I was vegetarian for many years (until I became severely anemic, but that's a different story) and I would say, vegan stuffing, corn, sauteed mushrooms, vegetables (etc) and maybe something like lentils. You can't expect a non-vegan host to make a vegan turkey! Just as I wouldn't go to a vegan's house expecting to chow down on roast beef.

Anonymous wrote:Whole Foods does a whole vegan TG thing. You can preorder stuff from the menu. Easy to what and serve. We have to do a joint vegan / non vegan meal each year and WF is a handy option.

OP here. Thank you! There’s not a WF close to my house, but there is one close to my office. I would hope I could pick up one or two days before and it would still be good? I’m going to look into this, thank you!

Easy to heat and serve*

Whole Foods does a whole vegan TG thing. You can preorder stuff from the menu. Easy to what and serve. We have to do a joint vegan / non vegan meal each year and WF is a handy option.

OP here. Thank you for the suggestions! I’m going to send my cousin a link to the vegan loaf (closer to Thanksgiving) and ask for her thoughts.

My guests do want and expect the traditional dinner, so I’m leaning toward a few modified dishes and adding in the vegan loaf if my cousin green-lights it.

I know it’s months away, I just have Thanksgiving menu and execution down cold, and this was a curveball! I’m laughing at myself a little for being so thrown, but I do really appreciate the help.

I honestly think I’m pushing the majority of guests a little with vegan dressing (which I am now realizing can’t even have butter to sautee the vegetables, and I usually do add turkey drippings at the very end in addition to the stock) and the modified mushrooms, etc. I’m going to do a test run of a few items, and maybe try out a few vegan recipes here and there.

Hand them a gift card to a nice restaurant near your home.
Vegans can be super irritating to cook for, especially the recent converts.

Anonymous wrote:OP Trader Joe’s sells a vegan French onion dip. I would try and do as much as you can vegan except the turkey. You can make the same potatoes for everyone using a plant based milk and butter.

Why should everyone else suffer?

Anonymous wrote:As someone with no restrictions, I have sometimes thought about doing “Thanksgiving of favorites.” Not traditional Tgiving food.

Maybe do this for them. Ask them for a few favorites. And they should help you.

Instead of modifying traditional foods into strange vegan versions.

It sounds like OP and the majority of her guests enjoy the traditional turkey dinner. It’s fine if people don’t, but sounds like this group likes it.

Why should OP prepare extra foods or plan an entirely different menu just to please two people’s choice to be vegan?

OP, your plan sounds great—modifying what you are already making and adding a few vegan dishes is great. That means you accommodate them without too much extra work for yourself, and without disappointing the majority of your guests.

OP Trader Joe’s sells a vegan French onion dip. I would try and do as much as you can vegan except the turkey. You can make the same potatoes for everyone using a plant based milk and butter.

Vegans are so annoying. Serve what you normally would and let them deal. Your menu sounds lovely.

As someone with no restrictions, I have sometimes thought about doing “Thanksgiving of favorites.” Not traditional Tgiving food.

Maybe do this for them. Ask them for a few favorites. And they should help you.

Instead of modifying traditional foods into strange vegan versions.

Honestly, OP, people who are this high-maintenance should be grateful for whatever they get.

Anonymous wrote:Maybe you could serve them something like this? https://fieldroast.com/product/celebration-roast/

I’ve heard good reviews from vegan friends.

OP, this is a good suggestion, but only if you know they eat and enjoy plant-based alternatives like that. My SIL bemoans that vegan burgers and the like are processed and that they are served to vegans all the time at social events. (Which…I have my opinions on that level of entitlement, I’m just saying.)

Maybe you could serve them something like this? https://fieldroast.com/product/celebration-roast/

I’ve heard good reviews from vegan friends.

I just found out that my cousin and her new husband are vegan. They live far away, so they can’t bring anything for Thanksgiving. I’m hosting 16 total, and I’d say the other 14 guests (this count includes my family) are very traditional eaters. The only other factor is nut allergies, but that’s my kids so I naturally work that into the menu. I think the other guests are pretty traditional and expect the usual fare. I’m happy to do some extra work, but I’d love to pinch-hit with vegan store-bought items from Wegmans, if anyone happens to know of anything good.

Appetizers could be:
Veggies/chips with homemade French onion dip and hummus as the vegan option
Maybe shot glasses of vegan vichyssoise?

Dinner of:
Turkey, gravy
Mashed potatoes

Could make vegan versions of:
Mashed potatoes (small side dish that I would keep by and then add butter and cream/milk to the majority of the pot)
Burgundy mushrooms (I usually make with butter but I think I can easily make these vegan)
Dressing (easy enough to use vegetable stock instead of chicken stock, but I might get dinged by the majority for this as I think it wont’ t taste as good)
Cranberry sauce
Roasted vegetables
Maybe some type of roll? Does anyone know of a good vegan bread mix or cornbread mix or some such?

Dessert:
Traditional versions of pumpkin pie, apple pie and pecan pie
I could make apple pie filling for vegans and just have that warm in a crock pot?
Maybe add some kind of vegan brownie? Need help with dessert ideas

Is the above enough food for the vegans? They can make a plate of that, right?