Pure Thyme

For a Balanced Life

My Vegan Thanksgiving Menu and Recipe Round-Up

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This is what’s on the menu for Thanksgiving at my house and I am proud to announce it will be my first Vegan Thanksgiving. I am really excited about this and can’t wait to see what my family thinks. This is a pretty traditional Thanksgiving sans Turkey, butter, oil and low-sodium of course. There are some major carbs here, but I have requests to deal with and I’m thankful enough I get to make it vegan!! lol =)

Here’s my Vegan Thanksgiving Menu:

Vegetable Wellington with Mushroom Gravy

Baby Spinach Salad with Shaved Apples and Cranberries – Apple Cider Dressing

Sourdough Bread Stuffing with Smoke Apple Sage Sausage and Almonds – still vegan!

Roasted Brussel Sprouts with Caramelized Shallots

Mashed Potatoes with Fresh Chives

Cranberry Orange Date Sauce

Pecan Pie

If I could make this twice and post it for you today I would, but that’s impossible isn’t it? Unless I was Wonder Woman, but alas I’m not =).

What I can do for you, is give you some AMAZING recipes from some fantastic blogger friends from around the web.

The Ultimate Thanksgiving recipe inspiration is just one more sentence away.

I hope you enjoy, I know I am salivating just looking at these photos!

Quinoa with Roasted Grapes and Brussel Sprouts

brusselsprouts
Photo and Recipe courtesy of the beautiful Junia over at Mis Pesamientos and you can find this wonderful recipe, along with many others HERE

Dried Fruit and Toasted Nut Stuffing and Easy Sweet Potato Puree with Maple Syrup

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Who can have Thanksgiving without stuffing and sweet potatoes are always a welcome staple. Photo and Recipe courtesy of Jesse over at The Happy Go Lucky Vegan and you can find all her fabulous recipes HERE.

Healthier Sweet Potato and Apple Mash

sweet-pot-casserole-9

This healthy and amazing Photo and Recipe courtesy of Badger Girl Learns to Cook. For the recipe and more cooking inspiration click HERE.

Roasted Parsnips with Cranberries and Orange

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Thanks to Jessica over at Oh Cake for sharing this colorful photo and recipe for you to enjoy. You can find this and many more recipes HERE.

Michael’s Maple Cranberry Sauce with Toasted Walnuts

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Is this absolutely gorgeous or what? I am definitely craving cranberry sauce right now. Thanks to Ann from Sumptious Spoonfuls for sharing this photo and recipe. Check out this recipe and more HERE.

Pumpkin Hummus

pumhummus

What are great idea for a fall-inspired appetizer. This is one I am definitely going to have to try. Thanks Jackie from Vegan Yack Attack for sharing your photo and recipe with us. You can find this amazing recipe and many more HERE.

Fluffy White Dinner Rolls

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All I can say is *YUM* for this awesome vegan dinner roll recipe from Richa at Hobby and More. Check out this and other fabulous recipes HERE.

POM Perfect Thanksgiving Appetizer: Muhummara

 

Muhummara

This looks so fresh, delicious and absolutely wonderful. Thank you Kathy from The Colors of Indian Cooking for letting me share your photo and recipe. Get the recipe HERE.

Cranberry Salsa

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Never would have thought to make a Cranberry Salsa. What an inventive recipe from Linda at Savoring Every Bite. Thanks for sharing this beautiful photo and recipe. Get the recipe HERE.

Thanks to everyone for sharing these wonderful recipes. I might have to change my menu and make some of these instead.

Happy Thanksgiving to all!

xoxo,

Jen

Healthy Vegan Banana Bread

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bananabread
Five banana breads later and I am finally happy with the results. I never thought coming up with a healthy vegan banana bread would be this difficult. Since I am a bit of a perfectionist when it comes to cooking, I knew I wasn’t stopping until it came out PERFECT! It’s not like I had anything to compare it with either. I’ve honestly never tried vegan banana bread and I had only my non-vegan banana bread recipes to modify. I’ve made other vegan desserts before, so I knew what I needed to replace in my original recipes. I had to adjust measurements several times until I got moist, fluffy, and most importantly, edible banana bread.

My banana bread is made with date sugar and contains no oil. It gets its sweetness mainly from the bananas and of course the date sugar. It won’t be the sweetest banana bread you will ever try, but that is what I was after. This is the healthiest version I could come up with and I am super excited about the results! So, give it a try and let me know what you think!

Printable Recipe

Healthy Vegan Banana Bread

Ingredients:

3-4 over-ripe bananas (1 1/2 cups mashed)

1 1/2 cups whole wheat pastry flour

2 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 cup date sugar

1/2 tsp cinnamon

1/4 tsp ground nutmeg

1/2 tablespoons pure vanilla extract

1/3 cup unsweetened applesauce

1/2 cup unsweetened almond milk

2 tablespoons lemon juice

1/4 cup Walnuts (optional)

Directions:

In a large mixing bowl, mash bananas and stir in date sugar, vanilla, and applesauce.
In a separate mixing bowl, combine lemon juice with almond milk. Stir into banana mixture.
In a large bowl, sift together flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon and nutmeg. Stir to combine ingredients.
Add dry ingredients to banana mixture and stir until combined.
Spread the mixture evenly into a non-stick 9×5-inch pan and bake until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean, about 40-45 minutes. Allow to cool before slicing and serving.