If you’re like me, you tend to leave some things to the last minute.
My dreaded tasks include:
- Getting the oil in my car changed. I loathe going to the car shop. It’s one of my all-time least enjoyed errands.
- Renewing my passport. My passport has been expired for a few months now and I’ve been meaning to renew it! We’re also planning a visit to the states soon, so I really need to get my butt in gear or Eric said he’s leaving me behind.
- Getting my hair cut. I often leave it until I absolutely cannot stand my split-ended hair for another second. I call the salon and try to get an appointment that same day. Usually doesn’t work. I got my hair cut last night and I always say, “Why did I leave it so long, I feel great!!!” On an unrelated note, my stylist wants to give me a long bob for a hair cut. Sort of like Jennifer Anniston’s new bob, but a bit longer. What do you think? I’m scared.
- Changing my name. I still have yet to change my name on my Driver’s License! It’s been 3 years since we got married…time flies?
- Meal planning. As you may recall, I’m not a meal planner. Thinking about planning a week’s worth of meals makes my skin crawl. It really does.
Now that my skeletons are out of the closet, I’ve put together this last minute post for those of us who may need a glimmer of hope on the weekend of our Canadian Thanksgiving.
Repeat after me: You can do it!!
Deep breaths.
For an appetizer, why not make soup to warm everyone up? I especially love this Carrot Apple Ginger Soup:
or the Holiday Soup for the Soul was a big hit too.
For a vegan (and gluten-free if you’d like) entrée, why not try the Ultimate Vegan Lentil Walnut Loaf?
This is by far one of my favourite recipes on the blog and I’ve yet to meet someone who didn’t love it. After several trials, I finally made a version that held together and didn’t crumble apart. This loaf is adapted from the Clean Food Cookbook and The Vegan Table Cookbook.
For a side, why not try the delicious High Protein Garlic Mashed Potatoes (with a secret ingredient!)
I believe my mom said she liked these mashed potatoes better than her own!
This Ain’t Grandma’s Sweet Potato Casserole. This is one of my all-time favourite ‘veganized’ recipes! No heavy cream required.
Pumpkin Gingerbread with Spiced Buttercream
This recipe goes down as one of the most popular and well-reviewed on the blog! You guys sure love your pumpkin gingerbread.
Pumpkin Pie Brownie– another crowd pleaser.
Cinnamon Sugar Pumpkin Spiced Doughnuts. The perfect mini finger food and very easy to make.
Looking for a hostess gift? Why not give a jar of homemade Pumpkin Butter. It’s quick and easy. Just be sure to keep the lid ajar while it cooks down.
Looking for décor inspiration? Check out my Thanksgiving dinner décor on a budget from last year.
Have a fun & safe Thanksgiving to my Canadian friends!
I’m off to make a Green Monster, workout, shower and pack. Sketchie is already waiting by the door in his cat bag (he loves car rides and visits to see his kitty friends).
Awwwww, girl, Happy Thanksgiving!!!! Ok, my friend and I made the loaf today and OMG, it is HEAVEN!! Thanks for the recipe girl!! xxoo
Happy Thanksgiving Kris, glad you both enjoyed it!!
I would do just about anything to have any of these desserts! Golly. :)
I cannot wait to make your pumpkin pie brownies – they look so scrumptious! Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours!
These ideas look great and the colour of the carrot soup is beautiful. I have just blackened some peppers and they are in the kitchen steaming, waiting to be added to your creamy red pepper hummus recipe. cant wait!
What an amazing spread! I would be on happy girl if that was on my Thanksgiving table :)
Your pumpkin gingerbread with spiced buttercream looks amazing, no wonder it’s so popular! I definately plan on trying that one out. Anything pumpkin and I’m in. I’m going to use your recipe to make pumpkin butter as well :)
Also, I used your recipe for quinoa cereal tonight and it turned out pretty tasty! Thank you! Have a good Thanksgiving!
Glad you enjoyed the quinoa Andrea :)
All of these sound lovely. Thanks for the round up!
I just popped over to see your recipe for the lentil loaf, and your thoughts on the recipe from Clean Food – glad I read it, as I’m organizing a fall harvest dinner, and that loaf was one our vegan entree options. Sounds delicious, but I can’t exactly have a loaf that falls apart served at a fancy dinner. Would have commented on that post, but comments are closed (?!)
Hey Marianne! Yea comments close after a couple months on the post. I was having a problem with spam, so it helps me control spammers from leaving 1000 comments on old posts. heh
Enjoy the loaf!
Awesome! I will totally check out those recipes, especially the mash potatoes and casserole.
Your going to the states? Which state? We’ve got 50 of them~! Ha! ^^
http://milk-and-tea.blogspot.com
First of all, don’t cut your hair! Every time I get sick of my long hair that I never do anything with anyway and I think about cutting it, I regret it when I look back at photos of when I actually cut it! Plus, I feel like you have to style it MORE when it’s shorter…but I’m sure you’d look great either way so don’t listen to me. Secondly, you just made me want our US Thanksgiving to hurry up and get here with that yummy menu! I’m for sure going to make your mashed potatoes and that pumpkin gingerbread with spiced buttercream (WOW!). I’ve been hesitating with that lentil loaf…I trust you when you say it’s great but for some reason I’m stalling!
Thanks for all the great inspiration!
aha I know every time I have cut it I regret it…but I’m thinking maybe a LONG bob would work? Only an inch shorter than it is now..
Angela love the ideas!! I am definitely going to make the pumpkin butter for sure!! and the Carrot Ginger soup will be perfect for my Turkey Dinner with friends on Tuesday!!
Plus — I LOVE THE NEW HEADER!!
Thanks!!
Delicious looking ideas! Those Pumpkin spiced doughnuts may be made in the near future ;) I’m the same way with certain things on my to-do list-especially haircuts. I love getting my hair done, but I’m lazy about scheduling an appointment. And getting gas. It may only take 5 minutes, but I avoid it until my tank gets too low.
Changing my oil is one of my least favorite errands too. I don’t know why I dread it so much b/c all I have to do is bring the car in. These desserts all look incredible!
haha I know, it’s not like we actually have to change the oil right?
The food choices look amazing! I too put off the haircuts. My split ends are ridiculous right now…the bob sounds good btw.
you do it well….so much food.
….i”m really hungry……
shit!
http://stil-werk.blogspot.com/
FOLLOW!?
Lea ;-*
I hate getting the oil in my car changed too! I don’t know why, they are always polite to me but I hate it!
I know the feeling!
thank you for posting a vegan meatloaf recipe that works!…i will follow yours to a T as well…
vegan meatloaf has been something i have given up on, sadly…i will let you know my results
Wonderful ideas! I still need to make your Ultimate Vegan Lentil Walnut Loaf – Looks especially delicious. Maybe, I’ll just add it in this week… I mean, who needs to wait until thanksgiving!? ;)
Thanks for the great recipes! I’m going to make the carrot soup, the lentil walnut loaf and the pumpkin gingerbread. I was thinking of substituting the raisins in the loa
Oops… my toddler hit the keys on the computer! Thanks for the great recipes!:) I’m going to make the carrot soup, the lentil walnut loaf and the pumpkin gingerbread. I was thining of substituting the raisins in the lentil loaf for dried cranberries, and adding some “poultry seasoning” (marjoram, thyme, rosemary, sage, and green onion mix) to make it more Thanksgivivng-ish…. Also thinking of doing a cranberry type glaze on top…We’ll see… should be good I think :) Thanks again, I can’t wait to try these! Especially the pumkin gingerbread loaf! Mmmmmm :) My sweet tooth has been cazy ever since I had my second son… aye aye aye… haha
Oh man that food looks soooo good!
Your Thanksgiving table is beautiful! And that soup looks so warm and comforting! MMM!! (:
Happy Thanksgiving!
The food loves fabulous and the table setting is beautiful :)
I’m not even vegan (or vegetarian), but I’m a HUGE fan of lentil loaves!
I want to make all of these recipes! Cute table setting, too. :)
I love the decor, that table looks lovely :-)
The Cinnamon Sugar Pumpkin Spiced Doughnuts look amazing!
In fact all of this food looks delicious!
Happy Thanksgiving :) I’m in love with your Holiday Soup, it’s one of my favourite soups to make!
Hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving with family and friends! I am looking forward to trying your Vegan Thanksgiving recipes for my own Thanksgiving this year!!
i just made your walnut lentil loaf and what is NOT my grandmother’s sweet potato casserole, and i am absolutely glowing from the inside out, thanks to you. those recipes are going in my “keep” folder, and will definitely be made again!!! delicious!
http://www.missnowmrs.com/
For the name change. Probably the only reason I got it all done (a year later, after I finally decided to change my name. . .)
I think the pumpkin spice cake would definitely be my favourite – seriously considering making that for our family thanksgiving meal!! xox
Just wanted to let you know I made your Lentil Walnut Loaf as our main course today, and it was a big hit with my omni husband and brother. I had been planning another lentil loaf recipe, but when I saw your comments about the crumbly loaves, I knew I wanted to try yours. So glad I did. It will become a staple for sure. Happy Thanksgiving!
I just made the lentil loaf- it was very tasty and but took a long time to prep-but worth it. next time i will either omit walnuts or use way less. The raisins made it savory, maybe I’ll add cranberries too. For the glaze i didn’t have maple syrup so i used honey instead still came out good. Overall great dish something I could introduce during the holiday season.
Also made the pumpkin spice cake but used your pumpkin butter instead of the pumpkin puree. Spread nutella as frosting. My son devoured 2 of them and he is only 2.
Happy Thanksgiving Angela :-)
love these ideas!!! I love how you arranged the table as well…..very beautiful!!!
Awesome post! I’m hosting Thanksgiving this year and have been collecting ideas. The ginger carrot soup is def going to make the list!
I made my first batch of holiday soup this weekend. So yummy! I made quite a few batches last winter. I also took your pumpkin pie brownies to thanksgiving dinner. They were a huge hit!! I think next weekend I’m going to make one of your mac & cheeze bakes. My husband loves the cheeze sauce and had no idea its vegan :)
Thanks for being your awesome self and sharing all your delicious recipes with us Angela!
So beautiful! I love that you’re giving us (Americans) ideas ahead of time. Thanks!
Ultimate Vegan Lentil Loaf sounds a lot better than Tofurky, which is pretty miserable, to be honest.:) I will try your entree before the holiday to make sure everyone loves it and if they do, Tofurky is not making it to the table this year! YES!
Hi Angela,
I just recently became vegan for a book I’m writing (a year of month-long social experiments that I blog about – something different every month, this month being vegan). I have been complaining that all the vegan treats are dry and tasteless. I made the pumpkin gingerbread for Thanksgiving and I am totally proven wrong! It was absolutely divine! My cousin said it tasted like the Starbucks version. I brought some to work and my workmates were fighting over the last few pieces. Thank you so much. You’ve made me realize that I don’t have to give up great taste (and moist cake) to be vegan. I can’t wait to try some of your other recipes!
Lindsay
I’m so excited to hear that Lindsay! Thanks for sharing. :) I hope you continue to enjoy the recipes!
I made the carrot apple ginger soup and added a cup of red lentils and some extra water to give it some bulk and protein. It was great!
I just had to stop in and say – your lentil loaf was AMAZING. We just had it tonight – and my husband, who is still a meat-eater (though eats vegan eagerly and with pleasure when I cook), is still sneaking tastes after dinner. Love it!
Glad to hear that Amy!
Oh goodness! This was best post ever! Ima make the soup for Thanksgiving then the mashed potatoes later. Family always brings the other stuff. :)
I came across your blog not long ago and I love it! Thank you so much for posting vegan recipes that are delicious and nutritious. I can’t wait to try these out this Thanksgiving :)