a copy or checked it out from the library
7. The sense of faith and wonder that was planted in me by my adopted grandmother, the late Adelene DeSoto, and that sustains me every day
8. The promise of 2013 that’s around the corner, with hopes for a new book in the works and going into production with Miss Liberty, our family feature film
9. Ayurveda, the beautiful Indian healing system that helps me stay healthy and balanced — check out The Ayurvedic Vegan Kitchen, by Talya Lutzker
10. The guides and mentors of my life to date: Freya and the late Jay Dinshah of the American Vegan Society, who believed in me until I could believe in myself; my first literary agent Patti Breitman who quite literally handed me my career as an author; Bruce Friedrich and Gene Baur of Farm Sanctuary, Ingrid Newkirk of Peta, and Nathan Runkle of Mercy for Animals, who are on the front lines every day making things better for animals; and everyone who’s working to make this world kinder, gentler, and saner.
Love to everyone — may you have a beautiful Thanksgiving and an idyllic holiday season.
— Victoria