🍁 Thanksgiving Series: Homemade Or Store Bought?


Hey Reader

As you start planning your menu, you may be wondering when to go homemade vs. store-bought. While homemade dishes make for a more personal meal, convenience foods can be a lifesaver!

Today, I wanted to share some tips on how to thoughtfully mix and match the two.

Centerpiece: Opt for homemade here if possible. You can go for a classic plant-based main (like a whole roasted cauliflower, Wellington or stuffed acorn squash).

But even if you wanted to get a "turkey" roast - there's charm to doing it at home (try this seitan based roast that you can shape into an actual turkey, this was the highlight of last Thanksgiving for us!) Pictures at the bottom.

Sides: The real superstars! Make at least 1-2 homemade side dishes. My favorites are these smothered garlic green beans and vegan stuffing. But other than that, you can totally pick up pre-made sides like salad kits, canned cranberries, or boxed mac and cheese to fill out the menu.

Dessert: Make your showstopper dessert like pumpkin or this no-bake pecan pie cheesecake from scratch. But balance it out with an easy store-bought option like sorbet for variety!

When in doubt, do a mix by making one component from scratch and pairing it with a store-bought item. Homemade whipped cream on a purchased vegan pie, for example. This lightens the workload while still giving a homemade touch.

Most importantly, don't be afraid to ask for help or delegate dishes to share the workload! And share photos of your vegan feast with me, please!

Gobble gobble,
Shruthi

Urban Farmie: Seasonal, Global, Vegetarian Recipes

Urban Farmie has vegetarian recipes inspired by Shruthi's life and travels to 60+ countries! Shruthi shares healthy-ish, weeknight dinners, one pot meals, and quick recipes for busy folks, as well as food and kitchen tips and tricks to live a more sustainable life.

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